My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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PROTECTION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
The Protection of the Mother of God (Gk. Agia Skepi) is one of the great feast days on the Orthodox Christian calendar among the people of Greece, also commemorated on October 1st.
The Feast of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos commemorates the appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos in the church of Vlachernae in the city of Constantinople in the 10th century, as recorded in the life of Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ's sake. While the faithful were assembled in the church, Saint Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the Saint's prayers, beheld the Ever-Virgin Mary above the faithful Christians and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection of all Christians. Because of this, we keep an annual feast of thanksgiving, supplicating our Panagia to never cease protecting us in her sacred prayers. Vlachernae church was where several of her holy relics were kept. The holy relics were her robe, veil, and part of her belt that had been transferred from Palestine during the 5th century.
The Theotokos approached the center of the church, knelt down and remained in prayer for a long time. Her face was drowned in tears. Then she took her veil off and spread it over the Orthodox Christian believers as a sign of protection. During the tie, the people in the city were threatened by a barbarian invasion. After the appearance of the Theotokos, the danger was averted and the city was saved from bloodshed and suffering.
In recent years, the Feast of Agia Skepi has become associated with thanksgiving for the deliverance of the Greek nation from the Italian invasion of 1940. These events are commemorated in Greece on a national holiday known as "Ochi Day" or "No Day," referring to the response of the Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas to Mussolini's ultimatum.
In recognition of this, and because of the numerous miracles of the Theotokos which were reported by Greek Orthodox soldiers during the Greco-Italian War of 1940-1941, the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece elected in 1952 to transfer the feast from October 1st to October 28th.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate also provides for this usage in its parishes in Greece and in the Greek diaspora, and it is generally observed now throughout the Hellenic-speaking world. The observance includes the chanting of the Doxology incorporating hymns recognizing the Protection of the Theotokos over the Greek people, as well as the kontakion "O Champion Leader."
About the Holy Icon
Two different events that took place hundreds of years apart are combined in this one holy icon. Both events took place in the former church of Vlachernae in the Queen city of Constantinople.
The holy icon of the feast, Protection of the Mother of God, shows the Theotokos standing above the faithful with her arms outstretched in prayer and draped with a veil. On both sides of her are holy Angels. On the lower right of the most icons of this feast, are Saints Andrew and his disciple Saint Epiphanius who saw this vision of the Mother of God, with the Twelve Holy Apostles, bishops, holy women, monks, and holy martyrs, spreading her veil in protection over the faithful. Saint Epiphanius is wearing a tunic under his cloak and gestures in astonishment at the miraculous appearance, while Saint Andrew, Fool-for-Christ, is dressed only in a cloak.
Below the Theotokos, in the center of the holy icon, stands a young man with a halo (photostephano), he is clothed in a Deacon's Sticharion. In his left hand, he is holding an open scroll with the text of the Kontakion for the Holy Nativity in honor of the Theotokos.
Hymns
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn (Tone 4)
Today the faithful celebrate the feast with joy illumined by your coming, O Mother of God. Beholding your pure image we fervently cry to you: "Encompass us beneath the precious veil of your protection; deliver us from every form of evil by entreating Christ, your Son and our God that He may save our souls."
Kontakion Hymn
Today the Virgin stands in the midst of the Church and with choirs of Saints, she invisibly prays to God for us. Angels and bishops worship, Apostles and Prophets rejoice together since for our sake she prays to the Pre-eternal God.
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DIVINE SERVICES FOR OCTOBER 28TH:
Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
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With sincere agape in Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George