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.
On the 15th of August our Holy Orthodox Christian Church Commemorates
the Sacred Dormition of Our Most Holy and Glorious Lady, the Theotokos
and Ever-Virgin MARY.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. First Tone
IN giving birth, thou didst preserve thy virginity; in thy dormition,
thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos. Thou was translated
unto life, since thou art the Mother of Life; and by thine intercessions
dost thou redeem our souls from death.
Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone
THE grave and death could not hold the Theotokos, who is unsleeping
in her intercessions and an unfailing hope in her mediations. For as
the Mother of Life she was translated to life by Him Who dwelt in her
Ever-virgin womb.
Concerning the Dormition (Koimisis) of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the Holy Tradition of the Holy Fathers of the Church. When the time drew near that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence. He would translate her from this temporal life, to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their afflictions as was appropriate, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Holy Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.
With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Holy Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from Divine Judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the All-Immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the Source of Life But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the ARTOS (bread) in Jesus’s Name, as was their tradition, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying, "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the translation (METASTASIS) of the Theotokos into the Heavens.
These things has the Holy Church received from the Traditions of the Holy Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God. [The Great Horologion]
The holy icon of the Feast
The holy icon of the Feast of the Dormition (Koimisis) of the Theotokos shows her on her deathbed surrounded by the Holy Apostles. Our Lord and Savior Christ is standing in the center looking at His Holy Mother. He is holding a small child clothed in white representing the soul of the Ever-Virgin Mary. With His golden garments, the Holy Angels above His head, and the mandora surrounding Him, Christ is depicted in His Divine Glory. The posture of the Holy Angels direct attention toward the Theotokos (Mother of God). On the right Saint Peter censes the body of the Theotokos. On the left Saint Paul bows low in honor of her.
Together with the Holy Apostles are several bishops and women. The bishops traditionally represented are the Holy Apostle James (Iakovos), the brother of the Lord. Saint Timothy, Saint Heirotheos, and Saint Dionysios the Areopagite. They are shown wearing episcopal vestments. The women are members of the Church in Jerusalem.
In front of the bed of the Theotokos is a candle that helps to form a central axis in the holy icon. Above the candle is the body of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Standing over His Holy Mother is Christ holding her Most Pure SOUL. Above Christ the Gates of Heaven stand open, ready to receive the Mother of God.
This Great and Holy Feast of the Church and the holy icon celebrates a fundamental teaching of our Orthodox Faith–the Resurrection of hte body. In the case of the Theotokos, this has been accomplished by the Divine Will of God. Thus, this Holy Feast is a Feast of hope, hope in Resurrection and life Eternal. Like those who gathered around the body of the Ever-Virgin Mary, we gather around our departed loved ones and commend their souls into the Diviine hands of our Savior Christ. As we remember those who have passed on into the communion of the Saints, we prepare ourselves to one day be received into the New Life of the age to come.
We also affirm through the Feast as we journey toward our heavenly abode that the Mother of God INTERCEDE FOR US. Through Christ she has become the mother of the children of God, embracing us with divinie agape.
The commemoration of the Koimisis (Dormition) of the Theotokos and THE PREPARATION OF THE FEAST BEGINS AUGUST 1ST WITH A PERIOD OF FASTING. A strict fast is followed on most of the days (no meat, dairy, oil, or wine), with the exceptions of fish on the Holy and Great Feast of the METAMORPHOSIS [TRANSFIGURATION] (August 6th) and the day of the Koimisis (Dormition) on August 15th. Oil and Wine are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.
On the weekdays before the Holy Feast, PARAKLESIS (SUPPLICATORY) DIVINE SERVICES are held in most Greek Orthodox Parishes. These consist of hte Great Paraklesis services and the Small Paraklesis, both services of supplication and prayer for the intercession of the Theotokos. Orthodox Christians present the parish priest with the LIVING MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY before the service so as to pray for their good health,healing if ill, salvation, and forgiveness. Everyone must make sure that the names given are the Orthodox Baptismal Names and NOT some secular name.
(To be continued)
___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 