Orthodox icon | Pokrov | Intercession of the Mother of God | 24889

The feast of the Mother of God Pokrov is celebrated on October 1 in memory of the apparition of the Mother of God in the Blachernae Church in Constantinople. There the dress, the veil and part of the belt of the Mother of God were kept. During the service, Saint Andrew (the Fool-for-Christ, died 956) and his disciple Epiphanius saw the Mother of God walking to the Ambon, supported by Saint John the Baptist and John the Evangelist and accompanied by several saints. She approached the altar, turned to the people, took the veil that enveloped her and spread it over all the people standing in the church. Only Andrew and Epiphanius could see the appearance of the Mother of God, but everyone present felt the grace of her intercession.

On the icon, the Mother of God hovers on a small cloud, holding the veil. The saints on her right are led by John the Theologian, the saints on her left by John the Baptist. Andreas as a Fool-for-Christ (October 2) and his pupil Epiphanius are shown at the bottom. In the middle of the church stands a young man, Romanos the Melodist (October 1) with the Emperor and the Empress. He is a famous hymnographer from the 6th or 8th century.