Daily Devotion to the Theotokos

 Thirty-first Day of the Month

"In thee, O full of grace, all creation doth rejoice, both the company of angels and the race of men. O hallowed temple and spiritual paradise, virginal boast from whom God was incarnate, and became a Child, He, our God Who existed before the ages: for He made thy womb a throne, and He made thee more spacious than the Heavens. In thee, O Full of Grace, all creation doth rejoice, glory to thee." (Theotokion of Compline)

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All creation rejoices in you, O Theotokos, for through your miraculous childbearing, all creation has been set free. Surely the angels marveled at the love and compassion of God when He lowered himself to be born as a man in a virgin's womb. The angelic host rejoices, seeing the fullness and the depths of God's love, and all humanity rejoices with them, for the human nature is set free of bondage. All of creation rejoices, as Apostle Paul says, "for creation is set free of its bondage into the glorious freedom of God's children." (Romans 8:18).

How could true believers not praise you, O Theotokos, and venerate you above all other humans?

You were made greater than the temple. In the Old Testament, God came into the temple to speak to man, but in your womb, O pure one, God was truly united with man.

You were made greater than the paradise of Eden, O Maiden. In Eden, God walked with man spiritually, but in your womb, God united His nature with the nature of man and you were raised above the paradise of old.

You were made higher than the heavenly throne and above all angelic powers, for the Lord of Hosts made you His throne room and was nourished by you Whom He had created.

God, Whose throne is above all the angelic hosts, and too glorious for even the cherubim and seraphim to look upon, was enthroned in your womb.

You were made more spacious than the heavens, O Most Pure Mother, for God cannot be contained by the whole universe, and yet He chose to be contained in your womb for the sake of our salvation. God chose you out of all ages and generations to be the pure, virginal chamber in which He would take on our flesh and our nature.

We marvel, O Virgin, at this great mystery, and we praise and glorify our Saviour Jesus Christ, ever giving thanks to Him for His love and mercy. We magnify and venerate you, also, most pure and holy mother asking for your prayers and guidance in this life, chanting of your glory and the grace of God which was bestowed upon you:

"To thee the champion leader, we thy flock dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving, as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos; but as thou art one with might which is invincible, from all dangers that can be do thou deliver us that we may cry to thee: Rejoice unwedded bride." (Kontakion of the Akathist, Tone 8)