ദൈവമാതാവിന്റെ ജനനപെരുന്നാൾ

September 8th is the commemoration of the Nativity of St. Mary the mother of God (dukhron mawlodho d’Yoldath Aloho Mariam) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

There are at least nine feasts for the Virgin Mary in the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. She and John the Baptist are the only two mortals whose nativity is celebrated liturgically. She is called the mother of God (more correctly: God-bearer, Theotokos or Yoldath Aloho). Through divine inspiration, countless hymns & prayers were written in her honour by the Holy Fathers. These praises feature in just about every liturgical feast and season. The commemoration of St. Mary’s nativity is celebrated in all Orthodox Churches and the feast is attested in Syriac calendar manuscripts from the first millennium.

In his article about the Holy Virgin Mary, the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory states, “it is noteworthy to mention that the conception of Mary took place according to the natural law for she was of a man (Joachim) & a woman (Hanna). Mary is the child of two once-barren persons, just like Isaac, Samuel & John the Baptist.” St. Mary was born in the tribe of Judah, a descendant of King David through her father & she was a descendant of the priestly Levi tribe of Aaron through her mother. She is the descendant of priests, prophets & kings.

The Birth of St. Mary in the Syriac Orthodox patristic tradition

There are various stories surrounding the circumstances of St. Mary’s birth and childhood. The narratives generally preserved in the Syriac tradition can be extracted from the liturgical texts and a work entitled “Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of God” which is subdivided into six books. Book 1 concerns the conception and birth of St. Mary, along with the Annunciation by Archangel Gabriel. An English translation of this text (from the Malayalam) prepared by Dr. Sarah Abraham Knight, will be the primary point of reference.

St. Yuyakim was a wealthy man and on the day of an important Jewish festival went to the temple to offer up the gifts. However, on account of his childlessness, he was insulted and rebuked by some individuals, deemed unworthy to offer up anything to God. In shameful despair, St. Yuyakim leaves the temple and laments upon his unfortunate circumstances. Comparing himself to righteous Biblical figures who were once-barren, he decides not to return home to his wife. He sets out to a forest and proclaims a vow of abstinence for 40 days, choosing to fast and pray until God grants him a child. St. Anne laments on her barren womb, and the absence of her husband makes her feel widowed. Crying out in distress to the Lord, she asks why she must suffer.

As she ends her supplication, an Angel of the Lord appears to St. Hannah and tells her that she will conceive a child, an offspring who “will become known in all the world.” St. Joachim also receives the miraculous message from an Angel and soon returns home. In an act of loving embrace, St. Ann throws her arms around her husband’s neck and says with joy, “now I know how much my God has blessed me, for I was a widow but no longer am; I was barren and without children. Now I will give birth.” Soon enough, St. Ann conceived and in the ninth month gave birth to St. Mary. Along with the parents, the astonished neighbors and temple folk praised God for this wonderous birth.

As St. Mary was born to her parents in their old age, at the age of three she was offered to the temple as fulfillment of their vow. The prayer from the Sh’himo on Friday morning reads, ”Mary became an orphan, for her parents passed away. She was left for the priests to take care of her. They took her to Jerusalem according to the command of Moses to be brought up there. The Lord of Prophets descended from high. He blessed and sanctified her. Hallelujah. May the prayer to her be a fence and protection to us”

Oh Virgin St. Mary the mother of God! Pray for us sinners, now & at all times & at the hour of our death (Morth Maryam bthulto emeh Daloho b‛oy ḥlofayn ḥaṭoyé hosho wabkhul ‛edon wabsho‛tho d-mawtan) Amen.

The Holy Bible readings from the Church Lectionary:

Evening:
St. Mathew 12:38-50

Morning:
St. Mark 3:31-35

Before Holy Qurbono:
Exodus 3:1-10
I Samuel 17:37-40, 48-51
Ezekiel 44:1-3
Isaiah 11:1-8

Holy Qurbono:
I John 3:2-16
Hebrews 2:14-18
St. Luke 8:16-21 11:27-28

Tone of the Day: 1

Malankara World Special Supplement for St. Mary: https://goo.gl/B7Uw7A

Syriac Prayers for Mawlodhe d’Yoldath Aloho Mariam: https://tinyurl.com/5n8eauzd

Hymns in honour of St. Mary: https://goo.gl/MMecq1

St. Jacob of Edessa, Letter on the Genealogy of St. Mary: http://bit.ly/MaryGenealogy

Fixed Feast