Deposition of the Robe of the Theotokos

Deposition of the precious Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos in the church of Blachernae, Constantinople.

This feast commemorates the placing of the precious Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos in the church of Blachernae in Constantinople during the fifth century, in the reign of Emperor Leo the Great. Tradition relates that the Robe had been kept by pious Christians in the Holy Land before being brought to the imperial city.

The Robe was regarded as a protection of the city, and its deposition has been celebrated ever since as a feast of the Mother of God.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Deposition of the Robe of the Theotokos is commemorated on July 2. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on July 15 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on July 2

• 

  Juvenaly of Jerusalem

  Hierarch, Ιουβενάλιος

  Patriarch of Jerusalem.

• John Maximovitch of San Francisco

  Hierarch, Ιωάννης Μαξίμοβιτς

  St. John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, wonderworker of the twentieth century.

• Lambros the New Martyr of Samothrace

  Martyr, Λάμπρος ο Νεομάρτυς

  New Martyr Lambros of Samothrace, who suffered under the Ottomans.

• Kointos the Confessor

  Saint, Κόιντος ο Ομολογητής

  Holy Confessor and Wonderworker Kointos of Phrygia.

• Photios of Moscow

  Hierarch, Φώτιος Μόσχας

  St. Photios, Metropolitan of Kiev and Moscow, a Greek from Monemvasia.

• Stephen the Great of Moldavia

  Saint, Στέφανος ο Μέγας

  Right-believing Stephen the Great, Prince of Moldavia, defender of the faith and builder of monasteries.