The Theotokos (lit. God's Mother) and Ever-Virgin Mary, has always been held in reverence by God's Church (even during the days of Her earthly life). She is our Lord's Mother, and She is also ours.
Why do we honor Her?:
Facing Up to Mary, by Fr. Peter Gilquist
Old Testament Prophecies concerning Her
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Feastdays of the Theotokos
(of Her life and intercession/help):
- Conception (December 9)
- Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September 8)
- Entry into the Temple (November 21)
- Annunciation (March 25)
- Meeting of the Mother of God and St. Elizabeth (March 30)
- Synaxis of the Theotokos (December 26)
- Dormition (August 15)
- Life-Giving Spring (Bright Friday)
- Placing of the Robe of the Theotokos (July 2)
- Placing of the Sash (Cincture/Belt) of the Theotokos (August 31)
- Protection (Pokrov) (October 1)
*It should be noted that every Wednesday of the year is dedicated to the Theotokos
*The year is also full of Feastdays of Her icons (the first icons as well as icons throughout the Church's history) showing us the reality that She is every present to help us. The first icons of the Theotokos were created during Her lifetime by the hand of the Apostle and Evangelist St. Luke (who wrote the Gospel of St. Luke and the Acts of the Apostles).
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There are many hymns to the Theotokos.
Here are only a few:
1. Beneath Thy Compassion.
(One of the oldest hymns to the Theotokos, even found inscribed on a papyrus from 250-280AD):
(English version)
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O Pure Virgin (by St. Nektarios, original Greek here)
(English)
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Akathist to the Theotokos, the Nurturer of Children
(English)