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Theotokos means Mother Of
God. Virgin Mary was chosen by God to give birth in a miraculus way
to His only Son Jesus Christ. Theotokos represents for us the Orthodox
Christians Purity and Holyness, but also Motherhood. Virgin Mary
is celebrated more than any other Saint in our Church. She is the
mean that Jesus Christ came to the World to save us from our sins.
But what happen to the Theotokos after her Son ascended into Heaven ? Theotokos was entrusted to the care of the Apostole John. The Book of Acts (Holy Bible) mentions her being with the Apostoles on the forst Pentecost ehen the Holy Spirit descented upon them in the form of tongues of Fire. |
| It is thought that She spent
most of Her time in Jerusalem and the surounding areas, visiting
the meaningful places that were significant in the earthly life of Christ.
Sacret tradition tells us that she spent most of Her time praying to God
asking Him to take Her from this world and reunite Her with Her beloved
Son.
Her prayers were answered. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to Her, telling Her that in three days, Her earthly existence would come to an end. She received the news with great joy and returned to John's house in Jerusalem hoping to see all the Apostoles one final time. God fulfilled Her desire, and Christ's faithful followers, with the exception of Thomas, managed to be with Her when She peacefully commended Her Soul into God's Hands. She was burried in the Garden of Gethsemane near the tombs of Her parents Joachim and Anna. Three days later, the Apostole Thomas arrived wanting to pay his respects to The Theotokos. When Virgin Mary's tomb was opened, only the winding sheet was found. Her Body was not there! Later that evening, the Apostoles had a vision of Virgin Mary, Mother of God, surrounded by a multitude of angelic hosts. She left them with these words: " Rejoice , I will be with you always". For this reason we, the orthodox christians, continue to pray to Her and ask Her to intercede on our behalf to God to forgive our sins and save our souls. Mother Of God - Holyest Theotokos is celebrated four times per year by the Greek-Orthodox Church. She is considered to be the Mother of each one of us, who protect us for all evil things. There is a large number of monasteries in Greece and Cyprus dedicated to the Holy Mother Of God Theotokos. In Cyprus one of the most famous one and most important one in the entiry Greek-Orthodox world is the Monastery of Theotokos at Kykkos (Kykkos Monastery). |
