The Church celebrates the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos

The Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos Icon. Photo: Foma

This special day dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos entered the Church calendar after the miraculous deliverance of Constantinople from an enemy siege in the year 626.

That was not the only time the Mother of God, through the prayers of the city’s inhabitants, saved it from invaders. Thus, the custom took root in Constantinople of gathering once a year in the famous Blachernae Church (where people would come during difficult times to pray) to thank the Theotokos for her mercy and protection.

Over time, this uniquely Byzantine feast spread throughout the Orthodox Church. For over ten centuries now, the Praise of the Theotokos has been celebrated on the fifth week of Great Lent.

According to tradition, this is because it was on the fifth Saturday of Lent that the miraculous deliverance of the city occurred, giving rise to the custom.

In the kontakion to the Theotokos written in honor of the 626 deliverance of Constantinople, the hymn reads: “As one possessing invincible power, deliver us from all troubles.”

When believers come to church on this day, they remember not only those distant events – for it is difficult to give heartfelt thanks for something known only from a few lines in a book. But in the life of every believer, there are moments when a person turns to the Mother of God with personal sorrow and receives comfort, feels her presence and intercession. Everyone has something for which to thank the Theotokos.

Together, Christians give thanks to the Virgin Mary for having been deemed worthy to become the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As previously reported by the UOJ, His Beatitude led the Matins service with the Akathist to the Theotokos at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

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