In the
Orthodox Church, we also 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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