THEOSISPhilaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
In the Old Testament era, there was a profound longing for childbirth, and consequently for marriage, as the world awaited the arrival of the Savior. The value of virginity was scarcely recognized; it was viewed as something mournful, distinctly separate from the institution of marriage. The story of Jephthah's daughter, who was destined to live ‘without knowing her husband,’ illustrates this sentiment, as she and her companions ‘went to the mountains to weep for her virginity.’ In the aftermath of her death, the people of Israel mourned for her for four days during the summer (Judges 11:38, 40). The lives of John the Baptist, as well as the prophets Elijah and Elisha, hint at the honor bestowed upon virginity, though these early signs went largely unappreciated in their time.
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The Hebrews frequently recognized prophets like Moses and Samuel, who were not unfamiliar with marital life. From the dawn of creation, there have been men of God, yet the first and foremost Virgin of God is the Blessed Mary. Set apart for divine service in her pristine purity, she became the everlasting and unshakeable foundation of angelic existence on Earth.