Среда, 20 Августа/ 7 Августа (Церковный календарь)
Попразднство Преображения Господня. Прмч. Дометия Персиянина и двух учеников его (363). Обретение мощей свт. Митрофана, еп. Воронежского (1832). Прп. Антония Оптинского (1865). Сщмчч. Александра, Петра, Михаила, Иоанна, Димитрия и Алексия пресвитеров, Елисея диакона и прмч. Афанасия (1937). Мчч. Марина и Астерия (260). Прп. Ора Фиваидского (ок. 390). Прп. Пимена Многоболезненного, Печерского (1110). Прп. Меркурия Печерского, еп. Смоленского (1239). Прп. Пимена, постника Печерского (XIII-XIV). Свмч. Наркисса, патр. Иерусалимского. Новомпрепмч. Арефы и Иеремии Валаамских. Собор Валаамских святых.

Wednesday, August 20 / August 7 (Church Calendar)
Afterfeast of the Transfiguration. Martyr Dometius of Persia and two disciples. Martyrs Marinus the soldier and Asterius the senator at Caesaria in Palestine. St. Poemen (Pimen) the Much-ailing of the Kiev Caves. St. Hor (Horus) of the Thebaid. St. Pimen, faster of the Kiev Caves. Translation of the Relics of St. Metrophanes, first Bishop of Voronezh. Virgin Potamia. St. Dometius of Philotheou Monastery on Mt. Athos. St. Mercurius, Bishop of Smolensk (Kiev Caves). Elder Anthony of Optina (1865). (Greek Calendar: Holy Ten Thousand Ascetics of Thebes. Hieromartyr Narcissus of Jerusalem. St. Hyperechius of the Paradise. St. Sozon of Nicomedia. St. Theodosius the New, healer of Peloponnesus. St. Nicanor, Wonderworker of Mt. Calistratus.) Repose of Elder Adrian of South Dorotheus Monastery (1853), and Schemamonk John the Blind of Valaam (1894). Repose of Elder Callinicus the Hesychast of Mt. Athos (1930).

Protection of the Mother of God Icon

On the Icon, the Mother of God is seen standing above the faithful. Her arms outstretched in prayer are draped with a veil. Angels are pictured on both sides. St. Andrew and St. Epiphanius are shown on the lower right of our Icon. St. Andrew, dressed only in a cloak, gestures toward the Mother of God. St. Epiphanius, wearing a tunic under his cloak, gestures in astonishment at the miraculous appearance. In the center of the Church, a young man with a halo, clothed in a deacon's sticharion, is holding in his left hand an open scroll with the text of the Kontakion for Nativity in honor of the Mother of God. He is St. Romanos the Melodist, the famous hymnographer whose feast is also celebrated on October 1/14.