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Theodore reformed a monastery near Constantinople called ‘Studion’ [hence the name ‘Studitis’]. He became its abbot. His contributed greatly to the compilation of monastic rules and regulations. His sermon on the Nativity was, for a long time, wrongly attributed to St. John of Damascus.
The texts of relevance to us have been published in the Patrologiae Cursus. Series Graeca (PG), Migne, Paris 1857-1866, vol. 96. Translation by John Wijngaards.
Mary is a sacrificial priest |
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| “Hail daughter, young sacrificial priest,
whose purity is aimiable and whose vestments are incredibly beautiful, in the eyes of him who says in the Canticles: ‘How beautiful are your feet in your sandals, o daughter’ of Amminadab. (Cant 7,1)” 2nd Homily on the Nativity. PG 96, col. 693A |
Greek
thuêpolos means ‘sacrificial priest’. Amminadab was Aaron’s father-in-law. All Old Testament priests were descendants of Aaron. In Canticles the phrase was: ‘daughter of the prince’. Theodore purposefully lies the connection with Mary's priestly descent. |
Mary is [a priest] offering the New Testament sacrifice to God |
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“Hail, o [lid of] world-wide propitiation for mortals by whom ‘from the east to the west the name of God is glorified among all nations and who in every place offers a sacrifice of incense to his name’ as the holy Malachy (Mal 1,11) says.” Sermon on the Dormition. PG 99, col. 725C. |
In a section addressed to priests, Malachy 1,11 announced that ‘in every place among the gentiles an offering of incense and a pure sacrifice would be offered in His name’. This text was understood by the Fathers as foretelling the sacrifice of the Eucharist. |
Mary is [a priest] swinging the thurible with incense |
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“Hail, prayerful incense, dispersed through the whole world in front of the Lord, filled with the good odour of the Holy Spirit and about whom one cries everywhere: ‘Who is this woman emerging from the desert as a column of smoke exhalating incense!’ (Cant 3,6)” 2nd Homily on the Nativity. PG 96, col. 693B |
In the early Church the use of incense was one of the distinguishing marks of the divine liturgy of the Eucharist. Incensing was done by the priests and deacons. |
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“Hail ark [=of the covenant] from which God, showing himself
face to face, has spoken to human beings and through which eternal propitiation
spread throughout the world. |
The lid of propitiation and the use of incense refer to the annual rite of atonement performed by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem. |
Mary passed on her priestly dignity to Christ |
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| “Hail Blessed Virgin . . . . ointment with
which the royal priesthood has been anointed , . . . . royal seal, imprinting on the universal King who takes his substance from her, a body similar to that of his Mother, . . . . incorruptible wood from which the spiritual altar who is Christ, was made, . . . . royal purple with which was woven the robe of the King and the linen of his priestly vestments, . . . . through her was made the priestly breastplate of the High Priest, a breastplate woven of purple and gold, . . . . the purple flower from which are made the corporal vestments of the divine liturgy.” 2nd Homily on the Nativity. PG 96, col. 693C-D. |
The
‘breast plate’ [Hebrew=ephod] was a distinctive ornament of
the High Priest (Exodus 28, 15-30). It was covered with 12 precious gems and
contained in a pouch the stones (Urim and Thummim) of the sacred
oracle. According to Greek legend, the ‘purple flower’ [Greek=huakinthos] had been coloured by the blood of the demi-god Aiax. The Bible prescribed that all priestly vestments needed to have it as an ingredient (Exodus 28, 5.6.8, 15.33). |
Mary mediates for us |
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“Absent in body, she is with us in spirit . . . . mediating
for us with the Lord.” Sermon on the Dormition. PG 99, col.
721B. |
Mediation is a priestly function. |
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