In the Orthodox Church, we als
o ask the Virgin Mary to save us.
Is
this the right thing to do?
A
young person who was visiting Mount Athos asked the following question. The
Bible teaches that only Jesus Christ can save us. In the Orthodox Church, we
also ask the Virgin Mary to save us. Is this the right thing to do? The saint
responded: Jesus is our one and only Savior; He offered Himself for us.
Consider this example, let’s say you were a person of high authority and power
and you visited a city accompanied by your mother. Every person in that city
would be waiting to see you and would welcome both you and your mother. They
would say the most amazing words about her even if they didn’t know her
personally. While listening to these words being said, you would be very happy
for and proud of your good mother. That is how Jesus is happy for and proud of His
mother when He listens to us speaking good words about her. Now imagine that a
poor woman went to your mother and asked her to ask you if you could give her a
job and you agreed to do this favor for your mother. But now the poor woman
will always be saying that your mother saved her even though you were the
person who had hired her. This is exactly the reason we also ask our All Holy
Lady Theotokos to save us. And her Son who has all the power, but is humble, is
more than glad to hear us say great words about His beloved mother.
From
the article “A conversation with Saint Paisios” published in the journal “Osios
Gregorios” a publication of the Holy Monastery of Osios Gregorios of Mount
Athos
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