deemed a Mother in truth

The "Theotokions" in the Service of Matins, Sunday 21 February.

All surpassing every thought,

all surpassing glorious,

O Mother of God,

are your mysteries.

For while bearing the seal of purity and preserved in virginity,

you were deemed a Mother in truth, for to the true God you gave birth.

To Him pray fervently, entreating that our souls be saved.

 

O Theotokos, through you became manifest to us on earth the mystery, which was hid from eternity, and which the Angels themselves knew not: that God, uniting natures without confusion, becomes a man and accepts crucifixion for our salvation voluntarily. By virtue of this, resurrecting man whom He had first created, He saved our souls from death.

O pure Maiden, all the hosts of

holy angels were amazed at the awesome

mystery of your pregnancy and

birth, how He whose simple command

holds all things together is held

in your embrace as a mortal babe, the

pre‐eternal Word accepts an origin,

and He is nursed who nourishes the

whole world in His ineffable kindness.

And they extol you and glorify

you who are truly Godʹs Mother.

You are supremely blessed, O Virgin Theotokos.

For through Him who from you became incarnate, was Hades taken prisoner, and Adam has been

summoned back, and the curse has been neutralized, and Eve has been liberated; death has been put to death, and we have been brought to life. Therefore extolling we cry out:

O Christ our God, You are blessed, for so was Your good pleasure.

Glory to You.