The Ethiopian Coptic Church: a deeply Marian Church

Heirs to the theology of St Athanasius and St Cyril of Alexandria, the Copts in Ethiopia have always embraced the divine maternity of Mary. Their Marian offices, recorded sermons, and collections of stories of miracles attest to this fact.

In invoking Mary as Theotokos (Mother of God), the Copts see her as the universal Mother. She was a Mother in the full sense of the word: Mother of Christ the man, Mother of Christ as God, and Mother of the mystic Christ, which is the Church and every faithful.

Mary’s perpetual virginity represents the gold jewelry case of all Coptic religious literature. The most frequently used attributes are "sealed door," "burning bush," "fertile soil," etc. For the Copts, the privilege of virginity is also one of Mary’s causes of glory: on earth she resembled the angels and in heaven she received a glory superior to theirs.

The Copts speak of Mary in the "superlative" degree: she is great because of her personal perfection and because her role next to Jesus. Her holiness is a gift of the Most Holy Trinity, but she also deserved it through a life of sacrifice. Mary gave her "Yes" willingly and generously throughout her life.

Translated from : Mary of Nazareth