Mother Mary as the Ark of the Covenant and Tabernacle of God

In the name of God the Father, Christ Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit, One True God. Amen

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus

Many Christian faithful are currently observing the 15 day lent as a preparation for the feast of the Assumption of Mother Mary after her Dormition (falling asleep). The faithful observe this period of fasting and prayer remembering the life of the beloved Theotokos (God bearer) and try to emulate her life in their own lives.

Through the last few blog posts we have tried to understand the importance of the Feast of Assumption of Mother Mary and then followed by understanding the significance of Theotokos in the Orthodox faith and then understood some of the teachings why Mother Mary is considered as the second Eve, through whom salvation for the whole human race came about.

Through this blog, let us try to understand through the teachings of the Church on couple more terms that is used to address the blessed Mother.

In Orthodox Christianity, Mary is revered and honored as the chosen vessel through which God entered the world. Mother Mary is often referred to as the “tabernacle of Hod” in the Christian teachings due to her unique and extraordinary role as the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Just as the tabernacle in the Old Testament was specifically chosen to house the presence of God among the Israelites, Mary fulfilled this role in the New Testament. She carried the Word of God within her, in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Incarnation and the Tabernacle:

The central theological concept behind referring to Mary as the tabernacle of God is the Incarnation. According to Christian belief, in the Incarnation, the eternal Son of God took on human flesh and became fully human while remaining fully divine. Through Mary’s fiat (her willing acceptance of God’s will), she became the vessel through which God entered into humanity.

Just as the Old Testament tabernacle served as a dwelling place for God’s presence among the Israelites, Mary’s womb served as the dwelling place for the incarnate Son of God. The presence of God, which was once confined to the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle, now dwelled in the very being of Mary, making her the living tabernacle of God on Earth.

Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant:

To understand the patristic teachings on Mary as the Ark of the Covenant, we must first examine the significance of the original Ark in the Old Testament. The Ark of the Covenant was a sacred chest made of acacia wood and covered with gold. It contained the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s staff (Hebrews 9:4). The Ark was placed in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle and later in the Temple of Jerusalem.

³ And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

⁴ Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

⁵ And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Letter to the Hebrews 9:3-5

The Ark was considered the holiest and most sacred object for the Israelites. It represented the dwelling place of God’s presence among His people and symbolized His covenant with them. The Ark of the Covenant was the place where God met with Moses while He led them out of the land of Egypt to the promised land of Canaan. Thus, the Ark’s presence signified God’s guidance, protection, and divine favor for Israel.

The Ark of the Covenant was important to the Israelites because it contained 3 precious items – the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments which were given through the word of God. The golden bowl with manna, the food of the angels, which was food for nourishment for the Israelites as they traversed through the barren land to the promised land. It was with this nourishment that they were able to sustain their life for nearly 40 years of their travel from Egypt to Canaan. Lastly, the Ark contained the rod of Aaron that budded, which was a sign for the lineage of Aaron to be high priests for the people of Israel, praying for the people and seeking redemption for the sins of the people.

Drawing parallels from the Old Testament, Orthodox theology views Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant. The New Testament portrays Mary as a vessel chosen by God to bear His Son, Jesus Christ. Just as the Ark of the Covenant held the Word of God (the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments), Mary carried within her womb the Word made flesh—Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God.

Just as the Ark of the Covenant had a golden bowl containing Manna, which sustained the people of Israel during their journey, Mary carried in her womb the Bread of Life (John 6:35), the life giving Manna which provides us with heavenly sustenance. The Bread of Life which provides us with life not only in this current life but also in the life to come.

The Ark of the Covenant contained the rod of Aaron that budded which identified the High Priest who stood before the Throne of God, Mary carried in her womb the eternal High Priest, who would ascend to the heavens and stand before the Heavenly Father and intercede on our behalf to the Father in Heaven (Hebrews 4:14).

Thus, just as the Ark of the Old Covenant contained the tablets of the Law, Aaron’s rod, and the manna from Heaven, Mary held within her womb the Word of God, the High Priest, and the Bread of Life. She became the vessel that carried the fulfilment of God’s promises to His people.

The Incarnation and Mary’s Role:

Christian patristic teachings emphasize that in the Incarnation, God took on human flesh and became fully human while remaining fully divine. Mary’s willing acceptance of God’s plan, known as her fiat (Luke 1:38), allowed the Incarnation to take place. But before the Incarnation of God as man could take place, God was preparing a suitable vessel who would carry Him.

When we learn about the life of Mary, we would understand that she was leading a pious and prayerful life after the death of her parents, Anna and Joachim, and had already decided to dedicate her whole life for the service of God. Just as the Ark was prepared with the utmost care and sanctity, Mary was chosen and prepared by God to be a fitting vessel for His Son.

Her role as the New Ark signifies her purity, holiness, and unique connection to the divine. Just as the Old Covenant was sealed in the Ark, Mary’s womb became the vessel through which the New Covenant was established, offering redemption and reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ.

The Magnificat and the Ark:

In the Gospel of Luke, after the Annunciation, Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. Upon hearing Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the unborn John leaps in her womb. Mary then responds with a hymn of praise known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).

Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth was after she was filled with the Holy Spirit and her arrival brought joy and blessings to Elizabeth and her family. It is through the presence of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary that John in the womb leaps with joy and Elizabeth calls out to Mary as ‘mother of my Lord’. This visitation is very similar to how the Ark of the Covenant was brought to the house of Obed-Edom (2 Samuel 6:1-11)

This reinforces the belief that Mary, as the New Ark, carries God’s presence and blessings to those around her.

Mary, the Living Temple:

Another aspect of Mary being called the tabernacle of God is her title as Theotokos, meaning “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.” This title was officially endorsed by the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, affirming the belief that Jesus Christ is both fully divine and fully human.

Picture this: the divine presence that had previously resided in the tabernacle and the temple now dwells within Mary.

Thus, as the Mother of God, Mary is seen as uniquely connected to the Incarnation. Just as the Old Testament tabernacle was consecrated and set apart for divine purposes, Mary was chosen to bear the One who would redeem humanity and reconcile them with God.

Our Intercessor and Mother:

Orthodox Christians view Mary not only as the source of our salvation but also as our loving intercessor and spiritual mother. Just as she offered her prayers to Christ during the wedding at Cana, she continues to intercede for us in our times of need. In this way, she exemplifies the importance of seeking her prayers and guidance on our journey of faith.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, exploring the Orthodox teaching on Mary as the tabernacle of God is indeed awe-inspiring. Through her sincere “yes” to God’s plan, Mary became the vessel that carried our salvation. As the bearer of the incarnate Son of God, she holds a unique and pivotal role in the plan of salvation. Mary’s purity, holiness, and willingness to fulfil God’s plan make her the living tabernacle of God’s presence on Earth, renewing and fulfilling His covenant with humanity through Jesus Christ. Her designation as the Ark of the Covenant emphasizes her central role in the Christian faith and her special connection to the divine.

Moreover, Mary continues to be an intercessor and a loving mother figure to Orthodox Christians. Let us marvel at her unique and exalted role within our faith, while acknowledging the immense impact she has had on our spiritual journey.

Your brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George