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Fr. Codruț Marian Toader about the Mother of God: Her whole life was a prayertranslated

September 8, 2026 · 1 min read

"The Mother of God was born through prayer and her whole life was a prayer," said Father Codruț Marian Toader at the Chapel of the National Cathedral on Tuesday.

The priest showed that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, placed at the beginning of the church year, marks the approach of the "dawn of salvation" and prepares the fulfillment of God's work for people.

"It is an occasion of joy for everyone, because the Virgin Mary is the new Eve. The old Eve was the one who by disobeying God brought death into the world, but the new Eve, the Mother of God, through humble obedience brings life to the world."

"The birth of the Queen of heaven and earth connects the Old and New Testaments, putting an end to the stage of promises and waiting and inaugurating the time of grace and salvation through Christ the Lord, because as St. John the Evangelist stated, the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ," the cleric also said.

A birth blessed by prayer Father Codruț Marian Toader emphasized that the birth of the Virgin Mary was the fruit of the faith, patience and prayer of Saints Joachim and Ana, who received from...

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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Іван Савченко

I thank Father Codruț for reminding me of Joachim and Ana's prayer. In our parish, grandma always said that they too waited for years to get an answer, just like we wait in old age. It is nice that the Nativity of the Mother of God opens the church year, as if it gives us a new beginning.

Katherine Davis

That part about Joachim and Anna waiting years for an answer really stuck with me too. My own grandma used to light a candle for them every September 8 and say their patience was the whole point. It makes the new church year feel less like a clean start and more like another round of learning to wait.

Петро Шевчук

Іване, добре що you mentioned your grandmother and the patience of Joachim and Ana. In our garden, when I was waiting for the old apple trees to bloom, I remembered exactly this - sometimes the fruit comes only after many years of prayer. Do you think that is why the Nativity of the Mother of God is placed at the very beginning of the church year, to remind us not to rush?

Alexander Miller

That detail about your grandma lighting a candle for Joachim and Anna every September 8 hits home. My wife does the same thing with a small icon in our kitchen, and it always reminds me the church year starts with patience, not instant results. How old was your grandma when she started that tradition?

Роман Зайцев

My grandmother, too, always talked about Joachim and Anna: they prayed for forty years, but they gave fruit only in old age. In our garden in Rostov we have the same old apple trees - you plant them, wait, but the harvest only takes years. Therefore, the New Church Year begins with this, and not with fanfare. Thanks to Father Codruts for reminding me.