On the eve of the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary and the day of remembrance of the Apostle Ananias (I) of the Seventy, and St. Roman the Melodist (+556), an all-night vigil with festive liturgy was performed in the Lavra church named after St. Agapitus of Pechersk, led by the treasurer of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Archimandrite Nestor.

On the day of the feast, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the same church, in the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, as well as in the churches of St. Sergius of Radonezh and in honour of the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow’.

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The Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God is one of the great Orthodox holidays, celebrated on 14 October. The holiday was established in memory of the miraculous appearance of the Holy Mother of God in Constantinople in the 10th century, when She spread Her veil over those praying, protecting them from their enemies. In the Orthodox tradition, this holiday symbolises the intercession of the Mother of God for the entire Christian race.

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