Intercession of the Theotokos facts for kids
The Protection of the Mother of God is a special Christian holiday. It is also known as the Intercession of the Theotokos. This feast celebrates how the Mother of God (another name for the Virgin Mary) protects people. It is celebrated in Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches. The date is October 1, or October 14 on the Julian calendar.
This holiday is very important in Russia, Belarus, and especially Ukraine. In these countries, it is one of the most important celebrations. It is almost as important as Pascha and the Twelve Great Feasts. In Ukraine, it has a deep connection to the Ukrainian Cossacks. It is also linked to Defenders of Ukraine Day.
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What Does "Pokrov" Mean?
The name of this holiday, Protection of the Theotokos, has a special meaning. In Old Church Slavonic, it is called Pokrov (Church Slavonic: Покровъ). In Ukrainian, it is Pokrova (Ukrainian: Покрова). The Greek word is Sképē (Greek: Σκέπη).
These words mean a few things. They can mean a cloak or a veil. But they also mean protection or asking for help for someone. That is why the holiday is sometimes called the Veil of Our Lady or the Protecting Veil of the Theotokos. It is also known as the Feast of the Intercession or Feast of the Holy Protection.
The idea of the Pokrov icon is similar to a Western image called the Virgin of Mercy. In that image, the Virgin Mary spreads her cloak wide. She uses it to cover and protect people who are praying to her.
The Story Behind the Holiday
The story of the Protection of the Mother of God comes from a special event. It happened in the 10th century in Constantinople (now Istanbul). This was at the Blachernae church. Important items belonging to the Virgin Mary were kept there. These included her robe, veil, and part of her belt.
One Sunday morning, on October 1, a holy man named St. Andrew the Blessed Fool-for-Christ saw something amazing. He saw the church dome open. The Virgin Mary appeared in the air above him. She was glowing and surrounded by angels and saints. She knelt and prayed with tears for all Christians around the world.
The Virgin Mary asked her Son, Jesus Christ, to listen to the prayers of everyone. She asked Him to protect those who sought her help. After her prayer, she walked to the altar and continued to pray. Then, she spread her veil over all the people in the church. This was a sign of her protection.
St. Andrew turned to his student, St. Epiphanius, and asked, "Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos praying for the whole world?" Epiphanius replied, "Yes, Holy Father, I see it and I am amazed!"
According to old stories, the people of Constantinople had asked for the Mother of God's help. They needed protection from an attack by a large army. This army was from a group called the Rus'. The holiday celebrates how this army was defeated. Some stories say that the Rus' army then became Christians.
What the Icon Looks Like
The special picture for this holiday is called an icon. It is not found in old Byzantine art. In the top part of the icon, you see the Virgin Mary. She is surrounded by a bright light. She holds out her arms, holding a veil or scarf. This veil shows her protection and help.
Next to her are many saints and angels. You can often recognize them, like the apostles, John the Baptist, and St. Nicholas. Below them, St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ is shown. He is pointing up at the Virgin Mary and talking to his student Epiphanius.
Usually, the veil that the Virgin Mary holds is small. It is held in her hands or by two angels. But some icons show a larger cloak covering people. This is similar to the Western Virgin of Mercy image.
Celebrating the Feast
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The Feast of the Intercession celebrates the miracle of the Mother of God's protection. It shows her great love for all people. It is a religious holiday in the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
In Ukraine, this holiday is celebrated on October 14. It is a religious, national, and family holiday. The idea of the Mother of God as a protector became very strong among Ukrainians. The Holy Lady of Protection was always seen as the heavenly patroness of the Zaporozhian Host. This was a group of Ukrainian Cossacks.
Legend says that the Cossacks would begin every military campaign with a prayer. They would pray to the Holy Lady for her help. A famous icon in the National Art Museum of Ukraine shows the Virgin Mary protecting the Ukrainian Cossack leader Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
Ukrainians have a special devotion to this holiday. It is their third most important holiday, after Easter and Christmas. This was even mentioned in an old Ukrainian law document. In the 20th century, the founding of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army was linked to October 14, 1942.
In the 1990s, the Pokrova Feast Day also became known as Ukrainian Cossack Day. In 1999, it was officially made a holiday by the Ukrainian President. Then, on October 14, 2014, it became a new public holiday. It is now called "Defender of Ukraine Day." This replaced an older holiday from the Soviet Union. The Lady of Intercession is seen as a holy defender of the Ukrainian army and the whole nation.
Some parts of the Russian Federation also celebrate the Feast of Intercession as a work holiday.
This feast is not celebrated by all Christian churches. For example, the Oriental Orthodox Churches do not have it. However, the Western Rite Communities of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia do celebrate this feast.
October 1 (Julian calendar) is also the feast day of St. Romanus the Melodist. He is often shown on the same icon as the Virgin Mary. He is usually below her, singing from a scroll. The scroll represents the hymns he wrote.
The feast day of St. Andrew, the Fool-for-Christ, is on the next day, October 2.
Churches Named After Pokrov
The first churches named after the Pokrov feast appeared in Russia in the 12th century. Perhaps the most famous Russian church named for this day is Saint Basil's Cathedral. It is in Red Square, Moscow. Its full name is "the Church of Intercession of Our Lady that Is on the Moat."
Another famous church is the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl. It is near Vladimir on the Nerl River. Both of these churches are on the United Nations' World Heritage List. There is also a Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in St. Petersburg.
Other churches celebrating this feast include:
- Intercession of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church in Manchester, England.
- Russian Orthodox Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin & St. Sergius in Glen Cove, New York.
- The Church of the Holy Protection (Eglwys yr Amddiffyniad Sanctaidd) in Blaenau Ffestiniog, north Wales. Here, the church service is partly in Welsh, English, Greek, and Church Slavonic.
See also
In Spanish: Protección de la Madre de Dios para niños
