Our Lady of Pokrov

Our Lady of Pokrov

Our Lady of Pokrov, known as the Theotokos, is the patron saint of our Badaliyya, as she was for the original prayer group in Cairo. The feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos falls in the Byzantine Calendar on October 1st. It honors the appearance of the Virgin during an all night vigil in Blachernae Church in Constantinople on October 1st, in the year 911 where she was seen to be spreading her veil in protection of the world. Louis Massignon encouraged the addition of this feast in his adopted Greek Catholic (Melkite) Rite. He also mentions Mariam Baouardy, a Palestinian Arab Carmelite who died in 1878 and was beatified in 1983.

We honor the saints who were so essential to Massignon's own spiritual growth. Our Lady of Pokrov, October 1st, Saint Francis on October 4th, and St. Therese of Lisieux on October 2^nd who was made a Doctor of the Church October 19th, 1997. In keeping with Massignon's spirit we call on these Holy men and women as we pray for peace and non-violent reconciliation in the Holy Land, the Middle East and throughout the world.

Please join us in spirit as we pray for an end to violence in Southern Philippines the Middle East and the Holy Land.

Peace to you.
Fr. Jun Mercado, OMI
January 25, 2014
The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul