OCTOBER 1st – The Holy Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

On the 1st of October our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
The HOLY PROTECTION OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. First Tone

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.

Kontakions Hymn. Plagal of Fourth Tone

LET us the faithful hasten to the Theotokos now and venerate her
sacred veil, as we chant unto her, singing hymns to praise and honor
thee, as is fittings; for she sheltereth with her shelter all her
faithful flock and preserveth them unharmed from all calamities, as
they cry to her: Rejoice, Protection most radiant.

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The Church has always glorified the Most Holy Mother of God as the Protectress and Defender of the Christian people, entreating, by her intercession, God’s Loving-kindness towards us sinners. The Mother of God’s aid has been clearly shown times without number, both to the individuals and to peoples, both in peace and in war, both in Monastic deserts and i n crowded cities. The event that the Church commemorates and celebrates today proves this constant protection of the Christian people by the Mother of God. On the 1st of October, 911, in the time of the Emperor Leo the Wise (or the Philosopher), there was an all-night vigil at the Vlachernae church of the Mother of God in Constantinople. The church was crowded. Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ was standing at the back of the church with his disciple Epiphanius. At four o’clock in the morning, the Most Holy Mother of God appeared above the people with a veil spread over her outstretched hands, as though TO PROTECT THEM WITH THIS COVERING. She was clad in gold-encrusted purple and shone with an unspeakable radiance, surrounded by Apostles, Martyrs, and virgins. Seeing this vision, Saint Andrew gestured towards it and asked Epiphanius: ‘Do you see how the Queen and Lady of all is praying for the whole world?’ Epiphanius replied: ‘Yes, Father, I see it and stand in dread.’ As a result, this commemoration was instituted to remind us both of this event and of the Mother of God’s constant protection whenever we prayerfully seek that protection, that shelter, in distress. [Resources:  The Prologue from Ochrid]

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“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George