Despite the fact that in recent years religion has become quite important in our lives and more and more people are turning to the church, many of them, sincerely considering themselves Orthodox Christians, are rather uncertain about such an important attribute for a believer as church calendar. While the dates of the main Orthodox holidays are known to everyone, the dates of many other holidays for some parishioners, especially for young people, remain a mystery.
Place October 14 in the Orthodox calendar
Not everyone knows what church holiday October 14 is celebrated in the Russian Orthodox Church. The priest of any parish will patiently explain that one of the great bright holidays is celebrated on this day. This celebration is called the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Why the holiday has such a name
The very name of the holiday is closely intertwined with its history and meaning. The outstretched veil, which the Mother of God holds in her hands in the form of a veil, wideribbons - omophorion, designed to protect believers from various sorrows, troubles, misfortunes and enemies. According to church canons, this holiday is considered the Mother See and is celebrated only within the framework of the Russian Orthodox Church. Therefore, October 14 is an Orthodox holiday and is dedicated to the Mother of God, Her intercession and patronage.
History of the Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos
The event, to which the Orthodox holiday owes its appearance on October 14, occurred at the beginning of the 10th century AD in the then capital of the Byzantine Empire - Constantinople (Constantinople). These were the times of paganism in Russia, before its baptism by Prince Vladimir, almost a century had to pass. In 911, the Kyiv prince Oleg, nicknamed the Prophet for his penchant for sorcery (witchcraft, witchcraft), uniting Kievan Rus and Novgorod Rus and standing at the head of the Slavic tribes, led troops to conquer Byzantium. The barbarian warriors under his leadership sought to capture Constantinople, but they only managed to ruin and plunder its surroundings.
Frightened residents of the capital took refuge in the temple, where the vestments were kept - the robe of the Most Holy Theotokos, her head cover and parts of the belt. The temple at that time became the only refuge for the townspeople.
Eagerly and with faith, people prayed at the Holy Robe of the Mother of God, asking her for salvation and the expulsion of the barbarians. At this time, holy fool Andrew appeared in the church with his disciple Epiphanius. Prayers continued for several days, and one day, just on the night of October 14,Epiphanius saw the appearance of the Mother of God with John the Baptist and John the Theologian. At first, the Mother of God, as it were, walked through the air, then began to pray together with the faithful and, having removed the omophorion-veil from her head, she covered all those present in the temple with it, protecting them from enemy attacks.
The next morning, Prince Oleg ordered his troops to retreat from the city and hurried to take them away from Byzantium, without achieving victory. So, the Most Pure Mother of God interceded for the true believers and did not let the Christian people offend the pagans!
Why October 14 holidays are celebrated only in Russia
Since then, the above events on October 14 in Byzantium began to be celebrated annually as the feast of the Virgin, her intercession for the entire Orthodox world. But Byzantium fell and disappeared from the face of the Earth as a state many centuries ago. Slowly, the tradition of celebrating October 14 as an Orthodox holiday in these territories began to fade away. Residents of Turkey, already a Muslim state, have little interest in the development of the history of Christianity in their country in past centuries and almost do not know what church holiday Orthodox Christians celebrate on October 14.
In Greece, in another world center of Orthodoxy, for unknown reasons, October 14, as a feast of the Virgin and her intercession, did not take root and was not approved by church canons as a celebration. Despite the fact that Greek Orthodox Christians are quite sensitive to such events in the history of Christianity, they have not accepted October 14 as an Orthodox holiday.
In the second half of the XII century, by the time of the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky, the Christian faith in Russia was gaining more and more strong positions. Andrei Bogolyubsky, being a Russian prince and a pious Christian, paid special attention to an episode from the history of the Byzantine period in the development of Christianity. By his special decree, since 1164 in Russia, they began to celebrate October 14 every year as the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Why this holiday has become one of the most beloved for Orthodox Christians in Russia
If you ask Russian Orthodox Christians what is one of their favorite church holidays, you can often hear the answer that October 14 is the feast of the Virgin. Those who are alien to these traditions are surprised, they cannot understand the reasons for such a love of a Russian person both for the Most Pure Mother of God herself and for the attitude to the holidays dedicated to her on October 14.
Since pagan times, the ancient Rus have been distinguished by their pride and waywardness and have always strived for independence and freedom, not only physical, but also their views. Never by any force would Prince Vladimir have succeeded in baptizing Russia and instilling the spirit of Christianity in Russia, if the Russian soul had not instinctively drawn to the religion of light, love and goodness, had not recognized the Mother of God and Her Son as their own, as protectors and patrons of the Russian Land, I felt the constant presence of the Mother of God in my heart. It is impossible to forcefully accept a Russian person into that faith that his soul does not accept,it is impossible to make him celebrate those holidays that he does not like.
But, despite the special decree of Andrei Bogolyubsky, no one in Russia planted a special veneration of the Mother of God and her holidays. The soul of the Russian people responded, rather, to the real attitude of the Most Holy Theotokos to the common people, to her love for every person, and not to the historical fact that once happened in Ancient Byzantium. And therefore, the Russian man is not afraid to entrust his soul and himself entirely to Her. That is why he honors Her as her own mother and asks the icons with Her image for forgiveness, pardon, blessings and help.
The Russian Orthodox Christian, as if in the air, needs Her protection, Her patronage, and always with faith and hope looks at Her image with an omophorion stretched out over those who ask for protection. This faith makes life easier, helps to endure difficulties, does not give place to anger and hatred in the hearts. Therefore, Russian people love to celebrate October 14 - the feast of the Virgin. And only a Russian person can forgive his offenders and honestly observe the canons prescribed by the Orthodox Church. In response, the Most Holy Theotokos on October 14 will show mercy to every Russian person and give her motherly love.
Care of the Mother of God for the Russian land
Since ancient times, the Most Holy Theotokos is considered the protector of the Russian lands. Russian people call her Mother and firmly believe that the Mother of God answers them for their devotion and love.motherly love and reliably covers their homeland with a protective veil.
It is difficult to count all the miracles that were created by Her on the Russian land. No country in the world can boast of the patronage of the Mother of God.
She showed special concern for Russia, when the latter was threatened by foreign invaders, she gave protection to Russian troops. As once in distant Tsargrad, Russian people, following the example of those ancient Christians, prayed before Her icons if their cities were in danger of ruin and destruction by the invaders. No one else in the entire history has been able to conquer, conquer and destroy Russia, covered by the cover of the Mother of God. And it is unlikely that the great commanders and brave Russian warriors would have been able to win fierce battles only thanks to their valor, if they had not asked the Intercessor to help and protect. Always in front of the Russian army they carried the faces of the Saints, Christ the Savior and, of course, the Mother of God.
Help of the Most Pure Mother of God to the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War
And even when the Nazi troops tormented Russia, ordinary Russian people, soldiers and priests of the few churches and temples that miraculously survived, secretly from the agents of the Soviet counterintelligence and the KGB, prayed to the Mother of God and asked her for help.
Through the entire war and the rest of their lives, Russian soldiers carried the memory of the moment when in November 1942 the face of the Virgin appeared to them in the night sky of Stalingrad, althoughnot all of them at that time knew what church holiday October 14 is celebrated by Orthodox Christians. Since that time, the turning point in the war and the expulsion of the Nazis from Soviet soil began.
Hitler's army, at that time the strongest in the world, conquered and trampled all of Europe, failed to break through to the Volga, could not break the spirit of the Russian soldiers, inspired by the vision of the Patroness.
What was seen in the sky over Stalingrad was documented. Several dozen soldiers testified in writing to their testimony. According to eyewitnesses who were found decades after the war, the vision that they were lucky to see became a real shield for them not only in the war, but also in life after it ended. None of these people suffered from Stalin's repressions in the future.
Russian traditions associated with the celebration of October 14
What a church holiday October 14 is celebrated with many interesting traditions, of course, those Orthodox Christians who regularly attend church know. These traditions refer to both church and folk traditions, invented by the Russian people themselves, who love fun and fun.
One of the main traditions is that the icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos must hang above the front door to the house. It is believed that if this condition is not met, the house will remain both unprotected from evil people and vulnerable to unclean spirits.
On this bright holiday, special care and attention should be shown to sick people,beggars, lonely old people, orphans, widows. In the old days, gifts were given to them on this day, mostly clothes. Pious people believed that caring for those in need would make their lives happier.
To enlist the help of the Mother of God for all family members, on the eve of the holiday of October 13, the whole family should be sprinkled through a sieve with holy water, while reading a special prayer to the Mother of God.
It is believed that the Blessed Virgin on the holidays of October 14 helps young girls, unmarried women and widows to determine their future fate and find a husband. Therefore, this day has a special meaning for them. Those who want to get married this year come to church before the start of the holiday, put candles in front of the icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos and pray for marriage and happiness in family life.
Many more interesting traditions, rituals, divination and folk omens are associated with the holidays of October 14th. And like on any other church holiday, on this day you can’t do everyday homework, but you need to go to church with the whole family and ask Mother for patronage and intercession. And at home, it is best to devote time to reading holy books, talking about the Savior and His Mother, saints, quiet sincere prayer and spiritual enlightenment.
