“”At the risk of answering for Kosta, you should understand that the entire concept of “Original Sin” and thus, necessarily, the “Immaculate Conception” are not at all within the consensus Patrum and are and have been consistently rejected by the Christian East. As you of course know, even Aquinas himself rejected the Immaculate Conception””
Dear friend, what was written in my post are words that come from from Saint Thomas Aquinas himself regarding Mary
Why do you think Mary is lesser then Eve? (Born without Original sin)Jesus(God) is perfect. How can He have come into the world from someone with the stain of sin?
Mary is the New Eve, she fulfills God,s perfect plan that was lost by Eve,s sin.
This does not make her a God . It personifies and fulfills God,s original plan for mankind.
Even Scripture says that GOD will not join Himself with anything defiled.
Some examples.....
Because into a soul that plots evil wisdom enters not, nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin. For the holy spirit of discipline flees deceit and withdraws from senseless counsels; and when injustice occurs it is rebuked
Wis 1:4-5,
Lo, the hand of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
Rather, it is your crimes that separate you from your God, It is your sins that make him hide his face so that he will not hear you.
For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt; Your lips speak falsehood, and your tongue utters deceit.
No one brings suit justly, no one pleads truthfully; They trust in emptiness and tell
lies; they conceive mischief and bring forth malice
Isa 59:1-4,
Dear friend, I admire the special position given to Mary by the Orthodox.
I find it strange why Orthodox do not seem to accept Mary as the New Eve.
“Dear friend, what was written in my post are words that come from from Saint Thomas Aquinas himself regarding Mary”
Back to the books, +SF! What Aquinas spoke of was The Most Holy Theotokos’ sinlessness, which is in accord with the consensus patrum. He rejected the notion that she was born free from “Original Sin”. A number of great Latin Rite saints similarly rejected the notion, for example +Bernard of Clairvaux. As I said earlier, the whole notion of the Immaculate Conception is necessitated by the non-Patristic Augustinian anthropology of the West. Panagia was born fully human and subject to the same “distortion” of her nature as all humans. By her response to uncreated grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, she was able to resist sin throughout her life. Whether this indwelling of the HS happened in the womb or after we don’t know, though it is interesting to note that we celebrate as feast days only three Nativities and Conceptions, that of Christ, of course, and those of Panagia and +John the Forerunner (whom we also speculate was graced while still in the womb).
If one rejects Augustian notions about sin, there is quite simply no need for a dogma like the Immaculate Conception.
“Why do you think Mary is lesser then Eve?”
and
“I find it strange why Orthodox do not seem to accept Mary as the New Eve.”
Good heavens, +SF, the whole concept of Panagia as the New Eve comes from the Greek Fathers. It is a thoroughly Orthodox concept. To tell you the truth, to us Orthodox, Latin Rite Marian devotion seems at many levels pretty thin gruel and at others almost cultish. How do the Orthodox speak of the Most Holy Theotokos? At every Divine Liturgy, just after the consecration, we pray:
“It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.”
I don’t see anything like that in the Latin Rite Liturgy, +SF. Try a read of the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos; its a regular Lenten Devotion done multiple times in Great lent and the Lent of the Dormition in August. Here are a couple of the Eikoi and a link:
” Rejoice, you through whom joy shall shine forth. Rejoice, you through whom the curse will vanish.
Rejoice, the Restoration of fallen Adam. Rejoice, the Redemption of the tears of Eve.
Rejoice, O Height beyond human logic. Rejoice, O depth invisible even to the eyes of Angels.
Rejoice, for you are the King’s throne. Rejoice, you bear Him, Who bears the universe.
Rejoice, O Star revealing the Sun. Rejoice, O Womb of divine Incarnation.
Rejoice, you through whom creation is renewed. Rejoice, you through whom the Creator is born a Babe.
Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride.”
and
“Rejoice, Ray of the spiritual Sun. Rejoice, Beam of the innermost Splendour.
Rejoice, Lightning, enlightening our souls. Rejoice, Thunder, striking down the enemy.
Rejoice, for you caused the many-starred Light to dawn. Rejoice, for you caused the ever-flowing River to gush forth.
Rejoice, you who depict the image of the Font. Rejoice, you who wash away the stain of sin.
Rejoice, Laver purifying conscience. Rejoice, Wine-bowl over-filled with joy.
Rejoice, sweet-scented Fragrance of Christ. Rejoice, Life of mystic festival.
Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride”
http://www.monachos.net/library/Akathist_Hymn_to_Our_Most_Holy_Lady_Mother_of_God_(Theotokos)
After you read the Akathist, make a comparison with the foolishness of visions of Panagia in cheese sandwiches or baking pans or the mass hysteria caused by visions of her in damp stains on bridge abuttments and tell me what you think. Do you still think we place her lower than Eve?