“Today
the Virgin stands in the midst of the Church, and with choirs of Saints she
invisibly prays to God for us. Angels and Bishops venerate Her, Apostles and
prophets rejoice together, Since for our sake she prays to the Eternal God!”
This
miraculous appearance of the Mother of God occurred in the mid-10th century in
Constantinople, in the Blachernae church where her robe, veil, and part of her
belt were preserved after being transferred from Palestine in the fifth
century. On Sunday, October 1, during the All Night Vigil, when the church was
overflowing with those at prayer, the Fool-for-Christ St. Andrew lifted up his
eyes towards the heavens and beheld our most Holy Lady Theotokos coming through
the air, resplendent with heavenly light and surrounded by an assembly of the
Saints. St. John the Baptist and the holy Apostle John the Theologian
accompanied the Queen of Heaven. On bended knees the Most Holy Virgin tearfully
prayed for Christians.
After
completing her prayer, she took her veil and spread it over the people in the
church, protecting them from enemies both visible and invisible. She was
resplendent with heavenly glory, and the protecting veil in her hands gleamed
“more than the rays of the sun.” St. Andrew gazed trembling at the miraculous
vision, and he asked his disciple, the blessed Epiphanius standing beside him,
“Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, praying for all the world?”
Epiphanius answered, “I do see, holy Father, and I am in awe.” The Ever-Blessed
Mother of God implored the Lord Jesus Christ to accept the prayers of all the
people calling on His Most Holy Name, and to respond speedily to her
intercession, “O Heavenly King, accept all those who pray to You and call on my
name for help. Do not let them not go away from my icon unheard.” Ss. Andrew
and Epiphanius were worthy to see the Mother of God at prayer, and “for a long
time observed the Protecting Veil spread over the people and shining with
flashes of glory. As long as the Theotokos was there, the Protecting Veil was
also visible, but when she departed it became invisible. After taking it with
her, she left behind the grace of her visitation.”
The
memory of the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God was recalled at this
same church hundreds of years later. In the 14th century, the Russian pilgrim
Alexander saw an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos praying for the world,
depicting St. Andrew in contemplation of her. On this feast, we implore the
defense and assistance of the Queen of Heaven, “Remember us in your prayers, O
Lady Virgin Mother of God, that we not perish by the increase of our sins.
Protect us from every evil and from grievous woes, for in you do we hope, and
venerating the Feast of your Protection, we magnify you.”
Troparion (Tone 4) –
Today the faithful celebrate the feast with
joy
illumined by your coming, O Mother of God.
Beholding your pure image we fervently cry to
you:
“Encompass us beneath the precious veil of
your protection; deliver us from every form of evil by entreating Christ, your
Son and our God that He may save our souls.”
Kontakion (Tone 3) –
Today the Virgin stands in the midst of the
Church
and with choirs of saints she invisibly prays
to God for us. Angels and bishops worship,
apostles and prophets rejoice together,
since for our sake she prays to the
pre-eternal God.
Source: http://antiochian.org/node/16771
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