Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God | |
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Also called |
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Observed by |
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Type | Christian |
Significance | Motherhood of Mary |
Observances | Church services |
Date |
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Frequency | Annual |
Related to | Feast of the Circumcision of Christ |
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God is a feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ, whom she had circumcised on the eighth day after his birth according to Levitical Law. Christians see him as the Lord and Son of God.[1]
It is celebrated by the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church on 1 January, the Octave (8th) day of Christmas. This solemnity is a Holy Day of Obligation in areas that have not abrogated it. Christians of Byzantine,[2] West Syriac, and East Syriac Rites celebrate Mary as the Mother of God on 26 December (also known as the Synaxis of the Theotokos),[3] while the Coptic Church (an Oriental Orthodox church) does so on 16 January.
The Eastern Orthodox Church,[4][5] Traditional Catholics, Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church observe the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ on 1 January.[6]
In the Western Rite Vicariate of the Antiochian Orthodox Church there is a feast of the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 11 October.[7]
The Anglican and Lutheran churches retain the medieval association of the octave with the circumcision and the giving of the holy Name.