Mary

Veneration of Mary

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd spoke out to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!" But he replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it! - Luke 11:27,28 (NET)

These verses are often referred to in Protestant apologetics to support an anti-Marian stance. The word "rather" in the above passage is a poor translation, however. The original Greek would say "of course" or "yes, indeed" or even "not only that, but also". So Jesus here is not rebuking the woman who shouts this, but supporting her assertion and adding to it. It should read "Yes indeed, and blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it." -- Wcrowe 2008

Venerate Mary as Theotokos

"First, the Orthodox would not say, “You need to venerate Mary.” Rather, we say, “You need to venerate Mary as the Theotokos” (birth-giver of God). This is the theological title dogmatically assigned to her by the Third Ecumenical Council. She is venerated because she is Theotokos. To venerate the Theotokos is an inherent part of rightly believing in the Incarnation of the God-Man. To ignore her as Theotokos is to hold a diminished and inadequate understanding of the Incarnation." -- Fr. Stephen Freeman, Why Mary Has Always Been Honored, August 13, 2018 Ancient Faith Blog https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/glory2godforallthings/2018/08/13/why-mary-has-always-been-honored/

Mary, The New Eve, Removes the Sword

"Simeon said likewise, 'You will remove the sword.' Mary removed the sword that protected Paradise because of Eve." -- St. Ephrem the Syrian, Commentary on Tatian's Diatessaron 2.17

Eve; Mary; Fruit

"Eve offers Adam the forbidden fruit. The New Eve offers us, her children in the Church, the Fruit of Life, Her Son. "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb". Christ is the Fruit of the Tree of Life, once denied to Adam. -- unknown

Prayers to Mary

O pure Theotokos, fount of wisdom, and great help to those in distress, you are a speedy aid, protectress, and support of the world. We, the faithful, sing in praise of her who is a sea of compassion, ineffably praising her radiant omophorion: "Rejoice, O Maiden, full of grace, the Lord is with you, granting the world great mercy through you!"

The wondrous Isaiah prophesied: "In the latter days," said he, "it will come to pass that the mountain of the Lord shall be manifest, and the house of the Lord shall be upon the summit of the mountain." And of this, O sovereign Lady, we have seen, in you, the true fulfillment, for the mountains and hills are adorned with churches that bear the many names of your festivals. Therefore, joyfully we sing to you: "Rejoice, O highly favored Maiden, the Lord is with you, granting the world great mercy through you!"

Oh, how marvelous an adornment are you to all the faithful! You are the true fulfillment of the prophecies, the glory of the Apostles and the beauty of the Martyrs, the boast of virginity and the marvelous protection of the whole world. O sovereign Lady, protect, with the omophorion of your tender mercy, all the people who cry out to you: "Rejoice, O Virgin, full of grace, the Lord is with you, granting the world great mercy through you!" Amen. -- Vespers for the Holy Protection of the Theotokos

O Virgin, we extol the great grace of thy Protection, which thou didst spread out like a bright cloud beyond all understanding; for thou dost invisibly protect thy people from the foe's every assault. Since we have thee as our shelter and certain help, we cry to thee with our whole soul: Glory to thy great deeds, O most pure Maid. Glory to thy shelter most divine. Glory to thy care and providence for us, O spotless one. - Apolytikion of Holy Protection of the Theotokos