Icon of the Mother of God “the Converser”
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
IT IS TRULY MEET TO CALL THEE BLESSED, THE THEOTOKOS, THE EVER-BLESSED AND ALL-IMMACULATE AND MOTHER OF OUR GOD, MORE HONORABLE THAN THE CHERUBIM AND BEYOND COMPARE MORE GLORIOUS THAN THE SERAPHIM. THEE WHO WITHOUT CORRUPTION GAVEST BIRTH TO GOD THE WORD, THE VERY THEOTOKOS, THEE DO WE MAGNIFY.
THE VENERATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
By Saint John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco
PART II
Mary received the Angelic good tidings humbly and submissively. "Then the Word, in a way known to Himself, descended and, as He Himself willed, came and entered into Mary and abode in Her" (St. Ephraim the Syrian, "Praise of the Mother of God"). "As lightning illuminates what is hidden, so also Christ purifies what is hidden in the nature of things. He purified the Virgin also and then was born, so as to show that where Christ is, there is manifest purity in all its power. He purified the Virgin, having prepared Her by the Holy Spirit, and then the womb, having become pure, conceived Him. He purified the Virgin while She was inviolate; wherefore, having been born, He left Her virgin. I do not say that Mary became immortal, but that being illuminated by grace, She was not disturbed by sinful desires" (St. Ephraim the Syrian, Homily Against Heretics, 41). The Light abode in Her, cleansed Her mind, made Her thoughts pure, made chaste Her concerns, sanctified Her virginity" (St. Ephraim the Syrian, "Mary and Eve"). "One who was pure according to, human understanding. He made pure by grace" (Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov, "Exposition of the Teaching of the Orthodox Church on the Mother of God").
Mary told no one of the appearance of the Angel, but the Angel himself revealed to Joseph concerning Mary's miraculous conception from the Holy Spirit (St. Matthew 1:18-25), and after the Nativity of Christ, with a multitude of the heavenly host, he announced it to the shepherds. The shepherds, coming to worship the new-born one, said that they had heard of Him. Having previously endured suspicion in silence, Mary now also listened in silence and kept in her heart the sayings concerning the greatness of Her Son (St. Luke 2:8-19). She heard forty days later Symeon's prayer of praise and the prophecy concerning the weapon which would pierce Her soul. Later She saw how Jesus advanced in wisdom; She heard Him at the age of twelve teaching in the Temple, and everything She kept in Her heart (St. Luke 2:21-51).
Even though full of grace, She did not yet fully understand in what the service and the greatness of Her Son would consist. The Hebrew conceptions of the Messiah were still close to Her, and natural feelings forced Her to be concerned for Him, preserving Him from labors and dangers which it might seem, were excessive. Therefore She favored Her Son involuntarily at first, which evoked His indication of the superiority of spiritual to bodily kinship (St. Matthew 12:46-49). "He had concern, also over the honor of His Mother, but much, more over the salvation of Her soul and the good of men, for which He had become clothed in flesh" (St. John Chrysostom, Commentary on John, Homily 21). Mary understood this and heard the word of God and kept it (St. Luke 11:27, 28). As no other person, She had the same feelings as Christ (Phil. 2:5), unmurmuring bearing the grief of a mother when She saw Her Son persecuted and suffering. Rejoicing in the day of the Resurrection, on the day of Pentecost She was clothed with power from on high (St. Luke 24:49). The Holy Spirit Who descended upon Her taught (Her) all things (St. John 14:26), and instructed (Her) in all truth (St. John 16:13). Being enlightened, She began to labor all the more zealously to perform what She had heard from Her Son and Redeemer, so as to ascend to Him and be with Him.
The end of the earthly life of the Most Holy Mother of God was the beginning of Her greatness. "Being adorned with Divine Glory" (Irmos of the Canon of the Dormition), She stands and will stand, both in the day of the Last Judgment and in the future age, at the right hand of the Throne of Her Son. She reigns with Him and has boldness towards Him as His Mother according to the flesh, and as one in spirit with Him, as one who performed the will of God and instructed others (St. Matthew 5:19). Merciful and full of love, She manifests Her love towards Her Son and God in love for the human race. She intercedes for it before the Merciful One, and, going about the earth, She helps men.
Having experienced all the difficulties of earthly life, the Intercessor of the Christian race sees every tear, hears every groan and entreaty directed to Her. Especially near to Her are those who labor in the battle with the passions and are zealous for a God-pleasing life. But even in worldly cares She is an irreplaceable helper. "Joy of all who sorrow, and intercessor for the offended, and feeder of the hungry, consolation of travelers, harbor of the storm-tossed; visitation of the sick, protection and intercessor for the infirm, staff of old age, Thou are the Mother of God on high, O Most Pure One" (Sticheron of the Service of the Hodigitria). "The hope and intercession and refuge of Christians", "The Mother of God unceasing in prayers" (Theotokion of the Third Tone). "She day and night doth pray for us, and the scepters of kingdoms are confirmed by Her prayers" (daily Nocturne).
There is no intellect or words to express the greatness of Her Who was born in the sinful human race but became "more honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim." "Seeing the grace of the secret mysteries of God made manifest and clearly fulfilled in the Virgin, I rejoice; and I know not how to understand the strange and secret manner whereby the Undefiled has been revealed as alone chosen above all creation, visible and spiritual. Therefore, wishing to praise Her, I am struck dumb with amazement in both mind and speech. Yet still I dare to proclaim and magnify Her: She is indeed the heavenly Tabernacle" (Ikos of the Entry into the Temple). "Every tongue is at a loss to praise Thee as is due; even a spirit from the world above is filled with dizziness, when it seeks to sing Thy praises, O Theotokos. But since Thou art good, accept our faith. Thou knowest well our love inspired by God, for Thou art the Protector of Christians, and we magnify Thee" (Irmos of the 9th Canticle, Service of the Theophany).
Glory be to God in all things!
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THE AKATHIST
THE CANON
(TROPARIA OR HYMNS)
Most Holy Mother of God intercede for us.
When the great Archangel saw You Pure One, the living Bible of Christ, sealed by the Spirit, he cried unto You: Hail! O Vessel of gladness, through whom the curse of the first mother is loosed.
Most Holy Mother of God intercede for us.
Hail! O Virgin-Bride of God, the restorer of Adam and the death of Hades. Hail! O Blameless one, the Palace of the only King. Hail! O fiery Throne of the Almighty.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Hail! You who alone blossomed the unwilting Rose; Hail! You, who did bear the fragrant apple so pleasing to the King of all. Hail! O unwedded Maiden, the salvation of the world.
Now and ever, and unto the age of ages. Amen.
Hail! O Treasure of purity, through whom we rose from our fall. Hail! O Lady, sweet-scented lily pleasing all the faithful. Hail! O fragrant incense, and priceless myrrh.
3rd Ode Heirmos
O Theotokos, living and inexhaustible fountain; strengthen those who sing Your praises into a spiritual fellowship: and in Your Divine Glory, deem them worthy for crowns of glory.
Troparia
Most Holy Mother of God intercede for us.
As a clear and untilled field, You sprouted the Divine Stalk of wheat. Hail! O living Table holding the Bread of Life. Hail! O inexhaustible Fountain of the Living water.
Most Holy Mother of God intercede for us.
Hail! O Heifer, who bore the blameless Calf for the faithful. Hail! O Ewe, who gave birth to the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Hail! O fervent Intercessor.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Hail! O brilliant Morn who alone did bear Christ the Sun. Hail! O Dwelling-Place of light. Hail! You, who dispelled the darkness and who annihilated the gloomy demons.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Hail! You, who are the only Gate through which only the Logos, had passed, and who shattered the bars and gates of Hades, with your birthgiving. Hail! O Most-Praised who are the Divine entrance of the saved.
4th Ode Heirmos
He Who sits on the Throne of Divinity, Jesus, the Most-High God came in a light cloud, and saved with His Holy Hands those, who call aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Christ.
(to be continued)
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George