The Protection (Pokrov) of the Most Holy Mother of God is one of the most beloved Feast days on the Orthodox calendar commemorated on October 1, celebrating the appearance of the Virgin Mary in Constantinople in the 10th century at the time when the people in the city were threatened by the Barbarian invasion. Saint Andrew, the Holy Fool, with his disciple Saint Epiphanius, and a group of people, saw the Mother of God, Saint John the Baptist, and several other Saints and Angels during a vigil in the Church of Blachernae, nearby the city gates. The Mother of God approached the center of the church, knelt down and remained in prayer for a long time with her face drowned in tears. Then she took her veil off and spread it over the people as a sign of protection. After the appearance of the Mother of God, the danger was averted and the city was spared from bloodshed and suffering. On the icon, the Theotokos is depicted standing on a cloud in aureola of light with city walls behind her holding her veil surrounded by apostles, saints, and two angels behind her. Below her (on the right corner) are Saint Romanos the Melodist, Saint Epiphanius, and Saint Andrew the Fool.
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