Weeping Queen at Blachernae
В ночь Покрова чудо во Влахернском храме видели только двое. Все остальные молились и не видели ничего. Но благодать досталась и им.
The Life of Blessed Andrew says only a few words about him. Epiphanius came to the night service at the Blachernae church "with one of his servants." We do not know the servant's name. What he thought and what he prayed about is also unknown. One thing is clear: he was not among those who saw the miracle.
He stood in the same church, together with the saints. Perhaps quite close by. Perhaps he was nodding off from weariness, for all-night vigils in those days sometimes lasted until midnight, and even until dawn. And above his head, at that very moment, the Mother of God Herself was praying.
We are accustomed to associating the feast of the Protection with a vision. But if we read the ancient text closely, it turns out to be a feast of those who pray yet see nothing.
Only two witnesses
Blessed Andrew was a fool for Christ's sake. The Life calls him "a Slav by birth." Once, as a slave, he was bought by a Constantinopolitan master. Andrew would come to the Blachernae church, where the robe of the Mother of God was kept, "going about his usual affairs" – that is, outwardly he did not stand out among those at prayer.
That night the church was full. At the fourth hour of the night, Andrew saw the Mother of God, "very tall, accompanied by awesome attendants." She was supported by John the Forerunner and the Apostle John the Theologian. She entered through the Royal Doors and walked to the ambo.
Andrew approached Epiphanius and asked:
– Do you see the Lady and Queen of the world?
– I see Her, my father.
These were all the witnesses. Two. The rest stood, crossed themselves, listened to the readings and the singing. But they did not notice the miracle.
Tears instead of radiance
We are accustomed to picturing the Protection solemnly, forgetting that on that day the Mother of God "knelt down and prayed for a long time, bathing Her godlike face with tears."
The Queen of Heaven came to people not to show Her majesty. She wept.
Then She removed the maphorion from Her head – the large woman's veil that covered the head and shoulders – and spread it over the people. According to the words of the Life of Blessed Andrew, it shone "like lightning" and radiated the glory of God.
Such is this remarkable picture: the spiritual Mother weeps and prays for Her spiritual children, who do not even know that She is beside them at this moment.
The Mother of God departed, grace remained
While the Most Holy Mother of God was in the church, the saints saw the veil spread over them. Then, after Her departure, "She took it, evidently, with Her, but left grace to those who were there."
The Life emphasizes that grace was given to everyone. Not only to Andrew and Epiphanius. To everyone. To Epiphanius's sleeping servant, and to the weary widow by the pillar, and to the merchant who was thinking about his business.
Grace was not given only to those who managed to see the miracle. It was given to everyone who came to the church to pray.
The kontakion of the feast speaks of the same thing: "Today the Virgin stands in the church, and with the choir of saints invisibly prays to God for us." Invisibly is the key word. Most of us will never see living holiness. But this does not mean that it passes us by.
A revelation to the ascetic
The Venerable Silouan of Athos knew this from his own experience. In his youth he received an admonition from the Most Holy Theotokos. Once She told him that it was not good for Her to look upon what he was doing. The words of the Most Pure One were «quiet and meek,» and for more than forty years the elder could not forget them. He recalled: «I did not see Her, but the Holy Spirit let me know Her and Her love for us.»
The great ascetic did not see the Mother of God, but he came to know Her all-embracing love for people. Of this love he said: «She dwells in heaven and unceasingly beholds the glory of God, yet She does not forget us poor ones either, and covers the whole earth and all peoples with Her mercy.»
The Protection of the Queen of Heaven extends over all. Even over those who feel nothing now and are losing their faith under the burden of problems and hardships.
Prayer in the darkness of the soul
Many believers know well the state of standing at a service with one's head in the clouds. You pray – and the only answer is silence. It is frightening, unsettling; it seems that God has turned away. And then a thought comes: surely something is wrong with me. Others experience something, see, feel, while I am empty.
The story of the Protection reminds us that in the entire Blachernae church only two people saw the miracle. All the others were in the same spiritual darkness as we are. And the Mother of God wept and prayed for them. Her protection extended over those who did not lift their eyes to Heaven.
A feast of a forgotten story
For a long time this event had no feast of its own. One ancient author wondered that such a «fearful and merciful vision» had remained without a celebration. To make up for this lack, the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos gradually appeared in the Church. In Rus' it began to be celebrated, probably, in the twelfth century.
On this day the Gospel about Martha and Mary is read in church, as on all feasts in honor of the Mother of God. Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) explained that the Mother of God not only served Christ but also knew how to listen, like Mary, «keeping all His words in Her heart.»
Mary at the feet of Christ simply sat and listened to Him, for which she earned God's praise. Therefore the Protection is a special feast for all who pray without visions, without sensations, without an immediate answer from above. The Mother of God does not require us to see Her. She asks only that we come to Her with a pure heart and stand beneath Her prayerful protection.
