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Nativity of the Theotokos

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[[Image:Nativity_Theotokos.jpg|right|frame|The Nativity of the Theotokos]]
The '''Nativity of the Theotokos''' is one of the [[Great Feasts]] of the [[Orthodox Church]], celebrated on [[September 8]](For churches still using the old Julian Calendar - for liturgical purposes - September 8 falls on September 21 of the Gregorian Calendar. In other words, "Old Calendar" Churches, such as the Russian Orthodox Church, still celebrate the Nativity of the Theotokos on the 8th, but the day is actually the 21st according to the everyday calendar that is used in society at large).
The [[Theotokos|Holy Virgin and Theotokos Mary]] was born to elderly and previously barren parents by the names of [[Joachim and Anna]], in answer to their prayers. Orthodox Christians do not hold to the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[doctrine]] of the [[Immaculate Conception]] of Mary, in which it is supposed that Mary was preserved from the ancestral sin that befalls us all as descendents of [[Adam and Eve]], in anticipation of her giving birth to the sinless Christ. The Orthodox believe that Mary indeed received the ancestral sin, having been conceived in the normal way of humanity, and thus needed [[salvation]] like all mankind. Orthodox thought does vary on whether Mary actually ever sinned, though there is general agreement that she was cleansed from sin at the [[Annunciation]].
==Celebration of the feast==
On the eve of the feast, [[Vespers]] is served and contains three [[Old Testament]] readings that have [[New Testament]] meaning. In [[Genesis]] 28:10-17, Jacob's Ladder which unites heaven and earth points to the union of God with men which is realized most fully and perfectly in Mary the bearer of God. "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" In [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] 43:27-44:4, the vision of the temple with the door to the East perpetually closed and filled with the glory of the Lord, symbolizes Mary. And in [[Proverbs]] 9:1-11, Mary is also identified with the "house" which the [[Holy Wisdom|Divine Wisdom ]] has built for herself.
Sometimes [[Matins]] is served on the morning of the feast. The Gospel reading is from [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 1:39-49, 56. It is read on all feasts of the Theotokos and includes the [[Magnificat|Theotokos' saying]]: "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed."
==External links==
*[http://www.goarch.org/en/special/listen_learn_share/vmnativity/learn/ Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary] - ([[GOARCH]] web site)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsLife.asp?FSID=102541 Nativity of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary] - [[OCA]] web site
*[http://oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=85 Nativity of the Theotokos] - ''The Orthodox Faith'', by the V. Rev. [[Thomas Hopko]]
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