The Theotokos, Our Mama Bear
Woman, behold your son; son, behold your mother. — John 19:26
Having moved to the Seattle area from Montana, we are so comforted to see the same beauty of creation present in the mountains, forests, and waters! And just as we had in Montana, the PNW has a presence of brown and black bears that encourages cautious respect, especially when it comes to a mama bear and her cubs; that mama, protective of her child, will do all she can to fend off any danger that comes the cub's way. It's interesting to note that the same protective instinct is seen in our human mothers as well, with amazing stories of moms harnessing unbridled courage and supernatural strength (dare we say Godly strength!) when their child is in danger. It is no wonder then that the Orthodox Church has leaned into our relationship with God's Mother, our most holy Theotokos, in a similar way of seeking protection and intercessory prayer to our Lord.
We recently celebrated the liturgy for the Feast Day of St. John the Theologian (September 26), in which the Gospel reading remembers the words of our Lord on the cross, when He spoke to His mother and to His beloved disciple, John; "woman, behold your son; son, behold your mother." The Orthodox Tradition proclaims that when Jesus invited John to embrace Mary as his mother, Jesus actually invited all of us to see the Theotokos as our mother too. And as our mother, she becomes, like a mama bear, our protectress and chief intercessor to her Son, our Lord, and God, Jesus.
As we begin the month of October, our Orthodox Tradition commemorates a special celebration of Mary known as the "Holy Protection of the Theotokos." This is remembrance of the city of Constantinople being under attack on October 1, 911 AD, when barbarians under the rule of Oleg of Novgorod were preparing for attack. The faithful, recognizing that they would be unable to repel the invaders by military force alone, gathered at the Blachernae Church along with the Emperor and Empress; this church was chosen because it housed the sacred protective relics of the Theotokos, including her robe and veil. According to tradition, at 4:00 AM, St. Andrew, the Fool for Christ, and his disciple, Epiphanius, witnessed a vision of the Theotokos, floating above the Church, with her veil spread wide over the entire congregation, showing her motherly protection of the faithful. Following the vision, the threat of attack ceased and the invading army fled without storming the city.
Interestingly, while most of the Orthodox world celebrates this feast day on October 1st, commemorating the actual day the miracle took place in 911 AD, the Greek Orthodox Church quite recently moved the celebration to October 28th, which is also known as OXI Day (the day, October 28, 1940, when the Greek nation said "NO" to Mussolini and the Axis Powers by refusing to let Italy pass freely through and occupy Greek territory). The faithful people of Greece, recognizing this new experience of the holy protection of the Theotokos during World War II, desired to connect the celebration of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos to the events of October 28, 1940, and beginning in 1952, the Greek Orthodox typikon was changed to move this annual celebration to October 28, remembering both the event of 911 AD, and the continued protection of Theotokos throughout the centuries.
Whether we celebrate the Holy Protection on October 1st or October 28th, October is a month when our Orthodox Tradition invites us to remember the protection and intercession of the greatest "mama bear" the world has ever known, our most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos, and ever-virgin Mary, who continues to protect us, to pray for us, and to point us toward the Life that is in her son, Jesus Christ.
Kontakion of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos
Let us the faithful hasten to the Theotokos now and venerate her sacred veil, as we chant unto her, singing hymns to praise and honour her, as is fitting; for she shelt'reth with her shelter and all her faithful flock and preserveth them unharmed from all calamities, as they cry to her: Rejoice, Protection most radiant.
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