Here is the Theotokion from the 9th ode or canticle from yesterday's matins:
http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/prayers/triodion/lent1fri~Rejoice, Theotokos, the
Mercy-Seat of the world!
We sinners, ever fleeing to you for refuge
gain reconciliation with God.~
The eastern Catholic version of the Triodion that I have reads the same except for one thing:
~Rejoice, O
redemption of the world, O Mother of God,
in whom all sinners take refuge
to find reconciliation with God.~
Now I am curious here because in both cases, the phrase mercy-seat and redeemer are generally terms used to refer to Jesus Christ, yet here they are used with reference to the Theotokos. Of course I am interested in this because there are always Orthodox willing to present the Roman rite understandings of co-redemptrix, and co-mediatrix as heretical teaching [I am not talking about apologists but the formal teaching and liturgy of the Roman rite]....
Yet when I am praying my hours from eastern texts it seems that I am always struck by the phrasing, "Most Holy Theotokos [Mother of God], save us!"...as well as this phrase "redeemer of the world" that is found periodically in a Theotokion.
I don't have any difficulty calling her either the mercy-seat, or redeemer of the world for I don't add more to those phrasings than is warranted by the reality of the Incarnation and the Mother of God...But I am curious to see how others might see things here....