Protection of the Theotokos and of the Holy Icon Quick to Hear
In the hour of death, as I breathe my last, may I find thine Icon to console me in that distress; come, O gracious Virgin, with cheerful gaze of mercy, and drive away the demons seeking eternal prey.
Megalynarion to the Icon of the Theotokos “Quick to Hear”
On Thursday, 1/14 October, we will celebrate two feasts of the Mother of God, the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos and of the holy Icon Quick to Hear.
The Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God commemorates a vision of St. Andrew the Fool for Christ, who lived in Constantinople in the early 10th century, during the reign of the Emperor Leo the Wise. It occurred on October 1st at about 4 AM on a Sunday morning, during Agrypnia in the Church of Blachernae. Andrew lifted his eyes and beheld in a vision the most pure Theotokos, standing upon clouds praying, surrounded by a great multitude of angels and saints. In a gesture of protection and care, she held her omophorion - her woman’s veil -over the congregation gathered in the church. Seeing this, St. Andrew said to his disciple Ephiphanios, “Do you see, brother, the Queen and Lady of all praying for the whole world?” Epiphanios replied, “I do see her, holy father, and am stricken with fear.”
The Icon “Quick to Hear” is found in the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou on Mount Athos. The icon dates from some time in the eleventh century, but it did not become famous until a miracle which occurred in the seventeenth century:
In 1664, the monk in charge of the monastic trapeza (common dining hall), named Neilos, was passing by the icon, which was on the right side of the door of the trapeza. It was dark, and he carried a lit torch. Suddenly a voice came, “Do not come this way with a torch again, darkening my icon with smoke.” Thinking that some other monk was playing a joke on him, Neilos paid no attention, and he did nothing about it. A short time later, however, as he was again passing the icon with a torch, the same voice spoke again, “Unmonastic monk, how long will you irreverently and disdainfully defile my image with smoke?” Immediately he was blinded, and he acknowledged that he suffered this justly, for not heeding the command of the Theotokos before.
For weeks, Neilos would not return to his cell, but remained before the icon day and night weeping and asking the Mother of God for forgiveness. Finally, she answered his prayer, and spoke to him a third time: “Monk, your prayer to me has been heard; be forgiven and receive your sight as before. And declare to the other Fathers and brethren struggling here, that Iam the Mother of God the Word, and after God, the shelter and help and mighty protection of the sacred Monastery of the Archangels, providing for it as its defender and guide. And henceforth let the monks flee to me for their every need, and I will quickly hear them and all Orthodox Christians who flee to me with reverence, for I am called Quick to Hear.” From that point until today, countless miracles have been worked through prayers before this holy icon of the Most Holy Mother of God.
What do these two incidents have in common? Unceasing prayer on the part of those who received the Mother of God’s assistance. When St. Andrew saw the Holy Virgin in the Church of Blachernae, the church was crowded with people at an all-night vigil, an Agrypnia. When the monk Neilos received his sight, it was after weeks of praying and weeping around the clock.
We have a chance, this month, to stand in the holy church and beseech the Mother of God for help. How many of our parishioners will come? How many will sacrifice time, comfort, or other priorities to honor the Most Pure One and beg her to intercede with her Divine Son for us? If we desire her assistance, we must show effort and persistence in prayer, and love for the services of the Church, not only on this feast, but throughout the year. This is a sacrifice most pleasing to God.
St. Nectarios on Prayer, Fasting, Confession, and Communion
Every Christian should know that unless one lifts his mind and heart towards God through Christian - not Pharisaic - fasting and through prayer, he cannot attain a profound consciousness of his sinful state and earnestly seek the forgiveness of his sins. It should be realized that we know our sins only to the extent that we are illumined from Above, and that we are illumined from above in proportion as our mind and heart rise up to God; and that we rise in proportion as the soul becomes lighter through fasting and prayer. Prayer and fasting - Christian fasting - serve as means of self-study, of discernment of our true moral state, of an accurate estimation of our sins, and of a knowledge of their true character. Without fasting and prayer we lack the means of acquiring this knowledge, and we cannot have a true picture of our sins, a perfect awareness of them and contrition of heart, and hence true and fruitful confession. Inasmuch, then as Christian fasting and prayer are the only way of preparation for true confession, we ought to observe diligently these decrees of the Church, in order not to fail in our aim, but succeed in attaining the supreme good towards which we aspire. (Study Concerning the Immortality of the Soul).
Through Divine Communion we are united with God and enter into relation and contact with Him. Through such union we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control, and so many other virtues. The eyes of our soul are opened, the mind is illumined, and the heart is purified. Divine Communion cures the sick heart and body of those who approach it with faith. It often saves our life and rescues us from dangers, and effects many other marvelous things. (Study of the Mysterion of the Divine Eucharist)