Protection of the Most-Holy Theotokos – Father Gavril Galev
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In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Many years ago, or to be precise in 911 in Constantinople, in the Church of Blachernae, an all-night vigil was held. Then, unlike today, everyone was together, everyone was pious. Kings and servants, rich and poor, all prayed to God. And that is why there was progress in any chosen field of endeavour, their country was advancing, their society was advancing, they were also progressing in their personal life.
Then, the God-pleaser, Andrew, took up the asceticism of being a fool for the sake of Christ, a very rare asceticism at that time, perhaps the only one case. He gave up everything earthly, even his own mind, in order to serve Christ. He was considered to be insane by people, they despised and ridiculed him for walking half-naked in a ragged cloak, living and sleeping with the street dogs that warmed him up in the cold winter days and nights. It is said that at one point, even the dogs, by God’s permission for the ascetic to attain spiritual perfection, turned against him and began to growl at him. However, unlike us, who constantly complain even about a small tribulation (temptation), we immediately fall and begin to justify ourselves, always looking for guilt in another, judging and condemning – St. Andrew did not complain or condemn anyone, but he was grateful to God for everything, and when he found himself tempted by greater temptations, he would find greater hope. Saint Andrew was a truly holy man.
On October 1 (according to the Julian Calendar) 910, the Saracens (Arabs) invaded the Byzantine Empire and subjected it to severe tribulations. It was Saturday night before Sunday and an all-night vigil was held. The church was full of people. All were gathered together, the Emperor and the Empress, the Patriarch with the Clergy, the Nobles, and many other citizens of Constantinople. But, only Saint Andrew was deemed worthy to see the Most-Holy Theotokos. She was surrounded by Prophets, Apostles, and Angels.
Excited by the vision, St. Andrew quietly asked his disciple:
“Do you see, brother, how the Most-Holy Theotokos is praying?”
Epiphanius answered:
“I see, Holy Father, and I am afraid!
She held an omophorion in Her hands that covered the whole congregation. To this day, the Most-Holy Theotokos holds that omophorion and protects us. However, we enter under its protection only when we have faith, when we have hope in the intercession of the Most-Holy Theotokos, and when we have love for each other.
Let us never forget the Most-Holy Theotokos, and let us never abandon her path, which was a path of patience, love, mercy, forgiveness, benevolence, diligence, prayer, humility, and all of the virtue. With this event, God shows one thing that we forget, and that is God is One and the same for all and does not look at the face, the rank, the appearance, the glory, the beauty, but the Lord looks at the heart. A pure heart, a lowly and humbled heart God does not reject.
Saint Andrew was the most despised man in all society. However, the Most-Holy Theotokos appeared only to him. Thus, when we humble ourselves enough, and come close to his level of humbleness, then the Most-Holy Theotokos will also manifest Herself to us, and She will unreservedly protect us.
Furthermore, She is here with us today, but it is with great sadness that we are unable to see Her because of our carnal eyes, because of our sinful lives. That is why we should cry. We need to weep and repent of our sins, to humble ourselves and see our poorness, our spiritual nakedness, to see how far away we are from the true Christians, from the Saints, from Saint Andrew and the Most-Holy Theotokos, from the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God, through the prayers of Saint Andrew and the Most-Holy Theotokos, protect us in our earthly lives, so that we too may be deemed worthy to meet him one day in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
Father Gavril Galev
Abbot of the monastery “St. Clement of Ohrid”,
Kinglake, Melbourne, Australia
14.10.2021
