OL III, June 1999, Washington , DC
"Mary, the Mother of God and the Church"
Mar Bawai Soro - "The Assyrian Church of the East holds with profound affinity the understanding and veneration of the Blessed Mother. According to her unique role in the history of our salvation, Mary is honored in relationship to God, and to us."
Archimandrite Robert Taft, SJ -"Christian tradition has always radicated the veneration of the Mother of God, like every aspect of our Christian faith and life, in Scripture and Tradition."
Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver - "at this point of the Annunciation ... the Orthodox Church believes that Mary had been made immaculate by the Holy Spirit, in order to conceive Christ in her womb so that she would give flesh to the Son of God while yet remaining a virgin."
- The Crypt Church with a temporary icon screen for the Byzantine Catholic Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
- William Cardinal Keeler and Archbishop Vsevolod give a joint blessing at the conclusion of the Akathist to the Mother of God
- Bishop Kallistos gives a blessing during the Orthodox Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos and Archbishop Vsevolod of Scopelos