News | Russian Orthodox Church Protection of Mother of God

Venerable Job, Abbot and Wonderworker of Pochaev

St. Job of Pochaev

In the lands of northern Ternopil region (now Western Ukraine) was the famous monastic saint, who stood against the Unia as against apostasy, against the betrayal of Orthodoxy—St. Job of Pochaev (born in Kolomy, 1551–1651), who lived a hundred years, and who was called in the world, before monasticism, John Zhelezo [Zhelezo means “iron”]. St. Job of Pochaev stood unwavering in the faith, and with iron steadfastness struggled against the Uniates who had left Orthodoxy for the protection of the Roman pope. St. Job was strong in spirit and faith, and it is not in vain that such multitudes of people from all over the world come today to his holy relics, which lie in a reliquary near the cave where he prayed on the Pochaev hill.

The AKATHIST to St. Job says: “O our all-blessed and God-bearing Fr. Job, instructor in the monastic, angelic way of life, unconquerable defender of and struggler for the Eastern-Orthodox catholic faith against the falsely-minded West, faithful observer and strict upholder of the God-inherited rules of the Church and patristic inheritance, great zealot of holiness and purity, chastity and non-acquisitiveness, love of labor and divine contemplation, fasting and vigil, tireless and invincible struggler of longsuffering and patient endurance, icon of meekness, mirror of humility, example of guilessness, support of fasters, praise of virgins, joy of monks and schemamonks… Protect us with thy prayers from all enemy attacks and evil circumstances, preserve and keep each and all in peace and tranquility, in unfeigned faith and a God-pleasing life.”

Troparion — Tone 4

Having acquired the patience of your Forefather, / and having resembled the Baptist in abstinence, / you shared the divine zeal of both / and were counted worthy to receive their names. / You were a fearless preacher of the True Faith; / in this way you brought a multitude of monastics to Christ. / You strengthened all people in Orthodoxy, / Job, our venerable father; / pray that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Podoben: “Today You have shown forth…” / You were a pillar of the True Faith; / a zealot of the commandments of the Gospel; / a denouncer of pride, / and a defender and teacher of the humble. / Therefore, those who honor you pray for the remission of their sins, / and that this, your holy habitation, be kept safe from all harm, / Job, our father, who resembled the long-suffering Patriarch of old.

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Homily on the Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

Icon of the Kazan Mother of God

The Russian Orthodox people had strong and deep faith in the heavenly mediation of the Mother of God, and often turned to her in their need, sorrow, and grief with warm and heartfelt prayer. Our people love to call the Mother of God by special names appropriate to her heavenly protection and mercy. And the Mother of God has not left this prayer unanswered, but has given speedy help to everyone who has asked. The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is one of the greatest holy shrines in Russia, the guardian of the Russian people.

Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov) stated “The closer, the more merciful and attentive the Mother of God is to us, the more careful we must be concerning our behavior and our faith. The more is given to us, the more we will be called to account. Brothers and sisters, let us cherish the holy union with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother, Who chose our land as Her portion. Let us keep in mind Who our Intercessor is, Who our Help and Hope is, and let us not break our union with Her—but rather let us strengthen it by our faith, way of life and hope.”

Let us pray unceasingly to the Most Pure Mother of God, because she silently and ceaselessly prays for us to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Troparion, Tone 4

“O fervent intercessor, Mother of the Lord Most High, thou dost pray to thy Son Christ our God and saves all who seek they protection. O Sovereign Lady and Queen, help and defend all of us who in trouble and trials, in pain and burdened with sins, stand in thy presence before thine icon, and who pray with compunction, contrition and tears and with unflagging hope in thee. Grant what is good for us, deliverance from evil, and save us all, O Virgin Mother of God, for thou art a divine protection to thy servants.”

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Homily on the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos

Покров Пресвятой Богородицы

At the beginning of the tenth century, in year 910 after the birth of Christ, during the reign of the Greek Emperor Leo the Wise and Patriarch Tarasios, in the Blachernae Constantinople church, after the vigil the Mother of God and the angelic hosts appeared to the gaze of two chosen men. Covering the people there with her honorable Omophorion, she prayed to her Son and God for their salvation from the enemies that threatened the capital city with destruction, and the people with enslavement and death. Through the prayers of the heavenly Intercessor the foe was routed, and the people saved. In memory of the merciful protection of the Mother of the Lord also over our own fatherland, the Russian Orthodox Church has from ancient times established the yearly feast commemorating the Protection of the Mother of God.

The Protecting Omophorion is an image of maternal love. It should encourage us to turn to God with prayer. According to St. Ephraim the Syrian: The Queen of Heaven is our first and supreme Advocate with Her Son and God, our vigilant and unashamed Intercession, the Protection of the whole world, the Giver of all good things, our Consolation, Refuge, and Salvation. Let us all run to her powerful protection with pure hearts when we are beset by attacks, sorrows, and sicknesses, and trust in her undoubted hope. Amidst the calamities of life let us prepare ourselves to go to the place where there are no troubles, where there is eternal joy and rest. And the Heavenly Queen will take pleasure in helping us and protecting us from misfortunes, and she will instruct us toward the eternal, peaceful heavenly harbor. O Lady, cover us with your honorable protecting veil, and deliver us from all evil, praying to your Son, Christ our God to save our souls! Amen.

St. John of Kronstadt (1893)

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