Man and Church
"Cover Us With Thy Precious Omophorion" ‒ The Protection of the Mother of God
Reflections on the Prayerful Intercessions of the Theotokos
"Cover Us With Thy Precious Omophorion" ‒ The Protection of the Mother of God
Reflections on the Prayerful Intercessions of the Theotokos
On October 14, Orthodox Christians on the Old Calendar celebrate the feast of the Protection of the Mother of God. This is one of five major feasts of the Church, distinct from Pascha and the Twelve Great Feasts. (The other four are the Circumcision of the Lord (January 1), the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul (June 29), the Nativity of St. John the Forerunner (June 24), and the Beheading of St. John the Forerunner (August 29).)
This feast has tremendous significance for the Orthodox faithful, especially in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. In a purely secular tradition, it marked the transition from autumn to winter and inaugurated a season of weddings and rest from work in the fields after the harvest. Events in the village this time of year would often be scheduled by how many days before or after the feast they were to take place.
Read also
