The Oldest Prayer & Image of Mary
Ancient Petitions to the Saints + St. Peter's House- Was It A 1st Century Church?
Have you ever heard of the oldest petition to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Holy Theotokos? It is a Coptic fragment (Egypt) that dates to around 250 AD and is thought to derive from a Christmas liturgy.
“Under your compassion (or mercy) we take refuge, Oh Theotokos (God-bearer or Mother of God)! Our prayers, do not despise in necessities, but from the danger deliver us, only pure, only blessed.”1
This is a beautiful prayer that is still said by millions of Christians around the world to this day. This petition, however, isn’t an isolated incident. Around the same time (250 AD), a person can also find petitions to Saints Peter and Paul in the catacombs:
“Peter and Paul, pray for Victor”
“O Peter and Paul, intercede for all of us”
“Peter and Paul, in your prayers keep in mind… ”
“Peter and Paul, intercede for Leontius”
“Paul and Peter, forever intercede for Dativus”
“Peter and Paul, save [conservate] … ”
“Peter and Paul, save –– and save Martyrius in the Lord!”
“Paul and Peter, keep in mind Auphidios, my son!”
“Peter and Paul come to rescue Primus the sinner!”2
Seeing the saints and angels as advocates for God’s people who pray for us and help to turn our hearts to God is not a new Christian phenomenon but begins in the Jewish Scriptures. Listen to this poetic description of Elijah and the 12 Prophets who were advocates for the Jewish nation in the Book of Sirach:
“How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? ou were taken up by a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with horses of fire. At the appointed time, it is written, you are destined to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. Happy are those who saw you and were adorned with your love! For we also shall surely live…” (Chapter 48)
“May the bones of the Twelve Prophets send forth new life from where they lie, for they comforted the people of Jacob and delivered them with confident hope.” (Chapter 49)
“Nor was anyone ever born like Joseph; even his bones were cared for. Shem and Seth and Enosh were honored, but above every other created living being was Adam.” (Chapter 49)
Of course, Christ is ultimately our Lord and Savior who is above every creature and to whom all Creation shall bow at His return. Christ saves us in a very specific sense through His Life, Death, and Resurrection, while the angels and saints ‘save,’ ‘deliver,’ ‘rescue,’ ‘show compassion,’ etc. to us in a broader sense. For example, God sends an angel to St. Peter while he is in prison, and this angel literally delivers and saves him from martyrdom (keep in mind that St. James had just been martyred and St. Peter was next). In the Old Testament, Moses is used to deliver the People of God and save them from slavery. He advocates for them with arms raised high, and the saints are advocating for us in the same way in heaven.
Oldest Image of Mary?
Did you know that the oldest image we have of Mary the Theotokos very well could be from the ancient Church in Dura- Europos in Syria? (See the image below that I tried to enhance)
Although many scholars initially believed it to be St. Photini or the women at the well, many others are now believing it to be the Blessed Virgin Mary who first experienced the Annunciation at a well according to tradition (particularly in Syria where the church is located). If you want to learn more, listen to Michael Garten unpack the details in my recent interview with him.
St. Peter’s House?
Fr. Patrick Cardine recently gave a wonderful homily on the importance of the city of Capernaum for our Lord, the apostles, and the early Christians. He also references the archeological discovery of St. Peter’s House, which may have been his original home as well as one of the first gathering places for the early Christians after Christ’s ascension. This homily is more than a history lesson and ends with a challenge for us all!
Since we discussed the intercession of the saints earlier in this article, I thought I would share Patristix’ video on this topic! (There are many videos and articles I could share on this topic, but so many of their videos are very well done and easy to digest).
Lastly, thank you all for the support and encouragement! Please continue to keep my family and Barrel Aged Faith in your prayers that God might continue to spread the Beauty of our Faith, which is ‘ever ancient, ever new,’ to a world desperately looking for meaning, purpose, and forgiveness.
Be entirely His until He comes again!
In XC,
Kyle
https://aleteia.org/2017/04/29/the-oldest-known-marian-prayer-is-from-egypt
https://silouanthompson.net/2021/07/peter-and-paul/
Lovely material here, Kyle. Thanks!