The king's mother in ancient Israel had a royal title and held an official position second only to the king himself. She wore a crown and sat at the right hand of the king, and was a powerful intercessor with her son. The Virgin Mary is also called a queen in the hymns and prayers of the church, and is much more than just the woman who gave birth to Jesus. Mary is the queen of the Messiah's kingdom, and in her own song of praise in Luke's Gospel, she implies that she and her child have been exalted to sit upon royal thrones. In this homily, Fr. Deacon Maxime invites believers to implore the defense and assistance of the Queen of Heaven.



Opening hymn is chanted by Christian Farradj (used with permission)