"Orthodox Marilogical thought dates as far back as Saint John Damascene who in the 8th century wrote on the mediative role of Mary and on the Dormition of the Theotokos.^[12][13] In the 14th century, Orthodox Mariology began to flourish among Byzantine theologians who held a cosmic view of Mariology, placing Jesus and Mary together at the center of the cosmos and saw them as the goal of world history.^[10] More recently Orthodox Mariology achieved a renewal among 20th century theologians in Russia, for whom Mary is the heart of the Church and the center of creation.^[10] However, unlike the Catholic approach, Orthodox Mariology does not support the Immaculate Conception of Mary.^[10] Prior to the 20th century, Orthodox Mariology was almost entirely liturgical, and had no systematic presentation similar to Roman Catholic Mariology. However, 20th century theologians such as Sergei Bulgakov began the development of a detailed systematic Orthodox Mariology.^[14][15][16] Bulgakov's Mariological formulation emphasizes the close link between Mary and the Holy Spirit in the mystery of the Incarnation.^[11]"

"During the Middle Ages, devotion to the Virgin Mary as the "new Eve" lent much to the status of women. Women who had been looked down upon as daughters of Eve, came to be looked upon as objects of veneration and inspiration. The medieval development of chivalry, with the concept of the honor of a lady and the ensuing knightly devotion to it, not only derived from the thinking about the Virgin Mary, but also contributed to it.^[27] The medieval veneration of the Virgin Mary was contrasted by the fact that ordinary women, especially those outside aristocratic circles were looked down upon. Although women were at times viewed as the source of evil, it was Mary who as mediator to God was a source of refuge for man. The development of medieval Mariology and the changing attitudes towards women paralleled each other and can best be understood in a common context.<sup>[28]"
Wikipedia


http://www.katoliknu.se/html/rel_islam-chr.htm


African - The creator-god and sky-god of the Mende. He moved up to a house in the sky to be free of the never-ending requests of mankind. Sometimes called Ngewo, Ngewowa, Ngewowa, Leve or Leve.
http://www.mythologydictionary.com/ngewo-mythology.html 
Ngewo is the supreme being, the creator of the universe. He created man, the animals and fishes, as well as the trees and plants. The more common of the two names of God is Ngewo; the other name, Leve, seems to be more ancient. In ancient times, the Mende may have conceived of Leve as the female deity consort of Ngewo, forming the feminine half of a cosmic creator couple. Ngewo or Leve, chief and father protector, is transcendent, living away from the everyday activities of this world.
http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100233258</sup>