Honoring Motherhood

Each year on Mothers’ Day, we honor the women who bring life into the world. These women, our mothers, sisters, daughters, cousins, and friends possess a unique and God-given power to become co-creators with Him and bring all human life into the world. Without motherhood, we would be lost. Without motherhood, we would not know love. Through the God-given stewardship of motherhood and by example, our mothers teach us to love one another, to sacrifice for each other, to serve each other, and the greatest lesson of all – to love and serve the Lord. It is not surprise that we honor them with a special day set aside in the calendar, so that they know we love and appreciate them.

Of course the example par excellence of motherhood is the Panagia herself. The Mother of God, in her love, dedication and obedience to God, brought Life into the world, so that the entire world could live eternally with God. The Mother of God, serving as our Mother, inspires us to a deep love relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As the icon above the Holy Altar in almost every Orthodox Church throughout the world reveals, she has enthroned God upon her heart, and with open arms she invites us to do the same. The Panagia, like all dedicated and loving mothers brings us to the Lord.

On the Fifth Sunday of Pascha the Church honors another woman who brought an entire city to know Christ. Saint Photini, the Samaritan Woman at the well, met Jesus and ran to town calling, “"Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (John 4.29) The love and devotion to Christ of Saint Photini resulted in an entire city coming to know Jesus Christ.

Look around and see the dedicated and loving women in your life who have allowed you to see Christ. And now....join with and honor them as icons of blessed motherhood.