The triumph of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary among Western Christians (08/12)

The Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, whose cult is very popular in Catholicism, — is one of the main holidays dedicated to the Mother of God. Has the highest status in the hierarchy of Catholic holidays — celebrations. Solemn services are held in all European churches on this day.

Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (lat. Immaculata conceptio) — is a Catholic dogma according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived from ordinary parents, but original sin did not pass on to Her. The dogma is rejected by Orthodoxy (the immaculate conception of Mary, but not her virginity), Protestantism and other Christian movements.

The biblical justification for Mary's virginity was contained in the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah (7:14), which the Gospel of Matthew assigned to Mary: «So, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, the Virgin will receive in her womb and give birth to a Son...». But the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary should not be confused with the Immaculate Conception of Jesus Christ. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin does not claim that she was conceived in an seedless manner, but only emphasizes the removal of original sin from the Virgin Mary by Divine will.

In the ancient church tradition there was no version of Mary being conceived without sin by her mother Anna. The version of the Immaculate Conception was formalized by the dogma of Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854, although Pope Sixtus IV introduced the triumph of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) back in 1476.

According to Catholic doctrine, Mary, the only one of the people, from the moment of conception was freed from original sin and, at the same time, was protected from the very possibility of sin.

The Orthodox Church, like the Catholic Church, also teaches that Mary has not committed a single sin in her life. But she sees the reason for this in Mary’s moral purity, intelligence and willpower. The Catholic Church teaches that the ability not to sin was inherent in it at conception.

The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of Conception of the Righteous Anna the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 22.

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