Women of Reverence

The first reverence was for the Lady the Virgin:
This reverence is evident in her visit to Elizabeth, and in the words of this elderly woman to the holy Lady the Virgin: “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy” (Luke 1:43–44).

Not only that, but the Scripture also 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” (v. 41).

Merely hearing Mary’s greeting caused her to be filled with the Holy Spirit! What reverence is this, for her whom all generations call blessed?!

The reverence of the Virgin was not only among ordinary believers, but also among the holy Apostles, who regarded her as a mother to them, as the Lord said on the Cross to Saint John the Beloved—referring to the Virgin: “Behold your mother.”

Thus, the Virgin became a mother to the Apostles, the pillars of the Church.

In heaven also, there is reverence for the Virgin, for she is “the Queen standing at the right hand of the King.”

And from her reverence, we call her the second heaven.

With this reverence and veneration, we address the Virgin in the many hymns and doxologies directed to her, in all the melodies and rites of the Church.

An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – in El-Keraza Magazine – Year Eight (Issue Forty-Four) 4-11-1977

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