My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS AND EVER SHALL BE.

ON SEPTEMBER 8th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY NATIVITY OF THE EVER VIRGIN MARY

Mary (Mariam), the Theotokos and the child of God, whose nativity the Church commemorates on September 8th, was born of her aged parents Joachim and Anna. Saint Andrew of Crete (660-740 A.D.) chants, "O Bride of the Father, immaculate Mother of the Son, and holy and resplendent temple of the Holy Spirit; O most chaste of all creation, most suitable to His ultimate purpose, on this account the universe was created, and by thy birth was the eternal will of the Creator fulfilled."

What was God's ultimate purpose for us and how did her birth fulfill the eternal will? It is our unification with God our divinization. Suffice it to add these thoughtful words of Saint Ambrose (339-397 A.D.), Bishop of Milan: "Unless man were redeemed, it would avail him nothing to be born."

Saint Andrew of Crete also comments, "This day is for us the beginning of all holy days. It is the door of kindness and truth." He adds: "Let both the barren and mothers dance for joy; make bold and leap up in gladness, O ye childless: for the barren and childless woman brings forth the Theotokos, who is to deliver Eve from her pains in travail and Adam from the curse" (Genesis 3:16-19).

The Holy Virgin Mary was born of her aged parents, Joachim and Anna. Her father was of the Tribe of David and her mother of the Tribe of Aaron, and so she was of royal blood from her father and priestly blood from her mother. By this, she foreshadowed Him Who would be born of her as King and High Priest. Her parents were already old and had no children, and, because of this, were ashamed before men and humble before God. In their old age with the gift of a child, as He had once given joy to the aged Abraham and Sarah, giving them their son Isaac. God, Almighty and All-seeing, gave them a joy far exceeding all their expectations and their wildest dreams, for He gave them not just a daughter, but the Mother of God; He illumined them not only with temporal joy but with Eternal. God gave them just one daughter, who later gave them just one grandson -- but what a daughter and what a grandson! Mary full of grace, blessed among women, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, Altar of the Living God, Table of Living Bread, Ark of God's Holy things, Tree of the Most Delicious Fruit, Glory of the human race, praise of womanhood, Fount of virginity and purity -- this was the daughter given by God to Joachim and Anna. Born in Nazareth, she was after three years taken to the Temple in Jerusalem, whence she returned again to Nazareth and shortly afterwards heard the tidings of the holy Archangel Gabriel concerning the birth of the Son of God, the Savior of the world, from her Most Pure and virginal body. (The Prologue from Ochrid)

The Patriarchs and Prophets Prophesy

In the hymns of this feast, Saint Stephen of the holy city chants that Eve declares her daughter and descendant blessed, "For unto me is born deliverance, through which I shall be set free from the bonds of Hades."

Old Testament types clearly manifest the Virgin Mary; for, "She is the fountain of life that gushes forth from the flinty rock (Exodus 17:6); she is the Bush (Exodus 3:2) springing from barren ground and burning with the immaterial fire that cleanses and enlightens our souls". Saint John of Damascus adds to this, chanting, "Inspired by God, the Divine Choir(the Patriarchs and Prophets of the Old Testament) spoke of thee in prophecy as the Mountain (Daniel 2:45), the Gate of heaven(Ezekiel 44:2), and the spiritual Ladder (Genesis 28:12-17): for out of thee was hewn a stone, not cut by the hand of man; and thou art the gate through which passed the Lord of Wonders, the God of our fathers." And, "The East gate (Ez. 44:1-3), newly born, awaits the entrance of the Great Priest."

A Name Destined for Greatness

What is the etymology of the name, and what is its significance? There have been numerous explanations put forward as to the meaning of the Virgin's name, in contrast to those of her parents. It is nearly unanimous that her parent Joachim's name (in Hebrew Jehoiakim) was understood to mean "the Lord's restoration" or "may the Lord raise up"; whereas Anna's name means "grace." Their names are indicative of their characteristics and qualities. But the name Mariam or Miriam has been translated as" "Hope," "Myrrh of the Seas," "Star of the Seas" (Jerome), "Illuminated," "Beloved one," "Lady," "Lady of the Sea," "Drop of the Sea," "Exalted," "Highness," "Excellency," "One who surpasses" or "One who dominates." Some translators give the name the meaning of a "bitter sea," but this explanation has met with certain obstacles in Hebrew grammar, for it places the adjective after the noun, and the meaning seems to go against the positive attributes which are ascribed to the Virgin Mary. The interpretation preferred by Saint John of Damascus is "Lady" ("Kyria"), thus he writes, "Accordingly it was grace (for this is the interpretation of Anna) that bore the Lady and Mistress (in Greek, Despina), for that is the meaning of the name Mary: for she became truly the Mistress of all creation, since she was vouchsafed to be the Mother of the Creator."

The Infant Mary

According to the Protoevangelion, a charming incident relating Mary's first steps is recounted, wherein she displays miraculously precocity. The child grew and increased in strength daily. When Mary was about nine months old, Anna set her on the ground to see whether her daughter could stand. Mary indeed walked seven steps and came again to her mother. Anna then picked her up.

Anna had made her daughter's bedchamber into a holy place, a sanctuary, permitting nothing common or unclean to pass through Mary. Anna then invited certain undefiled maidens of the daughters of Israel and they attended to Mary also, by carrying her about.

Joachim Makes a Feast

Mary's first anniversary of her nativity, according to the Protoevangelion, was celebrated by Joachim with a feast to which he invited the priests, scribes, and elders and all the people of Israel.

Also the Church chants, "What is this sound of feasting that we hear? Joachim and Anna mystically keep festival. 'O Adam and Eve,' they cry, 'rejoice with us today: for if by your transgression you closed the gate of Paradise to those of old, we have now been given a glorious fruit, Mary the child of God, who opens its entrance to us all."

The hymnographer Saint Romanos also chants, "Consequently, the Tribes of Israel heard that Anna had given birth to the pure Virgin, and they all rejoiced with great gladness. Joachim held a great feast and celebrated splendidly the miraculous birth. And when he had summoned to prayer the priests and the Levites, he placed Mary in the midst of all, in order that she be magnified." (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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DIVINE LITURGY TOMORROW AT 10:00 A.M.

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostom

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George