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.
AUGUST Ist – AUGUST 15th – The Commemoration of the
Holy Dormition (Koimisis) of the Most Holyand Glorious
Lady, the THEOTOKOS and EVER-VIRGIN MARY.
"THE SUMMER PASCHA"
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. First Tone
IN giving birth, thou didst preserve they 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 by thine intercessions
dost thou redeem out 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.
The Commemoration of the Koimisis (Dormition) of our Most Holy Lady and Glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary and the preparation for the Holy Feast begins on August 1st with a period of fasting. For all Orthodox Christians it is a time of maintaining a strict fast, of prayer, of repentance, of worship and spiritual renewal and rededication.
The Holy Feast commemorates the repose (dormition) and in the Greek Koimisis or "falling-asleep" of the Mother of God. The Feast also commemorates the TRANSLATION (Gk. METASTASIS) into heaven of the sacred body of the Theotokos.
Concerning the Dormition (Koimisis) of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the Tradition of the Holy Fathers. When the time drew near that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Holy Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, H 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 prepa tred whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Holy 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 affliction as was appropriate, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for THE PEACE OF THE WORLD. She blessed the 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 sacred 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 and more Glorious than the Seraphim. But one Jews 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 (BREAD0 in Jesus’ Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos APPEARED IN THE AIR, SAYING "REJOICE" TO THEM. From this they learned concerning THE BODILY TRANSLATION (METASTASIS) OF THE THEOTOKOS INTO THE HEAVENS.
These things has the Church received from the Tradition of the Holy Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of love and reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God. [Resources: The Great Horologion]
Saint John Maximovitch writes: "The end of the earthly life of the Most Holy Mother of God was the beginning of Her greatness, "Being adorned with Divine glory" (Irmos of the Canon of the Dormition), She stands and will stand, both in the day of the Last Judgment and in the future age, at the right hand of the Throne of Her Son. She reigns with Him and has boldness towards Him as His Mother according to the flesh, and as one in spirit with Him, as one performed the will of God and instructed others (Matthew 5:19). Merciful and full of love, She manifests her love towards Her Son and God in love for the human race. She intercedes for it before the Merciful One, and going about the earth, She helps men.
Having experienced all the difficulties of earthly life, the Intercesor of the Christian race sees every tear, hears every groan and entreaty directed to Her. Especially near to Her are those who labor in the battle with the passions and are zealous for a God-pleasing life. But even in worldly cares Hse is an irreplaceable helper. "Joy of all who sorrow and intercessor for the offended, feeder of the hungry, consolation of travellers, harbor of the storm-tossed, visitation of the sick, protection and intercessor for the infirm, staff of old age, Thou art the Mother of God on high, O Most Pure One" (Stecheron of the Service to the Hodegetria) "The hope and intercession and refuge of Christians." "The Mother of God unceasing in prayers" (Kontakion of Dormition), "saving the world by Thine unceasing prayer" (Theotokion of the Third Tone). "She day and night doth pray for us, and the scepters of kingdoms are confirmed by Her prayers" (daily Nocturne)." [Resources: The Orthodox Veneration of MARY, The Birthgiver of God]
(To be continued)
_____________
"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
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 