Holy Theotokos

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this module is to demonstrate that there is only one Church, it is composed of saints in Heaven, known collectively as the church victorious and saints on earth, known collectively as the church militant. In this lesson, the students will learn about the Orthodox concept of Our All-Holy, Immaculate, Most Blessed and Glorified Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Saint Mary.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 7 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson. (5 minutes)

Saint Mary is regarded as the highest saint in the Church. She is higher than all the heavenly saints and any man or woman saint who ever lived. The Coptic church focuses on the life of Saint Mary in the month of August.

Ask the students: "Why is Saint Mary unique?"

Answers will vary. The servant may make a list of the answers. After gathering students' answers, add the following:

She was chosen by the Father to bear His Only-Begotten Son
She truly gave birth to God the Logos, Jesus Christ
- Therefore we call her the "Theotokos"
  - "Theotokos" is a Greek word meaning "Mother of God"
She was the first person in history to receive Christ as her Savior
She is the Ever-Virgin

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Read: Luke 1:46-55

Memory Verse - "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb" Luke 1:42

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 20 Minutes

We learn about the life of St. Mary primarily from two sources: the Holy Bible, and from a book known as the Protoevangelium of James, which offers details concerning the early life of the Holy Theotokos.

Saint Mary's life on earth was 60 years. She was 12 years old when she left the temple (she stayed in the Temple 9 years), then spent 34 years in the house of the righteous Saint Joseph, and spent 14 years in the care of Saint John the Evangelist

St. Mary entered the temple as a child, and became a living temple of God.

Holy Tradition teaches us that St. Mary spent her days in the temple reading the Holy Scripture, occupied in prayer, and advancing in her love towards God.

God did not choose any random woman to bear His Son; "He chose the one who chose Him with all her heart, soul, and entire being."

Through her obedience and positive response to the Annunciation, our salvation became possible. God not only chose her, but she also chose submission to the will of God. "I am the handmaiden of the Lord, let it be according to Your word" (Luke 1:35-38).

Her humility and love is seen throughout her life, such as when she went to visit her cousin expecting cousin Elizabeth while she herself was expecting.

Saint Mary's virginity is far more than a physical state. Her virginity should also be thought of as a special state of inner, spiritual holiness or purity.

St. Mary did not cease to be a virgin in giving birth to the Lord Christ. She continued as a virgin even after giving birth to the Savior.

God, the angels, and mankind all venerated Saint Mary.

God, through Archangel Gabriel; and St. Elizabeth, declared to her "Blessed are you among women." (Luke 1:28, 42).
St. Mary herself declared, "henceforth all generations will call me blessed." (Luke 1:48).
The church fulfills this declaration in our praises and glorification hymns.

The following may be summarized for the students depending on their knowledge.

The Dormition of St. Mary

Celebrated on 21 Tubah (January 29th)

As she was always praying in the holy sepulcher (where Jesus was laid after the crucifixion), the Holy Spirit informed her that she was about to depart from this world. When the time of her departure arrived, the virgins of the Mount of Olives came to her, with the apostles, who were still alive, and they surrounded her bed. The Lord Jesus Christ with a host of thousands of angels came to her and comforted her and told her about the eternal joy that was prepared for her, and she rejoiced. The apostles and the virgins asked her to bless them. She stretched her hand and blessed them all, and she gave up her pure spirit in the hand of her Son and God, and He took her spirit to the heavenly mansions. The apostles carried her body to Gethsemane. Some of the Jews blocked their way to prevent them from burying the body. One of the Jews seized the coffin with his hands, which were separated instantly from his body and they remained attached to the coffin. He regretted his evil deed and wept bitterly. Through the prayers of the saintly apostles, his hands were reattached to his body, and he believed in the Lord Christ.

The Assumption of St. Mary

Celebrated on 16 Mesra (August 22)

Saint Thomas was absent at the time of Saint Mary's departure, but he came after the burial. On his way back to Jerusalem, Saint Thomas saw angels carrying Saint Mary's pure body and ascending with it to heaven, and one of the angels said to him, "Hurry and kiss the pure body of Saint Mary." When he arrived to where the disciples were, they informed him about Saint Mary's departure. He told them, "I will not believe, unless I see her body, as you all know how I did doubt the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ before." They took him to the tomb, to uncover the body but they did not find it, and they were perplexed and amazed. Saint Thomas told them how he saw the pure body ascending to heaven, carried by angels. The Holy Spirit then told them, "The Lord did not Will to leave Her Holy body on earth." The Lord had promised his pure apostles that they would see her in flesh another time. They were waiting for the fulfillment of this truthful promise, until the sixteenth day of the month of Misra, when the promise of seeing her was fulfilled. They saw her sitting on the right hand of her Son and her Lord, surrounded by the angelic Host, as David prophesied and said, "At your right hand stands the queen" (Psalm 45:9).

The servant may ask the students if they can name any other figures from the Bible who were also assumed: Enoch and Elijah

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

What are some feasts regarding St. Mary that our church celebrates?
- (Annunciation, Dormition, Assumption, etc.)
When during the year do we focus on her life?
- (The fast of Saint Mary is from August 7 -- August 21. The feast of the assumption of Saint Mary is August 22.)
Why is it important that our Church celebrates St. Mary so many times?
- (Allow the children to discuss. Remind them of the virtues that the feasts remind us of, such as obedience. Reinforce the idea that St. Mary is the Mother of God, and we should celebrate her and learn from her example.)
How can we be like St. Mary? (We can be like St. Mary by being obedient to our parents and Abouna, focusing on God in our lives, praying, and always trusting in God. We can also learn to obey/respond to disciplinary action without complaining.)

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

When we celebrate different feasts of St. Mary, we should try to reflect on her virtues and apply them to our lives.

Her virtues: humility, faithfulness, obedience, prayerfulness

We should pray constantly, be obedient to our parents and to God, and always put our trust in God, allowing Him to dwell into our hearts.

In her famous praise, "My soul magnifies the Lord...," St. Mary declared her total devotion to God. Throughout her life, she magnified the Image of God in her soul. We should also enlarge the image of Christ within us, the way St. Mary did.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Option 1: Titles of St. Mary Crossword

Using the attached worksheet, have the students read the clues and answer choices to fill in the crossword puzzle. Answer key is provided below. (NOTE: titles include spaces in the puzzle)

Option 2: A-Z of the Holy Theotokos

Invite children to really think about the Virgin Mary and all the things that make her the most highly regarded Saint

Using the worksheet attached below (St. Mary A-Z) Have each student write words that could be used to describe the Holy Virgin Mary. For hints, students may look through hymns or a psalmody book to find clues for titles and attributes for Mary.

Children can work alone or in teams, and the servant can track who gives the most examples or play for points using the point gauge outlined on the workneet based on what letter each word begins with. Total score for a fully completed A-Z Worksheet is 63pts.

Option 3: Feast of The Assumption craft

SERVANT RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

If students have not already, ask them to memorize the Introduction to the Creed "We magnify you.." Additionally, encourage students to listen to and learn the Theotokias from Midnight Praises.