On the Occasion of Mother’s Day and Family Day
On the Occasion of Mother’s Day and Family Day
The first truth to affirm is that woman is essential to the world.
There is a marvelous statement recorded in the Book of Genesis in the story of creation: God created everything good. Yet, in the midst of this beautiful picture of creation, God saw one thing that was not good. Scripture says: “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him” (Genesis 2:18).
This was the only point of deficiency in creation, which God completed by creating the woman. After that, “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).
We notice something unique about the creation of woman:
God created her from a refined nature—gentler than that from which man was made. Adam was created from the dust of the ground, but the woman was created from the body of the man; that is, she was created in two stages: from the dust God made man, and from man He made woman.
It is not true that woman was “imposed” upon man!
Adam was in need of Eve. All living creatures were paired together, but “for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him” (Genesis 2:20). This inner need in Adam’s heart ascended to God, who responded and created for him a companion—his equal—made in the same image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27).
God took a rib from Adam—without pain, since pain was not known before sin—and from it He made Eve. Thus, God performed the first “surgery” in the world. When Adam saw her, he rejoiced and said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23).
So Adam and Eve were one body even before marriage, because she was taken from him. Although Eve differed from Adam physically, she was equal to him in nature, in authority, in blessing, and in gifts. She too bore the divine image: “So God created man in His own image; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Genesis 1:27–28). God blessed both and gave both the same authority.
At first she was called woman, because she was taken out of man. But after sin, when she became the mother of children, Adam called her Eve, “because she was the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20).
Throughout history, women have held positions of leadership.
There were queens—some by inheritance, others by marriage. Queen Esther, for instance, was not only a king’s wife but a leader who saved her people.
In Egypt, we remember Queen Hatshepsut, whose wisdom and strength of character surpassed her royal brothers, and Queen Cleopatra, who ruled over many kings of her time.
From the very beginning, woman exercised leadership—even influencing man. Though Eve led Adam into error, she nonetheless demonstrated the power of influence, proving that leadership ability was within her from the start.
Consider Abigail, who wisely restrained King David from wrongdoing. David blessed her, saying: “Blessed is your wisdom, and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand” (1 Samuel 25:33), and also said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person” (1 Samuel 25:35).
We also remember Deborah, the judge and prophetess of Israel. She led the people, sitting under the palm tree that bore her name, “and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment” (Judges 4:4–5). She even led Barak, the commander of the army, who refused to go to battle without her. Through her courage, the enemy Sisera was defeated.
In Christian history, Saint Macrina was the spiritual leader of her brothers—Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory of Nyssa, and Saint Peter of Sebaste—and also guided a community of nuns.
Saint Melania was the spiritual advisor of Saint Evagrius; Saint Sarah was sought by monks of Scetis for counsel and confession.
Saint Demiana led her father, the governor, to repentance and martyrdom, and strengthened forty virgins who suffered with her.
Saint Monica, through her prayers and tears, led her son Augustine to repentance and faith.
These examples show that women have not lacked the spirit of leadership.
Women have also shown courage and faith.
History tells of many brave martyrs who endured unimaginable sufferings. Women are known for their endurance. Among them:
– Saint Dolagy, who saw her children martyred on her lap while she encouraged them.
– Saint Sophia, who strengthened her three daughters to face martyrdom.
– Saint Theodora, who chose martyrdom over dishonor.
– Saint Catherine, whose wisdom and steadfastness confounded her persecutors.
– Saint Justina, whose name alone terrified the devil and who led the magician Cyprian to faith.
Women were also pioneers in service.
They followed Christ and became His disciples. The Gospel of Luke mentions that “many women provided for Him from their possessions” (Luke 8:3).
We remember Phoebe, the deaconess and helper of Saint Paul, whom he called “a servant of the church in Cenchreae” and a “helper of many” (Romans 16:1–2).
Some women even dedicated their homes to become churches. The home of Saint Mark’s mother was the first Christian church, where believers gathered to pray (Acts 12:12).
Saint Paul also wrote, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life… and the church that is in their house” (Romans 16:3–5).
And above all, we remember the Holy Virgin Mary.
When Saint Elizabeth heard her greeting, she was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the baby leaped in her womb for joy (Luke 1:41–42). In our hymns we say: “You are exalted, O Mary, above the Cherubim; you are more honored than the Seraphim.” We mention her before the archangels.
The Virgin Mary represents virginity, Elizabeth represents marriage, and Anna the Prophetess represents widowhood—and all three appear together in the story of Christ’s birth.
Tags: Woman, Leadership
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