Daily Devotion to the Theotokos

 Twenty-sixth Day of the Month

"It is truly meet to call thee blessed, the Theotokos ever blessed and Most Pure and Mother of our God. More honorable than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim. Without corruption thou gavest birth to God the Word. True Theotokos we magnify thee."

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In the spirit of prophecy, O Virgin, you proclaimed from the Holy Spirit, "All generations shall call me blessed." We understand, therefore, that those who do not call you blessed, O Pure and Ever Virgin Mother, are not numbered among the generations whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. (Revelation 21:27).

The Scripture and the voice of the Holy Spirit proclaim you to be in truth the Mother of God. For, Our Saviour Jesus Christ is the God Who created the Heavens and the earth, and all that exists in them. In the fullness of time, He was born in the flesh through you in order to redeem His creation.

How do we dare to call you, a human being, more honorable than the cherubim and more glorious than the seraphim? Most Pure and Blessed Maiden, how could we fail to chant this hymn to you? The seraphim stand near the throne of God and worship at His footstool but you, O Virgin, became the very throne of God.

O Theotokos, when God dwelt in your womb, did the seraphim not bow in awe before you as before the very throne of the Living God?

The cherubim hover round about the throne of God and veil their eyes with their wings because they cannot behold His glory or draw near to touch Him. But you, most pure virgin, held Him in your arms and nursed Him at your breast.

Who could be so spiritually blind or so empty of faith that they would not reverence you as the living palace of the King and the very throne of God? Let those who have understood the Scripture and received the Holy Spirit, glorify you in Orthodox fashion, calling out:

O thou who art higher than the angelic hosts, Most Pure and Ever-Virgin Mother of our God, pray that our minds and hearts be enlightened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may receive and understand the Gospel of Our Saviour Jesus Christ in an Orthodox manner. Pray that we, too, may be made temples of the Holy Spirit and tabernacles of Christ our God and Savior, so that in the unending day of His Kingdom, we may stand with you before the throne of the glory of His love and majesty, and glorify the all-honorable name of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.