Why The Cossacks Celebrate The Protection of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

The Cossacks consider the feast day of The Protection of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary as a national holiday in all Cossack regions. This celebration has its origins dating back to 1641 when the Don and Zaporozhian Cossacks defended the fortress of Azov while being vastly outnumbered by the Turkish armies. The Cossacks, having accepted the high chance of death, prayed to Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary the night before the battle. In the morning, when Cossacks rode into battle, an image of the Holy Lady Theotokos appeared in the sky, and the Cossacks emerged victorious against the Turkish army. Since then, the Holy Lady Theotokos is mentioned many times in Cossack history and is said to have saved the Cossacks in many battles.
Azov