The feminine principle, the image of a woman-mother, the giver of life, is revered in all world religions. Yes, in Ancient Greece thus it became, in Asia they prayed to the goddess Cybele, in Egypt it personified the supreme feminine principle. The Christian religion is no exception. The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary contains both the divine miracle of the birth of life and the earthly path of an ordinary woman, whose fate turned out to be far from cloudless.
Childhood and youth
The father of the Virgin was Joachim, a man of faith and righteousness. A mother named Anna, like her husband, always followed the letter of the Law of God. This family lived in complete harmony, only one thing overshadowed the existence of the spouses: the absence of children. For many years, Anna and Joachim prayed that the Lord would send them a child, but the prayers were in vain. The suffering of the childless couple was intensified by the ridicule of those around them, who did not miss a chance to slander over the grief of this righteous couple.
Anna and Joachim lived in marriage for almost 50 years and already despaired of having a child. But one day Anna, walking in the garden, saw an angel. He promised the surprised woman that she would soon become a mother, and her child would be known to the whole world. Anna hurried home to tell her husband about the vision. Imagine Anna's surprise when it turned out that Joachim also saw an angel announcing that the prayers for the child had been heard.
After some time, Anna really became pregnant. Then the couple made a vow that they would give the newborn to the service of the Lord. The daughter was born on time and received the name Maria (in Hebrew, this name is pronounced Miriam and is translated as “beautiful”, “strong”). The neighbors of Joachim and Anna began to gossip again, this time marveling at the miracle.
The couple raised their daughter and prepared to fulfill the promise. Three years later, they gave little Mary to be raised in the Jerusalem temple. Surprisingly, the girl easily overcame fifteen steps to the gates of the temple, which were sometimes difficult even for adults.
A few years later, the righteous Anna and Joachim died. Maria continued to live at the temple, studying with other girls in a special school. Here, young pupils were taught the basics of science, taught the Word of God, and also prepared for worldly life, housekeeping and raising children. Until the age of 12, Maria lived within the walls of this school. Best of all, the girl was given sewing. There is a legend that it was she who was entrusted with sewing a curtain and a coverlet for the temple sanctuary.
Given such an upbringing, an enviable bride should have grown out of Mary - hardworking, pious and educated. But such a fate did not attract the girl, and she took a vow of celibacy. This created certain difficulties: mature girls were not allowed to live at the temple, and the grown-up Mary had to leave God's house.
But it was impossible for her to live alone according to the laws of that time. The clergy, who became attached to the pupil, found a way out: Mary was married to an elderly widower Joseph, who, due to his age, had to keep the girl clean, allowing her not to break the word given to God.
At first, the elder was not happy about the young bride who fell on his head. In addition, the man was afraid of gossip behind his back and ridicule from relatives and neighbors - the age difference was so great. However, Joseph did not dare to contradict the will of the priests and took Mary into the house, calling him his wife.
Birth of Jesus Christ
After some time, Joseph, who worked as a carpenter, left the house for several months, going to the next construction site. Maria, remaining on the farm, looked after the order, wove and prayed a lot. According to legend, during a prayer, an angel appeared to the girl, who told about the imminent birth of her son.
The boy, according to the angel, was to become the savior of people, those whose arrival the Jews had long expected. Mary was embarrassed by this revelation, because she remained a virgin. To which she was answered that she would suffer from a higher power, and not from a male seed. This day in the Christian tradition became the feast of the Annunciation - in memory of the good news that the Virgin Mary received.
And indeed, Maria soon realized that she was pregnant. The woman did not yet realize the role that her son was to play, but she understood that she had become a participant in a real miracle of the Immaculate Conception.
Joseph, who returned home some time later, immediately noticed the changes that had taken place in his wife. This kind man did not immediately believe Maria's story, deciding that the naive girl simply became a victim of deception by some neighbor young man who seduced her.
The old man did not blame his wife and even wanted to secretly let her leave the city so that she would not become a victim of justice: treason in those days was severely punished, an unfaithful woman could be stoned and whipped. Then an angel appeared to the carpenter, telling about the immaculate conception of Mary. This convinced Joseph of the innocence of his wife, and he allowed the girl to stay.
Shortly before the due date, Caesar Augustus announced a general census of the population. For this, people had to come to Bethlehem on their own. Joseph and Mary set out on their journey. Arriving at the place, they found that the city was simply crowded with crowds of people. It was not possible to find a place to stay for the night, and the couple decided to spend the night in a cave in which the shepherds hid their cattle from the rain.
Virgin Mary with baby Jesus It was there that Mary gave birth to a son. The first cradle for the boy was a nursery for feeding animals. That same night, the star of Bethlehem shone over the cave, the light of which told people about the appearance of a miracle on earth. In addition, the light star of bethlehem saw the magi, who immediately set off on their journey to personally bow to the newborn Son of God and bring gifts to him.
Seven days later, as required by the law of the time, the baby was circumcised and given a name. The son of the Virgin Mary was named. Then the boy was brought to the church to present to God and bring the traditional sacrifice. A certain elder Simeon, who also came to the temple that day, blessed the baby, realizing who was in front of him. To Mary, he allegorically hinted that both she and her son were destined for a difficult fate.
Gospel Events
While the Holy Virgin Mary with her husband and newborn baby was in Bethlehem, the cruel and ambitious King Herod learned about the birth of the Son of God. However, the soothsayers who told Herod about the miracle that had happened could not answer the question in whose family Jesus was born.
Then, without hesitation, the king ordered the destruction of all newborns that are only in Bethlehem. Joseph was warned of the impending disaster by an angel who again appeared to the elder in a dream. Then the carpenter with Mary and the baby took refuge in Egypt, and only when the danger had passed did he return with his family to his native Nazareth.
About the further biography of the Virgin in the Gospel is written sparingly. It is known that Mary accompanied Jesus Christ everywhere, supporting him and helping to carry the Word of God to people. Also, the woman was present at the miracle that Jesus performed, turning water into wine.
Obviously, Mary had a hard time: the constant sermons that her son delivered did not always evoke a good response in people. Often, Jesus and those who accompanied him had to endure the ridicule and aggression of those who did not want to accept the postulates of religion.
On the day when Jesus Christ was crucified by the executioners, Mary felt the pain of her son and even fainted when the nails pierced his palms. And although the Mother of God knew from the very beginning that Jesus was destined to accept torment for the sins of people, the mother's heart could hardly withstand such suffering.
Death and ascension
Mary spent the rest of her life on Mount Athos, preaching among the pagans and carrying the Word of God. Now a large complex of monasteries and cathedrals has been built on that site, each of which contains evidence of miracles revealed by the Mother of God: numerous miraculous icons (some of them, according to legend, are not made by hands), the belt of the Virgin (kept in the Vatoped monastery), as well as the relics of people , canonized by the church as saints.
At the end of her life, Mary spent all her days in prayer, asking her son to take her to him. One day, an angel appeared to the woman again, announcing that her prayers had been heard, and after three days her wish would be granted. Mary, who happily accepted the news of her imminent death, devoted three days to saying goodbye to those who were dear to her.
On the appointed day, Mary, lying on her deathbed, dutifully awaited her fate. People close to her gathered around her. All of them witnessed a new miracle: Jesus Christ himself descended from heaven to take his mother with him. Mary's soul left her body and ascended into the Kingdom of God. The body that remained on the bed seemed to glow with grace.
Ascension of the Virgin Mary According to the records of the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, Mary died in the year 48 after the birth of Christ, but there are other written testimonies that name both earlier and later dates. According to biblical tradition, the Mother of God lived for 72 years.
Some time later, the apostles discovered that the body of the Virgin Mary had disappeared from the burial cave. On the same day, the Mother of God appeared to them and announced that her body had been taken up to heaven after her soul, so that she could become a Holy Intercessor before God for people in need of help. Since then, the day of the Assumption of the Virgin is considered one of the main Christian holidays.
According to the traditions of Muslims (who revere Christ not as the Son of God, but as one of the prophets), Jesus (or Isa) performed the first miracle while still in the womb of the Virgin Mary. This happened on the day of childbirth, when the Mother of God was already completely exhausted from pain. Then Isa pointed out to the woman a spring created by God and a date palm covered with fruits. Water and dates strengthened Mary's strength and eased the suffering in childbirth.
On some icons, the Mother of God is depicted with lily flowers in her hands. This flower was not chosen by chance: the lily is considered a symbol of chastity, purity and purity.
The description of the appearance of the Virgin Mary is preserved in the works of the church historian Nicephorus Callistus. Judging by the notes of this person, the Mother of God was of medium height. The Virgin's hair shone with gold, while her eyes, lively and quick, were the color of olives. Nikifor also noted Mary's "juicy lips, arched eyebrows and long arms and fingers."
After the earthly death of the Mother of God, several places remained, which, according to legend, are considered the inheritance of the Virgin Mary. These are Mount Athos, the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Iberia (now it is the territory of Georgia) and the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery. It is believed that prayers read in one of these destinies will certainly be heard by the Mother of God.
December 8 - the day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary - is even declared a non-working day in some countries. From European countries, such a decision was made by Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Spain. On this day in Catholic churches and Orthodox churches services are held and prayers are read. This day is also considered a public holiday in Argentina and East Timor.
Despite the fact that Mount Athos is considered one of the earthly inheritances of the Virgin Mary, women are not allowed to enter the territory of the monastery complexes. This rule is even enshrined in law, and violators will face severe punishment (up to and including imprisonment). However, this prohibition was violated twice: during the civil war in Greece (then women and children took refuge in the forests on the slopes of the mountain) and during the period of Turkish rule over these territories.
Memory (in the Orthodox tradition)
- March 25 - Annunciation Holy Mother of God
- July 2 - Deposition of the Holy Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos in Blachernae
- August 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- August 31 - The position of the belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chalkopratia
- September 8 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- September 9 - The memory of the holy righteous Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Virgin
- October 1 - Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos
- November 21 - Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos
- December 9 - Conception of the righteous Anna of the Blessed Mary
- December 26 - Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The content of the article
MARY, Blessed Virgin, mother of Jesus Christ, in the Christian tradition - the Mother of God (Mother of God) and the greatest of Christian saints. The etymology of the name "Mary" (Heb. Mariam) was proposed differently: "beautiful", "bitter", "disobedience", "enlightening", "lady" and "beloved by God". Scholars prefer the latter meaning, which goes back to the ancient Egyptian language and can be explained by the four centuries of Jewish presence in Egypt.
A life.
The gospel story of Mary's life begins with the story of the appearance of the archangel Gabriel to her in Nazareth, announcing that she was chosen by God as the mother of the Messiah. Although she was betrothed to Joseph, she remained a virgin, as evidenced by her question: “How will it be when I don’t know a husband?” The angel explains to her that the power of the Most High will overshadow her, and Mary gives her consent: "May it be to Me according to your word." Immediately after this, she went to visit her relative Elizabeth, who had previously been barren and whom an angel announced that she would give birth to a son in her advanced years - John the Baptist.
Having come to Elizabeth, Mary sang a song of praise - “My soul magnifies the Lord” (lat. Magnificat), reminiscent of the song of Anna, the mother of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 2: 1-10). When she returned to Nazareth, Joseph, having learned that she was expecting a child, wanted to let her go without publicity, but the angel who appeared to Joseph revealed to him a great secret.
In accordance with the decree of Caesar Augustus on the census, Mary and Joseph (being from the line of David) went to David's city of Bethlehem, where Mary gave birth to Jesus in a cattle stall. The shepherds, to whom the angels announced the birth of the Christ Child, came to worship him and found Mary, Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. On the eighth day, the child was circumcised and given the name Jesus, which was given to him by the archangel Gabriel. On the fortieth day, Mary and Joseph came to the Jerusalem Temple to cleanse themselves according to the Law of Moses and consecrate the Son to the Lord, sacrificing two turtledoves or two young doves. During the performance of this rite, the elder Simeon took the baby in his arms and predicted to Mary her future participation in the sufferings of the Son: “And a weapon will pass through the soul to Yourself, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”
Warned in a dream that Herod wanted to kill the baby, Joseph, along with Mary and Jesus, fled to Egypt and remained there until Herod's death.
The Gospels do not report anything about Mary during the life of Jesus Christ in Nazareth, except for an episode that happened when Jesus was 12 years old. His parents brought him to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, and, having lost him there, they could not find him for three days. Finding him in the Temple among the teachers of the law, his mother asked him why he had stayed there, and Jesus replied, "I must be in my Father's business" (Luke 2:49).
Mary was with Christ at the beginning of his public ministry when, at her request, he turned water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana. For some time she was with him in Capernaum. On Golgotha she stood near the cross, and Jesus entrusted her to the care of the apostle John. After the ascension of Christ, Mary, together with the apostles and disciples, waited in Jerusalem for the descent of the Holy Spirit, and on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on them in the form of fiery tongues. No information about the subsequent life of the Virgin Mary is given in the New Testament.
According to tradition, she at one time lived in or near Ephesus, but her main place of residence seems to have been Jerusalem. It is believed that she died in Ephesus 12 years after the ascension of Christ.
Theology.
The main elements of Mariology (a section of theology dedicated to the Virgin Mary) developed in the era of early patristics. Thus, even before the Council of Nicaea (325), many major church writers, including Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons and Cyprian, wrote about the role of the Virgin Mary in the redemption of mankind.
The title "Mother of God" (Greek Theotokos) was first formally adopted in the controversy against Nestorius at the Council of Ephesus (431), but the concept itself dates back to the early post-apostolic period. The biblical basis for this concept was the double motif present in the gospels: Jesus Christ is the true God and the Virgin Mary is the true Mother of Jesus. Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107) wrote: "Mary bore in her womb our God Jesus Christ in accordance with the divine plan of salvation." The definition of "Mother of God" became widespread after the 3rd century. It was used by Origen (c. 185 - c. 254), and Gregory of Nazianzus c. 382 wrote: “He who does not recognize the Blessed Mary as the Mother of God is excommunicated from the Divine.”
The Nestorian thesis that Mary could not be the Mother of God, since she gave birth only to the human nature of Christ, provoked objections from the defenders of Christian orthodoxy (orthodoxy), pointing out that she conceived and gave birth not only to “nature”, but also to “face” (personality). And since the Virgin Mary conceived and gave birth to the second Person of the Trinity, she is truly the Mother of God.
By virtue of her divine motherhood, the Virgin Mary surpasses all created beings in her dignity and is second only to her divine Son in holiness. In the church, she is celebrated with special veneration, denoted by the Greek term "hyperdulia" (as opposed to the veneration shown to other saints - "dulia"), and worship ("latria"), given only to God. Ancient church writers emphasized the connection between the divine motherhood of Mary and the fullness of her grace, seeing evidence of this in the greeting of the angel: "Rejoice, blessed one." In their opinion, in order to become the Mother of God, she had to be honored with a special divine disposition.
In the Catholic tradition immaculate conception The Virgin Mary herself (by her parents) is seen as a logical condition that prepared her for the role of the Savior's mother. According to Pope Pius IX (1854), “The Blessed Virgin Mary was already at the very moment of her conception, through an exceptional gift of grace and a privilege granted to her by Almighty God for the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, was left unstained by original sin.” This means that the mother of Jesus Christ was protected from the vice of alienation from God common to all mankind, inherited from Adam as a result of his sin. Her freedom from sin was a special grace, an exception to general rule, a privilege that - according to Catholic theology (as opposed to Protestant) - has not been awarded to any other created being.
Neither in the Greek nor in the Latin Fathers of the Church do we find a direct teaching about the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, although it is implied in a hidden form. The Church Fathers taught that Mary was distinguished by exceptional purity of morals and holiness of life. In addition, the Virgin Mary was seen as the exact opposite of Eve. However, the idea of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary had to take on a clearer outline before it became a dogma of the Catholic Church. A special role in the development of this concept was played by Duns Scotus (c. 1264 - 1308), who put forward the idea of pre-redemption (praeredemptio) in order to reconcile the freedom of the Virgin Mary from original sin with her conception of Christ.
With the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary was also associated her freedom from any sinful desires. Release from the burden of original sin does not in itself mean the restoration of the original integrity of a person or the acquisition of some kind of immunity that protects him from lust, which were lost by a person after the fall. Although in itself carnal attraction is not sinful, it nevertheless implies a moral vice, since it can lead to sin, arousing passions that lead to a violation of the Law of God - even when a person does not yield to them and does not formally do nothing bad. On the other hand, the question may arise how the mother of Jesus Christ, being free from temptation, could acquire merit before God. Catholicism replies to this that she - just as much as her Son - could direct her freedom to other goals besides curbing the passions, in particular - to love for God and to exercise patience, mercy and obedience to the law. authorities.
The virginal purity of the Virgin Mary and alienation from carnal lust were combined in her with her imperviousness to any personal sin. Its sinlessness is indicated by the definition of “gracious” given to it in the Gospel, since moral vice is incompatible with the fullness of divine grace. Augustine believed that the concept of personal sinfulness did not apply to the Blessed Virgin simply because God honored her.
The doctrine of the virginity of Mary was first put forward in response to the denial of her virginity by some Gnostics (in particular, Cerinth, c. 100) and pagan critics of Christianity (in particular, Celsus, c. 200). At the same time, it was about three moments of her virginity: the conception by the Virgin Mary of the Son without the participation of a man, the birth of Christ by her without violating her virginity, and the preservation of her virginity after the birth of Christ.
The faith of the church in the virgin birth of Jesus was expressed in many ancient confessions of faith. IN Apostolic Creed(beginning of the 2nd century) speaks of Jesus Christ, “Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin Mary." The biblical basis for this teaching is found in the prophecy of Isaiah (7:14), which the Gospel of Matthew relates to the Virgin Mary: : Emmanuel [God is with us]." From the beginning, Christians have interpreted this prophecy as referring to the Messiah because the sign was fulfilled. A subsequent objection, which consists in pointing out that the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (Septuagint), which appeared c. 130 BC, erroneously rendered the meaning of the Hebrew word "halma" with the Greek word parthenos ("virgin") rather than the word neanis ("young woman"), now invalidated. Matthew understood this term in the same way, referring to the prophecy of Isaiah (Matthew 1:23). In addition, in the Old Testament language, "halma" means an unmarried girl who has reached marriageable age, who - in accordance with Jewish moral ideas - was supposed to preserve her virginity. And the context itself requires the meaning of "virgin", since a miraculous sign would take place only if it was the virgin who conceived and gave birth.
All the Fathers of the Church shared the idea of the virginal conception of Christ by Mary. Beginning with Justin Martyr (c. 100-165), all church writers unanimously defended the messianic interpretation of the prophecy of Isaiah, which is given in the Gospel of Matthew and confirmed in the Gospel of Luke.
The Christian tradition goes further. The Virgin Mary not only conceived without any carnal intercourse, but her physical virginity was not violated even at the birth of Christ. When the monk Jovinian (d. 405) began to teach that “the virgin conceived, but the virgin did not give birth,” he was immediately condemned at the council in Mediolan (Milan) (390) presided over by St. Ambrose, who recalled the verse Apostles' Creed: Born of the Virgin Mary. The provision that her virginity remained intact even at the time of the birth of Jesus was included in the definition of Mary's "perpetual virginity" on V Ecumenical Council in Constantinople (553). Without going into physiological details, ancient writers resorted to various analogies, likening the birth of Christ from a sealed womb to the passage of light through glass or the generation of thought by the human mind. In the encyclical Mystic Corporis(1943) Pius XII described the Virgin Mary as "She who gave birth miraculously to Christ our Lord".
It is believed that Mary remained virgin even after the birth of Christ. The doctrine of virginity post partum (after childbirth), denied in the ancient church by Tertullian and Jovinian, was resolutely defended in Christian orthodoxy, as a result of which the term "ever-virgin" was developed, enshrined at the Fifth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople. Starting from the 4th c. formulas similar to the Augustinian one become generally accepted: “I conceived a virgin, gave birth to a virgin, remained a virgin.”
Reliable evidence regarding the time, place and circumstances of the death of the Virgin Mary has not been preserved, but the fact of her death was recognized by the ancient church. Ephraim, Jerome and Augustine considered this fact beyond doubt. However, Epiphanius (315-403), who carefully studied all available sources, came to the conclusion that "no one knows how She left this world." Although this position is not dogmatically fixed, however, most modern theologians believe that the Virgin Mary died. They admit that she was not subject to the law of mortality - by virtue of her freedom from original sin, but they believe that the physicality of the Virgin Mary should have been similar to the physicality of her Son, who allowed himself to be killed for the salvation of people.
In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed that "The Immaculate Virgin, protected from all filthiness of original sin, having completed the path of earthly life, was taken body and soul into heavenly glory ..." The Catholic teaching on the ascension of the Virgin Mary is based on a twofold tradition: faith and that the Catholic episcopate accepted this dogmatic truth with complete unanimity as part of the dogma.
The Church Fathers of the first three centuries hardly discussed the topic of the ascension of the Virgin Mary. The lack of practice of worshiping her relics, preoccupation with Christological disputes, as well as references to the ascension of the Virgin in apocryphal writings, allow us to explain the reason for the silence of the ancient church on this subject. Eusebius of Caesarea wrote in his Chronicle that "The Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, was taken up to heaven, which, according to no small number of writers, was revealed to us by God." Liturgical confirmation of this teaching is the fact that Pope Gregory I (590-604) appointed August 15 as the day of the celebration of the ascension of the Virgin Mary into heaven, replacing this holiday with the previously celebrated Assumption of the Virgin.
The theoretical foundations on which the Church Fathers and later theologians based the doctrine of the incorruptibility and transfiguration of the body of the Virgin Mary are borrowed from Revelation. Because she was not subject to sin, her flesh was not to be subject to corruption. Her divine motherhood established a bodily and spiritual connection between her and Christ, and her participation in the redemptive feat of her Son presupposed a corresponding participation in the fruits of redemption, which included the glorification of body and soul.
With the role of Mary as the Mother of the Savior, her role as mediator between Christ and the human race is also associated. However, there are two aspects to this mediation that should be distinguished. In the theological doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, it is recognized that since the Virgin Mary gave birth to the Savior, who is the source of all grace, thanks to her this grace is communicated to mankind. However, the opinion should be considered only probable and acceptable, according to which, after the ascension of Mary to heaven, no grace at all is communicated to people without her assistance and participation. At the same time, the participation of the Virgin Mary in the implementation of the plan of salvation can be understood in two ways.
Firstly, Mary, of her own free will, assisted God in the realization of His plan, having humbly accepted the news of the incarnation, giving birth to the Son and becoming a spiritual accomplice in the feat of his Passion and Death. However, Christ alone brought the atoning sacrifice on the cross. Maria gave him moral support in this. Therefore, as some rulings of the Roman Catholic Church state, one cannot speak of its "priesthood." According to the resolution adopted in 1441 at the Council of Florence, Christ "alone defeated the enemy of the human race." Likewise, he alone obtained forgiveness for all the children of Adam, including the Virgin Mary. Her role in this "objective redemption" and merit in the work of salvation was indirect and flowed from her willingness to serve the cause of Christ. She suffered and sacrificed with him at the foot of the cross, but the effectiveness of her sacrifice depended entirely on the effectiveness of the sacrifice of her Son.
Secondly, Mary participates in the work of salvation by communicating the redemptive grace of Christ to people through her maternal mediation. Catholic theologians refer to this as "subjective redemption." This does not mean that every person in ordinary prayer can directly ask for grace for himself through the Virgin Mary or that her intercession is absolutely necessary when bestowing divine blessings, but it means that, according to the divine institution, the graces that Christ deserved are communicated to people through actual intercessory mediation. his Mother. Being the carnal Mother of God, she is the spiritual mother for all members of the Body of Christ - the church of her Son.
Mariology and ecumenism.
Such versatility is characteristic not only for the Catholic theological teaching about the Virgin Mary, but also for the Mariology of other Christian churches, and outside of Christianity - for Islam.
The divine motherhood of the Virgin Mary was recognized, interpreted or denied depending on the attitude towards the divinity of Christ. Muslims reject the designation "Mother of God", considering it blasphemous. “After all, the Messiah,” Muhammad wrote in the Koran, “Isa, the son of Maryam, is only the messenger of God.” His mother gave birth to only a prophet, because “God is only one God. More praiseworthy is He than that He should have a child” (Sura 4, 171).
Eastern Orthodox Churches believe that the Virgin Mary was truly the Mother of God, that she surpassed in her holiness not only all people, but also angels, that she was taken to heaven in the flesh and is now the intercessor for people before the Son.
Protestant formulas of creed favor the expression "Mother of Jesus" even when they, in principle, recognize the divinity of Christ. They also profess the virginity of Mary and directly identify the mystery of her virginity with divine motherhood, as did, for example, Calvin, who in his Instruction wrote: “The Son of God miraculously descended from Heaven, but in such a way that He did not leave Heaven. He desired to be miraculously conceived in the womb of a Virgin." Similar views are held by Protestant theologians, such as K. Barth.
Mariology is a subject of serious study for the ideologists of the ecumenical movement. Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant theologians are hotly debating whether doctrines such as the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception and Ascension can be incorporated into Christian doctrine if they were not explicitly proclaimed in Biblical Revelation. They recognize that these dogmas can serve as a serious obstacle to Christian unity.
Reflection in art and literature.
The life and virtues of the Virgin Mary inspired artists to create wonderful works of Christian art and literature.
The oldest surviving image of the Blessed Virgin is a fresco in the Roman catacombs of Priscilla on Via Salaria. This fresco (late 1st century or early 2nd century) depicts Mary seated with the baby Jesus in her arms, and next to her is a male figure, possibly a prophet with a scroll in his hand, pointing to a star above the head of the Virgin. Three more images of the Virgin Mary in the same catacomb date back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. One of the images on the tomb of a Christian virgin depicts Mary with the Child as an example and model of virginity, another shows the scene of the adoration of the Magi in Bethlehem, and the third is among the less common images of the Annunciation scene. Similar plots are presented in the images (all earlier than the 5th century) found in the cemeteries of Domitilla, Callistus, Saints Peter and Marcellus, and St. Agnes.
The picturesque and sculptural images of the Virgin Mary, dating back to the early Christian era, emphasized her relationship with Jesus as the Virgin and Mother, tracing them most often in one of the gospel scenes, ranging from the annunciation to the scenes of the crucifixion or burial of Christ. The Council of Ephesus (431), at which the doctrine of divine motherhood directed against Nestorius was adopted, marked the beginning of a new stage in the artistic comprehension of the image of the Virgin Mary in the East, and then, in the very near future, in Italy, Spain and Gaul. From that moment on, Mary was more often depicted not in everyday gospel scenes, but as the Heavenly Queen, dressed in gold and majestically seated on the throne.
Romanesque art adopted and developed the Byzantine iconography of the Blessed Virgin, but if in the East images of the praying Virgin (“Oranta”) with raised hands prevailed, then Western artists and sculptors preferred to depict her as the “Throne of Wisdom”. The adaptation of Byzantine iconography was slow but significant. She made it possible to move from strict oriental lines to greater softness, imbued with a human feeling. In the visual arts of all the great historical epochs, starting from the early Middle Ages, historians find an artistic reflection of the important role that the Blessed Virgin played in theology.
In the Gothic era, she was the "Mother of the Redeemer"; here, first of all, the mercy and love of the Savior and his Mother were emphasized, as participants in the feat of redemption carried out by her Son. This art corresponded to the "age of faith" and the time when the church was busy reforming its inner life and church discipline. In the Renaissance, the image of the “Mother and Child” becomes the predominant theme, embodied in the famous works of Fra Angelico, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Fra Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Correggio, Dolci, Perugino, Titian and Verrocchio in Italy, Van Eyck, Memling and Rubens in Flanders and Hans Holbein the Younger and Dürer in Germany. For the Baroque style, the image of the Virgin Mary was typical in the role of the "Conqueror of Satan", and in modern era- in the image of the “Mediator of Grace”, reinforced by the historical association of the Blessed Virgin with her revelations proclaimed at Lourdes and Fatima, as well as to such mystics as Marguerite Marie Alakok, Catherine Laboure, Don Bosco and the Cure of Ars.
The theme of the Virgin Mary has become a part of the literary culture of all peoples, including those of Asia, both Islamic and non-Islamic, but it was given special attention in the Romanesque countries and in France. Writers of various faiths have noted the ennobling influence of belief in the pure image of the Virgin Mary on Western lifestyle and literature. One of the signs that characterize, from their point of view, a highly developed civilization is a sense of respect for a woman. In this sense, the reverent admiration of the Virgin Mary as the ideal of womanhood has had a greater impact on changing the position of women in society than any other provision of the Christian religion.
The main female figure for Orthodox believers is the Virgin Mary, who was honored to become the Mother of the Lord. She led a righteous life and helped people cope with various troubles. After ascending to heaven, believers began to pray to the Mother of God, asking for help in various situations.
Virgin Mary in Orthodoxy
For believers, the Mother of God is the main intercessor before her Son and Lord. She is the woman who gave birth and raised the Savior. It is believed that nothing is impossible for the Mother of God, and people ask her for salvation for their souls. In Orthodoxy, the Virgin Mary is called the patroness of every person, since she, as a loving mother, worries about her children. More than once there was a phenomenon of the Virgin Mary, which was accompanied by miracles. There are many icons, temples and monasteries created in honor of the Mother of God.
Who is the Virgin Mary?
A lot of information is known about the life of the Virgin, which can be found in the apocrypha and in the memoirs of people who knew her during her earthly life. The following main facts can be distinguished:
- The Holy Virgin Mary until the age of 12 was in a specialized school at the Jerusalem Temple. Her parents sent her there, who made a vow that their daughter would devote her life to the Lord.
- The appearance of the Virgin is described by the church historian Nicephorus Callistus. She was of medium height, with golden hair and olive-colored eyes. The nose of the Virgin Mary is oblong and her face is round.
- To feed her family, the Mother of God had to constantly work. It is known that she weaved well and independently created the red tunic that Jesus wore before the crucifixion.
- The Virgin Mary constantly followed Jesus until the end of his earthly life. After the crucifixion and ascension of Christ, the Mother of God remained to live with John the Theologian. Further life is known to a greater extent from the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James.
- The death of the Virgin Mary was recorded in Jerusalem on Mount Zion, where the Catholic Church is now located. According to the apocrypha, the apostles from different parts of the world arrived at their deathbed, but only Thomas was delayed, so at his request the tomb was not closed. On the same day, the body of the Virgin disappeared, so it is believed that the ascension of the Virgin Mary took place.
Symbols of the Virgin Mary
There are many symbols that are related to the Virgin:
- Monogram composed of two letters "MR", which means Maria Regina - Mary, Queen of Heaven.
- A common sign of the Virgin Mary is a winged heart, sometimes pierced by a saber and depicted on a shield. Such a picture is the coat of arms of the Virgin.
- The crescent, cypress and olive tree are associated with the name of the Mother of God. The flower symbolizing the purity of the Virgin is a lily. Since the Virgin Mary is considered the queen of all saints, one of her symbols is called a white rose. They represent her with five petals, which is associated with the name Mary.
Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
The sinlessness of the Mother of God did not immediately become a dogma, since the authors of the first Christian texts did not pay attention to this issue. Many do not know how the Virgin Mary became pregnant, and so, according to legend, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven to her, and an immaculate conception occurred, thanks to which original sin did not pass to Jesus Christ. In Orthodoxy, the Immaculate Conception is not accepted as a dogma, and it is believed that the Mother of God was freed from sin through contact with Divine grace.
How did the Virgin Mary give birth to Jesus?
It is not possible to find details regarding how the birth of the Virgin took place, but there is information that they were absolutely painless. This is explained by the fact that Christ appeared from the womb of the mother, without opening it and without expanding the paths, that is, the Mother of God the Virgin Mary remained a virgin. It is believed that Jesus was born when his mother was 14-15 years old. There were no midwives near the Mother of God, she herself took the child in her arms.
Prophecies of the Virgin Mary at Fatima
The most famous apparition of the Mother of God is the Miracle at Fatima. She came to three shepherd children and each of her appearances was accompanied by a number of inexplicable incidents, for example, the sun was observed to move erratically across the sky. During the conversation, the Mother of God revealed three secrets. The predictions of the Virgin Mary of Fatima have been revealed at different times:
- At the first appearance, the Mother of God showed the children terrible visions of Hell. She said that the first one would end soon World War but if people do not stop sinning and offending God, then he will punish them with various disasters. A sign will be the appearance of a bright light at night, when it will be seen as in the daytime. According to some reports, before the start of World War II, northern lights were observed in Europe.
- The second appearance of the Virgin Mary brought another prophecy and it says that when everything is illuminated with an unknown light at night, this will be a sign that God is going to punish the world. To prevent this from happening, the Mother of God will come to ask for the consecration of Russia, and also for holding the month of expiatory communions on every first Saturday. If people listen to her requests, then there will be peace, and if not, then wars and new cataclysms cannot be avoided. Many believe that this prophecy speaks of the spread of communism, which was accompanied by various clashes.
- The third prophecy was received in 1917, but the Virgin Mary allowed it to be opened no earlier than 1960. The Pope, having read the prophecy, refused to disclose it, arguing that it did not concern his time. The text states that an assassination attempt will be made on the Pope, and this happened in May 1981. The Pope himself admitted that it is believed that the Virgin Mary protected him from death.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary
There are a huge number of prayer texts addressed to the Mother of God. She helps believers cope with various problems, as women who want to get pregnant and get married turn to her, ask her for healing and material benefits, pray to her for children, and so on. There are several rules regarding the pronunciation of prayer texts:
- You can turn to the Mother of God in church and at home, the main thing is to have an icon in front of your eyes. It is recommended to light a candle nearby to make it easier to concentrate.
- The prayer of the Blessed Virgin Mary should be pronounced from a pure heart and with faith in her power. Any doubts are a block to help.
- You can turn to the Mother of God at any time when the soul so desires.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary of Lourdes
In 1992, the Pope established a feast in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. People turn to her for help in order to receive healing from diseases. During her lifetime, the Holy Virgin healed the suffering and after that became the savior of the sick. When she was a child, the Virgin Mary the Most Holy Theotokos began to appear to her and taught her the rules of prayer, called to repentance for sinful people and asked to build a church. She pointed out to the girl where the healing spring was. Bernadette was canonized only 10 years after her death.
Strong prayer to the Virgin Mary for help
In Christianity, a prayer appeal to the Mother of God is considered the most powerful and effective. They ask her for help in different situations, the main thing is that the request be serious, because for nothing Higher power better not to worry. Prayer to the Virgin Mary for help should be repeated daily and even up to several times a day. You can say it out loud and to yourself. The sacred text, when read regularly, inspires hope and gives strength not to give up in a difficult situation.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary for well-being
Man's life is filled different situations, which are not always positive. Women are the guardians of the family hearth, therefore, representatives of the fair sex should pray for the well-being of their relatives. The Blessed Virgin Mary will help reconcile people, and another will protect from quarrels and family destruction. With the help of the presented prayer, you can protect yourself and loved ones from various negative things from the outside.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary for health
There is a huge amount of testimonies of believers who confirm that sincere prayer appeals to the Mother of God helped to heal from various ailments. The prayer to the Holy Virgin Mary can be said in the temple, but it is also recommended to put an image near the patient’s bed at home, light a candle and pray. You can say the text on, and then give the person with the disease a drink and wash it.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary for marriage
Many girls who are in search of a soul mate turn to the Most Holy Theotokos so that she conveys petitions to the Lord and helps to establish personal life. She is considered the main intercessor of all women, helping them in love affairs. To find happiness and love, it is necessary to read the prayer to the Virgin Mary every day until the desired becomes real. Prayer petitions will not only increase the chances of meeting a worthy life partner, but will also save relationships from various problems and help build a happy family.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary for children
The Mother of God is the main mother for all believers, since she gave the world a Savior. A huge number of people turn to her for help, asking for their children. The blessed Virgin Mary will help guide the child on the righteous path, drive him away from bad company and give inspiration to find himself in this world. Regular prayer of the mother will be a strong protection against diseases and various problems.
Veneration of the Virgin Mary
From the earliest times of Christianity, Rev. The Virgin Mary, for Her great virtues, God's election and help to those in need, enjoyed reverence and reverence among Christians.
The glory of the Virgin Mary began from the time when the Archangel Gabriel, greeting Her: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you! Blessed are You among women!” proclaimed to her the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God, incomprehensible to people. The same greeting with the addition of the words: "Blessed is the fruit of thy womb" met the Most Pure Righteous Elizabeth, to whom the Holy Spirit revealed that before her was the Mother of God (Luke 1:28-42).
Reverent veneration of St. Virgin in Christian Church expressed by many feasts with which the Church commemorates various events in the life of the Blessed Virgin.
The great ascetics and teachers of the Church composed laudatory songs in honor of the Virgin Mary, akathists, uttered inspired words... With such reverent veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of course, it is comforting and edifying to know how She lived, how she prepared, how she matured to such a height as to become a receptacle incomprehensible God-Word.
The Old Testament Scriptures, predicting about the incarnation of the Son of God, also predicted about St. Virgin Mary. So, the first promise about the Redeemer, given to fallen man, already contained the prophecy about the Blessed One. Virgin in the words of condemnation of the serpent: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed.”(Gen. 3:15). The prophecy about the Virgin Mary is that the future Redeemer is here called the Seed of the Woman, while in all other cases the descendants were called the seed of one of the male ancestors. The Holy Prophet Isaiah clarifies this prophecy, indicating that the Wife who has to give birth to the Messiah-Emmanuel will be a virgin: "The Lord Himself will give you a sign"- says the prophet to the unbelieving descendants of King David, - “ behold, Virgo(Isaiah 7:14). And although the word "Virgo" seemed out of place to the ancient Jews, in the womb she will take and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Emmanuel, which means: God is with us. because birth necessarily presupposes marital intercourse, yet they did not dare to replace the word “Virgo” with another word, for example, “woman”.
Earth life Mother of God on the basis of Holy Scripture and church tradition
The Evangelist Luke, who knew the Holy Virgin Mary closely, recorded from Her words several important events relating to the early years of Her life. As a doctor and artist, He, according to legend, also painted Her portrait-icon, from which later icon painters made copies.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. When the time approached for the birth of the Savior of the world, in the Galilean city of Nazareth lived a descendant of King David, Joachim, with his wife Anna. Both of them were pious people and were known for their humility and mercy. They lived to a ripe old age and had no children. This made them very sad. But, despite their old age, they did not stop asking God to send them a child and made a vow (promise) - if they have a baby, dedicate it to the service of God. At that time, not having children was considered God's punishment for sins. Childlessness was especially difficult for Joachim, because according to the prophecies, the Messiah-Christ was to be born in his family. For patience and faith, the Lord sent Joachim and Anna great joy: finally, their daughter was born. She was given the name Mary, which means in Hebrew "Lady, Hope."
Introduction to the Temple. When the Virgin Mary was three years old, Her pious parents prepared to fulfill their vow: they took Her to the Temple in Jerusalem to be consecrated to God. Mary stayed at the church. There She, along with other girls, studied the Law of God and needlework, prayed and read Holy Bible. At the temple of God Holy Mary lived for about eleven years and grew up deeply pious, submissive to God in everything, unusually modest and industrious. Wishing to serve only God, She made a promise not to marry and to remain a Virgin forever.
Blessed Virgin Mary at Joseph. The elderly Joachim and Anna did not live long, and the Virgin Mary was left an orphan. When She was fourteen years old, according to the law, She could no longer stay at the temple, but she had to get married. The high priest, knowing her promise not to violate the law on matrimony, formally betrothed her to distant relative, the widowed eighty-year-old elder Joseph. He undertook to take care of Her and protect Her virginity. Joseph lived in the city of Nazareth. He also came from the royal family of David, but he was not a rich man and worked as a carpenter. From his first marriage, Joseph had children Judah, Joses, Simon, and James, who are called “brothers” of Jesus in the Gospels. The Blessed Virgin Mary led the same modest and solitary life in Joseph's house as she did in the church.
Annunciation. In the sixth month after the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel Zacharias on the occasion of the birth of the prophet John the Baptist, the same Archangel was sent by God to the city of Nazareth to the Blessed Virgin Mary with the joyful news that the Lord had chosen Her to be the Mother of the Savior of the world. The angel came and said to her: Rejoice Gracious!(that is, full of grace) - The Lord is with you! Blessed are You among women." Mary was embarrassed by the words of the Angel and thought: what does this greeting mean? The angel continued to speak to her: “Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God. And behold, You will bear a Son and call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the son of the Most High, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary asked the Angel in bewilderment: “How will it be when I don’t know my husband?” The angel answered Her that this would be done by the power of the almighty God: “The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You; therefore, the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Behold, your relative, Elizabeth, who did not have children until a ripe old age, will soon give birth to a son; for God will not remain powerless no word." Then Mary humbly said: “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be according to my word yours." And the Archangel Gabriel departed from Her.
Visiting Righteous Elizabeth. The Blessed Virgin Mary, having learned from an angel that Her relative Elizabeth, the wife of the priest Zacharias, would soon have a son, hurried to visit her. Entering the house, She greeted Elizabeth. Hearing this greeting, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and learned that Mary was worthy to be the Mother of God. She exclaimed loudly and said: “Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb! And why is it such joy to me that the Mother of my Lord came to me?” The Blessed Virgin Mary, in response to the words of Elizabeth, glorified God with the words: “My soul magnifies (glorifies) the Lord, and my spirit rejoiced in God, my Savior, because He looked (turned merciful attention) to the humility of His servant; From now on, all generations (all tribes of people) will please (glorify) Me. Thus did the Mighty One do me greatness, and holy is His name; and His mercy from generation to generation to those who fear Him.” The Virgin Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned home to Nazareth.
God also announced to the righteous elder Joseph about the imminent birth of the Savior from the Blessed Virgin Mary. An angel of God, appearing to him in a dream, revealed that a Son would be born to Mary, by the action of the Holy Spirit, as the Lord God announced through the prophet Isaiah (7:14) and commanded to give Him the name “Jesus (Yeshua) in Hebrew means Savior because He will save people from their sins.”
Further gospel narratives mention the Rev. Virgin Mary in connection with the events in the life of Her Son - our Lord Jesus Christ. So, they talk about Her in connection with the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, then - circumcision, the veneration of the Magi, the sacrifice to the temple on the 40th day, the flight to Egypt, the settlement in Nazareth, the journey to Jerusalem on the feast of Easter, when He turned 12 -th years and so on. We will not describe these events here. It should be noted, however, that although the Gospel references to the Virgin Mary are brief, they give the reader a clear idea of Her great moral height: Her modesty, great faith, patience, courage, submissiveness to the will of God, love and devotion to Her Divine Son. We see why She, according to the word of the Angel, was deemed worthy to “find the grace of God.”
The first miracle performed by Jesus Christ at a marriage (wedding) in Cana of Galilee, gives us vivid image Virgin Mary like Intercessors before His Son for all people in difficult circumstances. Noticing the lack of wine at the wedding feast, the Virgin Mary drew the attention of Her Son to this, and although the Lord answered Her evasively - “What about me and you, Zheno? My hour has not yet come.” She was not embarrassed by this half-rejection, being sure that the Son would not leave Her requests without attention, and said to the attendants: "Whatever He says to you, do it." How visible in this warning of the servants is the compassionate care of the Mother of God that the work begun by Her be brought to a favorable end! Indeed, Her intercession did not remain without fruit, and Jesus Christ performed His first miracle here, leading poor people out of a difficult situation, after which “His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11.).
In further narratives, the Gospel depicts the Mother of God, who is in constant anxiety for Her Son, who followed His wanderings, comes to Him in various difficult cases, takes care of arranging His home rest and rest, to which He, apparently, never agreed. . Finally, we see Her standing in indescribable grief at the cross of Her Crucified Son, hearing His last words and testaments, who entrusted Her to the care of His beloved disciple. Not a single word of reproach or despair leaves Her lips. She submits everything to the will of God.
The Virgin Mary is also briefly mentioned in the book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles, when on Her and on the apostles on the day Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended in the form of fiery tongues. After that, according to legend, She lived for another 10-20 years. The Apostle John the Theologian, according to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, took Her into his house and with great love, like his own son, took care of Her until Her death. When the Christian faith spread to other countries, many Christians came from distant countries to see and listen to Her. Since then, the Blessed Virgin Mary has become for all the disciples of Christ the common Mother and a high example to follow.
Dormition. Once, when the Blessed Mary was praying on the Mount of Olives (near Jerusalem), the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Her with a heavenly date branch in his hands and told Her that in three days Her earthly life would end, and the Lord would take Her to Himself. The Lord so arranged that by this time the apostles from different countries gathered in Jerusalem. At the hour of death, an extraordinary light illuminated the room where the Virgin Mary lay. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, surrounded by angels, appeared and received Her most pure soul. The apostles buried the most pure body of the Mother of God, according to Her desire, at the foot of the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane, in a cave where the bodies of Her parents and the righteous Joseph were buried. Many miracles happened during the burial. From touching the bed of the Mother of God, the blind received their sight, demons were cast out and every disease was healed.
Three days after the burial of the Mother of God, the apostle, who was late for the burial, arrived in Jerusalem Thomas. He was very sad that he did not say goodbye to the Mother of God and with all his soul he wanted to bow to Her most pure body. When they opened the cave where the Virgin Mary was buried, they did not find Her body in it, but only one burial sheet. The astonished apostles returned to the house. In the evening, while praying, they heard angelic singing. Looking up, the apostles saw the Virgin Mary in the air, surrounded by angels, in the radiance of heavenly glory. She told the apostles: Rejoice! I am with you all the days!”
She fulfills this promise to be a helper and intercessor of Christians to this day, becoming our heavenly Mother. For Her great love and all-powerful help, Christians from ancient times honor Her and turn to Her for help, calling Her "The Zealous Intercessor of the Christian race," "The Joy of All Who Sorrow," "who does not leave us in her Assumption." From ancient times, following the example of the prophet Isaiah and the righteous Elizabeth, Christians began to call her the Mother of the Lord and the Mother of God. This title derives from the fact that She gave flesh to the One who has always been and always will be the true God.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is also a great example for all those who strive to please God. She was the first to decide wholly dedicate your life to God. She showed that voluntary virginity is above family and marriage life. Imitating Her, starting from the first centuries, many Christians began to spend their virgin life in prayer, fasting and contemplation. This is how monasticism arose and established itself. Unfortunately, the modern non-Orthodox world does not appreciate and even ridicules the feat of virginity, forgetting the words of the Lord: “There are eunuchs (virgins) who have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven,” adding: “Who can accommodate, yes accommodate!”(Matthew 19:12).
Summing up this brief overview of the earthly life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it should be said that She, both at the moment of Her greatest glory, when she was chosen to become the Mother of the Savior of the world, and at the hours of Her greatest grief, when at the foot of the cross, according to the prophecy of the righteous Simeon, “ the weapon went through Her soul,” showed complete self-control. By this, she revealed all the strength and beauty of Her virtues: humility, unshakable faith, patience, courage, hope in God and love for Him! That is why we, Orthodox, honor Her so highly and try to imitate Her.
Modern Miracles and Apparitions of the Mother of God
From the first days after Her Assumption and to this day, the Blessed Virgin Mary helps Christians. This is evidenced by Her numerous miracles and appearances. Let's take a look at some of them.
Feast of the POKROV The Mother of God is installed in memory of the vision of St. Andrew of the Mother of God, covering with Her omophorion (a long veil) the Christians in the Blachernae Church during the siege of Constantinople by enemies in the 10th century. At the fourth hour of the night, the blessed one saw the majestic Woman coming from royal doors supported by St. Forerunner and John the Theologian, and many saints preceded her; others followed her, singing hymns and spiritual songs. St. Andrew approached his disciple Epiphanius and asked if he saw the Queen of the World. “I see,” he replied. And when they looked, she, kneeling before the pulpit, prayed for a long time, shedding tears. Then She went to the throne and prayed for Orthodox people. At the end of the prayer, She removed the veil from Her head and spread it over all the standing people. The city was saved. St. Andrew was a Slav by birth, and the Russians greatly honor the Feast of the Intercession, dedicating many churches to it.
Further information in this chapter regarding the apparitions of the Mother of God is drawn mainly from the foreign press. Our Church has not yet expressed its opinion about them, and we present them here as additional information.
Shortly before the revolution in Russia, on May 13, 1917, the Mother of God appeared to three Portuguese shepherd children in FATIME. After that, She appeared to the children for several months, surrounded by radiance. Believers from five to eighteen thousand people flocked to Her appearances from all over Portugal. An unforgettable miracle happened when, after a heavy rain, an extraordinary light suddenly shone, and the wet clothes on people instantly dried up. The Mother of God called people to repentance and prayer and predicted the forthcoming “conversion of Russia” (from godlessness to faith in God).
Starting from April 2, 1968, for more than a year, the Mother of God appeared in the suburbs CAIRA Zeytun over the temple dedicated to Her name. Her apparitions, which usually took place between 12 midnight and 5 am, attracted a large number of pilgrims. The Mother of God was surrounded by a radiance sometimes as bright as the sun, and white doves hovered around. Soon all of Egypt learned about the apparitions of the Mother of God, and the government began to take care that people's meetings at the place of Her apparitions were held in order. Local newspapers in Arabic wrote about these frequent appearances of the Mother of God. There were several press conferences about the apparitions, where people shared their impressions and what they heard from Her. The Mother of God also visited individuals in the vicinity of Cairo, for example, the Coptic Patriarch, who doubted Her appearances to the people. During the apparitions of the Mother of God, many healings also took place, which were witnessed by local doctors.
The Washington Post of July 5, 1986 reported on new appearances of the Mother of God over the Church of St. Demian in the working part of the town of Terra Gulakia north of Cairo. The Virgin Mary held the Christ Child in Her arms and She was accompanied by several saints, among them St. Demian. As in previous years, the appearances of the Mother of God were accompanied by numerous healings of incurable diseases, such as blindness, kidney, heart, and others.
Since June 1981, the Mother of God began to appear to people on the mountain in Intermountain(Yugoslavia). Sometimes up to ten thousand people flocked to Her appearances. People saw Her in an unearthly radiance. Then the appearances to the people ceased, and the Mother of God began to regularly appear to six young people and talk with them. Mezhdhirya has become a place of constant pilgrimage for believers from all over the world. Local, Italian and other newspapers wrote and write about these phenomena. The Mother of God gradually revealed to young people 10 secrets, which they should tell the representatives of the church in due time. The Mother of God promised that 3 days after the announcement of Her last secret, She would leave a visible “sign” for unbelieving people. Representatives of medicine and other respectable people testify that young people who see the Mother of God are completely normal and their external reactions to visions are natural. Often the Mother of God, crying, spoke to young people about the need to establish peace on earth: “Peace, peace! The earth will not be saved unless peace is established on it. It will come only if people find God. The Lord is life. Those who believe in Him will find life and peace... People have forgotten prayer and fasting; many Christians have stopped praying.” It is interesting to note that in Mezhdhirya, where atheism used to prevail and there were many party members, all the inhabitants became believers and left communist party. In connection with the apparitions of the Mother of God, many miraculous healings took place in Mezhduhirya.
At Easter 1985 in the city LVIV During the service of Metropolitan John in the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God and with a large crowd of believers, a cloud suddenly appeared in the window, shining like a ray of the sun. Gradually, it formed into a human figure and everyone recognized Her as the Mother of God. In a spiritual impulse, people began to pray loudly and cry for help. The people standing outside also saw the image of the Mother of God in the window and tried to enter the church and prayed loudly. The crowd grew larger, and word of the miracle spread like lightning. All the efforts of the police to disperse the worshipers were in vain. People began to arrive from Kyiv, from the Pochaev Lavra, Moscow, Tiflis and other cities. The authorities of the city of Lvov asked the city of Moscow to send the military, as well as experts in the field of science, to help. Scientists began to prove that there can be no miracles for people to disperse. And suddenly the Mother of God spoke: “Pray, repent of your sins, because there is very little time left ...” During the sermon, the Mother of God healed many crippled and sick people. The visions of the Mother of God and healing continued for three and a half weeks, and She still spoke a lot for the salvation of people. People did not disperse day or night.
Some miraculous icons of the Mother of God
VLADIMIRSKAYA The icon is one of the oldest miraculous icons of the Mother of God. In the middle of the 10th century, it was transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople, and in the middle of the 12th century it was sent by the patriarch to Kyiv to vel. book. Yuri Dolgoruky and staged in the Maiden Convent in Vyshgorod. In 1155 Prince Andrei of Vyshgorod, going north, took with him the miraculous icon of the Mother of God. Prayers were served along the way and miracles were performed. Off the banks of the Klyazma, the horses carrying the icons could not move. The prince called this place Bogolyubov, created two stone churches here, in one of which the icon was placed. In 1160, on September 21, the icon was transferred to the Vladimir temple and from that time it became known as “Vladimirskaya.” From 1395 St. the icon is in the Moscow Assumption Cathedral left side royal doors. The icon was famous for many miracles. Before her, Russian tsars were anointed to the kingdom, metropolitans were elected. The celebration of the icon takes place on September 8th, and also on June 3rd (according to the New Style). on the occasion of the deliverance of Moscow from the Crimean Khan in 1521, who was frightened by the vision of a miraculous army near Moscow.
KAZAN icon. In 1579, the nine-year-old girl Matrona, whose parents' house burned down during a fire in Kazan in 1579, saw in a dream the image of the Mother of God and heard a voice commanding to take St. an icon hidden in the ashes of a burnt house. The holy icon was found wrapped in an old cloth under the stove in a burnt house, where it was buried, probably during the reign of the Tatars in Kazan, when the Orthodox were forced to hide their faith. The holy icon was solemnly transferred to the nearest church of St. Nicholas, and then to the Annunciation Cathedral and became famous for healing the blind. A copy was made of this icon and sent to Tsar Ivan the Terrible. In honor of the appearance of the icon, a special holiday was established on July 21 (according to the new style).
Icon SIGNS(Kurskaya Root) found on September 8, 1295 by a hunter on the banks of the Tuskari River in the Kursk region, on the ground at the root of a tree. He built a chapel and placed an icon, which began to manifest itself by miracles. In 1383, the Crimean Tatars, who were devastating the region, cut the icon into two parts and threw them in different directions. They took away the priest Bogolyub, who served in the chapel, as a prisoner. Ransomed by the ambassadors of the Grand Duke of Moscow, Bogolyub found the split parts of the icon, put them together, and they miraculously grew together. In 1597, the icon was brought to Moscow at the request of Tsar Theodore Ioannovich. Upon the return of the shrine, a monastery was founded on the site of the chapel, called the Root Hermitage. Since the time of Tsar Theodore Ioannovich, the icon has been inserted into a cypress board with the image of the Lord of hosts at the top, and on the sides - the prophets. With a miraculous vision, the icon saved Kursk from being captured by the Poles in 1612. The grateful inhabitants built the Znamensky Monastery in the city, where it then stayed annually from September 12 until Friday of the 9th week of Easter. The rest of the time she was in the Root Desert. On March 7, 1898, the icon remained unharmed during an attempt by intruders to blow it up in the Cathedral of the Znamensky Monastery, although there was general destruction around it. During the revolution, the icon was stolen on April 12, 1918 and miraculously found in a well on August 1. The icon was taken out of Russia in 1920 by Bp. Feofan Kursky, and was in Yugoslavia in the Holy Trinity Church in Belgrade. The shrine provided great assistance during the bombing of Belgrade during the Second World War: bombs never hit the houses visited by the icon, although everything around was destroyed. Now the icon is in the Cathedral of the Sign of BM in New York. From time to time, the icon is taken for veneration to various churches of the Russian Church Abroad.
CRYING Icons. During the last 100-150 years, several icons of the Mother of God, shedding tears, have appeared. This type of miracle probably indicates the grief of the Mother of God for people over the impending disasters in the world.
In February 1854, in the Orthodox Church at the Sokolsky Romanian Monastery, one of the icons of the Mother of God began to shed tears. This miracle coincided with the Crimean War in Russia. The miracle of shedding tears attracted thousands of pilgrims every day. A miraculous flow of tears occurred sometimes every day, and sometimes at intervals of 2 or 3 days.
In March 1960, a lithographic icon of the “Passion” (or “Roman”) Mother of God began to shed tears in the Greek Orthodox Katsunis family living in Long Island, New York. During the transfer of the icon to the Greek Cathedral of St. Paul, during the entire journey, white doves hovered over the icon in the air. From the abundant flow of tears, the paper on which the icon is written completely wrinkled. Sometimes the tears seemed bloody. Pious pilgrims applied cotton wool to the icon, and the cotton wool filled with moisture. Soon, in the house of another Orthodox Greek family, Kulis, who lives in the same area, the lithographic icon of the Mother of God, Iberian, also began to shed tears. These two weeping icons attracted a large number of worshipers. A large number of miracles resulting from these icons were noted in the foreign and local press. One of these icons was even subjected to scientific research to determine the source of these tears. Scientists at the University of British Columbia testified to the fact of the expiration of tears, but they could not explain it scientifically.
On December 6, 1986, the iconostasis icon of the Mother of God in the Albanian Church of St. Nicholas the Pleasant in the city of Chicago began to shed tears. This miracle sometimes attracts 5,000 people to the temple who want to see the miraculous icon. This weeping icon was painted 23 years ago by Manhattan artist Constantine Youssis. A specially assembled commission testified that "there can be no question of any hoax."
myrrh-streaming icon. The Orthodox Spaniard Joseph, while living on Mount Athos, saw a copy of the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God in the monastery and wished to purchase it. At first he was refused, but then unexpectedly the abbot handed him this image with the words: “Take it, this icon should go with you!” Joseph brought the icon to Montreal. On November 24, 1982, at 3 o'clock in the morning, Joseph's room was filled with fragrance: drops of wonderfully fragrant myrrh (special oil) appeared on the surface of the icon. Archbishop Vitaly of Canada offered to bring the icon to the cathedral, and then they began to visit other churches with the icon. During the chrismation, the glass door of the kiot opens, and every worshiper can see how St. myrrh slowly flows down from the surface of the icon. Sometimes during the crowded services of St. Myrrh also appears on the outer side of the glass, and in front of the eyes of the pilgrims flows down to the floor in copious amounts, and the fragrance fills the entire temple. It is also remarkable that Holy Week myrrh does not appear on the icon at all, and after Pascha it flows again. Many miraculous healings took place from the icon. The smell of St. the world changes from time to time, but is always exceptionally pleasant and strong. Whoever doubts about miracles in our time should look Myrrh-streaming icon: an obvious and great miracle!
It is not possible here to list all the miraculous icons of the Mother of God. After the revolution in Russia, a large number of ancient icons began to be updated. Sometimes the icons, right in front of people's eyes, for a short time turned from dark to light, as if they had been painted recently. There are thousands of such updated icons.
Miracles and signs do not happen without a reason. There is no doubt that numerous modern miracles and appearances of the Mother of God are aimed at awakening in people faith in God and a sense of repentance. But the world has become deaf to everything spiritual. Turning his back more and more to God, biting the bit, he swiftly rushes to his death. At this time of all sorts of catastrophes, upheavals and temptations, we must remember Our Heavenly Mother and Intercessor at the throne of God. Holy Mother of God, save us!
Major Holidays in honor of the Mother of God (according to the new style):
Annunciation - April 7th,
Dormition - August 28th,
Christmas - September 21st,
Veil - October 14th,
Entrance to the temple - December 4th.
Bishop Alexander Mileant
The Holy Mother of God occupies one of the main positions in Orthodox Church. She is also important for Catholics, who prefer to call her the Virgin Mary. On many icons, the Mother of God is most often present and occupies one of the central positions there. The biography of the Mother of God of the Virgin Mary perfectly shows the central role of the Mother of God in the entire Christian culture.
But how many believers know who the Most Holy Theotokos is? To understand how important it is in Orthodoxy, you need to know its history.
History of the Virgin Mary
ABOUT important events from the early and late life of the Virgin Mary, the Apostle Luke narrates, who was closely acquainted with her and even painted her icon, which became the original for all subsequent images.
It is known that Mary was the daughter of Joachim and his wife Anna, who were pious people, but did not have children until old age. They were known throughout the city of Nazareth, where they lived for their meekness and humility. Joachim came from the family of King David and knew that according to the prophecies, the Messiah should be born in his family. Therefore, they tirelessly prayed for the child and made a vow to give him to the service of the Lord.
Blessed Virgin Mary
The Lord heard them and sent them a daughter, Mary. At the age of three, the girl, serving her parents' dinner, was given to serve in the temple and lived there with the rest of the pious virgins, studying the Law of God.
When she was 14 years old, the priest betrothed her to the carpenter Joseph, who was also from the family of David. Maria's parents had died by that time. Some time after the betrothal, the archangel Gabriel brought joyful news to Mary - she would become the Mother of God.
Mary, remaining a Virgin, conceived a Son. Her sister Elizabeth was carrying a child at the same time, the future John the Baptist. And she, as soon as Mary visited her, realized that she was honored to become the Mother of the Messiah.
Anyone can read the story of the birth of Christ, the flight to Egypt in the Gospels. Mary and Joseph experienced a lot in the first days of the life of Jesus Christ, but with humility they accepted the role of the earthly parents of the Savior himself.
The very first miracle of Christ, during the wedding in Cana of Galilee, shows the compassion and caring of Mary, because it was she who asked Christ to help. Thanks to her request, the Messiah performed the first miracle there. When reading the Gospels, one can see Mary coming to the place where Christ taught. She was on Calvary, at the foot of the cross, where her Son was crucified. After the death of Jesus, John the Evangelist became her son.
The whole life of the Virgin Mary is humility. She was given to the service of the Lord by her parents and fulfilled the obligation with dignity. The Lord saw her meekness and humility and despised her, giving her an important role - to be the Mother of the Messiah himself. Bear and give birth to the Savior of this sinful world.
Assumption of the Virgin
The legends of the elders, in addition to the described miracles of the Mother of God, report that after the death of Jesus Christ, she lived for about 20 years. The Apostle John the Theologian accepted her into his house, as Christ commanded him, and took care of her as of his mother.
There is a legend according to which, before her death, the Mother of God prayed on the Mount of Olives and saw an angel who said that she had no more than 3 days left to live. In the hands of the angel was a date branch. It so happened that at that time all the apostles, except for Thomas, were in Jerusalem, where the woman lived. They came to her on the day of her death and saw a wonderful picture: the room was filled with bright light, Christ appeared with a host of angels and received the soul of his Mother.
The icon “Assumption of the Virgin” was painted on this topic, where you can see all the participants in that action.
About other Mother of God icons:
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The apostles buried the body of the Ever-Virgin in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Christ prayed on his last free night, in the tomb of her parents and Joseph, her husband. During her burial, numerous miracles took place, the blind received their sight and the lame began to walk upright.
Important! During her lifetime, the Lady of Heaven was a symbol of meekness before the Lord and strictly carried out His words and accepted them. Therefore, after her death, she was honored to help believers and hear their prayers, as well as to intercede with the Lord for believers and those who ask.
Our spiritual mother
Why do Orthodox believers venerate the Mother of God? Because it has a basis set forth in the Gospels.
When the Virgin became pregnant and talked to her sister Elizabeth, she said: “For from now on all generations will please Me” (Luke 1:48). This is not about simple respect, because respect implies a polite attitude. The Mother of God speaks of gratification, which includes prayer. That is why Catholics and Orthodox have a prayerful veneration of the Most Pure, embedded in worship.
Virgin and Child
Virgo is distinguished by her meekness before God. She not only carried out the order, she wanted to fulfill it and agreed, voluntarily, to endure and give birth to a child, although this threatened her with death. Indeed, earlier, in Israel, a girl who married already pregnant, and the Mother of God had just become engaged to Joseph, was stoned to death. That is, Mary voluntarily takes the risk of losing her life for the sake of fulfilling the Lord's words.
Jesus Christ could not be born through the violence of man's good will. The full consent and acceptance of the girl was necessary. However, in reverence it is easy to fall into sin.
Important! The veneration of the Virgin should not, in the eyes of the faithful, equate her with the Lord. Because that would be blasphemy.
There was a sect in the 80s of the last century "Mother of God Center", whose members had communion not only with the Blood and Flesh of Christ, but with the tears of the Mother of God. This is heresy and blasphemy. These people, members of the sect, did not know the Scriptures and the commands of the Lord. They compared a woman, albeit blameless, but a woman, with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is unacceptable. The Lord says in the book of the prophet Isaiah in chapter 42: “I will not give My glory to another,” and the Reverend said to herself: “Behold, the servant of the Lord.”
The Mother of God is the prayer book and the spiritual Mother of all people. If through Eve all were born into the world, then through Mary all were born spiritually. There are many testimonies about the Mother of God when she answered prayers and prayed to the Lord for believers.
Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos:
Almost every icon of hers is known for great miracles. The tears of a mother who prays for her child will never go unanswered, so can the prayer of the Lady of Heaven, the spiritual Mother of all people, go unanswered? Of course not.
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