“Greetings on the feast of the Protecting Veil of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever‑Virgin Mary! … This feast day commemorates the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God at the Blachernae Church near Constantinople. Blessed Andrew saw the Most Holy Theotokos walking through the air, illumined by Heavenly light and surrounded by Angels and a host of saints. St. John the Baptist and the Apostle John the Theologian accompanied the Queen of Heaven. Kneeling, the Most Holy Virgin began to pray tearfully and at length for Christians. Then, approaching the altar, She continued Her prayer. On finishing it, She took the veil—the omophorion—from Her head and spread it over the people praying at the church, protecting them from visible and invisible enemies. Once again, Constantinople was saved from the foes besieging it. This vision of Blessed Andrew became the foundation for a special veneration of the Most Holy Theotokos, specifically Her prayerful patronage over the Christ-loving people of God.
Brothers and sisters, the Mother of God prays for us, for Holy Russia, and for the whole world. Such is Her maternal heart, which cared for everyone (for example, those who arranged the wedding in Cana of Galilee) and suffered at the Cross of Her Son. Even until now, She stands in prayer for us, sinful servants of God. But how do we, brothers and sisters, ourselves respond to Her prayers for us? Do we thank Her as we should? Do we read akathists and other hymns, or glorify Her with our good deeds? I am not saying this to reproach you, but to remind myself, first and foremost, of how easily we accept God’s blessings, and how little we thank Him in return, if only with words, let alone deeds! How easily we grow accustomed to God’s mercy, and how easily, in response to His mercy, we sin grievously! Then we fall into despondency and useless self-pity, compounding our sin and sometimes bringing ourselves to despair, pleasing the enemy of our salvation. But, brothers and sisters, let us remember that there is no depth of fall from which the prayer of the Mother of God cannot deliver us. We, great sinners, have no other Intercessor more powerful than the Most Holy Theotokos. That is why we boldly cry out to Her alone: “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!”, while to others, even the greatest saints of God, we say: “Pray to God for us.” (Hieromonk Nikon, Valaam Monastery).
https://orthochristian.com/180821.html
