The Virgin Mary-her life



The parents of Our Blessed Virgin Mary were Joachim and Anna. They were old in years and childless. They prayed constantly to the Lord God to grant them a Child. Our Lord heard their prayers and Anna gave birth to Our Blessed Lady. Her parents promised to dedicate Mary to the Lord. As a result, when she was three years old, her parents took her to the Temple of The Lord. This day is celebrated on the 21st of November every year in the Orthodox Calendar.The Chants or kontakia that are sung in orthodox churches on this day are as follows:

Today is the foreshadowing of the good-pleasure of God, and the proclaiming of the salvation of mankind. In the Temple of God the Virgin is revealed, and be-forehand she announces Christ to all. To her let us also cry aloud with mighty voice: Hail, the fulfilment of the Creator's dispensation!

Kontakion. Tone 4. Lifted up on the Cross.

The all-pure Temple of the Saviour, the precious Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the sacred Treasury of the glory of God, is being brought to-day into the house of the Lord; and with her she brings the grace of the divine Spirit; of her God's Angels sing in praise: She is indeed the heavenly Tabernacle.

In greek the kontakion is as follows:

 

The Presentation of the Virgin Mary by Titian 1534-38
Gallerie dell'Accademia Venice

She was welcomed into the Temple by Zacharias, Father of St John The Baptist. There she stayed in the most Holy Area of the Temple, for 12 years. It is from this area that the Priests conduct the Holy Liturgy and the Bloodless sacrifice this day. Women up to this day are not allowed in this area. In this "Holy of Hoiles" area, The Blessed Virgin Mary was prepared for her role in the salvation of mankind by the Lord God. Angels waited on her, bringing her food from heaven. Here she prayed and read the word of God. When she was fifteen , the priests decided to betrothe her to Joseph, who was considerably older than her, so that he could look after her. Her parents had died three years previously.

Our blessed Lady is the embodiment of God's Love for mankind,in that through her, Our Lord Jesus was born to save us and in effect to make us into gods, so that we could regain the Paradise we lost after the fall of Adam and Eve.

When the time came, the Angel of the Lord came to Mary and told her she would bear a son, to be the Saviour of the world. This she accepted with humility.This day is known as the Annunciation and is celebrated on the 25th March each year, nine months before the birth of Our Lord on Christmas Day.

She was ever a virgin.Three days after her death ,her body was taken up to heaven. She reigns there with her son, praying for us all.

We celebrate her death on 15 August and her birth on 8th September every year.

 

 

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Last Published:31/7/05
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