“Saint Virgin Mary occupies an exalted place in the hearts of all the Egyptians; Muslims and Christians”, those were the commencing words of one of the readers’ letters I have received in commentary on the article of last week titled “Saint Virgin Mary”. Indeed, Saint Virgin Mary – or as our Muslim brothers call her: “our Lady Maryam”- has a great position that has never been attained by any other woman in human history. She deserved to be blessed by all generations, as she uttered this through the divine revelation: “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” Therefore, let us continue talking about the dignity of Saint Virgin Mary.
The Holy Bible talked about Saint Virgin Mary since the past, through the prophecies of the prophets who referred to her great dignity. Solomon the Wise referred to her in the Book of Proverbs, saying: “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” In the New Testament, her diginity can be clearly seen in Archangel Gabriel’s speech to her, when he was sent to her while she was in the city of Nazareth, to announce God’s message to her and to bring her good tidings that she would conceive the Lord Christ; The angel began his talk to her by offering her greetings and peace, declaring: “Blessed are you among women.” But she was troubled at his greeting! He quickly said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” The Quran shows great reverence for Saint Virgin Mary; she is the only woman who has a Surah named after her; Surat Maryam. In Surat Al-Imran, it is said about her: “And when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allāh has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.”
As for her miraculous giving birth of Christ, in a way that is unprecedented in history, Prophet Isaiah prophesied that she would give a birth to a Son: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Prophet Ezekiel described her as a closed door, “And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut…” This refers to the permanent virginity of Saint Virgin Mary, even after giving birth to her Son, Lord Christ. In the Book of Isaiah, it is said about her, “Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; the idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.” This cloud was but Saint Virgin Mary, carrying her Child, fleeing from the face of those who wanted to kill Him. In Archangel Gabriel’s annunciation to her, it is said: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Saint Virgin Mary inquired about that saying, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God…” Saint Virgin Mary submitted to God’s will saying: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
In the Quran, Surat Al-Imran speaks about the angels bringing good tidings to Saint Virgin Mary that God would grant her a Son: “When the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary – distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allāh].” When she wondered about this issue as she is still virgin, the angels told her it is the command of God who creates all what He wills: “She said, “My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?” [The angel] said, “Such is Allāh; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”
Concerning her purity and Satan’s inability to harm her and her Son, Sahih Muslim says: “Every man is touched by Satan on the day he is born, except for Mary and her Son.” Saint Virgin Mary is the only woman who conceived and gave birth but remained virgin! It is a God-given miracle, in Surat Al-Tahrim: “And Mary, the daughter of ʿImrān, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into through Our angel, and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.”
Saint Virgin Mary has received great honor among people, and… stories about beautiful Egypt never end!
The General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
