Contemporary Icon of the Protecting Veil of the Theotokus
(Agia Skepi)
Paint and gold leaf on panel, commissioned by St. Innocent
Press, Indiana
This traditional icon recalls one of the great feasts of the
Orthodox Church, the appearance of the Mother of God (Theotokus) at
Constantinople in the early tenth century:
"On Sunday, October 1, during the All Night Vigil, when
the church was overflowing with those at prayer, St Andrew, the
Fool-for-Christ, at the fourth hour, lifted up his eyes towards the heavens and
beheld our most Holy Lady Theotokos coming through the air, resplendent with
heavenly light and surrounded by an assembly of the Saints. St John the Baptist
and the holy Apostle John the Theologian accompanied the Queen of Heaven. On
bended knees the Most Holy Virgin tearfully prayed for Christians for a long
time. Then, coming near the Bishop's Throne, she continued her prayer.
After completing her prayer she took her veil and spread it over the people praying in church, protecting them from enemies both visible and invisible. The Most Holy Lady Theotokos was resplendent with heavenly glory, and the protecting veil in her hands gleamed 'more than the rays of the sun.' St Andrew gazed trembling at the miraculous vision and he asked his disciple, the blessed Epiphanius standing beside him, 'Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, praying for all the world?' Epiphanius answered, 'I do see, holy Father, and I am in awe.'" (Primary Chronicle of St. Nestor)
After completing her prayer she took her veil and spread it over the people praying in church, protecting them from enemies both visible and invisible. The Most Holy Lady Theotokos was resplendent with heavenly glory, and the protecting veil in her hands gleamed 'more than the rays of the sun.' St Andrew gazed trembling at the miraculous vision and he asked his disciple, the blessed Epiphanius standing beside him, 'Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, praying for all the world?' Epiphanius answered, 'I do see, holy Father, and I am in awe.'" (Primary Chronicle of St. Nestor)
Here is the beautiful prayer (troparion) for the feast:
Today the faithful celebrate the feast with joy
illumined by your coming, O Mother of God.
Beholding your pure image we fervently cry to you:
"Encompass us beneath the precious veil of your
protection;
deliver us from every form of evil by entreating Christ
your Son and our God that He may save our souls."
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