The Five of the Greatest Christian-Orthodox Holidays includes the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In memory of the appearance of the Mother of God for the salvation of worshipers, Christians began to venerate this day every year, consider it one of the most wonderful.

The history of the Orthodox holiday

The history of the holiday goes far into the past. Pokrov began to be revered by the Slavic people in Russia, even though its events, which took place in the 10th century, took place in the Byzantine Empire. That time was characterized by barbaric conquests, the destruction of many cities during the battles. On one of these days, when the barbarian invaders arrived at Constantinople at night, the priests and people of the city, realizing their inevitable death, turned to God and began to ask for protection.

People said goodbye to the world, but faith in the Saints was stronger. A Byzantine captive, a true Christian believer of Slavic descent, was given a vision in the morning. Andrei was in the Blachernae church, in his vicinity he saw the face of the Virgin. Having removed the Holy veil (white veil), she spread it over the civilians of the city. At that hour, a powerful storm and wind rose. The ships of the invaders could not stand the natural disasters, Constantinople was saved.

Traditions and Signs

The Most Holy Theotokos - Holy Intercessor stood up to protect people from barbarians. Therefore, all the rites and traditions on this day are obliged to be performed only by women. It is the representatives of the female Christian signs on the day of the Intercession that have the honor to secure their housing, family, and children.What should the hostess do on such a great holiday on October 14 so that peace, comfort and tranquility reign in her house throughout the year?

Traditions:

  • Collect fruit tree branches, heat in a pan until a haze appears. It is a smoky snow to fumigate the whole house, pronouncing aloud their desires associated with the family.
  • Pancakes are an integral part of the celebration of Veil. They are served first, worship the sun. Whoever bakes delicious and magnificent delicacies, that awaits prosperity and well-being.

Note. On this day, all brownies fall asleep. The hostess must divide the first pancake into 4 parts and put it in the corners of the kitchen for friendship with a touchy creature. By feeding him, she will 100% indulge the brownie for the whole year.

  • Last year's dried mushrooms thrown into the street on Pokrov day undoubtedly attract wealth to a non-greedy house.
  • To keep the children healthy, they take them out onto the porch early in the morning (now it is also possible in the bathroom), pour cold water from the sieve, saying: “Water flows through the sieve - all ailments from the child will be washed away!” Important. This rite, unless of course she is still alive, must be performed by the oldest woman in the house (grandmother, great-grandmother).
  • Embodying the Blessed Virgin Mary on the day of the Intercession, a woman with the icon of the Mother of God is obliged to stand on a chair, a table in order to be above all household members and, having named everyone by name, she must say the words: “As the Blessed Virgin hid everyone under cover, so I’ll cover you (Name) and protect you (Name of the next family member) ..! ” Prayer should be fixed with the words: "In the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit!" Add three times at the end of the sentence: “Amen!”. Note: All family members are required to kneel in front of the icon.
  • Veil Day is chosen by many couples for their wedding. It is believed that a woman who marries that day will be the happiest.

From ancient times it was noticed that on this day the first snow falls. It was believed that there is a meeting of autumn and winter. On this day, the sun always shines at lunch, and after an hour the first snowflakes begin to pour, slowly filling the ground and roads with a light shroud, which is equated with the white veil of the Holy Virgin.

Many young girls on this holiday dream of matchmaking, connecting the veil with the veil of the bride. The defender, like no one, is obligated to help women who call for help on this day. Unmarried young women, faithfully believing in the power of prayer, early in the morning go to church and ask to send them a bridegroom - faithful and handsome.

Note. The cover should be celebrated cheerfully, even if there is sadness and longing in the heart, otherwise you can’t avoid a bad luck.

The main signs that deserve attention on this holiday:

  • To bait the groom, unmarried young ladies were required to bake bread, open a window and put the bread on a windowsill to cool. It was believed that its smell would surely lure the owner into the house.
  • A lot of snow on this day - more happy couples will get married.
  • An unexpected acquaintance of a guy and a girl will necessarily result in a wedding.
  • Wash yourself with clean snow early in the morning (if, of course, it fell) - to health.
  • Birds left on Pokrov edge - winter is early and cold.

Interesting to know. Until October 14, the hostess was obliged to redo all household chores — to prepare food for the winter, finish spring cleaning, and overhaul, because it was time for evening gatherings with friends when the young women embroidered, knitted, spun yarn and did other needlework.

It has become fashionable in our time to do noble deeds on this day. Many attend orphanages, boarding schools, donate toys, books, and things. Others attend church to give alms to the needy. Do not forget about loved ones, invite them to visit, prepare a delicious dinner and spend time together.

As the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is noted

Veil is quite a significant and serious holiday. It is necessary to take care of its preparation in advance. Initially, you should find out what day of the week is October 14th.Food purchases must be taken care of in advance.

When you wake up, you should certainly turn with a prayer for protection to the Virgin. If possible, be sure to visit the church.

The heavens on Pokrov are open, miracles happen and requests are fulfilled. Want to get closer to God, bake pancakes, decorate the table with them. In the old days, many people burned old shoes, believing that it was time for a change for the better. So there is a great opportunity to visit a shoe store and get a pair of new boots. Girls and women put their house in order on their own. When the table is laid, everything is clean and clean, men enter the house, a true celebration begins - dances, songs, fun, games.

Fortune telling

No matter how the church forbids divination, people have noticed for a long time that in the divine days the heavens are most open and tell the truth.

Since then, it has been customary to guess on the night of October 14 by various methods:

  • Falling asleep, a woman mentally turns to God, asking to show her in a dream a narrow-minded. After prayer, she should not get out of bed, no one has the right to enter the room. If in a dream the sleeping woman saw the groom, then in the coming year she would marry.
  • An unmarried young lady should bake bread and lay out to cool on a windowsill. If the first person she sees through the window is a man, then she will soon get married.
  • In the church, put a candle and watch how it burns. Equal flame symbolizes a calm and quiet life, bright and large - a happy future, and if the fire goes out - to the loss of loved ones.
  • Girlfriends cut the threads of the same length and set fire. Who burns faster, she will be the first to get married.
  • The ring is hung on a thread and brought to the palm of the one who wants to know about their children. If the product does not stop and rotates in a circle, then a girl will be born, like a pendulum - a boy, if not moving - loneliness.

Religious holiday bans

Church holidays should be devoted to worship, prayers. These days, work is strictly prohibited. But youth, by virtue of mistrust, denies such a ban more and more often, which is why modern society cannot be called happy at all.

Why are there bans? Work is not a wolf, no matter how much you do it, it does not become less. People forget about the family, that it is worth devoting oneself to relatives, spending time with them at least once a week, talking, resolving accumulated issues. It is on such church holidays that you should forget about everything and be closer to your home, and God will certainly help in this.

Those who follow this principle will find true happiness and peace. Many of our grandmothers put off sewing, embroidery on such days for later, considering it a great sin. Men are prohibited from hunting and fishing. Moving may fail if it is planned for one of the religious holidays.

Note. Believe it or not, it’s everyone’s business, but everyone wants to be happy. It is better to transfer the routine to another day than to succumb to apparent risk and then bite yourself at the elbows.

Congratulations on Pokrov Day

Despite the fact that the feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is religious, many Orthodox try first after visiting the church, after praying, to congratulate each other on such a wonderful and wonderful day. Previously, everyone went to visit each other and simply sentenced good words, wished happiness and health. Now, to congratulate, it’s fashionable to call, send SMS messages, send colorful pictures or make a video call. Some read poetry, others express simple wishes from the heart.

Greetings options:

  • The Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary has come! I hasten to congratulate you on this holiday! May bitterness and resentment pass you by, the Virgin will protect you from adversity and resentment now, as then, on that terrible day, she saved the whole city from death!
  • On this noble holiday on your faces let there be happiness, a smile, and tears will only come from happiness! I wish you health and faith in the best! May the Mother of God stand in your defense! Happy Holidays!
  • It is on this wonderful day, may all blessings descend on your home, the Mother of God will hide from adversity! For Christ’s sake, believe in a miracle, and it will happen, for heaven is open on this day and prayers are heard. With the Cover of you, Amen!

Church holidays do not teach anything bad. Devote a part of your life to them, decorate yourself with something new, warm. Forget the bad and believe in the best.

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