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Interesting Holy Bible Facts

The Likeness of St. Mary

Ancient fresco of the departing of the Holy Virgin,
El-Suryian Monastery

St. Luke is attributed as the first to draw the likeness of St. Mary. The talents of St. Luke were many as he was a painter, a beloved physician, and also a historical Holy Gospel writer who dated Biblical events by reference to secular history. Both the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke and The Acts of the Apostles are authored by this Gentile born in Antioch.

Initially it is believed that St. Luke carved the likeness of St. Mary, Mother of God, upon wood and progressed to painting many pictures which fell into the possession of the Roman Emperors, and the Empress Bolgaria.

Among the oldest pictures in existence of the Virgin are to be found at El-Ezbaweya Church in Cairo and at El-Suryian Monastery built around the fifth century in El-Natroun Valley.

The Virgin's picture representation is always respectfully placed to the left of the altar in the Coptic Orthodox Church and to the left of the Lord Jesus Christ in the honored position of the "Queen who sits at the right of her King."

(And Jesus said, "more than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it." which means to us that St. Mary, the Mother of God, whose womb bore the Lord Jesus Christ and breast which gave nourishment to his earthly body was the most devoted and obedient of all His disciples (Luke 11:27-28).)

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