Mary, the Mother of Jesus

In this short letter, I would like to explain why the Orthodox Church gives special honor to the Virgin Mary, whom we call Theotokos, which means “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.” This title was confirmed by the Church in the early centuries to protect the truth of who Jesus is—true God and true man.

The Bible calls Mary blessed. When the angel Gabriel greeted her, he said: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). Later, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42). Mary herself, in her song of praise, declared: “From now on all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).

Mary is honored because of her role in salvation. God chose Mary to bring His Son into the world. Through her “yes” to God’s will, the Word became flesh (Luke 1:38; John 1:14). She gave Christ His humanity, which means our salvation came through her obedience and love.

At the Cross, Jesus gave her to us as our Mother. When Jesus was dying, He said to His disciple John, “Behold, your mother!” (John 19:27). The Church has always understood that Mary is a spiritual mother to all Christians, because she is the mother of Christ, the Head of the Body, which is the Church (Colossians 1:18).

Honoring Mary does not replace Christ. We worship God alone (Matthew 4:10). The honor we give to Mary is different from the worship we give to the Lord. We venerate her because she is the greatest example of a faithful disciple, the one who bore God Himself in her womb and remained faithful to the end.

Mary continues to intercede for us. At the wedding in Cana, Mary said to Jesus that the wine had run out, and then told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:3–5). In the same way, the Orthodox Church believes she continues to pray for us and to point us toward her Son, always saying, “Do whatever He tells you.”

We honor Mary not as a goddess, but as the humble servant of the Lord, the mother of Jesus Christ, and the example of perfect obedience and love. Her life strengthens our own faith in Christ and encourages us to say yes to God.

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

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