“Blessed Among Women”
By Bp. Joseph (HCCAR)
On the Dogma of the Virgin Birth, the Title “Theotokos”, and the Teaching of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary in the Ancient Church
“And the angel said unto her, ‘Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” – Luke 1:28 KJV
I came to accept the Church’s teaching on the Blessed Virgin, the title “Theotokos”, and the history behind the veneration of the Mother of God only after much agonizing research and soul-searching. Like many, it didn't seem necessary to me, and I saw it as a stumbling block, and suspected it of latent idolatry. However, as I examined the history, the Church Councils, and the reasoning behind my own revulsion, I realized that I had the advantage of an assumption that the Early Church did not have - I could assume the Incarnation, without giving thought to how, why, or to whom such a mind-blowing mystery would occur. The Early Church had no such cushion, no such obvious necessity. The Jewish-spea…
On the Dogma of the Virgin Birth, the Title “Theotokos”, and the Teaching of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary in the Ancient Church
“And the angel said unto her, ‘Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” – Luke 1:28 KJV
I came to accept the Church’s teaching on the Blessed Virgin, the title “Theotokos”, and the history behind the veneration of the Mother of God only after much agonizing research and soul-searching. Like many, it didn't seem necessary to me, and I saw it as a stumbling block, and suspected it of latent idolatry. However, as I examined the history, the Church Councils, and the reasoning behind my own revulsion, I realized that I had the advantage of an assumption that the Early Church did not have - I could assume the Incarnation, without giving thought to how, why, or to whom such a mind-blowing mystery would occur. The Early Church had no such cushion, no such obvious necessity. The Jewish-spea…
