Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The Protection of the Theotokos - a great feast for Orthodox Christians 

2
Photo: Facebook/Donna Hamamdjiev

The Orthodox Church honors today the church feast of Pokrov Bogorodichen. The feast is both named The Protection of the Theotokos, or The Intercession of the Theotokos as in most Slavic languages, the word "Pokrov" means both "covering" and "protection". 

The feast originated to honor the apparition of the Mother of God in Constantinople in the first half of the tenth century. In the church of  Blachernae, near the city gates during a night vigil, St. Andrew and several others saw the Virgin Mary accompanied by St. John the Baptist, St. John the Theologian and other apostles and angels. She walked to the center of the temple, knelt down and remained in prayer for a long time with her face wet with tears. Then she took off her veil (pokrov) and spread it over the people as a sign of protection. At that time, in 910, the inhabitants of the city were threatened by a barbarian invasion, but after the apparition of the Virgin Mary the danger passed and the city was saved from bloodshed and suffering. 

In gratitude for the protection of the Mother of God, the Church designated this day as an important Christian feast. It is celebrated only in Slavic countries - probably because St. Andrew, who received a vision of the sanctity of this apparition, was a Slav by origin. 

Many Orthodox churches and monasteries in Bulgaria bear the name of The Protection of the Theotokos.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

Gallery

More from category

Hot weather, clouds over the mountains, but no precipitation

On Friday, the lowest temperatures will be between 16 and 23°C; in Sofia – around 16°. It will be sunny during the day. There will be cumulus clouds over the mountains, with a very small probability of isolated afternoon..

published on 8/7/25 7:05 PM

Bulgaria deploys military contingent to Kosovo

A Bulgarian military contingent has departed for a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo , BNR’s Shumen correspondent reports. A total of 97 service members (90 men and 7 women) were officially sent off today. The contingent is part of NATO’s Kosovo Force..

published on 8/7/25 6:06 PM

Forum dedicated to 45th anniversary of Atanasovsko Lake Reserve seeks solutions for preserving biodiversity

Regional Library "Peyo K. Yavorov" in Burgas is hosting the forum "Burgas - an intersection of industrial heritage, ecological sensitivity and cultural potential", the organizers from the team of the Bulgarian Biodiversity..

published on 8/7/25 3:57 PM