THE ENTRANCE OF THE EVER-VIRGIN MARY AND MOTHER OF GOD THEOTOKOS (Part II)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

The Entrance of the Ever-Virgin Mary and Mother of God [Theotokos]. [Part II]

Kathisma I.

The feeder of Life, now an infant in body, the offspring of
the just Ioachim and Anna, is offered to God today in the
Holy Sanctuary. She was blessed therein by the priest
Zacharias. Therefore let us all, with faith, proclaim she is
blessed, for she is the Mother of the Lord.

Kathisma II.

CONSECRATED unto God were you before you were conceived;
being born on earth, to Him you now are offered as a gift, O pure
one, filling the promise made by your parents. In purity returned
unto the Temple divine from infancy with lamps brightly shining,
in truth you were a temple divine and a vessel of the Divine
Unapproachable Light. How truly great is your sacred entrance,
O only Ever-Virgin Bide of God. [Orthros [Matins]
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The Ever-Virgin Receives Bread from the Archangel

Saint George writes that the Angels were astonished to see the Virgin
enter the Holy of Holies, as we hear in the Festal hymn: "Beholding the
entry of the All-Pure One, the Angels were struck with amazement, seeing
how the Virgin entered into the Holy of Holies. Saint Andrew of Crete
writes that Mary, the "Holy of Holies," is placed as an infant in the Holy
Sanctuary, to be reared by the hands of an Angel. In the hymns, we learn
that the Angel is the Archangel Gabriel. "And Gabriel was then sent to thee,
O Virgin All-Undefiled, to bring thee food. All the powers of heaven stood
amazed, seeing the Holy Spirit dwell in thee."

The manifold wisdom of God, according to the Eternal purpose which the Father purposed in Christ Jesus [Ephesians 3:10-11], had been HID IN GOD. The Principalities and Powers in heavenly places knew it only in part. It was by and through the Church that all came to know the Mystery which, from the beginning of the world, had been hid in God [Ephesians 3:9-10]. It is the secret preparation of THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST. In the Temple at Jerusalem, the elect Virgin would prepare herself for her future role as the "TEMPLE," of His body–A BODY THAT WOULD BE DESTROYED, BUT THAT HE WOULD RAISE UP IN THREE DAYS [John 2:19]; and, then, with that same body, He would be received up into the heavens and sit at the Right hand of God [Matthew 16:19].

Moreover, she did not venture to leave the place, but remained therein and conversed with the Angels. Her attitude is described by the hymnographer thus: "O Venerable Holy of Holies, thou dost love to dwell in the Holy Temple, and thou abidest, O Virgin, in converse with Angles, receiving bread most marvellously from heaven, O thou who dost sustain our life." Saint Germanos of Constantinople (635-733 A.D.), in a sermon, presents a rich eulogy of Mary: "Fed by Angels…the child grew and became strong; and the whole force of the curse by which we were struck in Eden was foiled."

The Virgin Growing Up in the Temple

Saint John Maximovitch (1896-1966 A.D.) writes that Mary was settled in the quarters for virgins which existed in the Temple. She spend so much time in prayer in the Holy of Holies that one might say that she lived in it. She desired to fulfill the Commandment of God, "Ye shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am Holy [Leviticus 19:2].

Thus, she became more and more perfect in the work of god. Far from the turmoil of everyday life, the All-Holy One meditated and nourished her soul on Scripture day and night. She ate once daily and occupied herself with prayer and wool work. When the older virgins rested from the praises of God, she did not rest. None exceeded her in the praises and vigils of God, and no one was more learned in the wisdom of the Law of God. No one was more lowly in humility, more elegant in singing, and more perfect in all virtue.

Saint Ambrose comments, in Concerning the Ever-virginity of the Virgin Mary, that she was adorned with all virtue and manifested an example of an extraordinarily pure life. Being submissive and obedient to all, she offended no one and was cordial to all. She never spoke a crude word and did not allow any unclean thought. Mary blessed God without interruption and, lest perchance even in greeting others she should cease from her praises to the Lord, she even answered the, praising God, in her salutation, by saying: "Thanks be to God" or "Glory be to God." (From the Virgin began the custom of using this expression when people greet one another.)

The sojourn of the Virgin Mary in the Temple is described by Saint Gregory Palamas in terms that make Mary the MODEL OF HESYCHASTIC LIFE. Extolling CONSTANT PRAYER, the Saint indicates that the Virgin was THE FIRST TO TAKE IT UPON HERSELF TO PRAY UNCEASINGLY. According to Saint Gregory, her ASCETICISM therein did not lead her to come to an understanding of the grace received from the time of her conception, but to learn more of the nature of the sins of Adam. It was there that she perceived and recognized that "no one could halt the murderous rush which was bearing away the human race."

Thus she was filled with pity for people who were brought to ruin and condemnation through disobedience. Therefore, she resolved to have her heart, mind, and soul dwell on God, and endeavored to remain attentive and struggle in prayer. She would pray for the human race and God’s great mercy. She understood the most excellent way to converse with God was THROUGH SILENCE AND SILENCE OF THE MIND. Hence, she withdrew from the world and put away ALL EARTHLY THINGS. Through this, by God’s grace, she ascended to contemplation of Him. Thus, the Virgin PIONEERED A NEW PATH TO GOD, BY THE PATH OF SILENCING THE THOUGHTS. Abiding in prayer day and night, and maintaining silence, she cleansed her heart and was inexpressibly united with Him. Rising above all creation and creatures, the All-Holy Virgin contemplated God’s Glory more fully than did Moses, and communed of Divine grace in such a way that defies words and even reason. She became a FIERY CHARIOT OF THE LOGOS/WORD. There, in the Holy of Holies, through prayer of the heart, SHE ASCENDED TO THE SUMMIT OF CONTEMPLATION. RENOUNCING THE WORLD FOR THE WORLD’S SAKE, BY HOLY SILENCE, AND ATTENTIVE INNER PRAYER, SHE WOULD SERVE AS A MODEL FOR THOSE FUTURE MONASTICS OF HER Son and God.

As we mentioned earlier, the young Virgin Mary GAVE HERSELF UP ENTIRELY TO GOD AND REPULSED FROM HERSELF EVERY IMPULSE TO SIN, YET STILL SHE FELT THE WEAKNESS OF HUMAN NATURE MORE POWERFULLY THAN OTHERS. Therefore, she greatly desired the coming of the Savior.

Saint Joseph the Hymnographer writes, "The Holy Spirit wholly sanctified thee in the Temple; therefore thou hast become the fair spouse of the Father and Mother of the Son."

Through the intercessions of Thy Saints,
O Christ God, have mercy ons us. Amen.

[Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George