The Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a great holiday that the Ukrainian people celebrated every year on October 14, and with the transition to the new calendar - on October 1. This day is a kind of reminder of the intercession of the Virgin Mary for the human race through prayer. To this day, the feast of the Intercession is celebrated in all cities and villages of Ukraine. It is believed that the Holy Virgin Mary will protect those who asked her for help on this day throughout the year. The feast of the Intercession has long had a sacred meaning for the Ukrainian people.

History of the feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Many scientists and historians have been involved in studying the history of this holiday. Despite the fact that there are still many inaccuracies and controversial issues, one thing can be said for sure - the emergence of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary is associated with the siege of Constantinople and the miraculous salvation of people thanks to the intercession of the Mother of God.

The name of the holiday is associated with the head covering of the Virgin Mary, also called the maphorion or omophorion (in Russia).

According to ancient descriptions, during the siege, people hid in the Blachernae church and prayed to the Mother of God for salvation. Among those people were two who were pleasing to God - Andrew the Fool and Saint Epiphanius. They prayed tearfully before the iconostasis for the salvation of the city and its inhabitants. After some time, they saw the Most Holy Virgin, who covered them with the omophorion and began to pray with them. After some time, the siege was lifted, the troops retreated, and the city was saved from a terrible fate.

Since then, the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos has been celebrated, which is a kind of symbol of faith in miraculous salvation and protection from the Mother of God.

The role of the Intercession in the history of Ukraine

The holiday of the Intercession acquired great importance for the Cossacks. On this day, a new ataman was usually elected. Ukrainian Cossacks believed that this holiday could protect them all year round, and the Virgin Mary was considered the intercessor and patroness of the army. In honor of this holiday, the Cossacks built many temples, some of which have survived to this day.

In Ukraine, this holiday also acquired a second name - Cossack Intercession, which is celebrated on October 1, as well as the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks. Our soldiers believed that the Mother of God protects them in distant campaigns, which is why her image was always present on the crosses that the Cossacks carried with them.

Traditions of celebrating the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos

The holiday of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos began with prayers and a morning service in the church. Earlier, widows and single girls came from all who prayed to come under the protection of the Mother of God.

On this day, the Ukrainian people asked the Virgin Mary for health, help, protection from misfortune and various troubles, as well as for family happiness and well-being. Our ancestors believed that the Mother of God would protect everyone who turned to her on this day. Such beliefs have survived to this day. Young girls often asked for a happy family life, beauty and youth.

In Ukraine, the Protection of the Virgin Mary was timed to the end of field work and mushroom picking in the forest, as well as to the first “Wintering”. Often on this day, the stove was lit for the first time. And so that all family members were healthy, the hostess took a richly embroidered towel over the icon of the Mother of God and hung it over the front door. For family comfort and well-being, there was a tradition to bake pancakes on this day. Many families moved into a new house, believing that the Mother of God would protect it all year round.

On the Day of the Protection of the Virgin, travelers and wanderers usually returned to their native land to celebrate with their families and say a prayer with a request to the Mother of God.

Folk signs and customs on the Day of the Protection of the Virgin

Since the Day of the Protection of the Virgin had a sacred meaning for the Ukrainian people, there are a considerable number of folk signs that have found their echo to this day.

What is the weather on the holiday - such will be the winter.
If snow fell on the Day of the Protection - then it will definitely be on St. Dmitry's Day (November 8).
The cranes flew away before the Day of the Protection - there will be an early winter.
If there is no snow on this day - then there will be no snow in November and December.

Signs concerned not only weather conditions, you can often find beliefs of future newlyweds and weddings:

Play a wedding on the Day of the Protection of the Virgin - the bride and groom will live soul to soul.
Snow during a wedding on this day - family life will be full of happiness.
Strong wind on the Intercession of the Virgin - there will be many brides in the coming year.
Having a fun holiday - meant finding a good groom.
Meeting a guy on the Intercession - to a quick wedding.
A lot of snow on this day - to a large number of weddings in the coming year.

What not to do on the Intercession

Among the things that you can not do on the Intercession are the following:

to engage in physical labor, except for preparing a festive table;
to swear, quarrel, wish ill fate on other people;
to refuse hospitality, because the more guests on this day, the greater the prosperity of the family;
to drink alcohol and overeat, despite the fact that there is no fasting on this day, it is still better to observe moderation during the celebration.

The Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a holiday that has a sacred meaning for the Ukrainian people, it has always been associated with many signs, beliefs and faith in the protection of the human race by the Mother of God.

The Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in modern life

To this day, the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered one of the most auspicious days for celebrating a wedding. Modern Ukrainians, just like our ancestors, visit temples and churches to ask the Mother of God for a happy fate, health, family well-being and a quick marriage.

This holiday is also of great importance for our soldiers who defend Ukraine from invaders, because the appearance of the Mother of God in Constantinople took place precisely during military events. In our country, this holiday is celebrated together with the Day of the Defender and the Defender of Ukraine, the Day of the UPA and the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks. For all military personnel, the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a wonderful opportunity to pray for peace in Ukraine, for the indomitability of the Ukrainian spirit, the independence of Ukraine, and for the patronage and protection of the Mother of God in battle.

The wives and children of military personnel also turn to the Mother of God with a request to protect our heroes at the front.

Preservation of the traditions of celebrating the Intercession in the modern world

The preservation of the traditions of holding the Intercession can be said not only in relation to Ukraine. Many Christian countries still celebrate the Intercession of the Virgin Mary, gathering at the festive table with the whole family, visiting fairs and special events, participating in the morning service, etc.

The history of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary originates in Constantinople, but this holiday has found an echo in many nations, strengthening faith in the miraculous salvation, protection and patronage of the Mother of God.