Hello, my siblings in Christ, I am Bojan and today we will discuss Christ’s other parent, His mother, Mary. In the Orthodox Church, we usually refer to Her as ‘the Most Holy Theotokos’, Theotokos meaning ‘She Who Gave Birth to God.’ Now, a lot of languages have their own special word for this title, but English usually keeps the Greek word. Why?
“Rejoice, o Most Holy ShewhogavebirhtoGod, cause of our jubilation…”
See what I mean? In Serbian and other Slavic languages, we translate the word with ‘Bogorodica,’ and trust me when I say this, in those languages, there is no sweeter word. It’s like saying ‘mommy’ times infinity.
Now, a lot of Protestant Christians, not all, mind you, claim that we overemphasize our honor of the Theotokos, telling us that we worship Her and that she is a sinner just like anyone else.
This is a pet peeve of mine.
Let us see what does the Scripture say about the Mother of God.
When Gabriel came to Mary, he told her: “Hail, Mary, sinner like any other, God is with you!”
And she replied: “Behold, all nations shall call me a sinner like any other!”
Wait a minute, that is not how it happened. Or right - because it did not.
Bible is clear - the angel calls Her ‘full of grace,’ Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, calls Her ‘the Mother of my Lord’ (it makes sense she was inspired - how many Jewish women 2000 years ago would even dare say such a thing?) and… well, Christ wouldn’t even ride on a donkey that was ridden before. Imagine just how much special the woman He elected to bear the most honorable title of the Theotokos has to be. Yes, She needed a Savior, but Christ did not pick His mother by casting lots. The Knower of Hearts does not cast lots. Remember the sweestest, holiest woman you know, and ask yourself why the Lord did not pick her to be the Theotokos.
What is that you say? He only used her as a tool? She, as herself, isn’t really all that important? Well, my dear siblings in Christ, prepare to have your minds blown away.
Let me introduce you to Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople. Nestorius taught that Christ was born from the Virgin Mary as if through a tube… a tool, if you will. If there were true, it means that Christ was never human to begin with. He might be human, but His humanity is then unrelated to our humanity, and His incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection would have no impact on us.
Furthermore, remember that the Most Holy Theotokos is Christ’s sole human parent. Let that sink in for a little bit. All of Christ’s genes come solely from Her. In the Holy Eucharist, we partake of Christ’s literal Body and His literal Blood - but it was Christ Himself Who first partook of Her flesh and blood. And if you don’t believe that the Eucharist is the literal flesh and blood, that’s all the more reason for you to admire the Most Holy Mother of God. For us who believe in the real presence of Christ in communion, the holiness that Mother of God has is not off limits - She bore Christ, in His body and divinity, in Her womb, and we can bear Christ, in His body and divinity through Communion. If you deny the Real Presence, it means that Mary was made worthy of an honor you can never hope to achieve.
So, do you think that Mary is unimportant now?
“Rejoice, o Most Holy ShewhogavebirhtoGod, cause of our jubilation…”
See what I mean? In Serbian and other Slavic languages, we translate the word with ‘Bogorodica,’ and trust me when I say this, in those languages, there is no sweeter word. It’s like saying ‘mommy’ times infinity.
Now, a lot of Protestant Christians, not all, mind you, claim that we overemphasize our honor of the Theotokos, telling us that we worship Her and that she is a sinner just like anyone else.
This is a pet peeve of mine.
Let us see what does the Scripture say about the Mother of God.
When Gabriel came to Mary, he told her: “Hail, Mary, sinner like any other, God is with you!”
And she replied: “Behold, all nations shall call me a sinner like any other!”
Wait a minute, that is not how it happened. Or right - because it did not.
Bible is clear - the angel calls Her ‘full of grace,’ Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, calls Her ‘the Mother of my Lord’ (it makes sense she was inspired - how many Jewish women 2000 years ago would even dare say such a thing?) and… well, Christ wouldn’t even ride on a donkey that was ridden before. Imagine just how much special the woman He elected to bear the most honorable title of the Theotokos has to be. Yes, She needed a Savior, but Christ did not pick His mother by casting lots. The Knower of Hearts does not cast lots. Remember the sweestest, holiest woman you know, and ask yourself why the Lord did not pick her to be the Theotokos.
What is that you say? He only used her as a tool? She, as herself, isn’t really all that important? Well, my dear siblings in Christ, prepare to have your minds blown away.
Let me introduce you to Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople. Nestorius taught that Christ was born from the Virgin Mary as if through a tube… a tool, if you will. If there were true, it means that Christ was never human to begin with. He might be human, but His humanity is then unrelated to our humanity, and His incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection would have no impact on us.
Furthermore, remember that the Most Holy Theotokos is Christ’s sole human parent. Let that sink in for a little bit. All of Christ’s genes come solely from Her. In the Holy Eucharist, we partake of Christ’s literal Body and His literal Blood - but it was Christ Himself Who first partook of Her flesh and blood. And if you don’t believe that the Eucharist is the literal flesh and blood, that’s all the more reason for you to admire the Most Holy Mother of God. For us who believe in the real presence of Christ in communion, the holiness that Mother of God has is not off limits - She bore Christ, in His body and divinity, in Her womb, and we can bear Christ, in His body and divinity through Communion. If you deny the Real Presence, it means that Mary was made worthy of an honor you can never hope to achieve.
So, do you think that Mary is unimportant now?
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