---
title: "The Protection of the Theotokos — Church history"
description: "The vision of St Andrew the Fool-for-Christ at Blachernae and the Russian veneration of the Protection."
url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/feast-protection"
language: "en"
---

Feasts

# The Protection of the Theotokos

The vision of St Andrew the Fool-for-Christ at Blachernae and the Russian veneration of the Protection.

## Tradition

According to the Life of St Andrew the Fool-for-Christ, during a vigil in the Blachernae church of Constantinople (10th century) he saw the Theotokos spreading her veil over the worshippers.

## In Rus

The feast took root in Rus from the 12th century (the Church of the Protection on the Nerl, 1165). In the Greek Churches it is not a great feast — an example of differing local traditions.

## Related

- [Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/history/feast-protection)