The Virgin Mary

The Virgin Mary is honored above all other saints in the Coptic Church. She was chosen by God from all eternity to be the mother of His only Son, Jesus Christ. She was young, humble, and deeply devoted to God when the angel Gabriel appeared to her with the most astonishing message in history — and she answered with simple, total trust: "I am the Lord's servant. Let it be done to me according to your word."

Mary carried Jesus in her womb for nine months, gave birth to Him in a humble stable in Bethlehem, and raised Him in Nazareth. She was there at His first miracle at Cana. She stood at the foot of the cross as He was crucified, bearing an unimaginable grief. She was with the disciples when the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost. She is the woman who knows Jesus most intimately of all human beings.

The Coptic Church calls her Theotokos — God-bearer — and celebrates her with deep, constant devotion. Wednesdays and Fridays of every week are kept as fasting days partly in her memory. The whole month of Kiahk is dedicated to hymns in her honor. Coptic Christians pray to her as a loving mother who intercedes for us before her Son. She is the greatest example of faith, humility, and love in the history of the human race.