● "The day of the Nativity of the Theotokos is the feast of joy for the whole world, because through the Theotokos the entire human race was renewed and the grief of the first mother Eve was changed into joy. For whereas the later heard the divine statement, “In pain you shall bring forth children,” (Gn 3:16) the former heard, “Rejoice favored one!” (Lk 1:28) The latter heard, “Your recourse shall be towards your husband!” And the former heard, “The Lord is with you!”
● "The holy parents of the Mother of God received from heaven a gift worthy of God, a throne higher than the mighty Cherubin (Is 6:1; Ez 1:4)—she who in childbirth would bear the Word of the Creator."
~St. John Damascene
Italian Renaissance style depiction of the Birth of Mary, by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449–1494). Fresco, c. 1486; Tornabuoni Chapel, Church of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy). (As always here, click image to enlarge.)
