About this Event :
Though our images of Mary often come from the last thousand years, the view of her in the first few centuries was simpler--but always very warm and affectionate. The early Christians were curious about her "backstory," and we will begin with a first-century story that filled in much of her background. Then they began asking Mary to pray for them--not as a mediatrix, but simply as a friend. We'll take a look at a third-century scrap of papyrus that records the earliest prayer to Mary yet found--a prayer still used in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Come and meet Mary as the early Christians knew her.

About Frederica Mathewes-Green
Frederica Mathewes-Green has been a regular commentator for National Public Radio (NPR), a columnist for the Religion News Service, and Christianity Today, and a podcaster for Ancient Faith Radio. She has published 10 books, and has appeared as a speaker over 600 times, at places like Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Wellesley, Cornell, Calvin, Baylor, and Westmont, and received a Doctor of Letters (honorary) from King University. She has been interviewed over 700 times, on venues like PrimeTime Live, the 700 Club, NPR, PBS, Time, Newsweek, and the New York Times. She lives with her husband, the Rev. Gregory Mathewes-Green, in Johnson City, TN. Their three children are grown and married, and they have fourteen grandchildren.