Thursday, 1 October 2026

Protection (Pokrov) of the Most-Holy Theotokos

Thursday of the 18th week after Pentecost

172 days after Pascha · Tone 8 · Red cross circle (great feast typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Protection of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary

On October 1, 911, during the reign of Emperor Leo the Wise, an all-night vigil was being held at the Blachernae Church of the Mother of God in Constantinople, with many of the faithful crowding the church. St Andrew the Fool for Christ (commemorated tomorrow, October 2) was standing at the back of the church with his disciple Epiphanius. At around four in the morning, the most holy Theotokos appeared above the people, clothed in resplendent garments, surrounded by indescribable radiance, and holding a veil in her outstretched hands, as though to protect all the people. St Andrew said to Epiphanius ‘Do you see how the Queen and Lady of all is praying for the whole world?’ Epiphanius replied ‘Yes, Father, I see it and stand in dread.’ This wonderful event is recorded in Epiphanius’ life of St Andrew. Because of it, the Church keeps an annual feast on this date.

Note: This feast is particularly well-loved in the Slavic churches. In 1960, the Greek church transferred its observance to October 28, in memory of the Mother of God’s protection of the Greek forces holding the Albanian front against Italy in 1940.

Holy Apostle Ananias of the Seventy, Bishop of Damascus

The Holy Apostle Ananias was one of the Seventy Apostles and the first Bishop of Damascus. He is named in the Acts of the Apostles, where the Lord appeared to him in a vision and ordered him to seek out Saul of Tarsus, the former persecutor of the Christians, in the house of Judas on the street called Straight. Ananias laid hands on Saul, restored his sight, and baptised him, after which Saul became the great preacher Paul (Acts 9:10-19; 22:12). Ananias afterwards preached the Gospel in Damascus and Eleutheropolis, working many miracles, healing the sick and converting pagans. By order of the governor Lucian he was arrested, tortured and finally stoned to death outside the walls of Eleutheropolis. His relics were later translated to Constantinople.

Saint Romanus the Melodist, the Sweet-Singer

Saint Romanus the Melodist was born in the fifth century in the Syrian city of Emesa to Jewish parents and was baptised as a young man. He served first as a sacristan in a church at Berytus (Beirut) before moving to Constantinople under the Emperor Anastasius (491-518), where he became a sacristan in the great Church of Hagia Sophia. Though full of zeal, he was unlettered and his attempts at chanting were poor, so that the other clergy mocked him. Grieved, he prayed earnestly before an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. She appeared to him in a vision, gave him a small scroll and commanded him to eat it. Awaking on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, he ascended the ambo and sang, in a voice of great beauty, his celebrated kontakion, "Today the Virgin gives birth to Him who is above all being." From that hour Romanus received the gift of hymnography. He is said to have composed nearly a thousand kontakia, many of which are still used in Orthodox worship. He reposed about the year 556. He is regarded as the patron of church singers and hymnographers.

Venerable John Kukuzelis the Hymnographer of Mount Athos

Saint John Kukuzelis was born in the thirteenth century at Dyrrachion in Illyria, of Slavic descent, and was orphaned in childhood. Endowed with an exceptionally fine voice, he was sent to the imperial school of music in Constantinople, where he became chief singer at the court of the emperor. The nickname "Kukuzelis" is said to come from a humble exchange in which the boy answered that he had eaten "beans and peas" (kouki kai zelia). Wishing to flee the flattery of court life and an arranged marriage, he secretly travelled to Mount Athos and presented himself at the Great Lavra as a simple shepherd, asking only to tend the goats. His identity was revealed when a hermit observed the goats standing in rapt attention as he sang in the wilderness. With the abbot's blessing he embraced the monastic life and devoted himself to the renewal of Byzantine chant, composing and arranging melodies for stichera, troparia and kontakia, and creating the elaborate "kalophonic" style of singing. He is honoured as the patron of chanters and reposed in peace, having been granted a vision of the Mother of God who placed a gold coin in his hand as a sign of her favour.

Venerable Sava, Abbot of Vishera, Novgorod

Saint Sava of Vishera was born around 1381 in Kashin to the boyar Ivan Borozdin and was attracted to monasticism from his youth. He was tonsured at one of the monasteries of Tver and afterwards lived as an ascetic in the wilderness, where the brethren chose him as their igumen. Disdaining honour, he left around 1411 for Mount Athos, where he laboured among the holy fathers and brought back a copy of the Pedalion (Rudder), the canonical collection of the Ecumenical and local Councils. With the blessing of Archbishop Symeon of Novgorod, in 1418 he founded a small monastic community on the banks of the Vishera River, about seven versts from Novgorod, dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord. There he practised severe asceticism, including the ancient discipline of standing on a pillar (stylitism) on weekdays. He reposed on 1 October 1461. Local veneration was approved under Archbishop Jonah of Novgorod, and his Church-wide glorification was confirmed by the Moscow Council of 1549.

St Romanos the Melodist of Constantinople

556

He was born in Emessa in Syria, probably of Jewish parents. He served as a deacon in Beirut, then in Constantinople at the time of Patriarch Euphemius (490-496). He was illiterate, had no musical training, and was a poor singer; thus he was despised by many of the more cultivated clergy. One night, after Romanos had prayed to the Mother of God, she appeared to him in a dream, held out a piece of paper and told him to swallow it. On the following day, the Nativity of Christ, Romanos went to the ambon and, with an angelic voice, sang ‘Today the Virgin…’, which is still sung as the Kontakion of the Feast. All present were amazed at the completely unexpected beauty of the hymn and of Romanos’ singing. St Romanos went on to compose more than a thousand Kontakia (which were once long hymns, not the short verses used in church today). He is almost certainly the author of the sublime Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God, which has served as the model for all other Akathists. He reposed in peace, while still a deacon of the Great Church in Constantinople. Many of his hymns were inspired by the hymns of St Ephraim of Syria. The influence of Middle Eastern music on the hymnography of the Church is incalculable. Many of those who established the form of the Church’s music were Syrians: two noted examples are St Romanos and St John of Damascus, who composed the Octoechos, the Pascha service, and the Funeral Service. Their music was in turn modeled on the music of the Hebrew temple. The Byzantine musical tradition has descended without break from the music sung in Christ’s time, and presumably by Christ Himself.

Our Holy Father Gregory the Choirmaster of the Great Lavra

1355

He was a cantor at the Great Lavra on Mt Athos. Once, on the eve of Theophany, he was inspired to sing the hymn O full of grace, thou who art the joy of all creation instead of the usual It is truly meet to bless thee during the Divine Liturgy. When he did this, the most holy Theotokos appeared to him, thanked him and gave him a gold coin as a sign of her favor. The coin is still kept at the Lavra. He reposed in peace. St Gregory’s hymn has been sung since that time as part of the Divine Liturgy of St Basil.

Saint Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, Apostle to the Franks

533

He was born in 438 in northern Gaul. After devoting himself for awhile to secular and sacred learning, he withdrew to a small house near Laon, to live in reclusion and prayer. But when a bishop was needed in Rheims, the clergy and people carried him off from his hermitage and made him their bishop. He was only twenty-two years old at the time. The holy bishop soon became renowned throughout northern Gaul. He converted heretics, brought Arian heretics back to the Orthodox Faith, and cared for the many who suffered at the hands of barbarian marauders. Wherever he went, miracles attended him. He healed the sick and demonized and once, when a town was on fire, threw himself into the flames and quenched them. Birds would come to his table whenever he ate, and he would share his meal with them. In 482 the young warrior Clovis became leader of the Frankish tribes in that region. Though he was a pagan, he knew and admired St Remigius, and was married to a Christian, St Clotilde (June 3). Once, when his army faced defeat by the Alemanii, Clovis prayed to ‘the God of Clotilde and Remigius’ and won a great victory. This answer to his prayers convinced him of the truth of the Christian Faith, and he asked St Remigius to instruct him. Two years later he gathered all his chieftains in Rheims to attend his baptism. The baptism was accompanied by many miracles, seen by all in attendance. Two of the king’s sisters and three thousand of his lords and soldiers were baptized at the ceremony. This event is considered the birth of France as a Christian nation. In great old age, St Remigius went blind, but miraculously recovered his sight. He reposed in peace at the age of 105, immediately after serving the Divine Liturgy.

Daily readings

Epistle

— Protection weekly cycle

Hebrews — Hebrews 9.1-7

¹Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. ²For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. ³And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; ⁴Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; ⁵And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. ⁶Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. ⁷But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 6.12-19

¹²And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

¹³And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; ¹⁴Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, ¹⁵Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon called Zelotes, ¹⁶And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

¹⁷And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. ¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

Vespers

Genesis — Genesis 28.10-17

¹⁰And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. ¹¹And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. ¹²And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. ¹³And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; ¹⁴And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. ¹⁵And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

¹⁶And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. ¹⁷And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Vespers

Ezekiel — Ezekiel 43.27-44.4

²⁷And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.

¹Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. ²Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. ³It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.

⁴Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face.

Vespers

Proverbs — Proverbs 9.1-11

¹Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: ²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. ³She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, ⁴Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ⁵Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. ⁶Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. ⁷He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. ⁸Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. ⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. ¹⁰The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. ¹¹For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 1.39-49, 56

³⁹And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; ⁴⁰And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. ⁴¹And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: ⁴²And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. ⁴³And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. ⁴⁶And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, ⁴⁷And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. ⁴⁸For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. ⁴⁹For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. ⁵⁶And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Epistle

Ephesians — Ephesians 5.33-6.9

³³Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. ²Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) ³That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. ⁴And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. ⁵Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; ⁶Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; ⁷With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: ⁸Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. ⁹And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Gospel

— Protection

Luke — Luke 10.38-42, 11.27-28

³⁸Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. ⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: ⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

²⁷And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. ²⁸But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.