On November 4, on the feast day of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, Russia celebrates National Unity Day.translated

On November 4, when the Orthodox Church venerates the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, Russia celebrates National Unity Day. This celebration commemorates the deliverance of Moscow from Polish invaders in 1612.

In June 1579, the city of Kazan was struck by a terrible fire. After some time, the girl Matrona began to have appearances of the Theotokos, who instructed her to find the Icon on one of the burnt-out areas.

Initially, no one believed the first appearance to Matrona, but the Theotokos continued to appear to her repeatedly. Only after repeated and persistent requests from her mother to the local bishop did the search for the Icon begin.

As a result, the Icon, wrapped in cloth, was found on one of the burnt-out areas. On the site where the Icon was found, by the order of the Tsar, a Virgin's Monastery of the Theotokos was built.

Russians have repeatedly prayed before the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos for protection against enemy attacks. With such prayers and the miraculous assistance of the Theotokos, they associate the liberation of Moscow from the Poles in 1612, the victory at Poltava in 1709, and the victory over Napoleon in 1812.

Since 2005, November 4, the day of remembrance of the Kazan Icon, is also celebrated in Russia as National Unity Day, on which the liberation...