The Blessed Virgin Mary is the first nun who initiated a new way of life. Mother of all Christians, the first protector and prayer book for our souls. The epithets of the Most Holy Theotokos always have a superlative degree, because the Mother's sacrifice is not amenable to worldly comprehension and understanding.
Maria is a begging child. Her parents, the righteous Joachim and Anna, could not conceive for a long time. It must be said that in Israel of that time, childlessness was equal to being abandoned by God. Righteous spouses came from the lineage of King David and would be highly respected people if they had children. But the couple did not despair and prayed to God. When Joachim and Anna were about 60 years old, the righteous made a vow: to dedicate their child to the Lord.
Soon Anna gave birth to a girl named Mary. The girl grew up, she was three years old and her parents fulfilled their vow - Mary was sent to be raised in the temple.
In the Gospel of John this event is described as follows:
And now the Child was three years old, and Joachim said: Call the blameless daughters of the Jews, and let them take lamps and bestand with the lit [lanterns], so that the Child does not turn back and so that She loves in her heart the temple of the Lord
During the introduction to the temple, the first miracle happened - the girl herself climbed the steps of the temple. She was led into the altar, where only the high priest could enter, and only once a year. It was impossible to even think about introducing any female person into the holy of holies, but the hand of the Lord himself intervened in history. Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos every year on December 4, they read akathists and hymns to the Most Holy Theotokos.
Prayer to the Most Pure Lady before the icon of her "Entrance into the Temple"
Oh, Blessed Virgin, the Queen of Heaven and earth, before the century the chosen Bride of God, in the last times who came to the church lawful to betrothed to the Bridegroom of Heaven! Thou hast left Thy people and Thy father's house, in order to sacrifice to Thee a pure and undefiled God, and was the first to give thee a vow of everlasting virginity. Grant us also to keep ourselves in chastity and purity and in the fear of God all the days of our belly, may we be temples of the Holy Spirit, especially help everyone in imitation of Yours in the cloisters of those who live and betrothed themselves to the service of God in the purity of virginity spend their lives and from youth to carry the yoke of Christ, good and light, keeping one's vows holy. Thou hast spent all the days of Thy youth in the temple of the Lord, away from the temptations of this world, in prayerful vigilance and in every abstinence of the soul and body, help us to repel all the temptations of the enemy from the flesh, the world and the devil that come upon us from youth ours, andovercome them by prayer and fasting. You are in the temple of the Lord with the angels abiding, you were adorned with all the virtues, especially with humility, purity and love, and you were worthily brought up, so that you would be ready to contain the incomprehensible Word of God in your flesh. Vouchsafe us, obsessed with pride, intemperance and laziness, to put on all spiritual perfection, may each of us, with Your help, prepare the wedding garment of his soul and the oil of goodness, but do not name and do not prepare us to appear at the meeting of our Immortal Bridegroom and Your Son, Christ Savior and our God, but may we be accepted with the wise virgins in the abode of paradise, even with all the saints, make us take out to glorify and glorify the all-holy name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and Your merciful intercession always, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Having stayed in the temple until she came of age, Mary had to leave it and get married. A second miracle is associated with this event: when choosing a groom, the staff of Joseph the Betrothed blossomed in an unusual way. Seeing God's will in this, Mary was married to him.
The future Mother of God received an excellent education at the temple and loved to read inspired books and prophecies. While reading the holy book of the prophet Isaiah, with the words “Behold, the Virgin shall conceive and give birth to a Son…” Mary wished to be a servant with this lucky woman, or at least to see her.
The archangel Gabriel immediately descended from heaven and brought the news of the birth of the Messiah from her womb to Mary.
Prayer on the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Receive, O All-Merciful, Most Pure Lady Mistress Theotokos, these honest gifts, You are the only applied from us, Your unworthy servants, chosen from all generations, the highest being of all creatures of heaven and earth. For the sake of Thee, for the sake of Thee, the Lord of strength be with us, and by Thee we shall know the Son of God, and let us be like His Holy Body and His Most Pure Blood. Even so, blessed are you in the generations of generations, God-blessed, the brightest Cherubim and the most honest Seraphim. And now, All-Holy Theotokos, do not stop praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, even deliver us from every evil advice and from every circumstance: and keep us unharmed from every poisonous appendage of the devil. But even to the end, by Thy prayers, keep us uncondemned: as if by Thy intercession and help we save, glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for all in the Trinity to the One God and all the Creator we send, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.
The life and ministry of the Mother of God, described by the evangelists and apostles, is striking in its purity and purity. The Mother of God has been stirring the minds and hearts of believers for more than one century, poems and hymns have been dedicated to her and her mercy. The Blessed Virgin is an eternal example for all pious women, the hope of the orphans and the poor, the protection of the weak and offended. She was loved and sung at all times, just like now. And she hears usand pray to God for us. Let us honor and love Her.
Chants to the Most Holy Theotokos: text
The warmest prayer to the Blessed Virgin. Those who listen to this prayer, sing in the temple, or simply read, always have tears in their eyes.
During the hymn, each praying person turns to the Queen of Heaven with his grief. And she hears everyone, tries to help and tirelessly prays to the Son for human troubles.
