Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (14/10)

The great holiday of the Russian Orthodox Church — The Intercession of the Blessed Lady of our Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated annually on October 14, new style (October 1, — old).

It is a major autumn festival with a history dating back to 910, the period when the Byzantine Empire was at war with the Saracens. On this day in Constantinople (which Muslims had already come close to), in the Blachernae Church, where the robe of the Mother of God was kept, during the service, the holy fool Andrei and his student Epiphanius saw the Mother of God floating in the air, who stretched out her wide white veil over the worshipers — cover.

...On Sunday, during the all-night vigil, when the temple was overflowing with worshipers, Saint Andrew, holy fool for Christ's sake, at four o'clock in the morning, raising his eyes to heaven, saw our Blessed Lady Our Mother of God walking through the air, illuminated by heavenly light and surrounded by Angels and a host of saints. The Holy Baptist of the Lord John and the Holy Apostle John the Theologian accompanied the Queen of Heaven.

Having bowed her knees, the Blessed Virgin began to pray for Christians with tears and remained in prayer for a long time. Then, approaching the Throne, she continued Her prayer, having completed which, She removed the veil from Her head and spread it over the people praying in the temple, protecting them from enemies visible and invisible. The Blessed Lady shone with heavenly glory, and the cover in Her hands shone «-pack of sunny rays».

Saint Andrew contemplated the wondrous vision with trepidation and asked his disciple, Blessed Epiphanius, who stood next to him: «Do you see, brother, the Queen and the Lady praying for the whole world?». Epiphanius replied: «I see, holy father, and I am horrified».

The Blessed Virgin Mary asked the Lord Jesus Christ to accept the prayers of all people who call on His Most Holy Name and resort to Her intercession. «To the King of Heaven, — to the Glagolache in prayer in the air with the Angels standing All-Virgin Queen, — accept every person who prays to You and calls on My Name for help, may the leanness and unheard of » not be found from My Face.

Saints Andrew and Epiphanius, who were honored to contemplate the praying Mother of God, looked for a long time at the veil stretched out over the people and at the glory of the Lord shining like lightning; while the Most Holy Theotokos was there, apparently there was a veil; after Her departure, it also became invisible, but, taking it with Her, She left the grace that was there«.

The marvelous appearance of the Virgin covering Christians encouraged and consoled the Greeks, gathering their last strength, they defeated the Saracens.

In the Blachernae Church, the memory of the appearance of the Mother of God has been preserved. In the 14th century, the Russian pilgrim Deacon Alexander saw in the church an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary praying for peace, painted as Saint Andrew contemplated it. But the Greek Church does not know this holiday.

In Rus', weddings began on Intercession Day, and on this day girls went to church to pray that the Lord would send them good suitors. Folk signs suggest that the more snow there is on Pokrov, the more weddings there will be this year.



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