“The Mother of God shows us this preparation. She said yes to God at the Annunciation. She remained with Christ throughout her life. She stood beside Him at the Cross. She prayed together with the Apostles. And at the end, she passed over to Him

“through her words, “Let it be to me,” she entrusted herself to the will of God and became a model of faith and devotion.

“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.

“the luminous image of a faithful wife and mother, the model of martyric patience in suffering, and the example of generous love for the Church and people.

Patriarch Daniel of Romania ›

Patriarch

Direct quote

“Although the Mother of God was humble throughout her life, she was not absent. Just as the Ascension of the Lord did not mean, and did not remain, an absence from the midst of the Church, so too the passing of the Mother of God from this life into eternity did not result in an absence

“St. Nazaria, he said, shows that pure prayer isn’t a utopia. St. Olimpiada, he continued, shows that taking on external cares and administrative or leadership responsibilities doesn’t stop a person from reaching God—rather, when such service is undertaken in God’s name, it becomes a pure offering to the Holy Trinity. St. Elisabeta, he added, shows those who fulfilled the Lord’s word to the rich young man in the Gospel: “Go, sell your possessions, give to the poor, then come and follow Me.”

“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

“he would take the humility, obedience and self-offering of the Theotokos as his guide and example.