Prayer Orthodoxy ®
Instagram
The Theotokos as Model and Mount Athos as Her Garden
The post presents the Orthodox tradition that honors the Most Holy Theotokos as the model of purity, obedience, and complete devotion to God for nearly two thousand years. According to ancient tradition, the Theotokos claimed Mount Athos as her inheritance, and it became known throughout the Orthodox world as the Garden of the Panagia.
For more than a thousand years, monks have lived and prayed on the Holy Mountain beneath her protection, continually invoking her intercession with the prayer "Most Holy Theotokos, save us." The accompanying video summary adds that the Theotokos bore Christ physically, and all Christians are called to bear Him spiritually. It recounts the tradition that while traveling by sea, her ship was brought to Mount Athos; seeing the mountain, she asked her Son that it might become her inheritance, and Christ granted the request.
Since then, monks have offered their lives to Christ under the protection of His mother, and prayer has continued there from generation to generation.
Key moments
- The Theotokos is pure in heart, obedient to God, and wholly devoted to him.
- She was the first person to receive Jesus Christ.
- According to ancient tradition, the Theotokos was traveling by sea when her ship was brought to Mount Athos.
- Seeing the mountain, she asked her Son that it might become her inheritance.
- Christ granted her request and Mount Athos became known as the Garden of the Panagia.
- For more than a thousand years, monks have lived and prayed on the mountain, offering their lives to Christ beneath the protection of his mother.
- Prayer continues there from generation to generation.