Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Protection of the Mother of God
Today the Holy Church celebrates the Protection of the Most-Holy Mother of God. This feast stems from the vision of St Andrew, the Fool-for-Christ, in Constantinople. Nevertheless, it has become a much-loved celebration of the Russian Christians, who have dedicated innumerable churches and chapels to this feast, celebrating it with much splendor and solemnity.
Every Orthodox Christian, living in the modern world, understands that we urgently require the help of the Most-Holy Lady, the Mother of God:
In these latter and heavy times, when due to the increase of our sins, our troubles also have increased - fulfilling the words of the Holy Apostle Paul: “Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness…..“- in these times, when, as our Lord Himself predicted, nation is rising up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there are famines, plagues, and earthquakes in places, when the invasion of alien peoples are crushing us, as are civil wars and deathly wounds - in these evil times, the Most-Holy and Most-blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, defends us with Her Protection, so as to free us from all kinds of troubles, to keep us from famine, death, and earthquakes, save us from wars and injury, and keep us unharmed under Her Protection.
St Dimitry of Rostov (18th century)
By Her prayers to Her Son, the Most-Holy Virgin can effectuate a change, not only in the events of the world around us, but also in the souls of the most hardened sinners - making them saints!
She makes apostles of sorcerers, evangelists of tax collectors, and causes harlots to become more pure than virgins.
St Anastasios the Sinaite (7th century)
This can happen if we, although sinners, repent, humbly ask Her help, accept and patiently carry the personal Cross our Lord has appointed for each one of us. Without the Mother of God to help us and lead us on the path of this Cross-bearing life, we would be lost:
It cannot happen that anyone, of angels or of men, can come otherwise, in any way whatsoever to participation in the divine gifts flowing from what has been divinely assumed, from the Son of God, save through His Mother.
St Theophanes the branded (14th century)
Indeed, the Mother of God is our hope and guide on the path of salvation!
Holy Virgin, our Lady! O thou, whose love toward Christians surpasses the love of every earthborn mother and of every wife, hear our prayers and save us! May we constantly remember thee! May we always pray fervently to thee! May we even undoubtingly take refuge beneath thy holy Protection!
St John of Kronstadt (19th century)
