Vigils Reading

AN INDESTRUCIBLE TEMPLE

From a homily delivered at the Council of Ephesus

by St Cyril of Alexandria1

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I see here a joyful company of Christians met together in ready response

to the call of Mary, the holy and ever virgin Mother of God. Now the joyful

saying of David the psalmist: How good and pleasant it is for brothers to live

together in unity has come true for us. Therefore, holy and incomprehensible

Trinity, we salute you at whose summons we have come together to this church

of Mary, the Mother of God.

Mary, Mother of God, we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole

world’s reverence, you are an ever-shining light, the crown of virginity, the

symbol of orthodoxy, an indestructible temple, the place that held him whom

no place can contain, mother and virgin. Because of you, the holy Gospels could

say: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

We salute you, for in your holy womb he, who is beyond all limitation,

was confined. Because of you, the holy Trinity is glorified and adored; the cross

is called precious and is venerated throughout the world; the heavens exult; the

angels and archangels make merry; demons are put to flight; the devil, that

tempter, is thrust down from heaven; the fallen race of humans is taken up on

high; all creatures possessed by the madness of idolatry have attained

knowledge of the truth believers receive holy baptism; the oil of gladness is

poured out, the Church is established throughout the world; pagans are brought

to repentance.

What more is there to say? Because of you, the light of the only-begotten

Son of God has shone upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of5

death; prophets pronounced the word of God; the apostles preached salvation

to the Gentiles, the dead are raised to life, and kings rule by the power of the

holy Trinity.

Who can put Mary’s high honor into words? She is both mother and

virgin. I am overwhelmed by the wonder of this miracle. Of course, no one could

be prevented from living in the house he had built for himself, yet who would

invite mockery by asking his own servant to become his mother?

Behold then the joy of the whole universe. Let the union of God and man

in the Son of the Virgin Mary fill us with awe and adoration. Let us fear and

worship the undivided Trinity as we sing the praise of the ever-virgin Mary, the

holy temple of God himself, her Son and spotless Bridegroom. To him be glory

for ever and ever.