Although we live in a world where the very concept and term 'Church' has become bureaucratized and formalized, so that most people would immediately think of either a building or administrative society when they hear the word; the Orthodox have retained the older and infinitely more dynamic understanding of Church which is found in the Holy Scripture.

"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks..." [see Luke 17:12-19].

In the same way, the Panagia's sorrow at the Cross showed that she was the real mother, that it was from her that the Lord took flesh. For since the Panagia is the real mother, it means that Christ also has a real body and is not a fantasy.

God Himself, that is to say the unincarnate Logos/Word of God, gave the commandment of purification on the fortieth (40) day to Moses and it had been established for all the Israelites.  This commandment was given to Moses even before the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, before they crossed the Red Sea.