Special Veneration to Our Mother of God

Mary with the prophets and Christ Enthroned over the last Supper at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia PA. Photo credit: Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.

The Mother of God has an exalted place of honor in Byzantine devotion. She participates in the very life of God as the human medium, by which God is communicated to man through the Incarnation.

Apocryphal writings of the second century relate that the icon of the Blessed Mother painted by St. Luke was the first icon. – Byzantine Catholic Archaparchy of Pittsburgh.

Theotokos or “God bearer” Mary, Mother of God with Jesus. Basil Center, Jenkintown PA.

Icons becomes a “manifestation of divine life” among men, a “transfigured vision” of divine mysteries, and a ”vision of the invisible” (Hebr. 11 :1)

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!

“Theotokos with child. We see the Holy Virgin as a lamp of living light, shining upon those living in darkness” from Mother of God by C. Douchwat. Holy Trinity Chapel.

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with You. Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, Jesus. (13th century)

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. (St. Bernardine of Siena added this in 1427)

Virgin Hodegetria, Mother of God. We magnify you, the true Theotokos, your incorruptibly gave birth to God the Word. Holy Trinity Chapel.

We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God;
despise not our petitions in our necessities,
but deliver us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. (3rd century)

Virgin Pammakaristos pointing to Christ Child; mosaic mid 11th century. Patriarchal Church of St. George, Istanbul.

The Virgin is portrayed in the  iconographic type of the Hodegetria and is one of the surviving examples of traditional Byzantine art.

In the Dormition of the Theotokos,  Jesus is standing in center with a small child representing the Soul of Mary. Holy Trinity Chapel, Basil Center, Jenkintown PA.

When leaving an Eastern Catholic Church, the Dormition of Mary is usually the last icon viewed.

The Feast of the Dormition (falling asleep) is a major feast in the Byzantine Tradition that commemorates the falling asleep ( natural death) of Mary,  Mother of God.

Above, a closeup of Dormition of Mary icon, with Jesus holding the Soul of Mary. From Holy Trinity Chapel.

Theotokos, in your death you did not forsake the world. You are the Mother of Life. Pray for us, Mary.

Mother of God Icon at Our Lady of Pochayiv Grotto, Basil Center, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. Highly venerated icon in the Orthodox Church. Original in Pochayiv Lavra monastery, Ukraine since 1597.

Original Our Lady of Pochaev icon in Ukraine (1597)

Miracles abound with this icon.

Many of these miracles are the result of the veneration of the icon of Our Lady of Pochaev. It first arrived in the region as a gift of Metropolitan Neophit to Anna Hoyska, an important patron of the Church, in 1559. The icon shows our Lady, wearing a crown, and holding the infant Jesus. In her other hand “she holds the end of her veil.” This being a ‘tenderness’ icon, Jesus and Mary’s face touch, while Jesus gives a blessing with his hand. To Mary’s right are the prophet Elijah and Saint Myrna, while to her left are St. Stephen and the Reverend Abraymey. Mary’s face is described as being “beautiful but sad.” The icon itself is 29 x 23 cm, and made out of red pitched cypress. The origin of the icon remains a mystery. – International Marian Research Institute at University of Dayton

Our Lady of Pochaev by William Hart McNichols, recently rewritten from original. Given as a gift to the Russian Orthodox Monastery of Saint Sergius of Rodonezh Lavra in Magadan, Far East, Russia.

Special prayer of the Blessed Mother of Pochaev in a home:

Rejoice, O Glory of the universe.
Rejoice, O Temple of the Lord.
Rejoice, O Mountain overshadowed by the Holy Ghost.
Rejoice, O Refuge of all.
Rejoice, O Golden Candelabrum.
Rejoice, O Honorable Glory of all Christians.
Rejoice, O Mary, Mother of Christ God.
Rejoice, O Paradise.
Rejoice, O Divine Altar.
Rejoice, O Cloud.
Rejoice, O Golden Urn.
Rejoice, O Hope of All.