The Nativity of the Theotokos

Our parish is dedicated to the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated each year on September 8.

The word Theotokos means “God-bearer” or “Birth-giver of God.” This ancient title of the Virgin Mary expresses an essential truth of our faith: the child whom Mary bore, Jesus Christ, is truly God incarnate. The title was solemnly affirmed at the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus in AD 431 as the Church defended her teaching about the person of Jesus Christ.

The Birth of the Virgin Mary

The New Testament does not tell us about Mary’s birth or childhood. The account has been preserved through ancient Christian tradition, including the second-century work commonly known as the Protevangelium of James.

According to this tradition, Mary’s parents were the righteous Joachim and Anna. Though they had remained faithful to God, they were childless for many years. They turned to God in prayer, and in time Anna conceived and gave birth to their daughter, Mary.

The Church celebrates Mary’s birth as part of God’s unfolding work of salvation. The little girl born to Joachim and Anna would become the Mother of Jesus Christ, through whom God Himself entered into our human life.

For this reason, the Nativity of the Theotokos is a feast filled with joy and hope, pointing beyond Mary’s birth toward the Incarnation of Christ and His victory over sin and death.

The First Great Feast of the Church Year

The Orthodox ecclesiastical year begins on September 1, making the Nativity of the Theotokos on September 8 the first of the Twelve Great Feasts encountered in the new Church year.

This placement beautifully begins the Church’s annual journey through the story of salvation: we first celebrate the birth of the woman who will give birth to Christ, and throughout the year follow the events of His Incarnation, ministry, Cross, Resurrection, Ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Our Patronal Feast

For our parish, September 8 has special significance as our patronal feast day. Our church bears the name of the Nativity of the Theotokos, and each year our parish community gathers to celebrate the feast together.

In honoring the Theotokos, the Church continually directs our attention toward her Son, our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.

Learn More

For more about the feast, its history, icon, hymns, and significance, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America: