Metropolitan John congratulates believers on the Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Marytranslated

With the blessing of Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Stary Oskol, the Holy Church especially solemnly celebrates only three great Births on Earth. The Incarnation of God from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary of the True God and True Man - Jesus Christ, the miraculous birth of the Mother of God from the barren parents of Joachim and Anna, as well as the birth of the prophet John the Baptist. All these births were preceded by the gospel of the Archangel Gabriel, who announced that the Holy Spirit would act as the Giver of Life, connecting with human nature or overcoming the laws of human nature. On September 21, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - this is the first holiday of the church calendar, since the church new year begins on September 1 (September 14, new style). The evangelists tell us nothing about the circumstances of the birth of the Virgin Mary. The Gospel story about her begins with the appearance of Archangel Gabriel, who brought the good news that the Virgin Mary will become the Mother of God.

However, Church tradition, historical and hymnographic texts, still used in worship, tell us in detail about the birth of the Mother of God. Maria's father...