On October 28, the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast Day of the Protection of the Theotokos. She is the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary. In Greece, Agia Skepi on Oxi Day is a double celebration. On that day, the Church honours the Holy Protection of the Theotokos. At the same time, the nation marks its historic “No” of 1940.
The vision of Saint Andrew at Vlachernae
The feast of the Holy Protection of the Mother of God comes from a vision of the holy Father Andrew. He saw it during a Vigil in the Church of Vlachernae in Constantinople. This church held several relics of the Mother of God. They included her veil and part of her Cincture (Sash).
At the Fourth Hour of the night, while deep in prayer, the Saint lifted up his eyes to heaven. Then he beheld the Holy Mother of God watching over the faithful. She was covering them with her holy Veil. Epiphanius, the disciple of Saint Andrew, also proved worthy to see this wonder (miracle). In turn, he confirmed the truth of the vision.
Read more: Virgin Mary of Gorgio Honoured on October 1 as Faithful Seek Her Blessings and Protection
The Veil above the worshippers
The Saint then hastened to the altar. There he opened the coffer containing the Precious Veil of the Queen of the world. Standing in front of the Royal Doors, he then extended it above the worshippers. Upheld by an invisible power, the holy Veil hung in the air. In fact, it was large enough to cover the entire congregation.
Then, amid a sheltering burst of Light, the Mother of God went up into Heaven and out of sight. She left the Christian faithful the Holy Veil as a pledge of Her loving protection.
Many times the Mother of God gave clear evidence of her protection of the Imperial City. She did the same, by analogy, for the entire Holy Church of Christ, the New Jerusalem. Indeed, everywhere and at every moment, the Sovereign Lady of the world casts her Veil mystically over Christians. She prays and intercedes with her Son and Lord for the salvation of the world.
The Mother of God, Protectress of the faithful
The Holy Orthodox Church has always glorified the Most Holy Mother of God. It honours her as the Protectress and Defender of the Christian people. Through her intercessions (prayers), the Church entreats God’s loving-kindness towards us sinners. Indeed, times without number, she has clearly shown her aid. Individuals and whole peoples have received it, both in peace and in war. It has reached monastic deserts and crowded cities alike.
“…She was clad in gold-encrusted purple and shone with an unspeakable radiance, surrounded by the Holy Apostles, Saints, Martyrs, and holy virgins. Seeing the vision, Saint Andrew gestured towards it and asked Epiphanius, ‘Do you see how the Queen and Lady of all is praying for the whole world?’ Epiphanius replied, ‘Yes, Father; I see it and stand in dread.’”
Because of this wonderful miracle of the Theotokos, we keep a yearly feast of gratitude. Greeks celebrate it as Agia Skepi on Oxi Day. We implore our Lady never to cease sheltering us and the world in her mighty and holy prayers.
The icon of the Holy Protection
The holy icon of the Holy Protection depicts the feast. The Theotokos stands above the faithful Christians, draped with a veil. She holds her arms open in prayer. Angels also stand on both sides of her.
In most icons, Saint Andrew and his disciple Epiphanius appear in the lower right. Saint Epiphanius wears a tunic under his cloak and seems astonished at the miraculous appearance. Saint Andrew, however, wears only a cloak.
Below the Theotokos stands a figure holding an open scroll. This is Saint Romanos the Melodist, the famous hymnographer. His scroll carries the text of the Kontakion of the Nativity, in honour of the Mother of God. Saint Romanos also has his own feast on October 1st. His choir is with him, as are the Emperor Leo the Wise, the Empress and the Patriarch of Constantinople.
Why Greece celebrates Agia Skepi on Oxi Day
Most of the Orthodox Christian world celebrates the Holy Protection, or Agia Skepi, of the Theotokos on October 1st. This follows ancient Orthodox Tradition. Greeks, however, celebrate the Feast Day of the Agia Skepi (Holy Protection) on October 28th. They do so as a special holiday. In this way, they invite the secular government of Greece (Hellas) to honour the Mother of God. The reason is her loving protection of the Greek Nation during World War II.
From Byzantium to 1952
Tradition places the vision at Vlachernae in the 10th century. This was during the reign of Emperor Leo VI the Wise (886–912). Later, the Church established the feast on October 1st to honour this great miracle.
People sometimes confuse the Protection with an earlier deliverance of the city. In 626 A.D., the Avars (nomads from the Eurasian steppe) besieged Constantinople with their Persian and Slav allies. However, the miraculous intervention of the Theotokos saved the city. The Church gives thanks for that deliverance through the Akathist Hymn. The faithful chant this hymn during Great Lent.
Greeks celebrated the feast on October 1st until 21st October 1952. On that date, the Holy Synod (Council) of the Church of Greece approved a joint celebration. From then on, Greece would celebrate a dual feast: the Holy Protection and the national holiday of ‘Oxi’ (‘No’) Day. Oxi Day commemorates the day when Greece said NO to the Axis powers, fascism and nazism. The renowned Athonite hymnographer, the monk Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis, wrote the hymns for the new feast. Since then, Agia Skepi on Oxi Day has been both a church feast and a national celebration.
Pokrov in the Slavic Orthodox churches
Greeks keep Agia Skepi on Oxi Day. However, the Slavic Orthodox Churches still keep the feast on October 1st. They follow the Julian calendar, so on the civil calendar that date falls on October 14th. The faithful in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus especially love this feast, known as Pokrov. There, it ranks among the most important feasts of the Church year after Pascha and the Twelve Great Feasts.
