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| Mary Question from Thomas on 03-08-2003: |
| Hello, Who is the earliest church father who writes about praying to mary? Or to any of the saints? Thank You for your time, Thomas |
| Answer by Matthew Bunson on 03-11-2003: |
| Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary can be traced to the earliest era of the Church, certainly to the 1st century. By 107, St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote to the Ephesians of Jesus as “Son of Mary and the Son of God.” He was followed by a number of early writers, including Aristides, Justin, and Irenaeus, who honored Mary for the Virgin Birth. The proper veneration of the Virgin Mary – termed hyperdulia – was stressed by St. Epiphanius (d. 403) who both condemned the Collyridians for worshiping Mary and was abundant in his praises for her. Veneration was advanced further by such Fathers as Sts. Ambrose and Jerome. It is possible to trace in a practical way the development of veneration, especially in the Eastern Church, through the rapidly increasing numbers of churches dedicated to her. For example, in 431, the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. St. Cyril of Alexandria could thus write eloquently, “Hail to thee Mary, Mother of God, to whom in towns and villages and in island were founded churches of true believers.” |