The Virgin Mary in the Doctrine of the Church (1)
The Virgin Mary in the Doctrine of the Church (1)
Her Image as Portrayed by the Divine Revelation in the Holy Bible
In this series of articles to be published successively, we shall not speak about our holy Mother, the Virgin Saint Mary, in terms of her many spiritual virtues, nor about the numerous miracles of this great Saint. Rather, we will speak about the Virgin from the doctrinal point of view within theological thought.
Elements of this Study
We will discuss the greatness and position of the Virgin Mary in the Holy Bible, and the prophecies, references, and symbols concerning her.
We will also discuss the titles of the Virgin Mary and their theological meanings, along with the biblical verses that confirm them.
Furthermore, we will speak about our belief regarding the Virgin, the points of difference with other Churches—especially those who deny her honor, her intercession, and her perpetual virginity—and we shall prove all that we say from Divine Revelation, as well as what has been mentioned about the Virgin in the Agpeya, the Liturgy, the Psali (Psalmodia), and other Church books.
The Greatness of the Virgin Mary
The greatness of the Virgin was proclaimed by the Holy Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, which convened in 431 AD with the attendance of two hundred bishops from around the world. The Council placed the introduction to the Creed in which it said:
“We magnify you, O Mother of the True Light, and we glorify you, O Holy Virgin, Mother of God, for you have borne for us the Savior of the world; He came and saved our souls.”
Upon what foundations did the Ecumenical Council place this introduction?
This is what we will now explain…
The Virgin is the blessed Saint who continues to be called blessed throughout all generations, as stated in her song: “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” (Luke 1:48).
The Church calls the Virgin “the Queen,” as referred to in the Psalm: “At Your right hand stands the queen.” (Psalm 45:9). Therefore, many artists, when painting the Virgin, place a crown on her head and depict her standing at the right hand of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The reverence toward the Virgin appears clearly in the greeting of the Archangel Gabriel: “Rejoice, O full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.” (Luke 1:28).
Her being blessed among all women with a special blessing was testified to not only by the angel but also by Saint Elizabeth, who cried out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1:42).
Before the greatness of the Virgin, Saint Elizabeth felt humbled and unworthy, saying: “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43).
One of the clearest proofs of the greatness of the Virgin and her position with the Lord is that as soon as her greeting reached Elizabeth, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and her child leaped for joy in her womb. The Divine Revelation says:
“And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Luke 1:41).
What astonishing greatness—that her mere greeting caused Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit!
Which of the saints ever caused another to be filled with the Holy Spirit simply by greeting them? Yet Elizabeth testifies: “For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit through Mary’s greeting and also received the gift of prophecy and revelation. She recognized that this was the Mother of her Lord, that she had believed what was spoken to her by the Lord, and that the baby’s leaping was from joy—joy because of the Blessed One in the Virgin’s womb: “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1:41–45).
The greatness of the Virgin is revealed in that the Lord chose her from among all women of the world—the only human being God waited for thousands of years to find worthy of this great honor, the Divine Incarnation. The angel Gabriel explained this honor, saying:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35).
The Virgin in Her Greatness Surpasses All Women
Therefore, the Divine Revelation says: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” (Proverbs 31:29).
From this divine verse, the Church derived the hymn: “Many women have obtained honors, yet none like you, O Mary.”
This holy Virgin was in the mind and plan of God from the very beginning.
In the promise of salvation given to our first parents, God said: “The seed of the woman shall crush the serpent’s head.” (Genesis 3:15).
This woman is the Virgin, and her Seed is Christ, who crushed the head of the serpent on the Cross.
Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – El-Keraza Magazine, Year 10, Issue 21, May 25, 1979.
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