Orthodox Christians celebrate the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos

The Icon of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. Photo: t.me/blagovist_uoc

On October 14, 2025 (which corresponds to October 1 in the Julian calendar), the Church celebrates the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. This feast is not among the twelve great feasts, but it is one of the favorites among the Orthodox Slavic Churches.

On this day, believers remember the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God to those praying in the Blachernae Church in Constantinople in 910, when Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ and his disciple Epiphanius had a vision of the Protection of the Theotokos.

According to some sources, Constantinople was besieged by Muslim Saracens, while others suggest it was the Rus' (supporters of this version indicate that the event might have occurred in 860).

During the all-night vigil, Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ saw the Theotokos walking through the air, illuminated by light and surrounded by angels and saints. At first, She prayed with tears for the Christians, and then She removed the veil from Her head and spread it over the people praying in the church, protecting them from visible and invisible enemies.

The miraculous veil protected the city. A storm arose and scattered the enemy ships, saving the inhabitants of Constantinople from death.

Since 2023, in Ukraine, according to the Julian calendar, the Intercession Feast is celebrated only by the faithful of the UOC. Supporters of the OCU and UGCC celebrated this feast on October 1.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote about the emptiness in the seized Cherkasy Cathedral on the Intercession Feast.

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