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.

THE CHOIR OF APOSTLES IS MOST WONDROUSLY BROUGHT TOGETHER FROM THE ENDS OF THE WORLD

While the Mother of God was making arrangements for her death, all of a sudden a noise was heard similar to a clap of thunder. A cloud then encircled the home of Saint John the Theologian. By the command of God, Angels had seized the holy Apostles that were scattered to the ends of the world and brought them on clouds to Jerusalem. All, save the holy Apostle Thomas, were then transported to Mount Sion, before the door of the house where the Theotokos dwelt.

Why should we wonder at this miraculous occurrence of their transferal? We have read of this when the Prophet Abbakoum carried food to Daniel, who was in the lions' den in Babylon and quickly returned to Judea or in the case of the holy Apostle Philip who, after baptizing the eunuch from Ethiopia, the Spirit caught him and brought him to Azotus.

Therefore, on seeing one another, the holy Apostles rejoiced, but at the same time, they wondered and said, "Why has the Lord gathered us together in this place?" Saint John the Theologian then went out to them and greeted them with joyful tears. He then informed them of the speedy departure of the Most Holy Mother of God. Then the Holy Apostles understood that the Lord had gathered them from the various parts of the world to be present at the blessed end of His immaculate Mother, and for the honorable burial of her body, as is meet. Nevertheless, her departure from among them brought intense sorrow to their hearts.

Entering the house, they beheld the Mother of God wearing a joyful countenance, sitting upon her bed. Then, "Reaching thine immaculate body, the source of Life, they (the Apostles) greeted it with mighty honor." The holy Apostles then greeted the Mother of Life with these words: "Blessed art thou of the Lord Who made heaven and the earth!" The immaculate Lady replied, "Peace to you, brethren, chosen by the Lord Himself." Then she asked, "How did you arrive here?" The Holy Apostles revealed how, by the power of the Spirit of God, each of them was caught up from the place where he had been preaching the Gospel. Then when the Mother of God learned that Peter came from Rome, Mark from Alexandria, Matthew from a boat, and the others from diverse situations, she glorified God Who had hearkened to her prayer and fulfilled the desire of her heart to behold the Holy Apostles at the hour of her death. Also present were the rest of the Seventy Holy Apostles...Then the immaculate Lady called to herself each of the Holy Apostles by name, and she praised their faith and labors in the preaching of Jesus Christ. To each one, she wished everlasting beatitude and she prayed for the peace of the whole world...

"...She then said, "Watch and pray with me, that when the Lord comes to receive my soul, He may find you watching." Then the beloved Disciple John said, "My Lady Mother of God and my Mother, thy beloved Son had left thee as a consolation. And now shalt thou leave us? In all the world what will we humble Apostles have as our consolation? Who will teach us and who will guide us?" This, too, caused the Theotokos to weep, and she said, "Do not sorrow, my children, for you make me sad when I see you cry so. Although I shall be going to my Son, O friends of my Son, yet I will not be apart from you, nor from them that call upon me. Nay, I shall be an intercessor and mediatress for all the Christians before my beloved Son." Therefore, do not weep, O friends and Disciples of my Son and God. Do not darken my joy by your sorrow and mourning. Much rather, rejoice with me, for I am going away to my Son and God. My body, which I have myself prepared for burial, commit to the earth in Gethsemane. Afterward, return again to the preaching of the Gospel appointed to you. If the Lord should will it, you shall see me after my departure."

The Theotokos delivers her soul, full of Light

It was the Lord's day, and the 15th day of the month of August, when that blessed hour that all were awaiting drew near. It was the third hour of the day (nine o'clock in the morning). In the room, a number of lamps were burning. The Holy Apostles were offering praise to God. Upon a beautifully adorned bed, the Theotokos was lying and preparing herself for her blessed end when her beloved Son and Lord would come to her. She then greeted each of the Holy Apostles with a blessing.

She then stretched her hands heavenward and prayed, saying, "I revere, praise, and glorify Thy much to be praised name, O Lord because Thou hast looked upon the low estate of Thy slave. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." After this prayer, she said to the Holy Apostles, "Cast incense and pray, because Christ is coming with a host of Angels. And, behold, Christ is at hand, sitting on a throne of Cherubim!" When they had prayed, there was thunder from heaven and there came a fearful voice, as if of chariots. Behold, a multitude of a host of Angels and Powers, and a voice, as if of the Son of Man was heard!

Then there shone in the room an ineffable Light of Divine Glory which dimmed the lamps. Those that were granted this vision were struck awestricken. Many beheld the roof of the room open and the glory of the Lord descending from heaven. It was Christ the King of Glory with Hosts of Angels and Archangels, and all the Heavenly Powers. Also with them were the holy Fathers and Prophets, those who prophesied of old concerning the pure Virgin. Together with them, there also approached Christ's immaculate Mother all the righteous souls.

"May it be to me according to Thy word!"

At the sight of the approach of her Son, the Theotokos cried with great joy unto her Son, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47). And, beheld, a stream of Light come upon the Ever-Virgin because of the presence of her Son, and all the powers of the heavens fell down and adored Him! He then said, "Mariam." And she answered, "Here am I, Lord."

Raising herself from her bed as if she were trying to go to meet her Son, she worshipped the Lord. Looking at her with love, He said, "Arise, come, My beloved, My fair one, My dove. Arise from the dead with authority, because Thou art My Mother. Arise and come to My Kingdom, for Thou art the Queen of all. Arise to receive My Divine Glory. O, My sweet Mother.

"...Bowing, the Mother of God replied, "Blessed is Thy Name, O Lord of Glory and my God! For Thou wast pleased to choose Thy humble handmaid for the service of Thy mystery...And now receive my soul in peace and defend me from all the snares of the dark power of Satan. The Lord then consoled His Mother with words full of love and persuaded her not to fear the power of Satan, which was already conquered by her. He called her with love to pass fearlessly from earth to heaven.

"...Then the Lord stretched forth His undefiled right hand and blessed His Mother. She then took hold of His hand and kissed it, saying, "I venerate this right hand, which created the heaven and the earth."

While uttering this, the Holy Apostles went up to her feet. They venerated her and said, "O Mother of the Lord, leave a blessing to the world since thou art going away from it. For thou hast blessed it and raised it up when it was ruined, by bringing forth the Light of the world."

Feeling unspeakable joy at the right of the radiant face of her Son and God, the Mother of God, filled with spiritual rapture out of love for Him, surrendered her pure soul into the hands of the Lord and Son. And the Lord stretched forth His undefiled hands and received her holy and blameless soul. She felt no pain whatsoever, but it was as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep. He Whom she conceived without destroying her virginity and bore without pain, now received her soul from her pure and holy body. At once there began wonderful and joyous Angelic singing repeating the former words of Gabriel; "Rejoice, thou who hast been shown grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed are thou among women" (Luke 1:28).

"...With such triumphant hymns did the heavenly Hosts accompany the Holy soul of the Theotokos as she went in the arms of the Lord to the dwelling above...When they (the Apostles) came to themselves, the Holy Disciples worshipped the Lord Who had raised His Mother's soul to heaven with glory, and they surrounded her bed with weeping. ( 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