The Blessed Virgin Mary is the first nun who laid the foundation for a new way of life. Mother of all Christians, the first protector and prayer book for our souls. The epithets of the Blessed Virgin Mary always have a superlative degree, because the sacrifice of the Mother does not lend itself to worldly comprehension and understanding.
Mary is a begging child. Her parents, the righteous Joachim and Anna, could not conceive for a long time. It must be said that in Israel at that time, childlessness was equal to God-givenness. Righteous spouses came from the family of King David and would be highly respected people if they had children. But the couple did not despair and prayed to God. When Joachim and Anna were about 60 years old, the righteous took a vow to devote their child to the Lord.
Soon, Anna gave birth to a girl named Maria. The girl grew up, she was three years old and her parents fulfilled a vow - Mary was sent to the church for education.
In the Gospel of John, this event is described as follows:
And the Child was three years old, and Joachim said: Call the immaculate daughters of the Jews, and let them take the lamps and stand with the lights on, so that the Child does not turn back and that she loves the temple of the Lord in her heart
During the introduction to the temple, the first miracle happened - the girl herself ascended the steps of the temple. She was brought into the altar, where only the high priest could enter, and only once a year. It was impossible to even think of introducing any female person into the holy place, but the hand of the Lord himself intervened in history. Orthodox Christians celebrate the Feast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos every December 4, and are read by akathists and chants of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Prayer to the Most Holy Lady before her icon "Introduction to the Temple"
Oh, the Blessed Virgin, Queen of Heaven and Earth, formerly chosen by the Bride of God before the ages, at the last time who came to the temple legally to be betrothed to the Bride of Heaven! Thou hast left Thy people and Thy father’s house, in a hedgehog, sacrifice to yourself a pure and immaculate God, and the first one gave you a vow of ever-virgin virginity. Grant us, too, to keep ourselves in chastity and purity and in the fear of God all the days of our belly, let us be the temples of the Holy Spirit, in the first place, help all of us to imitate Thy living and entrusting ourselves to the service of the Goddess in the purity of her virginity to spend her life and from youth to carry the yoke of Christ, good and light, holy keeping his vows. Thou hast spoken Thou, All-Pure, all the days of Your youth in the temple of the Lord far from the temptations of this world, in your prayerful watchfulness and in all temperance of your soul and body, help us and reflect all the temptations of the enemy from the flesh, peace and the devil that are upon us from youth ours, and victory by prayer and fasting. You are in the temple of the Lord with the Angels abiding, thou art adorned with all virtues, but most of all with humility, purity and love, and thou art worthily raised thou, but be prepared to receive the flesh of the Incomparable Word of God. Let us, likewise, possessed by pride, intemperance, and laziness, be clothed with all spiritual perfection, and he will prepare the clothes for us every time from us with the help of Your soul and oil of good deed, and do not call and not be ready to meet the Immortal Bride and our Son To the Savior and to our God, but may we receive with the wise virgins in the monastery of Paradise, even with all the saints, bless us to take out glory and glorify the blessed name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and Your gracious intercession always, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Having stayed in the temple until adulthood, Mary had to leave him and get married. A second miracle is associated with this event: when choosing a groom in an unusual way, the staff of Joseph the Betrothed blossomed. Seeing in this God's will, Mary was given to marry him.
The future Mother of God received an excellent education at the temple and loved to read inspired books and prophecies. While reading the holy book of the prophet Isaiah, with the words “Behold the Virgin will receive in the womb and bear the Son ...” Mary wished to be a servant with this lucky girl, or at least see her.
Archangel Gabriel immediately descended from heaven and brought Mary the news of the birth of the Messiah from her womb.
Prayer on the Feast of the Annunciation
Accept, All-merciful, the Most Blessed Lady of the Lord the Blessed Virgin, this honest honest gifts, the only one that is applicable to us, the unworthy work of Your, from all sorts of heaven, all of which were left above Later, it will be pleasing to Thee to have the Lord be with us, and thee the Son of God as the acquaintance, and having been blessed by his holy body and his holy blood. Also blessed are you in the birth of clans, God-blessed, Cherubim of Light and Seraphim of Honest existence. And now, the All-Holy Most Holy Theotokos, do not stop praying for us, the unworthy servants of Yours, even get rid of us from all sorts of tricks and tidings: you have not been left unharmed. But even until the end, by Thy prayers of the uncondemned did we abide by: as by Thy intercession and help of salvation, praise, praise, thanks and worship for all in Trinity, there is always and everywhere Amen.
The life and ministry of the Mother of God, described by the evangelists and the apostles, is striking in its purity and purity. The Mother of God has been haunting the minds and hearts of believers for more than a century; verses and chants have dedicated her and her mercy. The Blessed Virgin is an eternal example for all pious women, the hope of the orphans and the wretched, the protection of the weak and offended. She was loved and sung at all times, just as they are now. And She hears us and prays to God for us. Let us worship Her and love.
Chants to the Blessed Virgin Mary: text
The warmest prayer to the Blessed Virgin. Listeners of this prayer, singing in the temple or just reading, always have tears in their eyes.
During the chant, each prayer addresses the Queen of Heaven with his sorrow. And she hears everyone, tries to help and tirelessly prays to the Son about human troubles.