Happy Feast of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary: greetings and cards, pictures with prayers

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Virgin Mary is celebrated annually on January 8, immediately after the Nativity of Christ. On this day the faithful venerate the Virgin Mary, as well as saints close to Our Lady and Jesus. In 2025, the celebrations will be held on Wednesday. Especially for the celebration, Izvestia prepared beautiful cards and greetings that can be shared with loved ones.

Cathedral of the Most Holy Virgin Mary - 2025: Orthodox greetings

Traditionally, on the great feast of the Cathedral, churches celebrate the Divine Liturgy, which glorifies the Mother of God, the Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, the husband of the Virgin Mary, and his son from his first wife, St. James, who accompanied the Mother of God and the God-baby Jesus to Egypt.

According to the custom established since ancient times, freshly baked bread is consecrated in churches and people congratulate each other on the bright feast. First of all, it is customary to congratulate pregnant women, women in labor and doctors who help children to be born.

Not without reason in Russia the celebration was known as the Day of midwives, or the holiday of Baby Porridge. At the same time, it is also Maria's Angel Day according to the church calendar. Therefore, it is also important not to forget to congratulate the owners of this name, which in the Christian tradition means "ruler".

Usually in the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary wish family prosperity, female happiness, the grace and intercession of the Virgin before the Lord and other blessings, without forgetting the essence of the celebration.

Here are some examples of how to congratulate Orthodox Christians on the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in prose with your own words:

"Congratulations on the day of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary! I sincerely wish you peace, prosperity, mercy and heavenly protection of the Mother of God. May the Mother of God protect you from all troubles, give health and grace to your children, parents and all your loved ones. Good to you, peace and all blessings!"

"Happy Cathedral of the Most Holy Mother of God! On this day I want first of all to congratulate all the women of your family. After all, woman has received that honorable and great place in Christianity largely thanks to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today we honor not only Our Lady, but also all wives, sisters and mothers. I wish you to continue to be caring guardians of the home, loving and faithful companions of life. Happy holiday to you, happiness and prosperity to your whole family!"

"Today is a great holiday for Christians - the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary! From the bottom of my heart I congratulate you on this joyful day. I wish you many good and joyful days, worthy, noble deeds, warm and open children's smiles. May this holiday in your home be cozy and bright, and your heart be filled with hope and love!"

"With a bright holiday! May the Blessed Virgin Mary shelter you from all troubles, so that sorrows, separations and other hardships do not touch you and your family. I wish all your prayers to be answered and your wishes to come true as quickly as the good news of the birth of our Savior Jesus spread. Happy Council of Our Most Holy Mother of God!"

Happy Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos: greeting cards

The easiest way to remind about the celebration is to send a greeting card. It can be attached to a wish or sent separately in messengers and social networks. On the web you can also find many pictures with ready-made greetings and prayers for the holiday.

Most often the cards depict the Mother of God with the Child, or together with Joseph the Handmaiden and the Magi who came to worship the Son of God. It is not uncommon to see angels, as well as domestic animals - donkeys, white curly lambs and calves, which grazed near the cave in Bethlehem, where Christ was born.

Even more popular are reproductions of icons of the Mother of God, especially the icon of the "Three Joys," before which one prays on the feast. It depicts the Virgin Mary with Jesus sitting on her lap with a white flower in her hand. On the right side of them is Mary's husband Joseph, and on the left side is John the Baptist, who foretold the birth of the Savior, and later baptized him.

Also suitable are standard images of temples, church candles, iconostases and white-winged angels, on which you can add your own text in special applications or photo editors.

Orthodox holiday on January 8: pictures with prayers to the Virgin Mary

Along with congratulations, short prayers are also sent, which are recited to the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary at a service in the temple or during home prayers. Below are adapted texts of some of them.

"With the birth of the Lord Jesus from the holy Virgin, the whole world was enlightened. Shepherds played on whistles, and wise men worshipped. Angels sang that God in the flesh had appeared, the Savior of our souls."

"O Most Pure Mother of God, Mother of God, Thy fair cathedral is adorned with manifold goodnesses, gifts are brought to Thee, O Lady, by many worldly people. Break the bonds of our sinfulness with Thy grace and save our souls."

"Before the morning star from the Father without a mother He who was born, on earth without a father this day appeared in the flesh from You. Wherefore the star preached to the wise men, and the angels with the shepherds sang of Thy immaculate birth, O Blessed One."

"We magnify Thee, O Most Holy Virgin, God-chosen Child, and we honor Thy holy image, by which Thou healest all who come in faith."

The postcards were prepared by Izvestia using photos by Global Look Press, Vitaly Ankov, Pavel Bednyakov, Maria Devakhina, Christina Kormilitsyna, Dmitry Korotayev and Vladimir Smirnov.