OUR LADY OF THE FOUNDERS

Day 113: August 31

Our Lady of the Founders, Constantinople



The Church of the Virgin of Blachernae, now known as the Church of Panagia of Blachernae, is located in Istanbul. It was once the most celebrated shrine in Constantinople, and lies inside the high walls of the city, only a short distance from the Golden Horn. The church was begun by the Empress Pulcheria, and completed by her husband, the emperor Marcian. It was built upon the site of what was thought to be a sacred spring, the waters of which are still thought to have therapeutic value. The Emperor Leo I made several additions, including the Hagai Soros, which was actually a small chapel next to the church where the Holy Robe and Girdle of the Blessed Virgin Mary were kept in a silver and gold reliquary. The relics had been brought from Palestine in 458.

In the year 911 AD, it was reported that there was a Marian apparition at this church. The city was under siege by a large Muslim army, so the citizens of Constantinople had recourse to Mary, praying for refuge at the Blachernae church. Very early one morning the Blessed Virgin, preceded by a host of angels, was seen to enter through the church doors, escorted by Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Theologian. She advanced to the center of the church and knelt there to pray fervently, with tears in her eyes. After a while she moved to the altar and continued praying, then she removed her veil and held it out over the faithful, as she ascended back into Heaven. This was seen as a sign that she was taking the city under her protection, and so it happened that the Christians won a striking victory over their enemies, who were driven off.

The city of Constantinople came under siege during the Fourth Crusade in the year 1203, and was captured in April of 1204. Bishop Nivelon de Cherisy was one of the first men to scale the walls of the mighty Constantinople, when it was finally opened to the Crusaders. Despite the fact that there was a stern prohibition against plundering relics from churches and monasteries, many holy relics were obtained and brought back to the West. Bishop Conrad of Halberstadt, Abbot Martin of Pairis, and Nivelon of Soiccons were known to have taken relics. Nivelon of Soiccons enriched his cathedral at Soissons with several important relics. Robert of Clari later includes in a list of relics, that he viewed at the church of the Blessed Virgin of the Pharos (Lighthouse), the crown of thorns, the Virgin’s Robe, the head of John the Baptist, and two large pieces of the True Cross. The robe was a large portion of the sleeveless shirt worn by the Virgin Mary, as well as her girdle.


St Justin Russolillo Writes...

"The inexpressible Operations of the Divine Persons, living in you, reach their peak. The Word, according to the Father's Will, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, takes flesh in you! The Lord is with you!"

(Spirit of Prayer, trans. Louis Caputo, New Jersey, Vocationist Fathers, 1996, p. 157)

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