Orthodox Church celebrates Intercession of Most Holy Theotokos

The Icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Photo: blagovist.info

Believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrate the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on October 14, 2026 (October 1 on the Julian calendar). The feast is not among the Twelve Great Feasts (the twelve principal feasts of the church year), but it is one of the best-loved among the Orthodox Slavic Churches.

The feast was established in honor of a miraculous event that took place in 910 in Constantinople, when Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ and his disciple Epiphanius were granted a vision of the Protection of the Mother of God.

These were difficult times for Byzantium. The empire was threatened with attack by the Saracens, who professed Islam. When the barbarian armies approached Constantinople, the residents of the Byzantine capital were already preparing for death and, seeing no help from any quarter, flocked in great numbers to the Blachernae church, where the robe of the Theotokos and Her head covering were kept, and prayed.

On Sunday, October 1, 910, during the all-night vigil, Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ saw the Theotokos walking through the air, illumined by light and surrounded by angels and saints. At first She prayed with tears for Christians, and then She took the veil from Her head and spread it over the people praying in the church, protecting them from enemies visible and invisible.

Since 2023, in Ukraine only UOC believers celebrate the Intercession of the Theotokos on the Julian calendar date. Supporters of the OCU and the UGCC marked this feast on October 1.

Today the Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian, Russian and Polish (since 2014) Churches live by the Julian calendar. The monasteries of Mount Athos also follow it. For all of them, October 1 Old Style falls on October 14 on the civil calendar. The Polish Church is often described in this list as following the Julian calendar only partially.

As the UOJ reported, OCU communities have begun switching to the New Julian calendar.

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