On the eve of the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Trinity Cathedral of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery, a hierarchical service was held there that added an air of a particular solemnity to the celebration. Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas presided at the vigil service. Archbishop Dimitry of Vitebsk and Orsha concelebrated His Eminence.

The miraculous appearance of the Mother of God the Holy Church remembered today occurred in the mid-tenth century in Constantinople, in the Blachernae Church where Her robe and part of her belt were preserved. On Sunday, October 1, during the All Night Vigil, the Fool-for-Christ Saint Andrew and his disciple Epiphany beheld the Mother of God coming through the air from the Royal Doors. The Mother of God was resplendent with heavenly light and surrounded by the angels and saints. At first, She tearfully prayed for all Christians and then took Her veil and spread it over the people praying inside the church, protecting them from enemies both visible and invisible.

The Russian people grew fond of this feast more than any other nation and celebrated it as a great and joyful revelation of the profound love of the Mother God and Her luminous protection over the world.

The Queen of Heaven is the Heavenly intercessor for the mankind Who lifts us in our prayers to the Throne of God. The afflictions, the sins, and the sorrows of the world bring sadness to the Mother of God. She tearfully prays with us and on our behalf. The heart of the Most Holy Mother of God accommodates anyone who appeals to Her. Her motherly love is the inexhaustible source of joy, protection, and assistance to every sinful man.

On the eve of the vigil service, the head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolia congratulated everyone with the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Lady the Mother of God. Vladyka Georgiy noted that today’s feast is a special one for the land of Rus. Our Motherland always remains under the Protection Veil of the Queen of Heaven. In peaceful times we don’t think of its existence, but at the time of trouble, when man sees how feeble his own efforts are, he directs the eyes upwards to the Most Holy Virgin and appeals: “We have no other help, we have no other hope but You, O Sovereign Lady.” Our appeals to the Mother of God, stressed Metropolitan Georgiy, are never left unanswered, and She again and again stretches Her Protection Veil interceding for everyone who seeks Her help.