The Orthodox Church commemorates today the Intercession of the Theotokos, or the Protection of the Theotokos, which was moved from the 1st of the month to the present day, in order to coincide with the Oxi Day.
The reason is obvious since the Greeks believe that the Theotokos is the One who, in every difficult moment in 1940, protected and helped the Christian Greek army and the Greek nation in general.
The history of the Feast of the Intercession of the Theotokos is related to the great miracle that took place at the Blachernae Church in Constantinople, during the vigil of the 1st of October under Leo I. St. Andrew the Blessed Fool-for-Christ and his disciple, St. Epiphanius, who were inside the church, saw with their own eyes Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary entering from the dome into the church and spreading Her veil over all the people as protection.
It is noteworthy that the Theotokos is a Defender General and hears the prayers of those who fight and love God and their fellow human beings and those who are good people, honest and just. She protects and saves those who carry out their own struggle in the name of Christ and fight for the freedom of their homeland.
Source: Church of Cyprus
