Commemorated: 8 September
About this Feast:
According to ancient tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was born of barren parents, St Joachim and St Anna (commemorated 9 Sept), in the small city of
Despite St Anna being barren and both were of old age, the couple had not lost hope in God’s mercy to give them a child. They had strong faith that through God everything is possible. They vowed to dedicate the child to the service of God in the
After many years of remaining faithful, the Lord gave the pious couple a child. The Archangel Gabriel informed them of the news (see above icon) along with the divine message that they would be the parents of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, through who would give birth to the Saviour of the World.
The Theotokos surpassed in purity, virtue and goodness of all mankind and the angels. Although the Theotokos inherited the consequences of sin (the need for salvation) she refrained from sin and lived and died sinless. Although conceived and born as all humans, the Theotokos was manifested as the living
Celebrating this Feast:
On the eve of the Feast, Vespers is served and three Old Testament readings are read which have New Testament meaning:
- Genesis 28:10-17: Jacob's Ladder which unites heaven and earth points to the union of God with men (“the House of God…Gate of Heaven”) which is realised most fully and perfectly in Mary, the Bearer of God.
- Ezekiel 43:27-44:4: the vision of the temple with the door to the East perpetually closed and filled with the “glory of the Lord” symbolises Mary.
- Proverbs 9:1-11: Mary is identified with the ‘house’ which the Divine Wisdom has built for herself.
Matins is served on the morning of the feast. The Gospel reading is from Luke 1:39-49, 56, which is read on all feasts of the Theotokos, and includes the Theotokos' saying, "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed."
Divine Liturgy is served after Matins. The Epistle reading is Philippians 2:5-11: "Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men." Then the Gospel reading is taken from Luke
Troparion (Tone 4)
Your Nativity, O Virgin, Has proclaimed joy to the whole universe! The Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, has shone from You, O Theotokos! By annulling the curse, He bestowed a blessing. By destroying death, He has granted us eternal Life.
Kontakion (Tone 4)
By Your Nativity, O Most Pure Virgin, Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness; Adam and Eve, from the corruption of death. And we, your people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to you: The barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life!
An icon of the Nativity of the Theotokos
St Anna is being attended by young handmaidens despite the fact she should not have been able to have children.
St Joachim is attending to the Theotokos along with a handmaiden. In this icon, the Theotokos appears as a small adult, symbolising that her role as Mother of God was decided by God.
The crib of the Theotokos looks like a building with windows, like a temple. The Theotokos is likened to the
The importance of this Feast
The Virgin Mary was born at a time when the morality of humanity seemed impossible to restore. But, the Son of God chose the Theotokos as worthy to be His Mother, who would be born to barren, yet pious people.
What the Nativity of the Theotokos teaches us:
† The Most Holy Lady Theotokos was chosen to be the Mother of God because of her personal holiness and goodness.
† As St Joachim and St Anna remained faithful they were rewarded with the miracle of a child who would give birth to the Son of God, our Saviour.
† Through the womb of Mary the world would receive the Grace of God, piety, virtue and everlasting life and be freed from the devil.
Sources:
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=198