“She is not holy merely because she lived a virtuous life. She holds a unique place in the history of salvation because the mystery of the Incarnation took place within her body.

“the icon reveals the unique bond between Jesus Christ and His Mother, as well as the honour bestowed upon her by her Son

Patriarch Daniel ›

Reported

“that the Mother of God could have chosen not to die and could have been taken bodily into heaven by her Son

“And through these words, she also tells us to do what the Saviour Jesus Christ teaches us in the Gospel. Thus, the entire life of the Mother of God is defined by humility and by great concern for everything taking place around her, but she is not absent. She is always present in the midst of Christians.

“At Bethlehem, she receives God into our world. At the Dormition, God receives her into His world. At Bethlehem, the Mother carries the Son. At the Dormition, the Son carries His Mother.

“Although the Mother of God passes through death and is then taken up to heaven in body as well as in soul, she remains forever present in the world through her prayers

Patriarch Daniel ›

Patriarch

Direct quote

“the Theotokos represents steadfast, self-sacrificing and unconditional maternal love, rooted in the love of God himself, and that just as a mother doesn’t stop loving her children even when they drift from her, the Mother of God has remained in prayer and intercession for every person

“Just as the Mother of God held her Son on her left arm, close to her heart, when He was a child and presented Him to the world, so now her Son in heaven holds her soul in His hands and presents it to the angels