Powerful prayers for the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos have been published

Orthodox Christians celebrate the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on October 14. This is a permanent holiday, the date of which does not change from year to year. On this day, believers attend church services and offer prayers to the Mother of God, thanking her for her mercy and protection. Izvestia tells us what the Mother of God is asked for and what prayers are read on the holiday.

Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in 2025: the essence of the holiday

The Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most significant and beloved Orthodox holidays, which has been celebrated since ancient times. It is believed that on this day the Mother of God covers all worshippers with her omophorion (cloth), protecting them from troubles and misfortunes. It is this symbolism of patronage and protection that makes the holiday especially close to the hearts of believers.

The omophorion, or veil, represents maternal warmth and support, emphasizing that every person who turns to the Mother of God with sincere prayer can find solace and receive hope for salvation.

The history of the holiday goes back to the 10th century, when the capital of Byzantium, Constantinople, was besieged by its eastern neighbors. The Imperial army was on a military campaign, and there was no one to protect the city. Then the inhabitants gathered in the Blachernae temple and prayed to the Virgin Mary, who was revered as the protector and patroness of the city.

According to legend, during prayer, the Mother of God appeared in the temple and covered the congregation with her veil, taking them under her protection. Soon a storm arose, which scattered the ships of the invaders. The enemy was forced to leave the city, and the siege was lifted.

To whom and in front of which icon to pray for Protection

The story of the liberation of Constantinople is widely reflected in icon painting. On the icons, the Mother of God appears with a saving omophorion in her hands, with which she carefully shelters the faithful. In addition to the Virgin, the central figures are angels and saints, who are located on the sides. The lower part often depicts worshippers in a temple.

It is in front of this icon, called the "Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos," that people pray on the church holiday of October 14. You can also refer to other icons of the Mother of God, for example, Kazan, one of the most revered miraculous images, in whose honor a separate holiday has been established.

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What to ask the Mother of God for on the Feast of the Intercession

The Mother of God helps everyone who addresses her with their questions and requests. Most often, they pray to her for help in various matters — healing from ailments, protection from evil, consolation in sorrows, finding peace of mind and harmony, and protection in difficult situations. It is also believed that the Virgin Mary helps soldiers and their families.

In Russia, agricultural work was already completed by Pokrov and the wedding season was coming. Therefore, on the holiday, believers counted on the protection of the Virgin in family matters. Unmarried girls asked for a good husband and prayed for a happy marriage, married women for family well—being and help in raising children, childless couples for the birth of a child.

The same requests are made to the Mother of God on other days. However, it is believed that on a holiday the effect of prayer is magnified many times, providing protection from misfortunes, diseases and all the bad things.

Akathist to the Mother of God on the feast of October 14th

On the day of the celebration, the festive akathist to the Protection of the Virgin Mary is read — a hymn of praise, or a hymn glorifying the Mother of God. It describes the events related to the appearance of the Virgin in the church in Constantinople and the protection of the faithful by Her Holy Omophorion.

The akathist should be read in a certain sequence. According to the general church practice, first the prefatory prayers are read, with which each divine service begins, then the akathist from the 1st to the 12th canto, then the 13th kontakion - three times. After it, the first ikos and the first kontakion are repeated again. At the end of the akathist, a special prayer of the Intercession is read.

The contents of the akathist and prayers can be viewed in the prayer book, which is published by many Orthodox websites. Below are just some of the main texts of the service.:

Ikos 1

"Archangel and Angel multitude, with the Forerunner, the Theologian and all the saints, are contiguous to You, their Queen, in the Church of the Saints, and having heard Your supplications for the whole world, they cried out in amazement: Hail, eternal benevolence to God the Father; hail, most pure receptacle of God the Son without a year. Hail, the chosen dwelling of the All-holy Spirit of God; hail, the unceasing wonder of the angelic ranks above. Hail, the dark forces of hell are an ever-threatening terror; hail, the Cherubim are meeting many eyes in the air. Hail, Her praiseworthy six-christened Seraphim; hail, Her most gracious protection, and we, the earthlings, gratefully bow down. Rejoice, our Joy, cover us from all evil with Your honest omophorion."

Kontakion 1

"To the Queen chosen by the Eternal King, who surpassed all creatures of heaven and earth, who sometimes came to the Blachernae Church to pray, we offer worthy worship with thanksgiving, as we are in darkness, under Your luminous omophorion with faith and tenderness. But You, as You have an invincible power, free us from all our troubles, and we call You: Rejoice, our Joy, cover us from all evil with Your honest omophorion."

Kontakion 13

"O All-holy Mother, Most Pure Lady, Virgin Mother of God! I lift up my spiritual and bodily eyes to You, I stretch out my relaxed hands to You and cry out from the depths of my heart: look upon the faith and humility of my soul, cover me with Your all-powerful omophorion, so that I may be delivered from all troubles and misfortunes, and at the hour of my death, O All-merciful One, appear to me and deliver me from the torments prepared for my sins May I bow down to the call: Hallelujah."

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Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos for children and conception

"O Most Holy Lady, Theotokos, who does not leave us in our earthly life! To whom I will lift up my prayers, to whom I will bring tears and sighs, if not to You, consolation to all the faithful! With fear, faith, and love, I beseech You, Mother: may the Lord bring the Orthodox people to reason for salvation, may He give us children for Your and your Son's good pleasure, may He keep us in the purity of humility, in the hope of salvation in Christ, and grant us all, under the protection of Your grace, earthly consolation. Keep us under the shadow of Your mercy, O Most Pure One, help those who pray for childbirth, free us from evil lies, and avert grave troubles, misfortunes, and deaths. Grant us a gracious epiphany, a spirit of contrition for our sins, grant us to see the full height and purity of Christ's teaching bestowed upon us, preserve us from pernicious alienation, so that we may all, gratefully praising Your greatness, be granted heavenly rest, and there, with Your beloved ones, with all the saints, we may glorify the One God in the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen to that."

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos for marriage

"O Most Holy Virgin Mary, I seek refuge in You as our Intercessor: hear us as we pray to You, cover us with Your protection, and ask the God of Your Son for all the best for us: give consent to spouses of love, children of obedience, patience to the offended, benevolence to the sorrowful, and for all of us a spirit of reason and piety, a spirit of mercy and meekness, the spirit of purity and truth. Keep me from pride and self-love, give me a desire for diligence and bless my labors. As the Law of our Lord God commands people to live in an honest marriage, then bring me, Mother of God, to him, not to satisfy my desire, but to fulfill the destiny of our Holy Father, for He Himself said: it is not good for a man to be alone, and having created a wife for him to help, blessed them to grow, be fruitful and inhabit the earth. O Most Holy Theotokos, hear a humble prayer from the depths of my maiden's heart: grant me an honest and pious spouse, so that we may glorify You and Your merciful God in love and harmony: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos for health and protection

"To my Most gracious Queen, my Most Holy Hope, my friend and strange Intercessor, help the needy and protect the embittered, see my misfortune, see my sorrow: I am tempted everywhere, but there is no intercessor. For you yourself help me because I am weak, feed me because I am strange, guide me because I am mistaken, heal me and save me because I am hopeless. The Imam has no other help, no other intercession, no consolation, for You, O Mother of all the sorrowful and burdened! Therefore look upon me, a sinner and in my bitterness, and cover me with Your most holy omophorion, so that I may be delivered from the evils that have afflicted me, and I will praise Your sung name. Amen to that."

The most powerful prayer for the Protection of the Virgin

On the holiday, the prayer "Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos" is also read, which is a special appeal to the Mother of God for healing from diseases, protection from all kinds of disasters and for any other help.:

"O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord of the Highest powers, Queen of heaven and earth, of our city and country, and All-powerful Intercessor! For this reason, we seek refuge in You, as our most certain and speedy Intercessor. Hear us as we pray to You, overshadow us with Your almighty protection, and ask God for Your Son: our shepherd is zeal and vigil for souls, our governor is wisdom and strength, justice and non-discrimination for judges, reason and humility for a mentor, love and harmony for a spouse, obedience for a child, patience for those who offend, the fear of God for those who grieve, complacency for those who rejoice abstinence. We all have the spirit of reason and piety, the spirit of mercy and meekness, the spirit of purity and truth. For Thou art, O Lady, the glory of heaven and the hope of the earth; for Thou art our Hope and the Intercessor of all who flow to Thee in faith. For fear of You, we pray, and to You, as Your Omnipotent Helper, we commit ourselves and each other and our whole life, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."

Earlier, Izvestia told what prayers are read on the Nativity of the Virgin.