Interrupting the Silence

Tag: Theotokos

  • The Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, Dormition, and Assumption

    Today, August 15, is one of the great Marian feast days. The Eastern Orthodox call it the Feast of the Dormition while Roman Catholics call it the Feast of the Assumption. They deal with the same event but the interpretation is a bit different. The Rev. Patrick Comerford offers the following distinction: The Orthodox Church Read more

  • Annunciation Happens at the Virgin Point – A Sermon for the Feast of the Annunciation, Luke 1:26-38

    The collect and readings for the Feast of the Annunciation may be found here. The appointed gospel is Luke 1:26-38. In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The Read more

  • The Feast of the Annunciation, Lent Interrupted

    Today, March 25, is the Feast of the Annunciation, the day the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God. This feast interrupts the Lenten season even as Gabriel interrupted Mary’s life with news that would forever change her life and the world. On this day the liturgical Read more

  • Scandals, Wombs, and Emmanuel – A Sermon on Matthew 1:18-25

    The collect and readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent may be found here. The appointed gospel is Matthew 1:1-25. Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Read more

  • Mothers of God

    “We are all meant to be mothers of God. What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine Son takes place unceasingly, but does not take place within myself? And, what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also full of grace? What Read more

  • Hymns on the Nativity – St. Ephrem

    “The Son of the Most High came and dwelt in me, and I became His Mother; and as by a second birth I brought Him forth so did He bring me forth by the second birth, because He put His Mother’s garments on, she clothed her body with His glory.” – St. Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on the Nativity, Hymn XI. Read more

  • Hail Mary

    Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. This prayer known as the Hail Mary or Ave Maria incorporates the greetings Read more

  • Unwedded Bride, Agni Parthene, O Virgin Pure

    Refrain: Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride! O Virgin pure, immaculate/ O Lady Theotokos O Virgin Mother, Queen of all/ and fleece which is all dewy More radiant than the rays of sun/ and higher than the heavens Delight of virgin choruses/ superior to Angels. Much brighter than the firmament/ and purer than the sun’s light More Read more

  • “Holy Mary, Mother of God, Do Not Abandon Me.”

    The saints intercede on behalf of, pray for, and protect us. Through their own spiritual struggle and cooperation with God’s grace they have become our examples, guides, and allies in our own spiritual journey. Their victory through the grace of Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit is a shield and protection in our own Read more