His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, in this lecture, discusses the Catholic Church’s view of the Virgin Mary, clarifying the points of honor shared with the Orthodox Church as well as the doctrinal differences concerning her.

Veneration of the Virgin in Orthodox Faith:
Pope Shenouda affirms that the Orthodox Church highly honors the Virgin Mary, exalting her above angels, prophets, and apostles, calling her “Theotokos” (Mother of God), dedicating the month of Kiahk to her praises and hymns, and displaying her icons in every church. However, the Church does not raise her to a divine level or make her equal to Christ.

Critique of the Catholic Doctrine of the “Immaculate Conception”:
He explains that in 1854 the Catholics declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, teaching that Mary was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception as a unique privilege from God. Pope Shenouda notes that this doctrine is relatively new and was even opposed by great Catholic theologians such as Thomas Aquinas and the Dominicans because it contradicts the universality of redemption.

The Orthodox Response:
The Orthodox Church teaches that although Mary is exceedingly holy, she was born like all humans under the rule of death and original sin and needed the salvation of Christ like everyone else, as she herself said: “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

Rejection of “Preventive Redemption”:
Catholics claim that God redeemed Mary “preventively” before she was touched by sin, but Pope Shenouda argues that if such a way of salvation existed, then Christ’s incarnation and crucifixion would have been unnecessary. Redemption came only through Christ’s blood.

The Church’s Position on Her Intercession:
The Orthodox Church believes in Mary’s intercession as a loving mother who prays for humanity but rejects the Catholic teaching that she is a “co-redeemer” or that all graces are dispensed solely through her. The only mediator between God and men is Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).

Warning Against Extremes:
Pope Shenouda warns that exaggerating Mary’s role to make her equal with Christ led to the opposite reaction from Protestants, who denied her honor entirely. The Orthodox Church stands in the balanced middle, honoring her deeply without deifying her.

Spiritual Conclusion:
The Virgin Mary is our mother, the model of faith and purity; we honor and seek her intercession, but we never place her in the position of Redeemer. Salvation came only through the blood of Christ, and she was the first to rejoice in that divine redemption.

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