Hymns to Mary

[George95]

I was thinking about this today: Are hymns to the Virgin Mary so to say inappropriate? I love The Akathist Hymn, but could it be seen as an issue by other Christians?

 

[seashale76]

It's only an issue to those who incorrectly assume we worship the Theotokos and the saints. We honor them. It is not inappropriate to do so.

For you (the choir at my parish):

All of Creation- Glagolev (English) - YouTube
Hymn to the Theotokos- Tone 5 (English) - YouTube
Kontakion of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos - YouTube

 

[josephearl]

Enjoyed the 1st one but I have to ask why would you pray to an angel named Michael and ask him to pray for you? Is there a scripture that says something along those lines or is it a tradition of men?

 

[josephearl]

Really liked the second one, the third link seems to be broken. I have been wanting to go sit in a Orthodox church for some time now and just listen...

 

[seashale76]

Enjoyed the 1st one but I have to ask why would you pray to an angel named Michael and ask him to pray for you? Is there a scripture that says something along those lines or is it a tradition of men?

I pray thee good sir, to hearken unto my post.

Mary, the Theotokos (God bearer) does intercede for us through prayer, as do ALL the saints. When a person asks the Theotokos, or any other saint, to pray for them, it is just like when we ask for anyone else to pray for us. The saints are alive in Christ.

There are around six different Greek words that are usually translated into English as 'prayer'. These words encompass supplications, interecessions, thanksgiving, etc. Prayer to the saints IS NOT WORSHIP! At any rate, I Timothy 2:4 upholds the practice of intercession for others, and we are quite cognizant of the fact that Christ's mediation is what makes intercession possible. It's quite biblical and not a tradition of men.

 

[josephearl]

I would have to say that if there is no scriptural foundation, and I see you have not provided one neither am I aware of one, then it must be classified under the catagory of a tradition of men. I am not worried about if they do or don't pray in heaven I just do not see any purpose of asking them to pray for myself or anything other then it takes the focus off Jesus Himself and puts it on his people. And anything that takes the focus off Jesus as the one and only mediator between man and God is not of God.
Jesus specifically told us how to pray. He said we are to ask the Father in His Name. Really that settles the issue as to its alignment with Biblical truth. Praying to the saints is error.

 

[seashale76]

So, I have to assume you don't consider I Timothy 2 to be scripture, as we're told to pray for others? I also must assume that you refuse to pray for others when asked because that's putting the focus on you and not Jesus for them, eh? This is the argument you're making.

The intercession of the saints in prayer for us is fully biblical and not an error of any sort.