If you meet a Queen how will you say hello to her? What will you do? The Virgin, St. Mary is the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, she is a Queen. In heaven, she sits on a throne next to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. She was chosen by God from ALL women to be His mother. Everybody loves St. Mary, we are her children and she loves us very much. We should always ask her to pray for us and ask for her intercessions. When we talk to her or talk about her we should show her honor and respect, this is what veneration means. “Blessed are you among women!” Luke 1:28 ST. ELIZABETH VENERATED ST. MARY
THE ANGELS VENERATED HER When Archangel Gabriel visited St. Mary and told her that she will be the mother of God, the Angel said “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:28) Even Archangel Gabriel who came from heaven greeted her with great honor and respect, so should we! How many names of honor and respect for St. Mary can you think of? Mother of Light: as the Lord Jesus is the True Light Mother of the Holy: the Lord Jesus is the Holy One Theotokos (Mother of God): the Lord Jesus is God The Ever Virgin: she gave birth to Christ while her virginity is sealed How many feasts do we celebrate for St. Mary can you think of? Her dormition (departure) her birthday The annunciation of her birth her presentation to the Temple Her coming to Egypt the consecration of her church The assumption of her body (ascending to heaven) How many titles for St. Mary can you think of? Pot of Manna: carried the Bread of Life Rod of Aaron: blossomed without planting or watering Golden Lamp stand: carries the True Light Second Heaven: she is the dwelling of God Jacob’s Ladder: connected heaven & earth The Burning Bush: carried the Divinity & was not consumed Golden Censer: where the Divinity & Humanity united Noah’s Dove: she brought the good news of Salvation The Perpetual Virginity of the Holy Virgin St. Mary is virgin before, during and after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1- The word “first born” means the one who opens a womb of his mother. It doesn’t necessarily mean the oldest of his brothers. 2- The word “your wife” or “woman” doesn’t mean that St. Mary lost her virginity. The word wife used to be given to any woman since her engagement. The Holy Bible testified that St. Joseph did not know her but she was called so because that was the familiar expression the Jews used for the engaged virgin. Any female was called “woman” as Eve who was called “woman” immediately after being created and before begetting any children. 3- The phrase “Before they came together” rather emphasizes; A) The Lord Christ was NOT born a natural birth from a father and a mother like other people but from a virgin as an evidence of His Divinity. B) The Lord Christ is born from a virgin without knowing a man so He did NOT inherit the original sin thereby He could die for the sinners and save us. 4- The phrase “Did not know her till” doesn’t necessarily signify the opposite of what follows it. Example: The Bible said about Michal, King Saul’s daughter, that she had no children till the day of her death (2 Samuel 6:23) Of course she did not beget children after her death. St. Joseph did not know St. Mary till she gave birth to her first born Son, nor did he know her thereafter for if he had not withheld to touch her before the birth of the Lord Christ, it was more reasonable that he would not do after the Lord’s birth and after witnessing the miracles, the angels, the Wise men from the East and the fulfillment of the prophecies in Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7. 5- The term “Brothers and sisters of Jesus” The term brothers may extend to signify close relationship. Examples: Laban called Jacob my brother though Laban was his uncle. Genesis 29:15. Abraham called Lot his brother though he was his brother’s son (his nephew). The Lord’s brothers are the sons of His aunt Mary the wife of Clopas or Alphaeus, the mother of James the less. Mary the mother of James and Josses was with Mary Magdalene at the Lord’s cross Matthew 27: 55-56. Also, was present at the burial site. She brought spices to anoint the Body of the Lord when the Sabbath was past. Mark 16:1. Comment: It’s illogical that the Lord Christ while on the Cross would entrust His mother the virgin St. Mary to His disciple St. John if she had other children or whether He had brothers from her or from St. Joseph !!! In Conclusion: one of the most important titles the Coptic Orthodox Church relates to St. Mary is the EVER-VIRGIN !!! The church dedicated the month of Kiahk for praising St. Mary before the feast of the Nativity (birth of our Lord Jesus Christ) & 2 weeks in the month of August for her fast, also we celebrate her commemoration on the 21st of each Coptic month. May the intercessions of the Holy Theotokos, the ever virgin St. Mary be with us all. Amen.
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