The Holy Protection — Reading in Pemptousia
A devotional account from Pemptousia, preserved from the original blog.
The very words “Holy Protection” bring to mind countless wondrous events that reveal the maternal love of our most holy Mother, the shelter she offers in times of danger and her unfailing help in life's difficulties.
How did this feast come to be celebrated on 1 October? Church tradition recounts the remarkable event behind it.
On the southern side of the church of Blachernae in Constantinople stood a chapel where the garment of the Mother of God was kept in a silver reliquary. At the beginning of the tenth century, Saint Andrew attended an all-night vigil there. He is known as a “Fool for Christ” because he concealed his holiness by appearing foolish before others. The young Epiphanius accompanied him; the account identifies him with a future patriarch of Constantinople.
Around midnight, blessed Andrew suddenly saw the most holy Mother of God enter through the main door, above the ground, and advance towards the sanctuary. She appeared very tall, accompanied by a radiant procession of angels and saints in white. John the Forerunner and John the Theologian stood at her sides. Some of the white-robed company went before her and others followed, singing hymns and spiritual songs.
When she approached the ambo in the centre of the church, Andrew asked Epiphanius: “Do you see the holy Mother and Lady of the world?” “Yes, venerable father,” the young man replied.
The Mother of God knelt and prayed for a long time. She implored her Son for the salvation of the world, tears falling upon her holy face. Afterwards she entered the sanctuary and prayed for those keeping vigil.
When her supplication ended, she reverently removed her shining maphorion—the garment covering her head and body in icons. With her holy hands she spread it over the congregation as a shelter. Both men saw it extended for a long time, shining with divine glory. While the Mother of God remained visible, her veil continued to radiate light. As she began to ascend to heaven, the garment gradually drew together and disappeared.
This event, together with the miracles associated with her sacred garment, became the occasion for the feast of the Holy Protection: the shelter the Virgin grants to those who invoke her grace with faith.
Many miracles are related to this protection. One account tells how, when enemy ships surrounded Constantinople, the patriarch took the sacred garment from Blachernae and dipped it into the sea. A great storm arose; many ships sank and the rest fled in panic.
The text also recalls accounts from the Second World War in which Greek soldiers saw the Virgin above the trenches, protecting them from enemy bombs. It invites each of us to remember the protection experienced by ourselves and our loved ones in danger and need.
For this reason Christians turn with confidence to the Virgin's protection in every danger, sorrow and necessity—to our loving Mother. On her feast we come gratefully to church to thank her, as the hymn encourages us:
Come, let us reverently honour
the holy Protection of the Mother of the Lord,
which safely guards the faithful
and delivers us with maternal care from affliction and distress.
And let us implore her in the words of the hymn:
Cover us, Lady and Queen of all,
with the mighty grace of your Protection;
save from danger and sorrowful circumstances
those who honour you with reverence.
May the Holy Protection of the Mother of God shelter, guard and preserve us all, and grant peace to the world. Amen.
