As we commemorate the feast of St. Mary on this 16th day of Baunah, we are reminded of the significant role she plays in our salvation. The Coptic Orthodox Church affirms the perpetual virginity of St. Mary, as well as her sinless nature, emphasizing her unique position as the Mother of God. This title, Theotokos, is not merely a honorific, but a theological affirmation of the divinity of Christ, as confessed by the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD.
The Gospel of St. Luke narrates the angelic annunciation to St. Mary, where she receives the message of the Incarnation with faith and obedience, saying, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word' (Luke 1:38). This response of St. Mary is a model for our own response to God's will in our lives, demonstrating the importance of humility and trust in His providence.
In the writings of the early Church Fathers, such as St. Cyril of Alexandria, we find a deep appreciation for the role of St. Mary in the economy of salvation. St. Cyril writes, 'It was not the flesh that was taken from Adam, but the flesh that was taken from the Virgin, that was united to the Word of God.' This highlights the significance of St. Mary's participation in the mystery of the Incarnation, and her cooperation with God's plan for the redemption of humanity.
The Coptic Orthodox Church's devotion to St. Mary is not limited to her role in the Incarnation, but also extends to her intercessory role in the life of the Church. We believe that St. Mary, as the Mother of God, intercedes on our behalf before the throne of God, and that her prayers are a source of comfort and strength in times of need. As we pray in the Liturgy of St. Basil, 'O Mother of God, we beseech thee, pray for us sinners, that we may be worthy of the goodness of thy Son.'
In the words of Pope Shenouda III, 'The Virgin Mary is the mother of all Christians, and we are all her children.' As we venerate St. Mary, we are reminded of our own adoption as children of God, and our responsibility to live a life worthy of our heavenly calling. May the example of St. Mary's faith, obedience, and love inspire us to deepen our devotion to Christ, and to follow in her footsteps as disciples of the Lord.
As St. Paul writes in Galatians 4:4, 'But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.' May we, like St. Mary, receive the word of God with faith and obedience, and may we be transformed by the power of the Incarnation, to become true children of God.