St Mary -”The Rational Dove” in the Coptic Orthodox Church

The Title of St. Mary—“The Rational Dove”

Originally writing by Dr. Michael Marcus, exemplified and modified by Francis Kai

The Coptic Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit, has given the title “The Rational Dove” to Saint Mary, Mother of God. The definition of being rational is the conformity of one’s beliefs to one’s reasons for belief. “Rational” means perceived by the mind for logical reason. “The dove” was mentioned in the Ark of Noah, which represents the peace of God that shines on his saved creations. In Song of Songs, our Lord described His bride as the “beloved one.” He calls her “my dove, my undefiled one.” (SS 6:9) The bride describes His eyes “are as the eyes of the doves by the rivers of waters.” (SS 5:12) The dove is also a form of Holy Spirit when Jesus was baptized: “The Spirit of God descending like a dove.” (Mt 3:16) Hence there is conformity between the bride and the bridegroom, the Virgin and the Holy Spirit. There comes the union of the divinity and humanity in a miraculous conception or incarnation in the womb of the Virgin through the Holy Spirit. The Virgin conceived and gave birth to her son, who is the Son of the Most High. This is the reason that the Church calls her “Mother of God”, in whom dwells the full divinity of God: “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Col 1:19) The Old Testament testifies to that truth: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Immanuel.” (Is. 7:14) If our mind cannot accept the reason behind that belief, we will contemplate on the story of Simeon the elder, who had refused to accept the virgin birth. God allowed Simeon to live four hundred years, the dividing gap between the Old and the New Testament, to see with his own eyes on the virgin birth of the Savior. The “dove” is also mentioned in the Gospel when Jesus drove out the thieves and purified the Temple: “Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And the said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”, but you have made it a “den of thieves.”’” (Mt. 21:12-13) In these verses the only thing that was mentioned being sold by name is “the doves”, which represents the Church that has been purchased by His own blood.

The concept of “The Rational Dove” has combined the divinity and humanity of the Incarnate Logos together in oneness. “Immanuel” means God with us.

Other titles given to St. Mary by the Church includes

1. The Tabernacle,
2. The Ark of Covenant,
3. The Burning Bush,
4. Aaron’s Rod,
5. Golden Censer,
6. Eastern Gate,
7. Second Heaven,
8. The Chosen Vessel,
9. Golden Lamp Stand,
10. Holy of Holies,
11. Jacob’s Ladder.

August 22- Feast of St Mary; St Mary Prophecies, Types, and Figures

The Coptic Orthodox church celebrates the feast of St Mary Aug 22 every year.

Every Coptic Orthodox church will have a liturgy on this day.

Prophecies, types, and figures of St Mary

Prophesis:
1) Book of Genesis (3:15): “I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed; she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.”

2) Book of Isaiah 7:14:”The Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.

3) Micah 5:2-3: “And thou, Bethlehem, Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda: out of thee shall be come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel, and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity. Therefore will he give them up till the time wherein she that travaileth shall bring forth, and the remnant of his brethren shall be converted to the children of Israel.”

4) Jeremias 31:22; “The Lord has created a new thing upon the earth: A woman shall compass a man”.

Types:
1) “the bush that was not burnt” (Exodus 3:2) a figure of Mary conceiving her Son without the loss of her virginity.
2) Gideon’s fleece wet with dew while all the ground beside had remained dry (Judges 6:37-38) a type of Mary receiving in her womb the Word Incarnate
3) Many passages concerning the spouse in the Song of Songs book
4) Concerning Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs 8:22-31 .
5) The application to Mary of a “garden enclosed, a fountain sealed up” mentioned in Canticles 4:12 is only a particular instance of what has been said above.

Figures:
Sara, Debbora, Judith, and Esther are variously used as figures of Mary; the ark of the Covenant, over which the presence of God manifested itself, is used as the figure of Mary carrying God Incarnate within her womb. But especially Eve, the mother of all the living (Genesis 3:20), is considered as a type of Mary who is the mother of all the living in the order of grace

Reference: Catholic Encyclopedia

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15464b.htm

August 19 – Feast of Transfiguration – Minor Feast of the Lord

Feast of transfiguration is celebrated always on August 19 every year.

It is one of 14 feasts of of the Lord in the Coptic Orthodox church. It is one of 7 minor feasts where the other 7 feasts are major feasts. The 7 major feasts of the Lord are considered essential in our Salvation.

The 7 major feasts are 1)Annunciation, 2)Nativity, 3)Theophany (Baptism of the Lord), 4)Christ entry to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), 5)Resurrection, 6)Ascension, 7)Pentacost.

The 7 minor feasts are 1)Transfiguration 2)first miracle wedding at Cana 3)Pascha Covenant Thursday 4)Circumcision 5)Entrance into the temple 6)Entry to Egypt 7)Thomas Sunday

Readings of the Feast of transfiguration : Matins Mt 17:1-9, Gospel Mk 9:2-13