On October 1, 911, at the time of Emperor Leo the Wise, in the Constantinopolitan church Blachernae there was an all night vigil service. The church was full of reverent people. All were deeply absorbed in prayer. St. Andrew the Fool for Christ and his disciple Epiphanius stood near the back of the church. At four o'clock in the morning they caught sight of the Most Holy Theotokos above the people with an omophorion spread out as though to protect the people underneath with it.

  This revelation, brothers and sisters, is accurate in its symbolism. The Most Holy Mother of God truly does protect and shield the entire human race. We express this conviction by praying to her when holy water is blessed in our homes singing: For if You had not interceded with prayers, who would have freed us from so many troubles, who would have kept us free until now?

  The Most Holy Theotokos intercedes before the throne of God entreating God's loving kindness towards us sinners. She is our defender: for us as individuals and for whole nations; everyone who appeals to her. Are we adequately aware of this?

  In troubled and difficult times Christians have through prayer appealed to the Most Holy Theotokos to deliver them from evil and sickness, to save them from hunger, earthquake, flood, to protect them from enemy invasion ...the Most Holy Theotokos has always been quick to help. We know what these times are like and how much of a necessity protection is to us now, we see and are reassured of it everywhere in every instance. For that reason I am certain that there are more people that cry out for the help of the Most Holy Mother of God than there are gathered on Sundays in our churches. Lord help us if it weren't like that!

  However many mysteries of nature are revealed to us, however much they convince us of the liberation of the modern man, we still stand before many, for us unsolvable mysteries, and furthermore are by far dependent on help for everything from On High. Whether we are aware of that or not , whether we admit it or stubbornly deny it, the truth is that each of us individually and those closest to us have, in isolated difficult and decisive instances in life, had an outstretched hand offer salvation and hope. Have we on bended knees given thanks to the Most Holy Theotokos? We could never have too much of her help.

  For where ever we should step today, which ever way we turn, we can't be certain of what we'll encounter there. We are surrounded by unbridled machines and people who for their own comfort have surrendered their might to these machines. We are no longer certain of even one drink of water, that it is clean, that it is water. We are suspicious that every bite of food is poisoning us with the very poison with which we have poisoned that food. We are losing confidence in people who are in this day and age overburdened with stress. Do we even have faith in our own selves to silence that other person inside us when he bursts forth? In whom then to have faith, if not in the dear Lord and His Mother, the Most Holy Theotokos?

  Prior to the birth of a new man we anxiously and with fear entreat the Mother of God for help. While we nurture that small human being, we see to what extent our protection is little and inadequate. That is why we cry for the greater help of the Mother of God. When he gets sick we go to a doctor to seek help, but in our soul we anxiously pray to the Mother of God for salvation. And so it is throughout the whole of life. We feel that the Most Holy Theotokos shields and protects us under her almighty veil.

  That is why, brothers and sisters, since we already have our good intercessor, by that means our prayers are magnified to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother, the Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady, our Theotokos to defend us from all hardships of these times; from various and terrible and pernicious illnesses; from enemies who attack our souls and bodies. And finally to save us from ourselves.

  Most Holy Lady our Theotokos protect and shield us further with Your Mighty Veil. Deliver us from every harm that we may cry out to You: Rejoice Bride unwedded!

Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Canada