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.