Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Μήτηρ Θεοῦ (Mētēr Theou, "Mother of God"), is poetically called Πλατυτέρα τῶν οὐρανῶν (Platytéra tōn Ouranōn, "More spacious than the heavens") because she bore in her womb the Creator of the universe.
Also called
Observed by
TypeChristian
SignificanceMotherhood of Mary
ObservancesChurch services
Date
FrequencyAnnual
Related toFeast 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]

  1. ^ "The Four Marian Dogmas", Catholic News Agency
  2. ^ "Mother of God Extends Our Christmas Celebration", Ascension Press website
  3. ^ Calendarium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 1969), p. 84.
  4. ^ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese calendar of Holy Days Archived February 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Η Περιτομή του Ιησού Χριστού". www.pemptousia.gr (in Greek). 31 December 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  6. ^ Pfatteicher, Philip H. (23 September 2013). Journey into the Heart of God: Living the Liturgical Year. Oxford University Press. p. 113. ISBN 9780199997145. The Anglican and Lutheran churches retain the medieval association of the octave with the circumcision and the giving of the holy Name.
  7. ^ 11 October, Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate. https://www.orthodoxwest.com/kalendar