The Placing of the Honorable Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God at Blachernae; †) Holy Ruler Prince Stephan The Great; St. Juvenal the Archbishop of Jerusalem; Saint John Maximovitch

Orthodox Calendar, July 2 The Placing of the Venerable Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae During the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Leo the Great (457-474), the brothers Galbius and Candidus, associates of the emperor, set out from Constantinople to Palestine to venerate the holy places.

In a small settlement near Nazareth they stayed in the home of a certain old Jewish woman. In her house they noticed a room where many lamps were lit, incense burned, and sick people were gathered. When they asked her what the room contained, the pious woman did not want to give an answer for a long time.

After persistent requests, she said that she had a very precious sacred item: the Robe of the Mother of God, which performed many miracles and healings.

Before Her Dormition the Most Holy Virgin bequeathed one of her garments to a pious Jewish maiden, an ancestor of the old woman, instructing her to leave it to another virgin after her death. Thus, the Robe of the Mother of God was preserved in this family from generation to generation.

The jeweled chest, containing the sacred Robe, was transferred to Constantinople. Saint Gennadius, Patriarch of Constantinople (August 31),…