Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On October 1^st of each year, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.  On that day, the Church sings: “Today the Virgin stands in the midst of the Church, and with choirs of Saints she invisibly prays to God for us. Angels and Bishops venerate Her, Apostles and prophets rejoice together, Since for our sake she prays to the Eternal God!”

The Website of the Orthodox Church in America recounts the history of this feast and its meaning:  

“(The) miraculous appearance of the Mother of God occurred in the mid-tenth century in Constantinople, in the Blachernae church where her robe, veil, and part of her belt were preserved after being transferred from Palestine in the fifth century.  On Sunday, October 1, during the All Night Vigil, when the church was overflowing with those at prayer, the Fool-for-Christ Saint Andrew (October 2), 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. Saint 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.” Saint 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.”

The Ever-Blessed Mother of God implored the Lord Jesus Christ to accept the prayers of all the people calling on His Most Holy Name, and to respond speedily to her intercession, “O Heavenly King, accept all those who pray to You and call on my name for help. Do not let them go away from my icon unheard.” 

In the PROLOGUE, a Russian book of the twelfth century, a description of the establishment of the special Feast marking this event states, “For when we heard, we realized how wondrous and merciful was the vision... and it transpired that Your holy Protection should not remain without festal celebration, O Ever-Blessed One!”  Therefore, in the festal celebration of the Protection of the Mother of God, the Orthodox Church sings, “With the choirs of the Angels, O Sovereign Lady, with the venerable and glorious prophets, with the First-Ranked Apostles and with the Hieromartyrs and Hierarchs, pray for us sinners, glorifying the Feast of your Protection…”

On the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos we implore the defense and assistance of the Queen of Heaven, “Remember us in your prayers, O Lady Virgin Mother of God,  that we not perish by the increase of our sins. Protect us from every evil and from grievous woes, for in you do we hope, and venerating the Feast of your Protection, we magnify you.”

Recalling the words “You always protect those who honor you,” we pray that the Holy Theotokos may continue to watch over, protect, and intercede for our parish, our families, and all our loved ones.

With love in the Lord, 

+Bishop Daniel

WHAT IS THE PRIMATE OF A CHURCH?

There are 15 Orthodox Church Primates (First Hierarchs, Presiding Bishops) throughout the world.  Metropolitan Tikhon, who bears the title “Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada,” is the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, the youngest autocephalous Church, which will celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of its autocephaly in 2020.  The primate of an autocephalous church, who is the first among the bishops, has the additional responsibility of overseeing the internal and external welfare of that church and represents it in its relations with other autocephalous Orthodox churches, religious organizations, and secular authorities.

His name is elevated during liturgical services by the other bishops of the autocephalous church. The primate elevates the names of the other heads of autocephalous Orthodox churches at Divine services. Liturgical duties varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but normally this hierarch is responsible for such tasks as the consecration and distribution of the Holy Chrism, providing the diocesan bishops with the holy relics necessary for the consecration of church altars and holy antimins, and confirming the elections of bishops.  Administrative duties may include the convening and presiding over the meetings of the Holy Synod and other councils, receiving petitions for admission of clergy from other Orthodox churches, initiating the action to fill vacancies in the office of diocesan bishops, and issuing pastoral letters addressed to the bishops, clergy, and laity of the Church. He also advises his brother bishops, and in cases of necessity, submits their cases to the Holy Synod. He has the honor of pastoral initiative and guidance, and, when necessary, the right of pastoral intervention, in all matters concerning the life of the Church within the structure of the holy canons. (Taken from The Statute of the Orthodox Church in America, Article IV, The Metropolitan.  (https://www.oca.org/statute/article-iv)