Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe gives us a 2 minute explanation of the role of Mother of God in the Orthodox Christian life. This is why we ask her on our daily services: ”Most Holy Theotokos, save us!”
Subtitles: English
Nicula Monastery, August 12, 2020
Video source: Radio Renasterea Cluj ([ Ссылка ])
Bp. Macarie of Northern Europe:
When I was a child, I was curious, like all children and I asked the elders why the Holy Mother is standing at the window?
As it is said in a prayer: "The Holy Mother is at the window, God is with us at the table."
Why the Holy Mother is not close to God? That is her place. The Holy Mother carries in her arms God the Son, the Child, in the image of Child Emmanuel...
Why is she not at the table?
And the elders told me that one day, while God was walking through Heaven, He saw many sinners there... And He went to the gate harshly rebuking the apostle Peter, who was the gate keeper.
And He asked him: "Why did you let so many sinners enter the gate of Heaven?"
And Peter replied: "Lord, I carefully guarded the gate and not even a single sinner entered. Only the righteous entered here. But Your Most Holy Mother brought them through the window!"
It's a wonderful understanding of the icon of the Blessed Virgin. Behold, through the icon of the Mother of God, we are in Heaven, starting from here on earth... She unceasingly wakes us up, nourishes us with the sweetness of vigilant repentance.
