An Ode to the Virgin by Saint Sophrony the Athonite

My soul is in awe and trembling when I think of the Glory of the Mother of God. 

My intelligence is insufficient, my heart is poor and weak, but my soul exults with joy and yearns to write about her, if only with a few words. 

My soul fears such an undertaking, but love urges me not to hide my gratitude for her mercy.

She is, in truth, our protectress with God, and her name is enough to gladden the soul. But all heaven and earth rejoice in her love.

What an incomprehensible wonder! She lives in Heaven and constantly contemplates the glory of God, yet she never forgets us poor folk, and covers all the peoples of the earth with her protection.

The Lord has given us his Most Pure Mother. She is our joy and our hope. She is our mother in spirit, and she is close to us by nature, as a human being; and every Christian soul runs to her with love.

Archimandrite Sophrony Sakharov (1893-1993) - Russian-born Orthodox Christian archimandrite and one of the most famous ascetic monks of the 20th century; Orthodox saint and theologian.

Excerpt from the book: Starets Silouane, Moine du Mont Athos, Éditions Présence, 1973.