Wybrane aspekty kultu Matki Bożej w Prawosławiu
Some Aspects of the Veneration of the Mother of God in Orthodoxy

Summary/Abstract: The Mother of God is the best example of human holiness. She stands at the head of all the saints venerated by the Orthodox Church. This article discusses several aspects of the cult of the Mother of God: the birth of her cult, titles of the Mother of God used in the Orthodox Church, her nature and the various ways of veneration. The cult of the Mother of God, which has existed since the beginning of the Church, is rooted in Scripture and Tradition. It is based on her relationship with her Son, the God-Man Jesus Christ. Although the Mother of God is the most perfect human and her holiness exceeds the angelic world, this cult is very different from the glory that is given exclusively to the Triune God. The cult of the Mother of God is not isolated from the glory given to Jesus Christ. It is based not only from her personal virtues, but above all on her unique role in the economy of salvation. The cult of the Mother of God does not decrease the glory given to Christ, Who is the source of all holiness, including His Mother, but increases that glory. Therefore, in the Orthodox Church, the Theotokos is always praised and represented with Jesus Christ and among other saints, as an expression of the community of celebration and prayer. The veneration of the Mother of God is also closely associated with presenting her as the highest possible model of life for all believers.

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