On this day, July 2 according to the Julian Calendar (July 15 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Deposition of the Precious Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae in Constantinople (V century).
During the reign of Emperor Leo I the Great, called Leo the Macedonian (457–474), two noblemen close to the Byzantine court — brothers Galbius and Candidus — departed from Constantinople on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Near Nazareth, they came to a small village and found lodging with an elderly Jewish woman. In her home they noticed an unusual lamp burning continuously before a chest enclosed with curtains. When they inquired what this was, the woman at first refused to answer. But pressed further, she revealed that in the chest was preserved the robe of the Mother of God, which had been handed down in her family from generation to generation since the earliest Christian times, and which had been the source of many miracles and healings.
The brothers secretly took the robe and brought it to Constantinople. Desiring to present this greatest of relics to the Emperor, they first constructed a church at Blachernae — a district of Constantinople — and placed the precious robe there in a golden reliquary.
The Empress Verina and the Emperor Leo were informed of the arrival of the relic. The Patriarch of Constantinople Gennady (458–471) solemnly transferred the robe to the newly-built church at Blachernae on July 2 (Old Style), where it was enshrined with great honor. Thereafter the robe of the Theotokos remained at Blachernae, and the church became one of the most venerated sanctuaries of the Byzantine world, known as the Blachernae Church of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The feast of the Deposition of the Robe of the Theotokos at Blachernae has been celebrated by the Orthodox Church since the fifth century.
May the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos be with us all.