The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary

Date: 14 August 2005 04:50:48

As we don't have the use of the hall we rent on Mondays, we celebrated this feast today.

Icon from OCA

In giving birth, O Theotokos, Mother of God, you preserved your virginity,
and in your falling asleep you did not forsake the world.
You were taken up into life, you that are the Mother of Life,
and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death.

Troparion

Neither grave nor death had power over the Theotokos, Mother of God,
whose intercessions are unceasing and whose protection is our unchanging hope;
for the Mother of Life was taken up into life
by Him who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Kontakion

Epistle
Gospel

Today's services especially helped me to recall on why I love the Matins service so much. We have Matins before Liturgy. Matins, as that link states:

...unites the elements of morning psalmody and prayer with meditation on the Biblical canticles, the Gospel reading, and the particular theme of the day in the given verses and hymns. The themes of God's revelation and light are also always central to the morning service of the Church.

Of particular wonder to me, in addition to the constant use of Psalms and canticles, are the hymns for each Sunday, and the hymns for the Feast Days.

In the Divine Liturgy, as with Western rites, hymns are inserted and there may be a few changes based on the Feast. Matins explodes (it is the only word I can think of!) with hymns and verses related to the theme of the day, all soaked through with not only praise and worship, but theology, history and calls for us to live a Christ-centred life as did the saints whom we are celebrating.

I confess freely that the veneration of Mary is one of the stumbling blocks for me of Orthodoxy. Unlike my time in a High Anglican church, where she could be pushed aside or not given much thought, Orthodoxy hymnody and services resound with praises for Our Lady Mary, the Theotokos [God-bearer]. Ever aspect of Christ's life, and the life of His mother and His saints who followed His commands is praised.

The sermon today and the service hymns, as well as Small Paraklesis to the Most Holy Theotokos service which we held twice over the past two weeks [which was the period of the Dormition Fast], are helping me to more fully see Mary's role as the bearer of Christ, and her example, the finest example we have, of what a Christian life should be, as, as our sub-deacon said in the second part of his sermon (the first part was on Mary and Martha, and our need to hear Christ and not be concerned with externals and all of the trimmings): Mary immediately answered God's call with a 'Yes'. She was not concerned about how others would view her; she was not concerned about what may happen to her; her mind was totally on God's purposes. And that is what we are called to do.

I no doubt still may have issues. But slowly, in line with what I can take, God is revealing more to me through the services, and through our clergy who are always willing to hear my concerns and talk about it.

As well, we had prayers to welcome into the church a baby recently born, and many thanksgivings to God that he brought the woman safely through childbirth. The baby was taken by the priest around the altar and a sign of the cross made at each stage. I found it a beautiful way to give thanks for the birth of the child and to welcome them into the church. As well, we were informed after the service that a couple, in fact the couple whose wedding I went to earlier this year, are expecting! An exciting day!

In terms of the wonderful Matin hymns, here is a selection:

In your giving birth conception was without seed; in your falling asleep death was without corruption. A second wonder followed swiftly from the first, O Theotokos: how did she who knew not a man give suck while remaining pure?(*) And how was the Mother of God embalmed and carried to burial as dead? Therefore with the angel we cry aloud to you: Hail O you who are full of grace.

The angelic powers were amazed at they looked in Zion upon their own Master, bearing in his hands the soul of a woman: for as befitted a Son, He said to her who without spot had borne Him: "Come, O pure one, and be glorified together with your Son and God."

At your glorious Dormition the heavens rejoice and the armies of angels exult; the whole earth makes glad, singing a hymn of departure unto you, O Mother of Him who is Lord of all, all-Holy Virgin who did not know wedlock, you who have delivered mankind from the ancestral condemnation.

(*)As I said above: there is no escaping any part of Mary or Christ's life!