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By George Gabriel
From the Introduction: "This discourse is a small offering toward a unified view of the mystery of Mary the Mother of God. Her mystery belongs to the seamless unity of the theology of the one Holy, Orthodox, Catholic and Apostolic Church, a theological integrity that is absent from heterodox churches, eastern and western, professing to honor the mother of Jesus Christ... The single theme underlying this study is the indivisible oneness of the doctrine and veneration of the Mother of God with the single theology and biblical methodology of the Ancient Church and the holy fathers." I have found this book to be the single most useful book in English on the Subject of Mary, the Mother of our God. I cannot recommend it highly enough and superlatives could be piled upon each other easily writing its praises. Let it suffice to say that this book is one-stop-reading for anyone from the generally curious to technical theologian when it comes to Mary. You will come away form the text with a very rich understanding of who Jesus Christ is (e.g. not a human person, but a divine person with a human nature), who Mary is, how the scriptures portray her, how the Church lauds her, how the Eastern and Western traditions differ significantly regarding her (a major benefit of the book) and a brilliant analysis of how all of this ties intimately together into the melody of theology and salvation. It really is top notch all around and a great introduction to Christianity, for that matter, since sometimes it is useful to go from the particular to the universal instead of starting with generalities. Please read it.Here are the contents: Ezekiel's prophecy and the East Portal Introduction I. THE MYSTERY OF MARY The mystery hidden from the ages A succession of chosen and hallowed generations Mary's free choice or predestination? II. MOTHERHOOD TO GOD The seedless and virginal conception The second angelic annunciation: "Thy Son is risen." III. EVER-VIRGINITY Ever-virginity and motherhood to God are one. Joseph "knew her not till she brought forth..." Jesus, Mary's "firstborn son" The "brethren" of Jesus "This portal shall be shut, and no one shall enter by it." IV. "IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF CHILDBIRTH" "The firstborn male that opens the womb..." V. THE FINAL MYSTERY The third angelic annunciation "Your tomb heralds your translation to Heaven in the body." VI. THE PAPAL CHASM The Immaculate Conception The Assumption Orthodox perspectives VII. TWO SALVATIONS Two views of divine justice The wages of sin Two different salvations, two different Virgins VIII. THE INCARNATION: CAUSE OF ALL THINGS MADE, AND CAUSED BY NONE "Rejoice, O fulfillment of the Creator's economy. IX. "NOT BY WORDS ALONE" Abraham's tent prefigured the Virgin's womb. "He Who was not come as yet was present." The Father never appears to men. If He was seen by the Prophets, Mary was His mother. Mystical models of the future X. MARY, THE TOUCHSTONE OF TRINITARIAN FAITH Orthodoxy in collision with forbidden images "The Lord is depicted at times as white haired and at times as young." "O Christ, we know no other God but Thee." The doctrine of prototypes Mary, the guardian of the dogma of the Holy Trinity Mary's Son is the Father's only Image. XI. MARY THE MEDIATRESS One mediation of the Mediator and the Mediatress Power to do all that she wills Mother and symbol of the Church PLATES AND DESCRIPTIONS APPENNDIX A: 1. Predestination in Western Theology 2. The 1666 Council of Moscow on Icons of the Holy Trinity APPENNDIX B: Homily on the Sunday of the Myrrh Bearers by St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, About the author, Index
In a very real sense, creation is incomplete until the occurrence of the Incarnation. Most theologians from the ancient Church would agree that God would have become incarnate regardless of the fall, our felix culpa. And Mary is a pivotal character and reason for this event. But many Christians have no idea about Mary. I remember growing up as a Lutheran and the only time Mary was hardly ever mentioned was during the Christmas sermon since it is generally hard to ignore her part in the story. Even there it was reiterated, in typical Lutheran fashion, that she was "just as much of a sinner as the rest of us, that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory and that there is only one mediator between God and man, and that is Jesus. So let's talk about Jesus..." As I moved away from that tradition and embraced Eastern Orthodoxy, I was amazed to realize that Christians from the beginning have fulfilled her prophecy that "all generations will call me blessed" by venerating her as the Mother/Birth Giver of God (Theotokos) and that her prayers were asked for in the ancient liturgies and that her image was painted frequently and that she was considered the essential Christian, given her willingness to do the will of God even as it cost her everything.