Today, October 14, the Church celebrates the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Marytranslated

On October 14, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Great Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On this day, believers remember the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God in Constantinople in 910 and Her salvation of this city.

Barbarian troops approached Constantinople. In those years, such raids often ended in bloody massacres, and the inhabitants of the Byzantine capital were already preparing for death. The priests of the city prayed for deliverance from enemies.

And then at four o’clock in the morning a vision appeared to the holy fool Andrew in the Blachernae Church. He saw the Mother of God walking through the air, illuminated by heavenly light, surrounded by angels and a host of saints.

As Saint Demetrius of Rostov describes this miracle, the Mother of God “took off the great and terrible veil that shone like lightning, which she wore on Her Most Pure Head and, holding it with great solemnity with Her Most Pure hands, spread it over all the standing people.”

A miraculous cover protected the city. The storm that arose scattered the ships of the barbarians, saving the inhabitants of Constantinople from death.

Subsequently, the memory of a miracle that did not happen in Russia became one of the most important and beloved church holidays on Russian soil.

Phenomenon…