Once upon a time, there was an incredibly beautiful Church in the northwest region of Constantinople, that rivaled Hagia Sophia in importance within the Byzantine Empire. This Church was the home to many incredible relics, the most important being the entire mantle and robe of the Theotokos, which was placed before a miracle working icon of the Theotokos called the “Blachernitissa”.
On the first of October, we remember two incredible miracles that happened within the walls of this magnificent Church, both of which are depicted in the same icon that is before us this morning.
The first miracle surrounds a young chanter named Romanus in the 5th century, who despite his many talents and knowledge of the services, was not a very skilled chanter. On Christmas Eve, in the presence of the Patriarch and the Royal Family, he was asked to chant in the service, but he did so poorly that another chanter had to come and take his place.
Dejected, Romanus went to the one place where he found comfort…in the arms of prayer. Although young man didn’t realize it at the time, he was about to receive a Christmas gift that not only would change his entire life…but effect even our lives as Orthodox Christians now centuries later. While in deep and tear-filled prayer, Romanus received a visitation from the Mother of God as he was praying before her holy icon. Just like the prophets of old, she gave him a scroll and commanded him to eat it. The Theotokos gave her blessing and disappeared from the monk’s presence.
Later that evening at the all-night Vigil, Romanus was overcome by the Holy Spirit, and at a certain point of the service, in a voice that sounded as if the angels of heaven themselves had entered the temple, the Church heard for the first time the Kontakion that we still sing today on Christmas come from his lips:
“Today, the Virgin gives birth to the transcendent one, and the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one! Angels with shepherds glorify Him! The wise men journey with the star! Since for our sake the pre-eternal God was born as a Little Child!”
To this day, we call hymns sung for Feasts or the Saints Kontakia, which is the Greek name for the small pole on which a scroll is wrapped around. This is in honor of the vision of the Theotokos coming down to St. Romanus, after which he went on to compose a thousand hymns, a few of which are still used to this day by Christians to glorify God.
4 centuries after the miracle with St. Romanos, Constantinople was thrown into chaos when the Pagan Russian Fleet began to unleash war on the city. In tremendous fear, many of the faithful took refuge in this magnificent church of Blachernae, and asked Our Lord and His Mother for protection.
Within the Church was a fool for Christ named Andrew who was there with the Blessed Epiphanius. In the midst of the service, Andrew was awestruck when he saw the Blessed Mother come into the center of the Church in all of her radiance. Once there, she implored her son to protect those gathered, saying: “O Heavenly King, accept all those who pray to You and call on my name for help. Do not let them go away from my icon unheard.”
Andrew looked at Epiphanius and asked: “Do you see brother, the Holy Theotokos praying for the world in the midst of the Church?”
Epiphanius responded: “I do see, holy father, and I am in awe.”
Shortly after this miraculous event, the Russian Fleet was destroyed, and the people were saved through the Protection of the Mother of God.
In the Icon for this feast, we see both of the miracles of the Church of Blachernae as if they are happened at the same time…despite the fact that they are 500 years apart.! It is a wonderful reminder to us that when we enter into the Worship Services of the Church, time has no meaning…as we enter for just a moment into the Kingdom of Heaven. When we began the Divine Liturgy, we sang “Blessed IS the kingdom”…not the Kingdom that was, or that is to come. We are in the Kingdom right now!
When the choir sings the hymns, we hear in the prayers of the Anophora how surrounding the altar are “thousands of archangels and hosts of angels…” who are singing with them. St. Romanos, St. John of Damascus, St. Ephraim the Syrian, all of the wonderful chanters and writers of these ancient hymns…their words still echo in the worship of the Church a millennia later!
The Theotokos didn’t just protect the faithful of Blacharnae a millennia ago and leave…she continues to surround us with her protecting veil, as a mother protects her children whom she loves. St. Silouan the Athonite beautifully reminds us, that “The Mother of God dwells in heaven and ever beholds the glory of God, yet she does not forget us…and spreads her compassion over the whole earth, over all peoples.”
We celebrate these incredible realities today, and give Glory to God for the miracles that he continues to work for us, as we continue on the path towards eternity in His heavenly Kingdom.