Why Do We Venerate the Virgin?
Why Do We Venerate the Virgin?
Question:
Why do we venerate the Virgin? Is it because of her motherhood, her virginity, or her faith?
I read for one of the Protestants that we should not venerate the Virgin as a mother or as a virgin! That physical motherhood is not the motherhood that the Lord honors! That God gives no spiritual weight to natural family relationships or physical kinship! That her veneration is only because of her faith. So what is the Orthodox understanding of all this?
Answer:
We venerate the Virgin for all these reasons: for her motherhood of the Lord, her virginity, her faith, and her holy life—all together, especially because she is the Mother of God, for she is distinguished by this above all women of the world.
As we say to her in the hymn: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all” (Proverbs 31:29).
Indeed, Saint Elizabeth said to her: “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45).
But what she believed would be fulfilled was that she would become the Mother of God. Elizabeth did not limit her veneration to this faith alone, but also said before that: “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43), and also said in her blessing: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42).
All this focuses on her being the Mother of God. It is not right to take one phrase from Elizabeth’s words of praise to Saint Mary and leave out the rest of the verses, which together give the complete biblical truth.
We also want to say that the Virgin Mary’s virginity and motherhood of God are both qualities that relate directly to the mystery of salvation.
Salvation could not have been accomplished without the Incarnation, and the Incarnation means that the Lord was born of a woman—of a human being of our same nature. Thus He could represent humanity. This is why the Lord Jesus insisted on calling Himself “the Son of Man”, for by this title He redeemed humanity. And He became the Son of Man only through His birth from Mary.
Therefore, the title “Mother of God,” which belongs to the Virgin Mary, is directly related to redemption and salvation, which could not be fulfilled without the Incarnation.
And does the virginity of the Virgin also relate to the matter of salvation?
Of course—it does.
For Christ could not have been born through a natural human conception from a man and a woman and still be an ordinary human!
He had to be born of a virgin, in a supernatural way, by the Holy Spirit—having one Father, who is God. Thus He was not born with original sin. Being holy, He could redeem sinners.
So why should we not venerate the Virgin as both Virgin and Mother of God—especially since these two aspects were essential to our salvation?
What benefit could any Christian, whatever their denomination, possibly gain from refusing to venerate the Virgin as the Mother of God and as Virgin? Saint Paul even praised virginity and said that it is better (1 Corinthians 7).
And when the Virgin said, “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed,” she did not mean that her faith was the only reason for this blessing. She said: “For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name” (Luke 1:48–49).
These “great things” are that she could give birth while remaining a virgin—and that she gave birth to the Lord Himself. What greater wonders could there be than these?
Faith can exist in any woman. But not every woman can give birth while remaining a virgin, and give birth to the Lord Himself!
Therefore, limiting the Virgin’s veneration to her faith alone makes her like any other woman—with no distinction. This is a well-known Protestant attitude.
As for saying that God gives no spiritual value to natural family relations or physical kinship, this is not a correct biblical teaching.
It is enough that God placed “Honor your father and your mother” at the head of the commandments concerning human relationships (Deuteronomy 5:16).
Saint Paul also emphasized this commandment, saying it is “the first commandment with promise” (Ephesians 6:2).
In the Old Testament, the one who cursed his father or mother was punished by death (Matthew 15:4).
And in the New Testament, the Scripture says: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).
The Lord Jesus Himself rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their teaching that neglected honoring parents under the excuse of “Corban” (Matthew 15:6).
Perhaps one of the most touching signs of Christ’s concern for His mother is that He addressed her with two of His seven sayings on the Cross and arranged for her care.
Examples of care for family relations are too many to count.
To claim that God gives no spiritual value to family or kinship is to destroy the family and society. It contradicts the teaching of the Bible, both Old and New Testament. Anyone who does not honor his father and mother cannot truly honor anyone else. He becomes a disobedient son—whom, under the Law of Moses, was stoned; and in the New Testament, such a person is worse than an unbeliever.
Finally, Christ honored the Virgin as His mother and also as a spiritual person. He chose the holiest of women to be His mother.
An Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine – Tenth Year – Issue Forty – October 5, 1979
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