The image comes from my Sunday School days of long ago. Mary is pale and pure, always in blue, probably to match her distinctively blue eyes. Her head is draped with a white cloth, somewhat like the dupattas I’m so familiar with. She is sweet, submissive, and not a little frail. She looks a bit like the wind could blow her away as she sits in reverent awe of the wee one in her arms. Joseph is always standing. “Does he never sit” asks the irreverent child in an audible whisper.
And of course there are ox and ass and sheep and shepherds and a dirty stable. Because that’s the story that made its way into 20th century Sunday School classes, no matter how erroneous it is.
Mary, just a girl, a teenager who said ‘yes’. Just like you or me.
And then I meet Eastern Orthodoxy and the image goes from white and blue to brilliant golds and reds, deep greens and oranges. I’m aghast! Where is my wee Mary? Where is my sweet Mary?
It turns out she doesn’t exist in the Eastern Orthodox church. Not that Mary. The Mary I’ve been introduced to is a warrior. She is the Theotokos. The God-bearer. She is far more than the young thing that said yes to the angel Gabriel.
I have been introduced to the woman to whom Elizabeth cried “Blessed art thou among women!” and “From now on, all generations will call you blessed!” These are powerful words, words that many in Christendom have forgotten, for I’ll be honest – I’ve not heard Mary, the mother of Jesus, called blessed once in the past 20 years in any protestant church I’ve attended. She’s not mentioned but on Christmas, and then only in the scripture passage read during the Advent season.
Mary, who both nursed the Christ-child and wept with tears that pierced her soul at his blood stained body on the cross. Mary who urged Jesus to intervene at a wedding. Mary who scolded Jesus for staying behind in Jerusalem, worried sick was she at her son’s disappearance.
And I can’t help thinking, she must abhor the controversy about her. She must shake her head in despair at the extremes that emerge when it comes to views of her role in Christianity. The skeptic in the west who fears any mention may lead to an out of control adoration and the superstition in the east that can lead to a view that puts her on equal footing with God.
So I ask and I search to find out more about this new Mary, who bears no resemblance to the old Mary, the one I was so comfortable with, who was so safe.
I read and I question and I first find what the Orthodox do not believe. They do not worship Mary. They venerate her — just like they don’t worship icons, they venerate them. They hold them in high regard and respect, they are careful in the ways they treat them, careful not to treat them with apathy and disregard. The Orthodox do not believe Mary was born without sin. Nor do they believe that she is “co-redemptor” with Christ.
And then I move farther and I find that Mary is a picture of what it is to become Christ-like. As the bearer of God, the Theotokos, she represents a willingness and humility to bear the Son of God. She, just as all humans before and after her, had free will. She used that free will to say “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me according to your word.”
Mary was a precious and contributing member to the early church, cared for by the apostles and loved by early believers.
It turns out when it comes to Mary, I am not a Reluctant Orthodox, but a hard-core believer that this woman who exudes strength, humility, truth, and the deepest obedience is worth respecting and loving. I am grateful for a fresh view, a new view of Mary. She is, after all, the Mother of my Lord.
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Marilyn R. Gardner 
I grew up in the Roman Catholic church where Mary has a high place of honor. In our portraits Mary was always wearing the blue you speak of, but she was also powerful because she was the mother of God made man. We were taught to pray for her to intercede for us because, surely, what loving son could deny His mother’s requests? We didn’t take a road trip without saying the rosary as a family, at least in my younger years. My grandparents said one every day of their lives, sometimes praying along with Mother Angelica on television, if you can imagine. I have no idea what channel she came on in south Louisiana.
Does any other faith pray the Hail Mary? “Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” For each of the five decades of the rosary, this is repeated 10 times in a row. It is something I can never forget!
In Egypt and in Israel I saw the icons of Mary in the bright bold colors and I didn’t even think of the difference from our portraits. That’s why I love reading your essays, Marilyn. You always help me see things with fresh eyes.
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Thanks so much for this perspective Stacy – and I can imagine being in the south wasn’t always easy as a Catholic! I would love to hear more of your journey.
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Marilyn, I am appreciating these blogs on your pilgrimage.
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Thanks so much Bettie. I love that you use the word ‘pilgrimage’ for that is for sure what it is.
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I’ve been wanting to start a Protestant Marian movement for years. She was the first to be filled with the Christ. She submitted thoughtfully and willingly. Over shadowed by the Holy Spirit, she took God in. Her experience of God was with the Trinity. And she never flinched.
I’m ready to join you in venerating her. She deserves our highest regard.
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It’s interesting how she got sort of discarded along the way. Can’t quite figure that one out.
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I think it was probably a reaction to what I, after 12 years of Catholic School, consider the excesses of Mary “veneration” of the Catholic Church, don’t you? I’ve often thought how she must dislike the way all of us think (or don’t think) of her, if she’s aware of it.
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Mary was a lot more robust than the Sunday School images we grew up with. When I learned the early church honored her as Theotokos, my whole perspective changed. You might enjoy reading “Blessed One: Protestant Perspectives on Mary” http://amzn.to/1deXk7G
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Thanks Leslianne. Have you read Frederica Matthewes-Green at all? She has written a book called the Lost Gospel of Mary.
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Amen, Marilyn!
I find the idea of Mary as the new Eve very helpful. Eve had everything but gave it all up because of her disobedience and failure to trust what God had said. Mary did the opposite, willing to give her reputation , because she truly trusted what God was saying to her, willing to have a sword pierce her soul.
I like to think of her accompanying the Apostle John on his travels, living in Ephesus and receiving visitors who honoured her as the Mother of the Lord and John telling how she had been especially commende to his love and care and vice versa.d
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Yes – I love this Wilma! So much to learn and know of her.
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