This Icon was written by Dr. Isaac Fanous in 1990~1996Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church Los Angeles, California
" ... more honorable than the Cherubim
and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim;
without corruption you gave birth to God the Word;
true Theotokos we magnify you ... "
and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim;
without corruption you gave birth to God the Word;
true Theotokos we magnify you ... "
She was born in Nazareth from Joachim and Anna. At the age of 3, she entered into the Temple. At 12 years of age, she was given to the care of Joseph by Divine providence. Archangel Gabriel announced to her the Incarnation of the Lord through her and she accepted.
She followed her Son and God throughout His earthly preaching, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. She was also present on the Day of Pentecost. She lived with the Apostle John after her Son’s death guiding and counseling the Apostles, being their mediatress before her Son. She reposed at the age of 60.
The Holy Virgin Mary holds the highest place in the Church, since through her the Divine plan was fulfilled. At the Council of Ephesus, the Fathers reaffirmed her to be the Theotokos (God-bearer). In her honor, one of the Church Fathers testified to this in this hymn: “All creation rejoices in you: the assembly of angels and the human race. O Sanctified Temple and Spiritual Paradise, from whom God, Who is before the ages, was incarnate and became a Child! He made your body into a throne, and your womb He made more spacious than the heavens. O full of grace, glory to you.”
The Old Testament foreshadows her prominence in the New Testament through certain prophetic images. She is symbolized as “the temple” for she is the dwelling of God, “the door” through which God entered our world. In keeping with these prophetic types, her icon is always situated on the right side of the icon of the Enthroned Christ upon the icon screen, as the Psalmist indicates in the Psalm (Ps. 44:9)
According to ecclesiastical tradition, St. Luke the Evangelist was the first to write an icon of the Virgin and the Child.
May our Lord, through the intercession of St Mary, bless SMC.
May her blessings be with us all, amen.
She followed her Son and God throughout His earthly preaching, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. She was also present on the Day of Pentecost. She lived with the Apostle John after her Son’s death guiding and counseling the Apostles, being their mediatress before her Son. She reposed at the age of 60.
The Holy Virgin Mary holds the highest place in the Church, since through her the Divine plan was fulfilled. At the Council of Ephesus, the Fathers reaffirmed her to be the Theotokos (God-bearer). In her honor, one of the Church Fathers testified to this in this hymn: “All creation rejoices in you: the assembly of angels and the human race. O Sanctified Temple and Spiritual Paradise, from whom God, Who is before the ages, was incarnate and became a Child! He made your body into a throne, and your womb He made more spacious than the heavens. O full of grace, glory to you.”
The Old Testament foreshadows her prominence in the New Testament through certain prophetic images. She is symbolized as “the temple” for she is the dwelling of God, “the door” through which God entered our world. In keeping with these prophetic types, her icon is always situated on the right side of the icon of the Enthroned Christ upon the icon screen, as the Psalmist indicates in the Psalm (Ps. 44:9)
According to ecclesiastical tradition, St. Luke the Evangelist was the first to write an icon of the Virgin and the Child.
May our Lord, through the intercession of St Mary, bless SMC.
May her blessings be with us all, amen.
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