My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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THE DORMITION (KOIMISIS) OF THE THEOTOKOS
The Virgin at the Garden of Gethsemane
At the foot of the Mount of Olives, there is the Garden of Gethsemane. At that time, there was a small plot belonging to the house of Zebedee, the father of Saint John the Theologian. The Theotokos would visit the very place where our Lord kneeled down and fell upon His face, praying to God the Father. She would prostrate herself on this spot and, watering the earth with her tears, she offered up fervent prayers. However, toward the end of her earthly sojourn, she received consolation from the Lord's Angel when he revealed her imminent departure to heaven.
The Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos, and Ever-Virgin Mary
Preparation for life that knows no end
Saint John of Damascus writes: "If her Fruit, Whom none may comprehend, on Whose accounts she was called a heaven, submitted of His own will to burial as a mortal, how should she, who gave Him birth without knowing a man, refuse it?"
In accordance with Divine Providence, the Theotokos, having come from mortal loins, had a death conformable to nature for the consolation of all people, so that they too might not fear to proceed to heaven by the same gates of death through which the Queen of heaven passed, sharing lot of all the earthborn. Saint John of Damascus writes: "It was necessary that that which was composed of earth should return to earth and only then pass to heaven, having embraced on earth a most pure life through the subjection of the flesh. It was necessary that the body would be purified through death, as gold through fire, from every darkness and coarse burden of filth, and should rise from the grave incorrupt, pure and illumined by the Light of immortality.
"O pure Virgin, sprung from mortal loins, thine end was conformable to nature: but because thou hast borne the true Life, thou hast departed to dwell with the Divine Life Himself."
Saint John of Damascus' brother, the bishop and poet Kosmas (8th century), speaks of the Virgin's death as "a crossing into a better and eternal life, that is, it has translated her from this mortal life to that which knows no end and is indeed divine," where she may "look with joy upon her Son and Lord."
The Theotokos prays for release from the bonds of the flesh
The Theotokos had now reached an advanced age. If she were born in about 20 B.C., when construction of Herod's temple commenced, and Saint Dionysios the Areopagite came to visit her and received her blessing after A.D. 52, she had to be about 70 years old. As we know, she dwelt many years among the first Christians, for our Lord Jesus Christ intended to have her live among His Disciples. It was their desire to behold her Most Holy countenance constantly and to receive strength, grace, and spiritual reinforcement throughout the afflictions, misfortunes, and adversities of life. Thus, through her personal presence, holy sayings, and sweet words, the holy Apostles indeed received strength, energy, and consolation. They not only accorded her reverence but even glorified and blessed her. With the rapid advance of the young Church, the Theotokos would rejoice over her Son's boundless mercy. She was also thankful for the growing number of faithful and those who maintained reverential fear of Christ.
Nevertheless, her fervent and unceasing desire was to leave the body and to be with her beloved Son and God that she might behold His sweet face. She shed copious tears and prayed that the Lord might remove her from this vale of tears to the blessed abodes on high. The Mother of God neither feared death nor sought to avoid it. She knew that death had already been overcome by her Son and God. One Church account records that she asked the Lord for one thing: "That I may not see the dismal sight of the demons." Why? This is because they are vile and foul. It is natural for chastity and modesty to seek to avoid all contact and even proximity with those who bear filth, impudence, or shamelessness."
One account records the following: She would call to mind her Son's words to her before His Passion when she asked Him about many things and concerning her own future departure. She said to Him, "O most dear Son, I pray Thy Holiness, that when my soul goes out of my body, that Thou will let Angels receive it, and cause all the Apostles to be present at my departure." Christ answered His beloved Mother's prayer, saying, "O palace and temple of the Living God, O Blessed Mother, O Queen of all Saints, and blessed above all women, before thou didst carry Me in thy womb, I always guarded thee and caused thee to be fed daily with My angelic food, as thou knowest. How can I desert thee, after thou hast carried Me, and nourished Me, and brought Me down in flight into Egypt, and endured many hardships for Me?...Know for certain that thy soul will be separated from the body, and I shall carry it into the heavens, where it shall never have tribulation or anguish."
As she was praying on the Mount of Olives that the Lord quickly take her to heaven, there appeared before her the Archangel Gabriel. It was the very Archangel who had served the Virgin from her earliest childhood. For he fed her in the Holy of Holies, announced to her the Good News of the Birth of her Divine Son, and constantly guarded her throughout her life on earth. With a radiant countenance, the celestial ambassador disclosed to the Theotokos the following: "Thus commands thy Son: 'The days are approaching when I will take My Mother unto Me.' Thus, my Mistress and my Lady, Queen of heaven, and the Creator's Most Immaculate Mother, thine Only-begotten Son, and God sent me to tell thee that mightest sit at the right hand of His Throne. He awaits thee. Therefore, do not be troubled over these words, but receive them with delight, for thou shalt be translated to life eternal."
As a sign of the truth of all his words, the Archangel gave into her hand a date of palm branch from Paradise. It shined with the Light of heavenly grace. It signified victory and that bodily death would not have power over her, just as spiritual death had not had dominion over her. She would merely fall asleep for a short time and, then, as if waking from sleep, would rise and shake off death-like sleep from the eyes. She would then see in the Light of the Lord's countenance the immortal life and glory to which she would go with shouts of joy and spiritual happiness. The Archangel informed her that the branch was to be carried before the bier of her Most Honorable and Pure body. Upon learning these words, the Theotokos was filled with ineffable joy and spiritual rapture. For what could be more joyous and acceptable to her than life in heaven with her Son and the happiness of contemplating His face? Then, falling to her knees she fervently thanked her Creator.
The Theotokos also desired to behold the holy Apostles who were then scattered throughout the world preaching the Gospel. So when our Lady knelt and offered her petition and thanksgiving to her Creator, her prayer was accompanied by a wonderful manifestation: the olive trees growing on the Mount of Olives bowed with the Theotokos as though they were animate. When the Theotokos knelt, the trees bend down, when she arose, the trees straightened themselves out again. Thus, even trees revered and honored the Lady and Mistress of the cosmos. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
(To be continued)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia
The sinner and unworthy servant of God,
+Father George