The Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

By Your Nativity, O Most Pure Virgin,

Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness;

Adam and Eve, from the corruption of death.

And we, your people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to you:

The barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life!

- Kontakion

"And it happened, as He (Jesus) spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, 'Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!' But He said, 'More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'" - Luke 11:27-28

Before I knew about Orthodoxy I had always thought that this verse from St. Luke's Gospel was refuting the veneration of the Virgin Mary, as if Jesus was saying that an obedient disciple was more honorable, or more blessed, than His mother. However, now I can see that He was actually offering her a two-fold blessing, exalting her beyond that which she already deserved as His mother. Consider the commands and promises of God delivered through the Angel Gabriel, found in Luke 1:26-38, to which Mary responded: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Mary, in her obedience and submission to the word of God demonstrated the heart attitude of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Therefore by both her station as the "God bearer" (Theotokos) and model disciple. Mary has been called blessed by Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics since the beginnings of the church.

Orthodox Christians do not WORSHIP Mary, they VENERATE her. She is the role model, the prototype of all Christians. She is called the "Mother of all Christians."

Through her, motherhood became sanctified as a divine act to the glory of God.

Today, according to tradition, is her birthday.

It is truly right to bless you, O Theotokos,

ever blessed and most pure,

and the Mother of our God.

More honorable than the cherubim,

and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim,

without defilement you gave birth to God the Word:

true Theotokos, we magnify you.

Happy Birthday Mary!