Feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (October 11)

(Homily of Saint Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor of the Church)

I see here a joyful company of Christian men met together in ready response to the call of Mary, the Holy and ever-Virgin Mother of God. The great grief that weighed upon me is changed into joy by your presence, venerable Fathers. … Therefore, Holy and Incomprehensible Trinity, we salute Thee at Whose summons we have come together to this Church of Mary, the Mother of God. Mary,

S Agostino Madonna del Parto

Mother of God, we salute thee. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world’s reverence, thou art an ever-shining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy, an indestructible Temple, the place that held Him whom no place can contain, Mother and Virgin. Because of thee the Holy Gospels could say: “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.”
We salute thee, for in thy holy womb, He, Who is beyond all limitation, was confined. Because of thee the Holy Trinity is glorified and adored; the Cross is called precious and is venerated throughout the world; the Heavens exult; the Angels and Archangels make merry; demons are put to flight; the creatures possessed by the madness of idolatry have attained knowledge of the truth; believers receive holy Baptism; the oil of gladness is poured out; the Church is established; Prophets pronounced the Word of God; the Apostles preached salvation to the Gentiles; the dead are raised to life, and kings rule by the power of the Holy Trinity. Who can put Mary’s high honor into words? She is both Mother and Virgin. I am overwhelmed by the wonder of this miracle. Of course, no one could be prevented from living in the house He had built for himself, yet who would invite mockery by asking His own servant to become His Mother? Behold then the joy of the whole universe! Let the union of God and man in the Son of the Virgin Mary fill us with awe and adoration. Let us fear and worship the Undivided Trinity as we sing the praise of the ever-Virgin Mary, the holy Temple of God, and of God Himself, her Son and spotless Bridegroom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Since the Holy Virgin brought forth as man God united to flesh according to the hypostasis, we say that she is the Mother of God, not because the nature of the Word had a beginning of existence from the flesh, for “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” and He is the Creator of the ages, Co-eternal with the Father, and Creator of all things. As we have stated before, having united the human to Himself according to the hypostasis, He even endured birth in the flesh from the womb. He did not require because of His own nature as God a birth in time and in the last stages of the world. … If anyone does not confess that the Emmanuel is God in truth, and because of this does not confess that the Holy Virgin is the Mother of God (for she bore according to the flesh the Word of God made flesh), let him be anathema. If anyone does not confess that the Word of God the Father was united to flesh substantially, and that there is one Christ with His own flesh and that He manifestly is God, the same One as is man, let him be anathema.