True Marian Apparitions-The Theotokos as she really is

 

There is a lot of talk recently regarding the consecration of Russia by the Pope, and the so-called secrets of Fatima.  I have no doubts believing that the apparition saw by the children in Portugal was nothing more than a demonic interpretation of the Theotokos and that it was not the Theotokos herself. Because of this along with some sources provided by friends of mine, I want to clarify some actual identifiable Marian apparitions that have appeared to those of us who have remained Orthodox. I myself have never had the pleasure of witnessing such greatness, but I am humbled by those who have. Today let us look at few and show the world the true nature of Our Lady the Ever-Virgin Mary.

            The first apparition I want to detail is that of the 4^th century. Our Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary appeared to sailors who were distressed. These sailors, two of them in fact, built The Theotokos a shine In Theoprospon, Lebanon where she is referred to as Our Lady of Light. The story goes that these gentlemen were lost at sea, scared out of their minds and wanting to find land as soon as possible. The Theotokos as the intercessor for mankind appeared to them as a bright and shining light guiding them to the afore mentioned town in Lebanon where they were safely protected. The Orthodox Monastery on the sight is known for its miraculous icon that still to this day shines for those who have wayward ships and guides them home.

            The second commemoration of The Theotokos is when she appeared to Emperor Leo I of Byzantium in 450 AD. She led him to a spring where there was an eventual church built. Giving her the name, Our Lady of the Life-Giving Spring. According to the story, the then not Emperor Leo I was traveling through Constantinople when a blind beggar began calling out for him to find water to quench his thirst. As he was walking through the wooded part of the district, he heard a voice calling out to him to give the blind man some water from the deepest part of the forest and to put the clay from the water in his eyes. There he did so and the Theotokos as the intercessor for mankind was once again revealed.

            The third apparition I wish to detail is that of St. Andrew of Constantinople. While not much can be found in English on this story, I will try to cover the gist of it. St Andrew was praying in the church in Blachernae when he saw that the veil of the Theotokos was protecting St. Andrew and his fellow believers from enemies both seen and unseen. As the intercessor for mankind, she continually protects us through her prayers whether we know about them or not. This apparition shows the love she has for all mankind, just like her beloved Son and God Jesus Christ.

            The fourth apparition is that of the apparition that appeared to St. Gabriel of Iveron, on Mount Athos. This one is most interesting, as it happened during a particular difficult time within the Church when people were forsaking Orthodoxy for a shallow false shell of the faith. The people of this time were rejecting the icons, forgetting their heritage as Orthodox Christians and believing them to be idols and pagan worship. As Orthodox we know that they are not Idols, but rather gifts and tools from God to strengthen our faith. The soldiers of this time came to a widow and her son, where they demanded she hand over an Icon of the Theotokos. When she decided to not hand it over, she tearfully took the Icon to the sea and cast it in. However, by miraculous intervention, it did not sink. It stood upright. The Theotokos appeared to the widow and said that she was guiding it to a monastery where it would be kept and venerated for centuries. She also said that upon the repose of the widow she would guide her son there as well. St. Gabriel was the son, and after his mother’s repose, he went to the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos. At his own repose, he requested the monks write his story down for the keeping of records and we have been handed down this miracle to this day. The Theotokos not only intercedes for us, but through the Divine Grace given to her by her Son and God Jesus Christ she rewards those who have faith and protects those who honor her.

            I could write many more humbling appearances by the Mother of God to our saints and other people throughout the world. However there are too many to list here, and I would ramble on for hours upon end. I have detailed four different ones that I believe show the true nature of Theotokos and how she works in the world. Russia is a place full of Orthodox Christians, a place that has never abandoned the true faith, and fallen away like Rome did in 1054. While I do believe that the Mother of God can appear to those she chooses, I also believe that the Theotokos would never contradict herself. At Fatima she truly did because Russia has honored her for centuries and yet the “Mary” that appeared to the children there acted as if she had never received any honor from them. That is because while it may have appeared to be Mary, it was in fact a demonic deception passed as truth. May God have mercy on their souls and all our souls through the prayers of the Mother of God, the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary.