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The Intercession is considered one of the most important Orthodox holidays.
What a holiday today. On October 14, Christians celebrate the great feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The holiday is based on the legend about the appearance of Andrew, Christ, the Mother of God in the Blachernae Church in Constantinople, in which the mantle of the Mother of God was kept. The liturgical characteristics correspond in many respects to the twelve-year feasts of the Theotokos, although the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos itself belongs to the great feasts.
October 14, Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (photo: ysia.ru)
The Protection of the Blessed Theotokos was venerated in Kievan Rus as a symbol of the special patronage of the Mother of God of the Russian land. According to the researchers, “the social principle inherent in the symbol of the Intercession” was of great importance to medieval Russia. The specificity of this festival lies in the veneration of the images of the Church as “cover, fence, protection”.
Traditions and signs
This day is associated with signs and traditions. Pokrova is believed to be the first truly autumnal holiday. From that day on, the girls’ night gatherings and the fall wedding season began.
In popular tradition, this day was marked by the meeting of autumn and winter. The very name of the popular etymology is connected with the first snow, which “covered” the earth, indicating the proximity of the winter cold. The most important sign of our ancestors was this: “What Pokrova is like winter.”
Of course, on this day it is customary to go to the Mother of God with prayer and ask her for good health, help, support and protection, as well as help in family life and, of course, in love. If this is done, throughout the year the Mother of God protects the person who asks for her help on this day, covering them with her veil.
The main signs of this day
- If the wind blows from the east or west, expect a harsh winter, if it is from the south, mild, if it is from the north, with snow.
- If the leaves of the trees completely fly across the Pokrov, the winter will be light, snowy. If they stay, severe frosts will come.
- The cranes flew away before the holidays: it will be cold in winter, then it will be hot.
- Snow fell in Pokrov: Dmitriev’s day (November 8) will also be snowed.
- If there is no snow that day, it will not fall until December.
What not to do in Veil
- It is not customary for Pokrov to do housework, cleaning and washing. You can only prepare a festive dinner.
- Deny hospitality. The more you receive your guests, the more prosperity there will be in the house.
- Swearing and cursing should never be done on a major holiday.
- Drink alcohol and overeat.
On this day, you can and should take a bridal walk. From this date the winter wedding season began.
Please note that on this date Ukraine also celebrates Defender’s Day. Across the country, this day is declared a day off.
Previously we also wrote how many days off and working days there will be in October.
It was also reported when and in which direction Ukrainians will have to adjust their clocks to winter time.
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