Ukrainians and their devotion to Mary’s protecting veil

Many Ukrainians celebrate a special feast that invokes Mary's intercession to place her veil around them for protection.

In Ukraine, there is a tradition that honors the Virgin Mary’s protecting veil. The tradition dates back to an event that happened in Constantinople.

According to the Ukrainian Institute of America, many Ukrainians celebrate a special feast on October 14, commemorating the special protection of Mary’s veil.

On October 14, Ukrainians celebrate the Feast of the Protection (Ukrainian “Pokrova”) of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos. Of the feasts dedicated to the Mother of God, this one deserves a special attention.
According to Eastern Orthodox tradition, the apparition of Mary the Theotokos occurred during one of the sieges of Constantinople at the Blachernae church, where she spread her veil over all the people in the church as a protection. As the result the enemies withdrew and the city was rescued.

The Slavic and East European Journalexplains that the word Pokrova means “‘Holy Protection of the Mother of God,’ ‘the Protectress,’ ‘Festival of the Veil,’ ‘Protecting Veil.'”

Ukrainians in particular took hold of this devotion to Our Lady and kept it alive over the years, frequently turning to it during times of war and political upheavel.

They continue to venerate Mary in this way, depicting her in icons with a veil that she offers to cover those with her protection.

Often there is an inscription on the devotional images that says, ““I will cover my people” or “We pray: cover us with Your Holy Veil and deliver us from evil.”