Today is the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, or as I tell my children--the Theotokos' birthday!! This is the first feast of the liturgical year (which begins in September). I love how our church year begins with the birth of the woman who God used to bring Christ, our Salvation, into the world. Theotokos means "God bearer" or mother of God in Greek. Mary the Theotokos becomes the prime example of motherhood, humility, and reverence as she accepts the difficult role God gave her.
I love the story of her birth. Her parents, Joachim and Anna, were a pious Jewish couple. They chose to live simple lives and give most of their wealth away to the church and in Alms to the poor. Though God had blessed them greatly, they had not been able to have a child. Barrenness was viewed as a curse from God, and one day when Joachim went to give an offering at the Temple it was refused by the high priest due to the couple's barrenness. Heartbroken, Joachim retreated into the desert for 40 days to fast and pray for a child. When Anna learned what had happened she also mourned and retreated into her garden to pray.
After several days of praying the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Joachim, informing him that they would have a daughter who would be a blessing to the entire world. Overjoyed he returned home to his wife, Anna, to tell her the news. To his surprise he found the angel had visited her also!! Soon after Anna conceived, and the Theotokos was born.
Feasts of the 2022-2023 Church Year
Sep 8--Nativity of the Theotokos <--- We are here
Sep 14--Exaltation of the Cross
Nov 21--Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple
Dec 25--Nativity of Christ
Jan 6--Baptism of Christ
Feb 2--Meeting Out Lord in the Temple
March 25--Annunciation
April 9-- Palm Sunday
April 16--Pascha
May 25--Ascension
June 4--Pentecost
August 6--Transfiguration
August 15--Dormition
Ideas for celebrating the Nativity of the Theotokos
1. Attend liturgy for the feast
This is always at the top of the list!! For any of the holidays above your local parish will have liturgy served, and the evening before there will be Vespers. At both services you will be able to hear the scripture readings and sing the hymns for the feast day. Attending church also helps establish the rhythm of the church year with the entire family. In years I'm especially organized we try to learn the hymns before the service, so we can all sing along on the feast day. Ultimately, what better way to celebrate than receiving the Eucharist?
2. Wear blue to liturgy
The liturgical color for Mary is blue, and when you go to liturgy the vestments will be blue. We associate blue with her, and can wear blue as a way to participate!!
3. Read the story of the Theotoko's life
In August, during the Dormition Fast, we began reading the life of Mary. We intended to finish during the fast, but it worked out that we took a bit longer and concluded around the Feast of her Nativity. I think this will be a new tradition! What a lovely way to begin and end the church year.
4. Make a birthday Cake
Kids love helping out in the kitchen, and planning surprises and what better chance than the Theotoko's birthday? On the way home from church we planned what kind of cake, coming to the conclusion that since we didn't know what flavor she liked best we could settle for color and make a blueberry cake. Everyone helped with making it, and it turned out so pretty!!
5. An act of service in her name
Pray for an opportunity to serve someone who is sick or hurting on this day, or for a chance to give Alms. This is exactly what Joachim and Anna did! Maybe even make a small version of the cake to send to someone in need! If you ask for a chance, God is likely to send one. I have found children are just as delighted about the opportunity to serve as they are about making a fancy birthday cake for Mary.
6. Sing the Troparion of the Feast
As part of family prayers sing the troparion of the day! Singing it as a family helps the children to learn it, and participate more fully. Here is the troparion for the Nativity of the Theotokos:
“Your nativity, O Virgin, has proclaimed joy to the whole universe!
The Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, has shone from you, O Theotokos.
By annulling the curse, He bestowed a blessing;
By destroying death, He granted us eternal life.”
7. Set out the icon of the feast
Icons in the Orthodox church don't change much through the years. Did you know that Iconographers don't "paint" icons they "write" icons? This is because an icon contains many written truths in the picture. Iconographers must go to seminary for training! The icon of the feast (pictured above) tells the story of the feast in a single picture.
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