Orthodox calendar: what is the church holiday on October 14

Despite the fact that in recent years, religion has taken on an important place in our lives and more people are turning to the church, many of them, sincerely believing themselves to be Orthodox Christians, rather uncertainly orient themselves in such an important attribute for the believer as the church calendar. While the dates of the major Orthodox holidays are known to everyone, the dates of many other holidays for some parishioners, especially for young people, remain a mystery.

Place on October 14 in the Orthodox calendar

Not everyone knows about which church holiday on October 14 is celebrated in the Russian Orthodox Church. The priest of any parish will patiently explain that on this day one of the great bright holidays is celebrated. This celebration is called the Protection of the Blessed Virgin.

Why the holiday bears the name

The very name of the holiday is closely intertwined with its history and meaning. The spread out cover, which the Mother of God holds in her hands in the form of a veil, a wide tape - omophorion, is designed to protect believers from various sorrows, troubles, misfortunes and enemies. This holiday is considered according to the church canons of the Mother See and is celebrated only within the framework of the Russian Orthodox Church. Therefore, on October 14, an Orthodox holiday is dedicated to the Theotokos, Her intercession and patronage.

The history of the feast of the Protection of the Holy Virgin

The event, which owes its appearance on October 14 to an Orthodox holiday, occurred at the beginning of the 10th century AD in the then capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople. It was the time of paganism in Russia, before baptism by Prince Vladimir, it was almost a century ago. In 911 the prince of Kiev, Oleg, nicknamed the Prophet for his propensity for sorcery (witchcraft, witchcraft), uniting Rus' Kiev and Novgorod Novgorod and standing at the head of the Slavic tribes, led troops to conquer Byzantium. Warriors-barbarians under his leadership sought to capture Constantinople, but they managed only to ruin and plunder its surroundings.

The frightened residents of the capital took shelter in the church, where they kept relics - the vesture of the Blessed Virgin, its head cover and parts of the belt. The temple at that time was the only refuge for the townspeople.

Faithfully and faithfully people prayed at the Saints Reese of the Virgin, asking her about the salvation and expulsion of the barbarians. At this time in the church appeared the holy holy-fool Andrew with his disciple Epiphany. The prayers lasted several days, and one day, just on the night of October 14, Epiphanius saw the apparition of the Virgin with John the Baptist and John the Theologian. The Mother of God first walked in the air, then she began to pray with the believers and, taking off the omophorion coverlet, hid them all present in the temple, protecting them from the enemy's attack.

The next morning Prince Oleg ordered his troops to withdraw from the city and hastened to withdraw them from Byzantium, and did not achieve victory. So, the Most Pure Mother of God interceded for the true believers and did not give the Christian people offense to the Gentiles!

Why celebrations on October 14 are celebrated only in Russia

Since then, the events described above on October 14 in Byzantium have been celebrated annually as the Feast of the Virgin, her intercession for the entire Orthodox world. But Byzantium fell and disappeared from the face of the Earth as a state many centuries ago. Slowly, the tradition of celebrating October 14 as an Orthodox holiday in these territories began to fade away. Residents of Turkey, already a Muslim state, have little interest in the development of the history of Christianity in their country in past centuries and almost do not know what Orthodox holiday on October 14 is celebrated by Orthodox Christians.

In Greece, in another world center of Orthodoxy, on mysterious circumstances, on October 14, as the feast of the Mother of God and her intercession did not take root and was not approved by church canons as a celebration. Despite the fact that the Greek Orthodox Christians are sensitive enough to such events in the history of Christianity, they never took on October 14 as an Orthodox holiday.

In the second half of the 12th century, by the time of the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky, the Christian faith in Russia was gaining more and more firm positions. Andrei Bogolyubsky, being a Russian prince and pious Christian, drew particular attention to an episode from the history of the Byzantine period of the development of Christianity. By his special decree from 1164 in Russia and began to celebrate every year on October 14 as the feast of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin.

Why this holiday became one of the most favorite for orthodox Christians of Russia

If you ask Russian Orthodox Christians what church feast is one of their favorites, you can often hear the answer that October 14 is the feast of the Virgin. Those who are alien to these traditions are surprised, can not understand the reasons for such love of a Russian person as to the Most Pure Virgin Mary, and to the celebrations dedicated to her on October 14.

Since the pagan times, the ancient Rus differed in their pride and self-will and always sought independence and freedom, not only physical, but also their views. Never by any force would Prince Vladimir be baptized and christened the spirit of Christianity in Russia, if the Russian soul did not instinctively turn to the religion of light, love and good, did not recognize the Mother of God and Her Son as their relatives, as protectors and patrons of the Russian Land, Felt the constant presence of the Virgin in the heart. It is impossible for a Russian person to be forced into the faith that his soul does not accept, it is impossible to make celebrate those holidays that he does not like.

But, despite the special edict of Andrei Bogolyubsky, no one in Russia specifically planted the veneration of the Virgin and its festivals. The soul of the Russian people responded rather to the real attitude of the Blessed Virgin to the common people, to her love for each person, and not to the historical fact that once happened in Ancient Byzantium. And that's why a Russian person does not fear to entrust her soul and self to himself completely. That's why she honors Her as her own mother and asks for icons with Her way of forgiveness, pardon, blessing and help.

A Russian Orthodox Christian, as in the air, needs Her protection, in Her protection and always looks with faith and hope on Her image with the omophorion spread over those who ask for protection. This faith makes life easier, helps to survive difficulties, does not give place in the hearts of anger and hatred. Therefore, Russian people like to celebrate October 14 - the feast of the Theotokos. And only a Russian person can forgive his abusers and honor the canons prescribed by the Orthodox Church. In response, the Most Holy Theotokos on October 14, every Russian person will have mercy and give his motherly love.

The Virgin's concern for the Russian land

Since ancient times the Most Holy Theotokos is considered the defender of the Russian lands. Russian people call her Matushka and piously believe that for their devotion and love the Mother of God answers them with the same maternal love and securely shields their homeland with a protective veil.

It is difficult to reread all the miracles that were created by Her in the Russian land. No country in the world can boast of the protection of the Mother of God.

She showed special concern for Russia, when foreign invaders threatened the latter, and gave protection to Russian troops. As once in remote Tsargrad, Russian people, following the example of those ancient Christians, prayed before Her icons, if their cities were threatened with the ruin and destruction by invaders. No one else in all of history has been able to conquer, conquer and destroy Russia, covered by the veil of the Mother of God. And it is unlikely that the great generals and brave Russian warriors could win fierce battles only thanks to their valor, if they did not ask the Intercessor to help and protect. Always before the Russian army were the faces of the Saints, Christ the Savior and, of course, the Mother of God.

Help of the Most Pure Mother of God to the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War

And even when the Nazi troops were tormenting Russia, ordinary Russian people, soldiers and priests of a few miraculously surviving churches and temples, secretly from agents of the Soviet counterintelligence and the KGB, prayed to the Mother of God and asked her for help.

Throughout the war and the remaining life, Russian soldiers carried a memory of the moment when the face of the Mother of God appeared to them in the night Stalingrad sky in November 1942, although not all of them knew at that time which Orthodox holiday on October 14 is celebrated by Orthodox Christians. Since that time, the time of the turning point in the war began and the exile of the fascists from the Soviet land.

The army of Hitler, at that time the strongest in the world, conquered and trampled all of Europe, failed to break through to the Volga, could not break the spirit of Russian soldiers, inspired by the vision of the Protectress Protector.

What was seen in the sky over Stalingrad was documented. Several dozen soldiers testified in writing. According to eyewitnesses, who were able to track down tens of years after the war, the vision that they were lucky to see became a real shield for them not only in the war, but in life after it was over. None of these people in the future suffered from Stalin's repression.

Russian traditions associated with the celebration of October 14

What church holiday on October 14 is celebrated with observance of many interesting traditions, of course, those Orthodox Christians who regularly attend church know. These traditions are both church and folk, invented by Russian people themselves, who love fun and fun.

One of the main traditions is that an icon of the Protection of the Holy Virgin must necessarily hang over the entrance door to the house . It is believed that if you do not comply with this condition, the house will remain as unprotected from evil people, as well as vulnerable to impure spirits.

In this bright holiday it is necessary to show special care and attention to sick people, beggars, lonely old people, orphans, widows. In earlier times on this day they were given gifts, mostly clothes. Pious people believed that caring for those in need will make their lives happier.

To enlist the help of the Mother of God for all members of the family, on the eve of the holiday on October 13, the whole family must be sprinkled with holy water through the sieve, while reading the special prayer to the Mother of God.

It is believed that the Blessed Virgin on holidays on October 14 helps young girls, unmarried women and widows to determine a future destiny and find a husband. Therefore, for them, this day is of special significance. Those who want to marry this year, come to church before the holiday, put candles before the icon of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and pray for marriage and happiness in family life.

Many more interesting traditions, rituals, fortune-telling and people's celebrations are connected with the holidays on October 14. And as in any other church holiday, on this day you can not do everyday homework, but you need to go to church with the whole family and ask Mother for protection and intercession. At home, it's best to devote time to reading holy books, talking about the Savior and His Mother, the saints, quietly sincere prayer and spiritual enlightenment.