Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin on the Desna River
The Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Desna was erected in honor of the great Christian holiday. The Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on October 14, came to Russia from Byzantium. Although it is not one of the 12 main church holidays, as it is associated with events that occurred after the earthly life of the Mother of God, it occupies an important place in the Orthodox tradition. The full name of the holiday is the Holy Protection of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos. The exact date and circumstances of its occurrence are not fully known, but most researchers associate it with the events of October 1 (October 14, New style), 910. The holiday is based on the legend of the apparition of the Virgin in Constantinople. On the outskirts of the city was the Blachernae Temple, where the great shrines were kept — the robe (veil) and the belt of the Mother of God. According to legend, at that time, Byzantium was under siege, and the inhabitants of the city gathered in the temple for prayer, asking for protection from enemies. Among the worshippers was Andrew the Fool. During the All-Night vigil, at about four o’clock in the morning, a miraculous phenomenon occurred: the Virgin Mary, accompanied by saints, including the prophet John the Baptist and the Apostle John the Theologian, walked through the air. Some sources say that everyone present saw Her, while others say that only Andrew the Fool and his disciple Epiphanius saw her. The Mother of God began to pray, and then took off the omophorion (veil) from her head and spread it over the worshippers, symbolizing protection and patronage. Soon after, the enemies retreated from the city without bloodshed, which was perceived as a sign of the intercession of the Virgin. The Feast of the Intercession symbolizes the protection and protection that the Mother of God grants to believers.
Address: gor. Troitsk district, Charoitovaya St., 8
