I’ll say this again:
if you think that Latin Rite Catholics pay too much attention to Mary, you should better have an issue with the Eastern Churches as well. For one, they mention Mary in the Liturgy as well. But it’s also a mistake to think that they “pay too much attention to Mary;” like in the West, the main focus of the Divine Liturgy is the Holy Trinity. Let’s look at
the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, shall we?
Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
To You, O Lord.
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By the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.
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Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, …
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Only begotten Son and Word of God, although immortal You humbled Yourself for our salvation, taking flesh from the holy Theotokos and ever virgin Mary and, without change, becoming man. Christ, our God, You were crucified but conquered death by death. You are one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit - save us.
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Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, …
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(Holy God, You dwell among Your saints. You are praised by the Seraphim with the thrice holy hymn and glorified by the Cherubim and worshiped by all the heavenly powers. You have brought all things out of nothing into being. You have created man and woman in Your image and likeness and adorned them with all the gifts of Your grace. You give wisdom and understanding to the supplicant and do not overlook the sinner but have established repentance as the way of salvation. You have enabled us, Your lowly and unworthy servants, to stand at this hour before the glory of Your holy altar and to offer to You due worship and praise. Master, accept the thrice holy hymn also from the lips of us sinners and visit us in Your goodness. Forgive our voluntary and involuntary transgressions, sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant that we may worship and serve You in holiness all the days of our lives, by the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints who have pleased You throughout the ages.)
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Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, …
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- in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. … For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.
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(So that they may be to those who partake of them for vigilance of soul, forgiveness of sins, communion of Your Holy Spirit, fulfillment of the kingdom of heaven, confidence before You, and not in judgment or condemnation. Again, we offer this spiritual worship for those who repose in the faith, forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics, and for every righteous spirit made perfect in faith.) Especially for our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary:
It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.
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Wash away, Lord, by Your holy Blood, the sins of all those commemorated, through the intercessions of the Theotokos and all Your saints. Amen.
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(We thank You, loving Master, benefactor of our souls, that on this day You have made us worthy once again of Your heavenly and immortal Mysteries. Direct our ways in the right path, establish us firmly in Your fear, guard our lives, and make our endeavors safe, through the prayers and supplications of the glorious Theotokos and ever virgin Mary and of all Your saints.) For You are our sanctification and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages, Amen.
The term “Theotokos” (God-bearer) appears throughout the Liturgy at least twelve times, with the name “Mary” appearing eight times in total.*