Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos: what is not allowed and what can be done on this daytranslated

On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Orthodox believers who adhere to the old church calendar will celebrate the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. The holiday is associated with the legend of the appearance of the Virgin Mary during a service in Constantinople. Among the people, Pokrov was considered the boundary between autumn and winter, the time of completion of field work and the beginning of the wedding season. This day is associated with many traditions, weather signs and beliefs about what can and cannot be done.

History and significance of the Feast of the Intercession

The Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an Orthodox holiday dedicated to the appearance of the Virgin Mary in the Blachernae Church of Constantinople, present-day Istanbul.

According to church tradition, during a night service, Saint Andrew the Fool and his disciple Epiphanius saw the Mother of God. She prayed with the people gathered in the church, and then spread her veil over them - the veil, or omophorion.

In the church tradition, this image has become a symbol of the protection, patronage and prayerful intercession of the Mother of God for people.

In Orthodox sources, the event dates back to the 9th–10th centuries.

For believers, the holiday is associated primarily with prayer, hope for the help of the Mother of God and concern for other people.

Which…