The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the most beloved Orthodox holidays, which is celebrated on October 14. Many icons are dedicated to him. They depict the Virgin Mary extending her veil as a sign of special protection. This is how this holiday was interpreted in Russia.
History of the Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos
The Orthodox holiday of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos was based on an event that, according to legend, took place in Constantinople in the first half of the 10th century (in 910).
The life of the blessed Andrew the Fool tells about the apparition of the Mother of God in the Blakherna church, witnessed by Andrew himself and his disciple Epiphanius. At that time, the capital of Byzantium was besieged by the Saracens. In the Blachernae Church, sacred relics were kept - the robe of the Blessed Virgin, part of her belt and an omorph (headdress).
Fleeing from enemies, many residents of the city took refuge in the temple in the hope of the mercy and intercession of the Queen of Heaven. During the all-night vigil, blessed Andrew and his disciple had a vision. Accompanied by the angels, John the Baptist and John the Theologian, the Virgin Mary approached the altar, prayed for the people, and then took off her maforium (cloak) and, holding it, spread it over all those gathered in the temple. As if she wanted to intercede for them before the Savior and hide from possible troubles. This miracle marked the beginning of a special church service in honor of the Mother of God.
The Russian Orthodox Church has been celebrating the Feast of the Intercession since 1164. And in 1165, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky built a temple on the Nerl River, consecrated in honor of the Intercession.
The meaning of the icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos
In Byzantium, there was a custom to close the image of the Blessed Virgin with a veil, and, according to legend, once a week this veil was miraculously lifted for several hours, revealing the icon.
However, there was no Intercession holiday in Byzantium. Accordingly, the canons of the image of this event on the icons did not work out either. Such images appeared only in Russia in the XIII century.
One of the earliest icons of the Intercession is the image on the western gates of the Suzdal Cathedral. By the beginning of the next century, 2 versions of the image of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos were formed: either the Virgin Mary holds the veil in her hands, or it is stretched over the Mother of God.
In these icons, Mary is often depicted in the pose of an oranta with her hands raised for prayer. The veil seems to soar before the Mother of God, touching her raised hands.
On a 14th-century Novgorod icon, angels support the soaring veil of the Mother of God, and above it, with outstretched hands in a blessing gesture, the figure of the Savior shines.
As a rule, both versions of the Pokrovsky icons are multi-figured. Framed by arches and domes, the artists depict the people gathered in the church, blessed Andrew with a disciple, as well as the saints, the apostles and John the Baptist. Angels rush to Mary from both sides, as to the motionless center of the world.
The strict symmetry in the arrangement of figures and architectural details, inherent in the Pokrovsky icons, serves to express inner unity, festive collegiality. All faces are turned to the Mother of God in a single bright impulse. She is a wonderful veil, whose protection is bestowed on the entire human race. This is the main meaning of the icon of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.
