John of Kronstadt said: “Not a single human heart is capable of loving all people with the love that the Mother of God loves us.” When this heart stopped beating, which experienced the greatest pain from the sight of human suffering. How many years did the Blessed Virgin live, and in what city can Her venerable remains be venerated?
Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary
After the Ascension of Her Son, the Queen of Heaven continued to live in the house of John of Zebedee. The Apostle, according to the commandment of Christ, took care of the Mother of God like his own son. “The weapon passed through Her soul,” but the life of the Most Pure One continued to sanctify earthly humanity. She consoled and preached, prayed and instructed.
The Mother of God became the living memory of the Son, the unbending conscience of the Church, the Mother and Prayer Book of the apostolic community. Her earthly journey was ending. In longing for her Son, the Most Pure One prayed a lot. And how in distant youth Archangel Gabriel appeared and pleased Mary with the news: the Lord was calling Her.
Childhood and youth
The father of the Mother of God was Joachim, a believing and righteous man. A mother named Anna, like her husband, always followed the letter of God's Law. This family lived in complete harmony, only one thing darkened the existence of the spouses: the absence of children. For many years, Anna and Joachim prayed that God would send them a child, but their prayers were in vain. The suffering of the childless couple was intensified by the ridicule of those around them, who did not miss an opportunity to slander the grief of this righteous couple.
the Virgin Mary
Anna and Joachim had been married for almost 50 years and were already desperate to have a child. But one day Anna, walking through the garden, saw an angel. He promised the surprised woman that she would soon become a mother, and her child would be known to the whole world. Anna hurried home to tell her husband about the vision. Imagine Anna’s surprise when it turned out that Joachim had also seen an angel who announced that the prayers for the child had been answered.
After some time, Anna actually became pregnant. Then the couple made a vow that they would give the newborn to serve the Lord. The daughter was born on time and received the name Maria (in Hebrew this name is pronounced Miryam and is translated as “beautiful”, “strong”). The neighbors of Joachim and Anna began to gossip again, this time marveling at the miracle.
Birth of the Virgin Mary
The couple raised their daughter and were preparing to fulfill their promise. Three years later, they gave little Maria to be raised in the Jerusalem temple. Surprisingly, the girl easily climbed the fifteen steps to the temple gates, which were sometimes difficult for adults too.
A few years later, the righteous Anna and Joachim died. Maria continued to live at the temple, studying together with other girls in a special school. Here, young pupils were taught the basics of science, taught the Word of God, and also prepared for worldly life, housekeeping and raising children. Until the age of 12, Maria lived within the walls of this school. The girl was best at sewing. There is a legend that it was she who was entrusted with sewing the curtain and bedspread for the temple sanctuary.
Given such an upbringing, Mary should have grown into an enviable bride - hardworking, pious and educated. But such a fate did not attract the girl, and she took a vow of celibacy. This created certain difficulties: mature girls were not allowed to live at the temple, and the grown-up Mary had to leave God’s house.
Presentation of the Virgin Mary into the Temple
But according to the laws of that time, she was not allowed to live alone. The clergy, who became attached to their pupil, found a way out: Mary was married to the elderly widower Joseph, who, due to his age, had to preserve the girl’s purity, allowing her not to break her word given to God.
At first, the old man was not happy about the young bride who fell on his head. In addition, the man was afraid of gossip behind his back and ridicule of relatives and neighbors - the age difference was so great. However, Joseph did not dare to contradict the will of the priests and took Mary into the house, calling him his wife.
Personal life
The Bible says that Mary comes from the line of King David and the tribe of Judah - the fourth son of the patriarch Jacob. The Mother of God was also a relative of Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah, who became the mother of John the Baptist.
In the first century, boys and girls reached adulthood at 12 years old, and after reaching this age they could not remain in the temple - they either returned to their parents or got married. So, upon reaching adulthood, since her parents - Anna and Joachim - died, Mary was betrothed to eighty-year-old Joseph, who did not even know her.
Joseph's wife died a year before her betrothal to the Mother of God. In his first marriage, Joseph lived for 49 years and had children.
Mary took a vow of celibacy and the priests who looked after her understood that betrothal to Joseph would help the girl keep her vow. Thus, the elder became more of a mentor and teacher to the future Mother of God than a husband.
Virgin Mary and Joseph
Her only son, Jesus, helped fulfill her vow to serve God. Mary carried the Word of God and preached, accompanying the Savior. According to the Bible, when Jesus was crucified, the Mother of God felt all his pain and became insensitive when the nails were driven into his hands. She knew that her son had come to cleanse the sins of mankind, but she could hardly stand the pain and suffering that she and Jesus had to endure.
Stained glass window of Jesus leaving his mother in a Lutheran church in South Carolina.
Birth of Jesus Christ
After some time, Joseph, who worked as a carpenter, left home for several months, going to another construction site. Maria, remaining on the farm, looked after order, weaved and prayed a lot. According to legend, while she was praying, an angel appeared to the girl and told her about the imminent birth of her son.
Angel brings news to the Virgin Mary
The boy, according to the angel, was destined to become the savior of people, the one whose coming the Jews had long awaited. Mary was embarrassed by this revelation, because she remained a virgin. To which she was answered that she would suffer from a higher power, and not from a man’s seed. This day in the Christian tradition has become the Feast of the Annunciation - in memory of the good news that the Virgin Mary received.
And indeed, Maria soon realized that she was pregnant. The woman did not yet realize the role that her son had to play, but she understood that she had become a participant in a real miracle of the immaculate conception.
Joseph, who returned home after some time, immediately noticed the changes that had occurred in his wife. This kind man did not immediately believe Maria’s story, deciding that the naive girl had simply become a victim of deception by some neighbor’s young man who had seduced her.
Virgin Mary and Joseph
The old man did not blame his wife and even wanted to secretly allow her to leave the city so that she would not become a victim of justice: treason in those days was severely punished, an unfaithful woman could be stoned and whipped. Then an angel appeared to the carpenter, telling him about the immaculate conception of Mary. This convinced Joseph of his wife’s innocence, and he allowed the girl to stay.
Shortly before the due date, Caesar Augustus announced a general population census. To do this, people had to come to Bethlehem on their own. Joseph and Mary set off on their journey. Arriving at the place, they found that the city was simply overcrowded with crowds of people. It was not possible to find a place to stay for the night, and the couple decided to spend the night in a cave in which the shepherds hid their cattle from the rains.
Virgin Mary with baby Jesus
It was there that Mary gave birth to a son. The boy's first cradle was a manger for feeding animals. That same night, the star of Bethlehem shone above the cave, the light of which told people about the appearance of a miracle on earth. In addition, the light of the star of Bethlehem was seen by the Magi, who immediately set off on their journey to personally worship the newborn Son of God and present him with gifts.
Seven days later, as required by the law of the time, the baby was circumcised and given a name. The son of the Virgin Mary was named Jesus. Then the boy was brought to the church to present him to God and make the traditional sacrifice. A certain elder Simeon, who also came to the temple that day, blessed the baby, realizing who was in front of him. To Maria, he allegorically hinted that both she and her son were destined for a difficult fate.
Gospel Events
While the Holy Virgin Mary was in Bethlehem with her husband and newborn baby, the cruel and ambitious King Herod learned about the birth of the Son of God. However, the soothsayers who told Herod about the miracle that had happened could not answer the question into whose family Jesus was born.
Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary
Then, without hesitation, the king ordered the destruction of all the newborns that were in Bethlehem. Joseph was warned about the impending trouble by an angel who again appeared to the elder in a dream. Then the carpenter took refuge in Egypt with Mary and the baby, and only when the danger had passed did he return with his family to his native Nazareth.
The further biography of the Mother of God in the Gospel is written sparingly. It is known that Mary accompanied Jesus Christ everywhere, supporting him and helping him bring the Word of God to people. The woman was also present at the miracle performed by Jesus, who turned water into wine.
Jesus Christ on the cross
It is obvious that Mary had a hard time: the constant sermons that her son preached did not always evoke a good response in people. Often Jesus and those accompanying him had to endure ridicule and aggression from those who did not want to accept the tenets of religion.
On the day when Jesus Christ was crucified by the executioners of Pontius Pilate, Mary felt the pain of her son and even fainted when the nails pierced his palms. And although the Mother of God knew from the very beginning that Jesus was destined to accept torment for the sins of people, the mother’s heart could hardly withstand such suffering.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary
There are a huge number of prayer texts addressed to the Mother of God. She helps believers cope with various problems, this is how women who want to get pregnant and get married turn to her, ask her for healing and material benefits, pray to her for children, and so on. There are several rules regarding the pronunciation of prayer texts:
- You can turn to the Mother of God in church and at home, the main thing is to have an icon before your eyes. It is recommended to light a candle nearby to make it easier to concentrate.
- The prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary must be said from a pure heart and with faith in her power. Any doubts are a block to assistance.
- You can turn to the Mother of God at any time when your soul desires.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary of Lourdes
In 1992, the Pope established a holiday in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. People turn to her for help to receive healing from illnesses. During her lifetime, the Holy Virgin healed the suffering and after that became the savior of the sick. When she was a child, the Virgin Mary, the Most Holy Theotokos, began to appear to her and taught her the rules of prayer, called her to repentance for sinful people and asked her to build a church. She showed the girl where the healing source was. Bernadette was canonized only 10 years after her death.
Strong prayer to the Virgin Mary for help
In Christianity, prayer to the Mother of God is considered the most powerful and effective. They ask her for help in various situations, the main thing is that the request is serious, since it is better not to disturb the Higher Powers over trifles. The prayer to the Virgin Mary for help should be repeated daily and even up to several times a day. You can say it out loud or to yourself. The sacred text, when read regularly, instills hope and gives strength not to give up in a difficult situation.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary for well-being
A person's life is filled with different situations that are not always positive. Women are the guardians of the family hearth, so representatives of the fair sex should pray for the well-being of their relatives. The Blessed Virgin Mary will help reconcile people, and another one will protect from quarrels and family destruction. With the help of the presented prayer, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from various negativity from the outside.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary for health
There is a huge amount of evidence from believers who confirm that sincere prayerful appeals to the Mother of God helped to be healed of various ailments. The prayer to the Holy Virgin Mary can be said in church, but it is also recommended to place an image at home near the patient’s bed, light a candle and pray. You can say a text on holy water, and then give the person with the disease a drink and wash with it.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary for marriage
Many girls who are in search of a soul mate turn to the Most Holy Theotokos so that she can bring petitions to the Lord and help them improve their personal lives. She is considered the main intercessor of all women, helping them in love affairs. To find happiness and love, you need to read a prayer to the Virgin Mary every day until what you want becomes real. Prayer requests will not only increase the chances of meeting a worthy life partner, but will also protect the relationship from various problems and help build a happy family.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary for children
The Mother of God is the main mother for all believers, since she gave the world the Savior. A huge number of people turn to her for help, asking for their children. The blessed Virgin Mary will help guide the child on the righteous path, discourage him from bad company and give him inspiration to find himself in this world. Regular prayer to the mother will be a strong protection against illnesses and various problems.
Death and Ascension
Mary spent the rest of her life on Athos, preaching among the pagans and carrying the Word of God. Now a large complex of monasteries and cathedrals has been built on that site, each of which contains evidence of miracles revealed by the Mother of God: numerous miraculous icons (some of them, according to legend, are not made by hands), the belt of the Mother of God (kept in the Vatopedi monastery), as well as the relics of people , canonized by the church.
Belt of the Virgin Mary
At the end of her life, Maria spent all her days in prayer, asking her son to take her to him. One day, an angel appeared to the woman again, announcing that her prayers had been heard, and after three days her wish would be fulfilled. Maria, who joyfully received the news of her imminent death, devoted three days to saying goodbye to those who were dear to her.
On the appointed day, Mary, lying on her deathbed, humbly awaited her fate. People close to her gathered around her. They all witnessed a new miracle: Jesus Christ himself descended from heaven to take his mother with him. Mary's soul left her body and ascended into the Kingdom of God. The body that remained on the bed seemed to glow with grace.
Ascension of the Virgin Mary
According to the records of the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, Mary died in 48 after the Nativity of Christ, but there are other written testimonies that name both earlier and later dates. According to biblical legends, the Mother of God lived 72 years.
Some time later, the apostles discovered that the body of the Virgin Mary had disappeared from the burial cave. On the same day, the Mother of God appeared to them and announced that her body had been ascended to heaven following her soul, so that she could become a Holy Intercessor before God for people in need of help. Since then, the day of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary has been considered one of the main Christian holidays.
Date of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Around the year 60 after the birth of Christ, the Evangelist Luke arrived in Jerusalem. Tradition tells of his meeting with the Mother of God; here the saint painted three images of Her at the request of Christians from remote communities. From here, following the arrested Paul, he went to Rome, where he finished the Gospel.
It contains important details about the Annunciation, the Nativity and the youth of Jesus that are not found in the other Evangelists. In fact, he calls the Mother of God their source. Around the year 62, Saint Luke writes the Acts of the Apostles, where the last event is the appearance of the Apostle Peter in Rome, but there is no story about the Assumption.
So Mother is still alive. The apostles Peter and Paul die in 64, in Rome, during Nero's persecution. But they attended the funeral of the Blessed Virgin. It turns out that the Dormition of the Mother of God occurred in the year 63, and the Most Pure One lived less than 80 years.
Interesting Facts
According to the traditions of Muslims (who revere Christ not as the Son of God, but as one of the prophets), Jesus (or Isa) performed the first miracle while still in the womb of the Virgin Mary. This happened on the day of birth, when the Mother of God was already completely exhausted from pain. Then Jesus pointed out to the woman a spring created by God and a date palm tree covered with fruits. Water and dates strengthened Mary's strength and eased her suffering during childbirth.
Icons of the Virgin Mary
On some icons, the Mother of God is depicted holding lilies in her hands. This flower was not chosen by chance: the lily is considered a symbol of chastity, purity and purity.
A description of the appearance of the Virgin Mary was preserved in the works of the church historian Nicephorus Callistus. Judging by the records of this man, the Mother of God was of average height. The Virgin’s hair shone with gold, and her eyes, lively and quick, were the color of olives. Also Nikephoros about Mary.
Kiev-Pechersk Lavra
After the earthly death of the Mother of God, several places remained which, according to legend, are considered the inheritance of the Virgin Mary. This is Mount Athos, the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Iberia (now the territory of Georgia) and the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery. It is believed that prayers read in one of these areas will certainly be heard by the Mother of God.
December 8, the day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, is even declared a non-working day in some countries. Among European countries, this decision was made by Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and Spain. On this day, services are held and prayers are read in Catholic churches and Orthodox churches. This day is also considered a holiday in Argentina and East Timor.
Mount Athos
Despite the fact that Mount Athos is considered one of the earthly inheritances of the Virgin Mary, women are not allowed to enter the territory of the monastery complexes. This rule is even enshrined in law, and violators will face severe punishment (including imprisonment). However, this prohibition was violated twice: during the civil war in Greece (then women and children took refuge in the forests on the slopes of the mountain) and during the period of Turkish rule over these territories.
Memory (in the Orthodox tradition)
- March 25 - Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- July 2 - Position of the honorable robe of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Blachernae
- August 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- August 31 – Position of the belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chalcopratia
- September 8 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- September 9 - Memory of the holy righteous Joachim and Anna, parents of the Mother of God
- October 1 - Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- November 21 – Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- December 9 - Conception of Righteous Anna of the Blessed Mary
- December 26 – Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary
