The Mother of God
The Veneration of the Virgin Mary
"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee. Blessed art thou among women (Luke 1:28)." This salutation
addressed to the Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel, forms a part of
the hymn of the Church most frequently sung in her
honor. Elizabeth, the Virgin's cousin, considering it an honor for the
Mother of her Lord to visit her, uttered the words, "And whence is this
to me that the
Mother of my Lord should come to me (Luke 1:43)?" It was during this
visit by the Virgin Mary to her cousin, that the Holy Virgin spoke the
words that serve as the principal hymn sung in her honor during the
Matins service: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath
rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of His
handmaiden, for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me
blessed (Luke 1: 47-48)."
"Filled with the Holy
Spirit", Elizabeth cried out: "Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb (Luke 1:41, 42)." It is this
same honor
given the Mother of God by her cousin that has been the blue print for
all generations of
the Church to call her blessed. Furthermore, when Our Lord spoke the
words, "Behold thy Mother (John
19:27), to John, as He was hanging on the cross, she became the Mother
of all Christians! It is clear that had she given birth to other
children, there would have been no need for Christ to have asked John to
take care of His mother, thus His words were spoken for the benefit of
all His followers.
The Virgin Mary in the Orthodox view
is not regarded
as a mediatrix or co-redemptress, as she is seen in some Roman Catholic
circles. We see her as an intercessor for us, and our prayers to her
are in the form of requests for her intercession.
The Orthodox concept of the Church is the basic reason for the
invocation of the Theotokos and all the saints.
The Orthodox Church teaches that
the Church Militant on
earth and the Church Triumphant in heaven are not separated from one
another, but are in fact united together in One Lord Jesus Christ. Just
as we here on earth are charged with the task of praying for one
another, so too do those who have gone on before us, continue to pray
for us. We are united in prayer, and united in a mutual bond of love.
Just as it is right that we who are members of the Body of Christ, pray
for one another, we know that this Body, which is the Church, is united
together, even in death. Thus, how much more profitable it is that we
invoke the prayers of the saints, who've won the battle, and are in
heaven with Christ.
The Scriptures make it clear that those who are in heaven remain aware
of what happens here on earth, for how else would they know to rejoice
over the conversion of one sinner? "Likewise, I say to you,
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who
repents (Luke 15:10).” In Luke 20:36, we read, "nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection."
We honor and venerate the Virgin
Mary as "more honourable than the Cherubim and more glorious without
compare than the Seraphim …" and invoke her name in every service,
seeking her intercession before the throne of God. We have given her the
title "Theotokos" (Greek for "Birth-giver-of-God), and as the "Mother
of God", having given birth to Christ Jesus, Who is both True God and
True Man, how could we simply lay her importance aside, and forget her?
How can we deny the Theotokos an
important role in the life of the Church? Our historic theology has
always insisted upon the two perfect
natures of our Lord Jesus Christ; true God and true Man.
The Virgin Mary gave birth to the humanity of the Incarnate God, and the
redemption of the human race was made possible through the union of God
and
man in Christ. The de-emphasis of the sinlessness of Christ's Mother, by
Roman Catholics, and the
insistence she had other children by Joseph, as demonstrated in the
theology of many of today's Protestants, are the result of a departure
from the Ancient Church's divinely guided recognition of the place of
the Holy Virgin in the life of the Christian. The departure from the
Ancient Church's teachings regarding the Holy Virgin have even caused
some to deny the virgin birth of Christ, leading many liberal
protestants to ultimately question such basic Christian teachings as the
divinity of Christ, the doctrine of the Trinity, and Christ's
resurrection.
Through the Prayers of the Holy Virgin, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Friday April 6, 2012 / March 24, 2012
Sixth Week of the Great Lent. Tone one.
Great Lent. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Great Lent. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Forefeast of the Annunciation.
Venerable Zacharias the Recluse of Egypt (4th c.).
St. Artemon, bishop of Seleucia (1st c.).
New Hieromartyr Vladimir priest (1920).
Venerable Zachariah, faster of the Kiev Caves (13th c.).
Martyrs Stephen and Peter of Kazan (1552).
Venerable James the Confessor, bishop of Catania (802-811).
"The Clouded Mount" Icon of the Mother of God.
Hieromartyr Parthenius, patriarch of Constantinople (1657).
St. Savvas the New of Kalymnos (1948) (Greek).
Eight Martyrs of Caesarea in Palestine (Greek).
Venerable Martin of Thebes, monk (Greek).
St. Thomas, abbot of the monastery of St. Euthymius (542).
St. Severus of Catania (802-811).
St. Artemius, bishop of Thessalonica.
St. Dunchad, abbot of Iona.
Venerable Zacharias the Recluse of Egypt (4th c.).
St. Artemon, bishop of Seleucia (1st c.).
New Hieromartyr Vladimir priest (1920).
Venerable Zachariah, faster of the Kiev Caves (13th c.).
Martyrs Stephen and Peter of Kazan (1552).
Venerable James the Confessor, bishop of Catania (802-811).
"The Clouded Mount" Icon of the Mother of God.
Hieromartyr Parthenius, patriarch of Constantinople (1657).
St. Savvas the New of Kalymnos (1948) (Greek).
Eight Martyrs of Caesarea in Palestine (Greek).
Venerable Martin of Thebes, monk (Greek).
St. Thomas, abbot of the monastery of St. Euthymius (542).
St. Severus of Catania (802-811).
St. Artemius, bishop of Thessalonica.
St. Dunchad, abbot of Iona.
Donations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA
Isaiah 66:10-24
10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem,
And be glad with her, all you who love her;
Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;
11 That you may feed and be satisfied
With the consolation of her bosom,
That you may drink deeply and be delighted
With the abundance of her glory.”
And be glad with her, all you who love her;
Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;
11 That you may feed and be satisfied
With the consolation of her bosom,
That you may drink deeply and be delighted
With the abundance of her glory.”
12 For thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.
Then you shall feed;
On her sides shall you be carried,
And be dandled on her knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforts,
So I will comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.
Then you shall feed;
On her sides shall you be carried,
And be dandled on her knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforts,
So I will comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
The Reign and Indignation of God
14 When you see this, your heart shall rejoice,
And your bones shall flourish like grass;
The hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants,
And His indignation to His enemies.
15 For behold, the Lord will come with fire
And with His chariots, like a whirlwind,
To render His anger with fury,
And His rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by His sword
The Lord will judge all flesh;
And the slain of the Lord shall be many.
And your bones shall flourish like grass;
The hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants,
And His indignation to His enemies.
15 For behold, the Lord will come with fire
And with His chariots, like a whirlwind,
To render His anger with fury,
And His rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by His sword
The Lord will judge all flesh;
And the slain of the Lord shall be many.
17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves,
To go to the gardens
After an idol in the midst,
Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse,
Shall be consumed together,” says the Lord.
To go to the gardens
After an idol in the midst,
Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse,
Shall be consumed together,” says the Lord.
18 “For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. 19 I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. 20 Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. 21 And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,” says the Lord.
22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord,
“So shall your descendants and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass
That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another,
All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord,
“So shall your descendants and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass
That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another,
All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.
24 “And they shall go forth and look
Upon the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their worm does not die,
And their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
Upon the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their worm does not die,
And their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
Genesis 49:33-50:26
33 And
when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into
the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
50 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty
days were required for him, for such are the days required for those
who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
4 Now
when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household
of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please
speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My
father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I
dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now
therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come
back.’”
6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”
7 So
Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the
servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the
land of Egypt, 8 as
well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house.
Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the
land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.
10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is
beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn
lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father. 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them. 13 For
his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave
of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the
field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place. 14 And
after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his
brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father.
Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 When
Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps
Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we
did to him.” 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 ‘Thus
you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of
your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.”’ Now, please,
forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And
Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Death of Joseph
22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees.
24 And
Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit
you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then
Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will
surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Proverbs 31:8-31
8 Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
The Virtuous Wife
10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Exodus 3:1-8
Moses at the Burning Bush
3 Now
Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of
Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to
Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he
looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I am
the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon
God.
7 And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So
I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and
to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land
flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the
Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the
Jebusites.
Proverbs 8:22-30
22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23 I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
Before His works of old.
23 I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
Genesis 28:10-17
Jacob’s Vow at Bethel
10 Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So
he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun
had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his
head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also
your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread
abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you
and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am
with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to
this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken
to you.”
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
Proverbs 9:1-11
The Way of Wisdom
9 Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has slaughtered her meat,
She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has slaughtered her meat,
She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
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