The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 2025: the true story of the most important holiday

In September, Orthodox believers celebrate one of the twelve great feasts, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 2025, the celebration falls on September 21 in the new style and opens the church year. This day is dedicated to the memory of the birth of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, who is revered in the Christian tradition as the Mother of God. With the birth of Mary, a new stage in the history of mankind has begun for believers. About the history and traditions of the celebration — in the material of Izvestia.

Date of the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 2025

In 2025, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to the old church style, falls on September 8, which corresponds to September 21 according to the Gregorian calendar. The holiday is one of the twelve major holidays of the church year and traditionally opens the Church New Year.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexander Kryazhev

The term "Mother of God" in the Christian tradition refers to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. In Orthodox theology, the Mother of God occupies a special place: the titles of the Ever-Virgin, the Blessed Virgin, and the Mother of God are attributed to her. In the church tradition, she is considered not only as a historical figure and the daughter of the righteous Joachim and Anna, but also as a single link in the saving history through which the incarnation of the Son of God came into the world.

A brief history of the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The celebration of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary as a church celebration was already formed in the early Christian East. The first mentions of the holiday date back to the 5th century.

The story of the birth of the Virgin Mary is partially represented in early Christian apocrypha, primarily in the so—called "Protoevangelium of James" (also known as the "Tale of James"), a text that is not included in the canon of the New Testament, but had a significant impact on the liturgical and iconographic tradition of the holiday.

It is from apocryphal narratives that many details of the life cycle of the Mother of God are traditionally taken. Description of Joachim and Anna's parents, their childlessness and the miraculous birth of their daughter at an advanced age.

Photo: RIA Novosti/David Kagramanyan

The Byzantine church tradition has cemented this holiday among the great ones. He entered the circle of the twelve celebrations, and special liturgical texts (midnight services, vespers, hours, and holy services) developed around him, as well as iconographic images that are still used in Orthodox iconography.

Historically, the celebration has brought to Christian culture the idea of the "dawn" of human history: the birth of the Virgin Mary is perceived as a harbinger of the coming of the Savior and the return of hope to humanity.

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The spiritual meaning of the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin on September 21

The spiritual center of the celebration of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is not the biographical point of birth of a particular person, but the symbolic and dogmatic significance of this birth for the history of salvation. From a theological perspective, the appearance of the Virgin Mary on earth is seen as preparation for the Incarnation of God: through Mary begins the path that will lead to the Nativity of Christ.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Maxim Blinov

For believers, this holiday is a reminder of divine providence, that God works in history through specific people and families, and about the revival of hope where, from a human point of view, it would seem, there is none. In sermons and pastoral commentaries, the idea of the "dawn of humanity" is often heard, when the world found the beginning of the incarnation of the Savior through the Mother of God.

How and when is the divine service on September 21, on the Nativity of the Virgin

The festive divine service on the day of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos is based on the typicon of the great twelve feasts: on the evening before, a festive all—night vigil is served (Vespers with the morning part - "polyeleos" in some parishes), and in the morning the Divine Liturgy is celebrated.

The liturgical texts celebrate the birth and election of the Virgin Mary, special troparia and kontakion of the feast are read; akathists and prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos are heard everywhere in churches. For believers, participation in the liturgy and communion on this day are of particular importance.

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Different parts of the Slavic world have preserved their own customs associated with the Nativity of the Virgin: visiting temples, charity baking for the poor, consecrating fruits and field gifts as a symbol of the rebirth of nature, singing carols and troparia in parish communities. In iconography and home prayer practice, the icon of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary occupies its place among the holidays that open the church year.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Ankov

According to church and popular beliefs, the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not intended for hard work. Believers are advised to refrain from washing, cleaning, cooking, sewing and other household chores. It is customary to dedicate this holiday to attending divine services, and if it is not possible, to quiet prayer and spiritual reflection at home.

Special attention is paid to charity on this day. It is believed that it is unacceptable to refuse help to those in need, because the Mother of God herself is revered as an intercessor and comforter. Any acts of kindness are perceived as a right and gracious deed.