14 October 2025
Dear brothers and sisters!
Today, the Holy Church celebrates the Protection of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos — one of the most comforting and beloved days of the church year.
On this day, we remember how the Mother of God appeared to those who were praying in a church and covered the people of God with Her Protecting Veil, defending them from the threat of an enemy invasion, extermination, and the desecration of shrines.
Traditionally, a lot is said and written on this day about the fact that the Veil of the Mother of God protects all of us, Her third domain — the God-preserved Ukrainian land.
But can we be sure with hand on heart that the Mother of God equally prays for all — for the persecuted and persecutors, for martyrs and their executioners, for humble children of the Church and for those who rise up against her?
We are given the answer by Christ Himself in His great prayer: 'I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me. . . . Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.' (John 17).
Those words are the key to understanding the meaning of today's feast. The Most Holy Theotokos, Who hearkened to every word of Her Son and kept everything in Her heart, prays like Him — for those who do their best to live according to the Gospel truth, who preserve faith and stand within the fence of the Church of Christ. Her Protecting Veil is not a nominal or universal symbol of mercy but living spiritual protection for all people who are faithful to the Saviour.
Yes, the Mother of God is grieved for the fallen as well, She prays for those who are still able to repent. But when a person consciously sets on the path of darkness, treason, and enmity with God, Her motherly heart suffers but does not cover evil. Because love is not indifference, it is the opposite of any lies, it is the truth, which saves.
Today, when the cup of human sufferings is full of the insanity of the war, when law, honour, and conscience have been 'put on pause', when people start to hunt people just like them, when God-given human life seems to be worth nothing now, and when there is a desire to deprive the people of the only thing remaining — their priceless soul — we need to seek protection under the Protecting Veil of the Queen of Heaven more than ever.
And in order to be under It, it is necessary to stand firmly in the true faith, keep the purity of soul, and not to betray Christ and His Holy canonical Orthodox Church.
Today, it is important for all of us to keep our unity — especially for our archpastors. Not to confuse in word or in deed their brothers — priests and thousands of laypeople — by public altercations on social networks to the delight of enemies of the Church but rather to be in prayer, fraternal love, and mutual respect. To remember that 'the devil begins with froth of the lips of an angel entering battle for a holy and right cause'.
The Lord wishes salvation to everyone, but the choice is always ours. He who is in the bosom of the Holy Church and who stands under the Protecting Veil of the Most Holy Theotokos stands with Christ. And he who rises up and wages war against His Church voluntarily moves away from light — into the eternal darkness of oblivion.
Dear friends!
On the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, I sincerely wish that in the midst of most difficult trials, our faith will become ever stronger, our prayers will become ever more ardent and sincere, and our hearts will become ever purer.
I believe and hope that the Mother of God will never remove Her Holy Protection from our God-loving people, from our land, from our Church, despite all the wiles of the servants of darkness.
May Her love and prayers fortify all of us in the truth and faithfulness to Christ.
Happy Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos!
Peace, good, and protection to all of us!
All related news Today, the Holy Church celebrates the Protection of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos — one of the most comforting and beloved days of the church year.
On this day, we remember how the Mother of God appeared to those who were praying in a church and covered the people of God with Her Protecting Veil, defending them from the threat of an enemy invasion, extermination, and the desecration of shrines.
Traditionally, a lot is said and written on this day about the fact that the Veil of the Mother of God protects all of us, Her third domain — the God-preserved Ukrainian land.
But can we be sure with hand on heart that the Mother of God equally prays for all — for the persecuted and persecutors, for martyrs and their executioners, for humble children of the Church and for those who rise up against her?
We are given the answer by Christ Himself in His great prayer: 'I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me. . . . Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.' (John 17).
Those words are the key to understanding the meaning of today's feast. The Most Holy Theotokos, Who hearkened to every word of Her Son and kept everything in Her heart, prays like Him — for those who do their best to live according to the Gospel truth, who preserve faith and stand within the fence of the Church of Christ. Her Protecting Veil is not a nominal or universal symbol of mercy but living spiritual protection for all people who are faithful to the Saviour.
Yes, the Mother of God is grieved for the fallen as well, She prays for those who are still able to repent. But when a person consciously sets on the path of darkness, treason, and enmity with God, Her motherly heart suffers but does not cover evil. Because love is not indifference, it is the opposite of any lies, it is the truth, which saves.
Today, when the cup of human sufferings is full of the insanity of the war, when law, honour, and conscience have been 'put on pause', when people start to hunt people just like them, when God-given human life seems to be worth nothing now, and when there is a desire to deprive the people of the only thing remaining — their priceless soul — we need to seek protection under the Protecting Veil of the Queen of Heaven more than ever.
And in order to be under It, it is necessary to stand firmly in the true faith, keep the purity of soul, and not to betray Christ and His Holy canonical Orthodox Church.
Today, it is important for all of us to keep our unity — especially for our archpastors. Not to confuse in word or in deed their brothers — priests and thousands of laypeople — by public altercations on social networks to the delight of enemies of the Church but rather to be in prayer, fraternal love, and mutual respect. To remember that 'the devil begins with froth of the lips of an angel entering battle for a holy and right cause'.
The Lord wishes salvation to everyone, but the choice is always ours. He who is in the bosom of the Holy Church and who stands under the Protecting Veil of the Most Holy Theotokos stands with Christ. And he who rises up and wages war against His Church voluntarily moves away from light — into the eternal darkness of oblivion.
Dear friends!
On the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, I sincerely wish that in the midst of most difficult trials, our faith will become ever stronger, our prayers will become ever more ardent and sincere, and our hearts will become ever purer.
I believe and hope that the Mother of God will never remove Her Holy Protection from our God-loving people, from our land, from our Church, despite all the wiles of the servants of darkness.
May Her love and prayers fortify all of us in the truth and faithfulness to Christ.
Happy Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos!
Peace, good, and protection to all of us!
