Today the Serbian Orthodox Church and believers mark the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God, known as Pokrov — a feast of protection, peace and wellbeing. In popular tradition it is the great women's feast day: the Mother of God is believed to hear women's prayers especially on this day — for children, love, peace at home and the health of loved ones. The feast commemorates her appearance in the Blachernae church in Constantinople in 911, when she spread her veil over the worshippers. On this day women avoid heavy work: no laundry, no spinning, no elaborate cooking and no work in the fields. People go to church, light a candle and bring a small gift — a towel, a scarf or cloth. Nothing new is started; what has begun is finished.