Liturgical text3rd–4th c.

Sub tuum praesidium

Who

The oldest known prayer to Mary, found on an Egyptian papyrus and still prayed today ('We fly to thy protection'). Pitre cites it as evidence that Christians asked for Mary's intercession, under the title Mother of God, before the Council of Ephesus. He does not name it; he quotes it as an anonymous Christian prayer.

What Pitre quotes

Papyrus prayer — 'We take refuge in your mercy, Mother of God (Theotokos). Do not disregard our prayers in troubling times…' (pp 85, 157)

Connections

Cited by · 3

Argument'Pray for one another' — why stop in heaven? and the earliest recorded prayers to Mary
(p 85)
ArgumentHow Mary becomes Mother of the Church — Ambrose, Vatican II and the New Rachel
the third-century prayer (p 157)
ArgumentA maternal intercessor in heaven — the third-century prayer, Lumen Gentium 62, and Neusner's 'if Rachel, then why not Mary?'
(p 157)

Passages · 1

PassageSub tuum praesidium — the prayer
'We take refuge in your mercy, Mother of God (Theotokos). Do not disregard our prayers in troubling times…' (pp 85, 157)

Verses discussed · 2

VerseLuke 1:43
VerseJames 5:16

Referenced by · 1

AuthoritySozomen

Around this entry

Open the whole map

Authorities
Arguments
Passages
Verses
Favorites
prefigures → fulfilled

Hover to trace, click to select, double-click to open.

Who