* August 1 – Shrine of Hodegas (Constantinople) - Saint Alphonsus of Liguori (d. 1787)  * At that time Istanbul celebrated the Assumption for a whole month! --- An initiative of the Association Mary of Nazareth  August 1 – Shrine of Hodegas (Constantinople) - Saint Alphonsus of Liguori (d. 1787)  At that time Istanbul celebrated the Assumption for a whole month! Pix from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In the shrine of Hodegas, 'Our Lady of Hodegui' (of the guides) in Istanbul, Turkey, the people used to venerate an icon of the Madonna and Child that is believed to be the original work of Saint Luke. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary led two blind men there for them to be healed by her prayer. In thanksgiving for her special protection during a revolution, Andronicus II Palaeologus (d. 1328) published a decree ordering a fast from August 1st-14th. At that time, the feast of the Assumption (August 15th) lasted 8 days and finally concluded between the 28th and the 31st of August! These practices lasted until the day that the shrine was sacked by Muslims in 1453. Attilio GALLI In Madre della Chiesa dei Cinque continenti, Ed. Segno, Udine, 1997 St. Luke drawing the Virgin Mary Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.   .  Share A Moment with Mary and give your loved ones the opportunity to discover a new aspect of the mystery of the Mother of God each day.