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Ordinary Time
Protection of the Mother of God / Pokrov
Also called: Pokrov Bogoroditsy (Russian), Feast of the Veil of the Theotokos, Intercession of the Mother of God
October 1 (fixed)
Eastern Orthodox
The feast commemorating a vision seen by the fool-for-Christ St. Andrew of Constantinople in the 10th century: the Virgin Mary was seen in the air above the besieged city, spreading her protective veil (omoforion) over the people.
Pokrov is one of the most popular Orthodox feasts in Russia and Ukraine, where countless churches are dedicated to it. It usually falls on or around October 1 (fixed).
It is especially important in Eastern Orthodox traditions. Browse Christian holidays — browse options on Eden.
At a glance
- Type
- major feast
- Date type
- Fixed (same date every year)
- Regions
- Eastern Europe, Global
- Themes
- Mary
- Liturgical colour
- White, Blue
Common questions
Protection of the Mother of God is observed on October 1 (fixed). Moveable feasts shift each year; fixed feasts stay on the same calendar date.
The feast commemorating a vision seen by the fool-for-Christ St. Andrew of Constantinople in the 10th century: the Virgin Mary was seen in the air above the besieged city, spreading her protective veil (omoforion) over the people. Pokrov is one of the most popular Orthodox feasts in Russia and Ukraine, where countless churches are dedicated to it. The feast is not universally observed in all Ortho
It is associated with Eastern Orthodox. It falls in the Ordinary Time season of the liturgical year.