Why the Church of Greece Celebrates the Protection of the Theotokos on Oct. 28

Today, Oct. 28, 2025, marks the 85th anniversary of Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas rejecting an ultimatum from Benito Mussolini and the imposing Italian forces to surrender and allow Axis forces to occupy strategic locations or face the prospect of war.

While there were initial reports — likely trumped up by the media — that Metaxas responded with a simple “oxi,” meaning “no” in Greek, there is no proof that he said such a thing. According to the diary of Italian Ambassador to Greece Emanuele Grazzi, Metaxas actually responded in French, saying “alors, c’est la guerre,” which translates to, “then, it is war.” Regardless, the spirit of the reply stuck, with Greek citizens marching through the streets yelling “oxi” in protest. To this day, Metaxas’ refusal is celebrated as Oxi Day.

The New York Times headline on Oct. 28, 1940. Source: freerepublic.com

Greece would eventually surrender six months later, but this came after a valiant effort that bought valuable time for the Allied forces. With Italy launching its invasion from occupied Albania, they faced unexpected resistance from the Hellenic Army that would last until the following April. Not only did Greeks defend their land for an extended period of time, but they also launched a successful counterattack, pushing Italy back into Albania. This has been described as “the first Axis setback of the entire war.”

With both sides suffering losses, Italy was much more well equipped to resupply and reload than the Hellenic Army. As British forces were set to come and aid the valiant Greeks, Adolf Hitler turned his attention to the country after assistance was requested from Mussolini. German forces invaded Greece on April 6, 1941, and Greek and British forces fought together until Greece surrendered two weeks later on April 20, 1941. Notably, the extent of casualties dealt to Axis forces caused Hitler to delay his attack on Russia, exposing his troops to harsh winter conditions.

The resistance and courage of the Greek people prompted support and comments from leaders around the world. Perhaps the most famous of these was Winston Churchill remarking that it will no longer be said that the Greeks fight like heroes, but that “heroes fight like Greeks.”

In a speech at the Reichstag a few weeks after Greece surrendered, Hitler himself stated: 

For the sake of historical truth I must verify that only the Greeks, of all the adversaries who confronted us, fought with bold courage and highest disregard of death.

U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said that the struggle of the Greek people “filled the hearts of the American people with enthusiasm and moved their compassion,” and Joseph Stalin lamented in 1943 that he was getting old and “shall not live long to thank the Greek People, whose resistance decided World War II.” 

It is estimated that nearly 600,000 Greeks died during the Nazi occupation from 1941-44. 

The Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos

For roughly a millennium, the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos was celebrated on Oct. 1 by Orthodox Christians worldwide.

The commemoration marks the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God that occurred in the mid-10th century in Constantinople. While praying during the All Night Vigil, St. Andrew the Fool for Christ looked up towards the heavens and saw the Panagia surrounded by an assembly of saints and tearfully praying for the world’s Christians. This event occurred at the Blachernae church, where her robe, veil, and part of her belt were preserved after being transferred from Palestine in the fifth century.

“After completing her prayer she took her veil and spread it over the people praying in church, protecting them from enemies both visible and invisible,” the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) website states. “The Most Holy Lady Theotokos was resplendent with heavenly glory, and the protecting veil in her hands gleamed ‘more than the rays of the sun.’ St. Andrew gazed trembling at the miraculous vision and he asked his disciple, the blessed Epiphanius standing beside him, ‘Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, praying for all the world?’ Epiphanius answered, ‘I do see, holy Father, and I am in awe.’”

While this is the definitive story given for the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos, the sentiment can also be linked to past historical events, such as the Siege of Constantinople in the year 626.

In October of 1952, the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece declared that the celebration of Oxi Day and the Protection of the Theotokos would from that point on be a dual feast, and a special service for the feast was written by Elder Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis, who was canonized in 2023. This was done to recognize the great help of the Theotokos throughout Greek history, most recently during World War II when many miracles were reported. This also created a point of unity for Greeks just a few years after the conclusion of the Greek Civil War.

This occurrence also had a historical precedent, as a Royal Decree from King Otto in 1838 stated that the Celebration of the Greek Revolution would take place on March 25 each year, despite the Revolution technically starting a few days earlier. This was done to place the celebration on the same day as the Annunciation of the Theotokos.

At a time when Greece is becoming further secularized due to Western influence in the political sphere, these feasts demonstrate that there is still an Orthodox undercurrent in the culture. While some sacrifice Orthodoxy for Hellenism, this shows where the two meet, as the country’s two greatest civil holidays on the calendar coincide with feasts dedicated to the Mother of God.

While there will surely be challenges in recovering what has been lost, let us entreat the Theotokos that healthy “symphonia” may be found again in Greece, and in all countries around the world.

O Virgin, we extol the great grace of thy Protection, which thou didst spread out like a bright cloud beyond all understanding; for thou dost invisibly protect thy people from the foe’s every assault. Since we have thee as our shelter and certain help, we cry to thee with our whole soul: Glory to thy great deeds, O most pure Maid. Glory to thy shelter most divine. Glory to thy care and providence for us, O spotless one.

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