Giovanni Guaita
YouTube
Hieromonk John Guaita on the Feast of the Protection and a mother's coat
5:17
What the video says
The Church celebrates the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God on October 14 (October 1 Old Style). The feast commemorates an apparition during a siege of Constantinople when the fools for Christ Andrew and Epiphanius saw the Mother of God spread her veil over the city at the Blachernae Church, after which the enemies retreated.
The feast became exceptionally popular in the Russian Orthodox Church, with many churches built in its honor in the 12th century, including the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, yet it is absent from the Greek calendar and Byzantine liturgical tradition. The historical siege referenced is uncertain; Constantinople faced sieges by Saracens and Bulgarians in the 10th century and by the Rus' in the 9th century when they first appeared in Byzantine chronicles.
Some theologians suggest Andrew and Epiphanius were of Rus' origin, and the speaker notes the irony if the Rus' were the besiegers. Falling in mid-autumn when cold sets in, the feast recalls Lermontov's phrase "warm intercessor of the cold world," and the speaker compares the Mother of God's protection to a child finding comfort in a mother's coat.
Key moments
- Feast of Protection of Mother of God celebrated Oct 14 (Oct 1 Old Style), commemorates apparition during siege of Constantinople at Blachernae Church.
- Fools for Christ Andrew and Epiphanius saw Mother of God remove veil and spread it over city; enemies retreated, city saved.
- Feast very popular in Russian Orthodox Church; 12th century many churches built in its honor, notably Church of Intercession on Nerl.
- Greeks hardly know this feast; not in their calendar or Byzantine liturgical tradition; perceived as purely Russian feast; unclear which historical siege it refers to.
- Constantinople besieged many times: 10th century by Saracens and Bulgarians; 9th century by Rus' during their first appearance in Byzantine chronicles.
- Some preachers hypothesize Andrew and Epiphanius were of Rus' origin; speaker finds it interesting if Rus' were the besiegers, showing history's unpredictability.
- Feast falls in mid-autumn when cold; reminds of intercessor, "warm intercessor of the cold world" (Lermontov 1814-1841); need spiritual warmth and protection.
- Speaker's childhood memory: at age 3-4, fell, hurt, mother absent, hugged her coat with her scent, felt comforted; Mother of God protects similarly in cold difficult times.
Hieromonk Giovanni Guaita published a meditation on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God on October 14, 2024 (October 1 Old Style). The feast commemorates an apparition during a siege of Constantinople when the fools for Christ Andrew and Epiphanius saw the Mother of God remove her veil and spread it over the city at the Blachernae Church, after which the enemies retreated and the city was saved.
Guaita notes the feast became popular in the Russian Orthodox Church, with many churches built in its honor in the 12th century, including the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, yet it is absent from the Greek calendar and Byzantine liturgical tradition and is perceived as a purely Russian feast. The historical siege referenced remains uncertain; Constantinople faced sieges by Saracens and Bulgarians in the 10th century and by the Rus' in the 9th century during their first appearance in Byzantine chronicles.
Some preachers hypothesize that Andrew and Epiphanius were of Rus' origin, and Guaita finds it interesting if the Rus' were the besiegers, showing history's unpredictability. Falling in mid-autumn when cold sets in, the feast recalls Lermontov's phrase "warm intercessor of the cold world" (Lermontov 1814 to 1841), pointing to a need for spiritual warmth and protection.
Guaita compares the Mother of God's protection to a childhood memory: at age three or four, he fell and hurt himself while his mother was absent; he hugged her coat, smelled her scent, and felt comforted. He says the Mother of God protects similarly in cold, difficult times. The meditation is available in English, Russian, Italian, French, and Spanish.
Main points
- Feast of Protection celebrated Oct 14 (Oct 1 Old Style), commemorates apparition to fools for Christ Andrew and Epiphanius at Blachernae Church during siege of Constantinople.
- Mother of God spread veil over city; enemies retreated; feast popular in Russian Orthodox Church with 12th-century churches like Intercession on the Nerl, but absent from Greek calendar.
- Historical siege uncertain: 10th-century Saracen and Bulgarian sieges, 9th-century Rus' siege; some suggest Andrew and Epiphanius were of Rus' origin.
- Guaita notes irony if Rus' were besiegers; feast falls in mid-autumn, evoking Lermontov's "warm intercessor of the cold world."
- Guaita compares the Mother of God's protection to childhood memory of hugging mother's coat for comfort when she was absent.