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Posted on 08/14/2021 10:06:39 PM PDT by Cronos
Let’s ponder this feast in three stages.
I. Explained – To be “assumed” means to be taken up by God bodily into Heaven. As far back as the Church can remember we have celebrated the fact that Mary was taken up into Heaven. We do not just acknowledge that her soul was taken to Heaven as is the case with all the rest of the faithful who are taken there (likely after purgation). Rather, Mary was taken up soul AND body into Heaven after her sojourn on this earth was complete. There is no earthly tomb containing her body; neither are there relics of her body to be found among the Christian faithful. This is our ancient memory and what we celebrate today: Mary was taken up body and soul into Heaven.
II. Exemplified – The actual event of Mary’s Assumption is not described in Scripture. However, there are other assumptions recorded in the Scriptures, thus the concept itself is biblical.
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads … The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter (Rev 11:19 – 12:5).
The woman is clearly Mary since the child is clearly Jesus. And where is Mary seen? In Heaven. Now some may argue that this passage does not necessarily indicate that her body is in Heaven but rather may only be referring to her soul. However, the physical description of her in the text is rather strong. Some also argue that Mary is linked to John’s sighting of the Ark of the Covenant, which is seen by John in Heaven. He mentions the Ark and goes on to describe the woman clothed with the sun (Mary) and there is a possibility that he is still describing the Ark. (I have written on this elsewhere: Mary: The Ark of the New Covenant.) If Mary is the Ark described, then she is in Heaven, since the Ark is clearly described as being in Heaven.
So the biblical record, while not recording the event of the Assumption of Mary, does set forth other assumptions and thus shows that assumption itself is a biblical concept. Further, Mary’s physical presence in Heaven seems to be hinted at by John and some would argue that the passage actually attests to her physical presence there.
But remember, the Church does not rely solely on Scripture. In this case what we celebrate is most fundamentally taught to us by Sacred Tradition in that the memory of Mary’s Assumption goes back as long as we can remember.
III. Extended – The Feast of the Assumption may be of theological interest to some and may provide for interesting biblical reflection, but eventually the question is bound to arise: “So what? How does what happened to Mary affect my life and what does it mean for me?” The answer to this question is bound up in nearly every Marian doctrine. Simply put, what happened to Mary, in a profound and preliminary way, will also happen to us in the end. As Mary bore Christ into the world, we too bear him there in the Holy Communion we receive and in the witness of his indwelling presence in our life. As Mary is (and always was) sinless, so too will we one day be sinless (immaculate) with God in Heaven. As Mary cared for Christ in His need, so do we care for Him in the poor, the suffering, the needy, and the afflicted. And as Mary was assumed body and soul into Heaven, so too will we be there one day, both body and soul.
For now, our soul goes to Heaven (once purified) but our body lies in a tomb. But one day when the trumpet shall sound, on that “great gettin’ up morning,” our body will rise and be joined to our soul:
For we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” … Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:51-57).
So our body shall be assumed, shall rise and be joined to our soul.
Improved model! An older woman once said to me (upon hearing that her body would rise): “Father if this old body has to rise, I’m hoping for an improved model!” Yes indeed! Me too! I want my hair back, my slender figure to return, and I want knees that work! I want to upgrade from a general issue version to a luxury model. And God will in fact do that. Scripture says,
The assumption of our bodies, prefigured by Christ in His own power and also in Mary by the gift of God, will one day be our gift, too. For now, though, it waits till that “great gettin’ up morning.” Until that day and on that day, fare you well; fare you well!
This song is an African-American Spiritual and speaks of that “great gettin’ up morning” when our bodies will rise. And if we have been faithful they will rise to glory!
I’m gonna tell you about the coming of the judgment (Fare you well) There’s a better day a coming … In that great gettin’ up morning fare you well! Oh preacher fold your Bible, For the last soul’s converted … Blow your trumpet Gabriel … Lord, how loud shall I blow it? Blow it right calm and easy Do not alarm all my people … Tell them to come to the judgment … In that great gettin’ up morning fare you well. Do you see them coffins bursting? Do you see them folks is rising? Do you see the world on fire? Do you see the stars a falling? Do you see that smoke and lightning? Do you hear the rumbling thunder? Oh Fare you well poor sinner. In that great gettin’ up morning fare you well.
thoughts on the day of celebration of the Assumption of Mary
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I think the actual Mary was quite young when she became
‘with child’. Culturally, it was common for girls who were 14 years old to get married and have children.
What I don’t recall reading was how long did Mary live before her Ascension? Any idea?
I’m guessing the typical life span for women of that time may have been in their 50’s. They lived a tough and nomadic lifestyle.
Where in the Bible does it state that Mary was ‘assumed’ into heaven?
Where are the scriptures that tell how this event happened, and in what year did it take place? None of the churches I have attended ever talked about it.
Being a mother is a tough gig, but it will have a reward, finally.
It’s in the article
“The Church presents for our consideration in today’s second reading a passage from the Book of Revelation wherein John records his sighting of the Ark of God:
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads … The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter (Rev 11:19 – 12:5).
The woman is clearly Mary since the child is clearly Jesus. And where is Mary seen? In Heaven. Now some may argue that this passage does not necessarily indicate that her body is in Heaven but rather may only be referring to her soul. However, the physical description of her in the text is rather strong. Some also argue that Mary is linked to John’s sighting of the Ark of the Covenant, which is seen by John in Heaven. He mentions the Ark and goes on to describe the woman clothed with the sun (Mary) and there is a possibility that he is still describing the Ark. (I have written on this elsewhere: Mary: The Ark of the New Covenant.) If Mary is the Ark described, then she is in Heaven, since the Ark is clearly described as being in Heaven.
So the biblical record, while not recording the event of the Assumption of Mary, does set forth other assumptions and thus shows that assumption itself is a biblical concept. Further, Mary’s physical presence in Heaven seems to be hinted at by John and some would argue that the passage actually attests to her physical presence there.”
You may never have attended a church that teaches the faith as handed down the Apostles.
Modern groups like Joel Osteen, creflo dollar and all those created in the past 200 years don’t teach what Christ passed on through His Apostles.
Attend a Coptic, Assyrian, Armenian or Eastern Orthodox divine liturgy
Orthodox tradition places the Dormition of the Theotokos sometime between the Day of Pentecost and the Martyrdom of the first Apostle.
The Apostles were summoned the Holy Spirit and transported by the Angels to attend to her final hours and burial. After three days they discovered that her tomb was empty but filled with flowers.
Sung in many Orthodox Churches at the close of the Great Vespers of the Dormition at the Icon of the Feast or at the Epitaphios of the Theotokos.
Encomia for the Dormition of the Most-holy Theotokos
FIRST STANZA
Mode pl. 1
1. In a tomb, O Pure one, you were truly interred,
as the woman who contained God within your womb and ineffably gave birth to Him on earth.
2. Mary, as the Mother of the Giver of life,
how can you now die and dwell in a sepulcher, since your Son has raised the dead out of decay?
3. He who set the measures of the earth, God the Word, deigned to be contained, O Pure one, within your womb. How do you now fit within a tiny tomb?
4. She who bore the Master, who is handsome and fair more than any other man, is appearing wan,
now succumbing as she does to nature’s laws.
5. Through you stripped was Hades, whereas we have been clothed with the glory of the Lord, O All-holy one.
So how is it that you bow to nature’s laws?
6. Sting of death was shattered, holy Lady, through you. We are rid now of corruption. So how is it
that you die and are accounted with the dead?
7. You contained, O Mary, uncontainable God; so we wonder how the field of Gethsemane hides and covers you the holy shrine of God.
8. Bride of God, O Mary, who gave birth unto to Christ
as an infant here on earth so that He might save
man from death, you have gone down beneath the earth.
9. Nature and noetic multitudes are amazed at the mystery of your inexpressible
and all-glorious entombment, Virgin Maid.
10. Oh, uncommon wonders! Oh, such things that are new! She who gave birth to the One who gave breath to me lies now breathless and is buried as one dead.
11. By divine decision, the Apostles are brought unto you, O Virgin, lifted up on the clouds, to inter your holy body in the grave.
12. The noetic armies in their multitudes run with Apostles and the Saints to your funeral, O immaculate, the Mother of our God.
13. Powers, Thrones, Dominions, Cherubim, Seraphim, Principalities and Virtues together sing
and with rev’rence honor your falling asleep.
14. You have died succumbing to the law of all flesh, even you who had defied nature’s ordinance, pure and Virgin Mother, in your giving birth.
15. The noetic orders, O immaculate Maid,
seeing you supine and dead, were beside themselves; in astonishment they hid beneath their wings.
16. O pure Maid, the Angels singing heavenly hymns praised in song your three-day funeral and burial, and they magnified the glory that is yours.
17. Like another heaven did the all-holy town
of Gethsemane become when it had received your all-spotless body, O all-blessed one.
18. Wherever the body of the Mother of God
has its dwelling, there the troops of the heavenly and angelic powers rev’rently abide.
19. Wider than the heavens did the Son of our God make your body, O immaculate Bride of God, and your womb He truly made a divine throne.
20. Seeing dead and speechless you the Mother of Life, the Disciples of the Word were beside themselves, O pure Maiden, with astonishment and awe.
21. While a grave now covers your pure body, O Maid, yet your Son has your divine soul in His embrace; and He carries it resplendently aloft.
22. Though confined, O Mary, in the tiniest tomb, yet by all creation you are acknowledged as Queen of heaven and the earth, O Virgin pure.
23. Even though we see you as one dead in a tomb, yet we know that you are clearly the Mother of Jesus God the Word, and Bride of the Most High.
24. Even though we see you as a mortal entombed, yet we know you and proclaim you the flower of incorruption and the Mother of our God.
25. We the faithful know you to be truly the key
to Kingdom of our God, Ever-virgin Maid,
even though the tomb conceals you as one dead.
26. You became the portal of salvation for us, and the author of our spiritual renaissance, even if you now submit to natural death.
27. Now the tomb contains you as the jar, which of old once contained heavenly manna, O Virgin pure, and all-holy Lady, and the cause of Life.
28. Now the rod that blossomed the sweet bud, namely Christ, has been buried in the earth in a sepulcher,
so that she might bear for us salvation’s fruit.
29. Lady, as a symbol of the comfort you give
to those weeping, by the Valley of Weeping has your immaculate pure body been interred.
30. O all-blameless Lady, your own body was laid
there where all the dead and the living will then be judged, as a means to importune the Judge of all.
31. Among mortals truly you alone have shone forth as a type of Resurrection, all-lauded one;
you alone appease the Lord for those who sin.
32. You became the throne of the Most High, O pure Maid; now from earth you are transported to heaven’s realm, being translated to everlasting life.
33. When the congregation of Apostles arrived
at your funeral they cried out and beat their breasts, and lamenting they did mourn their loss of you.
34. Having by your childbirth killed the enemy death, to immortal dwellings you are transported now, since you bowed to mortal nature’s laws and died.
35. The angelic choirs in the heavens rejoiced
in receiving you, O pure one, as you were led up from the earth into the heavenly abodes.
36. As of old you gave birth, passing reason and speech, even so now you, O pure one, were translated paradoxic’ly to heaven from the earth.
37. Virgin, earth and heaven have been filled with delight; for through you, who were most wondrously taken up to the heights, they are united after all.
38. Now you stand beside God in the heights, being dressed in the variegated graces, as David said,
as the Queen and as the Mother of our God.
39. You were paid a visit three days prior to death from an Angel of the Lord, O all-blameless one; he informed you of your transfer to the heights.
40. The Archangel who was sent from heaven to you brings a palm branch unto you, O all-holy one, as a symbol of your rising to the heights.
41. You were filled, O Pure one, with such infinite joy on receiving from the Archangel Gabriel
the announcement of your transfer to the heights.
42. The trees of the mountain bow their branches to you, O Immaculate, and thus do they honor you
as their Mistress, and they show you their respect.
43. Holy Maid, from heaven unto Zion for you
did the armies of the bodiless powers come
with all rev’rance, with their Master and your Son.
44. The fearsome Archangel amputated the hands of the man who so audaciously dared to touch you, O Lady, God’s divine and living Ark.
45. Wailing lamentations, shedding tears over you, all your women friends did mourn at your burial. Your departure was unbearable for them.
46. As they did at that time, likewise fervently now we implore you, O our Lady, abandon not
us your servants to be orphans as you part.
47. From the heavens beckon unto us here on earth as we honor your Dormition, O Lady pure, and send down infinite mercy from your Son.
48. Fountain of the graces, Spring of miracle cures, we entreat you who possess mercy infinite, never cease to show your tender love for us.
49. All the Prophets’ sayings are fulfilled now in you, O all-holy Virgin, Lady immaculate,
in your passing into never-ending life.
50. Even as your forebear Prophet David once said
in his Book of Psalms, O Lady immaculate,
you now stand beside the throne of God as Queen.
51. You, the tabernacle of the Logos of God
and His bridal room, indeed had to bodily rise to mansions in the heavens there to dwell.
52. Thomas was not present, by divine plan indeed, at your burial, so that we might also know
your Assumption, O Immaculate and Pure.
53. Piously he also wished to pay his respects
to your holy body, wholly immaculate,
but instead he found your grave empty indeed.
54. Come, O you believers, let us piously run all together to our Mistress’s funeral,
as she rises into heaven from the earth.
55. With the God-inspired men who quoted the Psalms, let us reverently also sing funeral hymns
at the burial of her who is all pure.
56. You, O holy Maiden, as the table that held expiation in abundance, are transferred now to divine and holy dwellings of delight.
57. Now the golden lamp-stand, that before had received the immaculate divine Light, is taken up
to the inner tabernacle of the Lord.
58. Now the holy ladder, which of old Jacob saw
in a dream, and by which came down the Most High God, is exalted into heaven from the earth.
59. Now the bridge that carried those who died in the past, due to Adam’s disobedience, out of death
to immortal Life, is taken up on high.
60. We on earth join chorus with the heavenly minds, and the Angels now consort with humanity,
as, O Virgin, you are taken up to God.
61. As the holy lantern of ineffable Light,
O pure Maiden, never cease from enlightening from the heavens us your servants here on earth.
62. As a light and swift cloud, you have been lifted up through the air to God, O Pure one; do ever rain drops of your all-holy graces upon us.
63. In the calmest moorings of ineffable joy
are you moored now, Bride of God; therefore send your aid to your servants who are storm-tossed on the earth.
64. In the Most High’s dwellings, you, O pure Maiden, dwell; guard and shelter from all trials this most divine dwelling wherein God is magnified on earth.
65. Reinforce the scepters of the Orthodox Kings and the horn of strength of your pious laity, for you are the Lady of creation all.
66. As the navigators look into heaven’s vault
for the North Star, which is fixed, so do all of us gaze at you, O Maiden pure, for guiding light.
67. Pride and joy, O Lady, of devout priests are you, and the bastion of the Church unassailable,
and the helper of ascetic monks and nuns.
68. We ever proclaim you to be Mother of God and an all-pure Virgin, for we are Orthodox, and, all-holy one, we glorify your might.
69. Now your tomb is gushing streams of graces divine, and it also pours out healings and cures to all,
even though your body is no longer there.
70. We believers surely place our good hopes in you, our unyielding intercessor before the Lord,
and a shelter unassailable and strong.
71. Pure one, make us worthy to be participants
in the kingdom of your Son, who is Christ our God.
Intercede with Him unceasingly for this.
72. For although we daily without thinking transgress His commandments, and are thus disobedient, even so never have we renounced His name.
73. Since you are the mother of the One who is good and the lover of mankind, hence do good to us as a good and loving mother that you are.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
74. Logos, we extol You as the God over all with the Father and Your all-holy Spirit too, and we piously give glory unto You.
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
75. We beatify you, O pure Mother of God, and we glorify your falling asleep today and your rising into heaven from the earth.
In a tomb, O Pure one, you were truly interred,
as the woman who contained God within your womb and ineffably gave birth to Him on earth.
SECOND STANZA
Mode pl. 1
1. Right it is indeed
that we magnify you who received God; for you are the animate treasury
of the virtues and of every grace of God.
2. She who has contained
Him who holds the universe together
and is thus perceived as the house of God is translated now to heaven, there to dwell.
3. You depart from us,
O all-venerable Virgin Mother;
even so your blessing and grace divine have remained on us who piously believe.
4. Truly has your tomb,
virgin Maid, become for you a stairway by which you ascended from earth below to the joy and exultation that cease not.
5. Miracle indeed!
How, though husbandless, you nurse an infant, how you have become now a lifeless corpse
yet without corruption, Mother of our God!
6. Mary, you indeed
raised a victory on mortal nature,
giving birth without seed to Christ; but now giving in to mortal nature’s law you die.
7. Stairway up to God
is your sepulcher, all-holy Virgin,
leading to the heights those who sing your praise and who honor your Dormition on this day.
8. By your childbirth
all the earth, O Pure one, was illumined;
likewise now the atmosphere is sanctified, O pure Maiden, by your heavenward ascent.
9. As we offer up
funeral hymns and songs to you, O Maiden, as if fragrant spices for burial,
we entreat for expiation of sins.
10. O Immaculate,
this august house, in which lies your casket, has become for us a reliable
sacred clinic for the body and the soul.
11. Here, wherein the hosts
of Apostles and the holy Angels
stood around your casket and sang to you, holy Virgin, do we also stand today.
12. Now we bring to mind
the sublime and splendid ceremony,
which at your Dormition the company
of Apostles with the Angels then performed.
13. We, like they did then,
stand in wonderment of your Dormition, and with fear and joy we are present now, O Immaculate, at your most sacred tomb.
14. Fertile like the earth
is Gethsemane, that honored city,
for all people wishing to reap from it
their salvation, Virgin Mother, for all time.
15. Your tomb here below
and your Son’s on high, O holy Virgin,
elevate the minds of believers all,
and they raise them up to heaven from the earth.
16. Like a pedestal,
does the Mount of Olives hold your tomb now. Pure one, from above it was dignified
with the footprints of your Son as with a crown.
17. Virgin, it is clear
that without you as our mediátrix
we will be unable to walk aright
in the supernatural footsteps of your Son.
18. All-pure Maid, you are
the new tablet on which the divine Word has been written. Pray that we be enrolled in the book of Life, as we sing hymns to you.
19. Neither orators
nor the Angels have it in their power, Virgin Mother, worthily to extol
you, the most respected Mother of our God.
20. He who bya nod
fixed the circle of the earth in the beginning, made you into heaven when as a babe
He contained himself within your virgin womb.
21. From your womb your Son willingly assumed the total Adam, wishing to eradicate from our race disobedience that in us was innate.
22. Shadow of the Law
has been terminated, Virgin Mother,
since you bore the Giver of that same Law, who illumines us who piously believe.
23. Virgin pure, for you
in a most extraordinary manner
have the laws of nature been modified, for your childbirth of God Emmanuel.
24. Only you appear
unto us as a life-bearing grapevine,
for you bore the ripe Bunch of grapes, your Son, who makes glad the hearts of us who worship Him.
25. Moses saw of old
you, O Mary, as the bush that burned not
on Mt. Sinai, for you held in your womb
the divine fire and you also were not burned.
26. Daniel once saw you
as a mountain that had not been quarried
and from which uncut Christ, the Rock of life, has been cut without the hand of man, O Maid.
27. You, O Bride of God,
have appeared as the noetic portal
of the divine orient that appeared
from on high to us the faithful here on earth.
28. Virgin, you gave birth
to the Light from Light for those in darkness and the shadow, shining on all the earth; and for those in error you became the Guide.
29. You have stayed the force
of corruption and of death, O Virgin,
in that without seed you gave birth to God, the immortal Master and Giver of Life.
30. O most glorious
and pure Virgin, you preserved your body
and your soul unblemished before the Lord; hence your beauty was indeed beloved of Christ.
31. You, O Maiden, are
a bright pillar that lights up the darkness caused by sinful passions; you are a cloud holding dew that brings refreshment in the heat.
32. Pure one, we know you
as a veritable thriving grapevine
bearing an abundance of tender love
and of grace for all who run to you in faith.
33. As a field indeed
that was never tilled, all-holy Virgin,
truly you have brought forth the Word of God as the head of grain who nourishes our souls.
34. Virgin, you are called
by the faithful all, Luminous Morning, bringing Christ the true Sun of Righteousness, who dispels the gloom of ignorance from us.
35. Mary, O rejoice!
Through you joy into the world has shone forth, and the curse against us has been removed,
in that you have borne the Savior here on earth.
36. Wonder most renowned
among Angels are you truly, Virgin,
and you are the wound most greatly bemourned by the demons, O pure Mother of our God.
37. Truly you became
like a fertile tree with fruit most luscious, by which the believers are all sustained as they pluck and eat its heavenly fruit.
38. Height, to which the thoughts
of humanity are hardly able
to ascend, are you, Maiden, and the depth, which for Angels’ eyes is hard to apprehend.
39. Virgin, only you
are the one God has specially chosen;
for that very reason for you alone
God has done great things, as you yourself once said.
40. You are beautiful,
and there is no spot on you, O Virgin.
This is what the Bridegroom, who fell in love with your majesty and comeliness, cries out.
41. Virgin, there have been
many daughters who for God have acted valiantly in times passed; but truly you
have surpassed them all and stand above them all.
42. Therefore, Lady pure,
we sing anthems to extol you glory,
melodies, the fruit of unworthy lips,
and we magnify the Lord, your only Son.
43. You had in your womb,
O Immaculate, the divine Wisdom
that pours out the streams of immortal Life; therefore gush forth unto us life-giving streams.
44. O Immaculate,
with your Son we now participate in
life eternal and incorruptible;
hence we sing to you, O holy one, Rejoice!
45. Therefore we entreat,
as we bend to you the knees of our hearts, Lady, do yourself likewise lend an ear
to the voices of your servants when we pray.
46. Even as through you,
O pure Maiden, the deceased are quickened, likewise also quicken us who are dead
for committing many voluntary sins.
47. We commit our will
and volition and our expectation
and our soul and body and spirit too
and our whole life unto you, O Maiden pure.
48. Having confidence
in you, Lady, as our only refuge,
may we not fall short of our highest hopes, rather may we all obtain your mighty aid.
49. Holy Maiden pure,
unto us send forth a mighty scepter,
for beneath your shelter we all have run, and we earnestly take refuge in your care.
50. For, O Maiden pure,
we have no other protectress but you who gave birth to Him who created us. We present you as our advocate to Him.
51. Virgin, make us rich
with ideas of things good and noble,
for having transgressed the divine commands we have mindlessly impoverished our souls.
52. Give light to the eyes
of our intellect, O Virgin Mary;
by your shining prayers guide us in the ways of repentance, O all-holy Maiden pure.
53. Virgin Queen of all,
we your servants pray you make the Master merciful to us, by your fervent prayers,
when He comes to judge all mortals on that Day.
54. Maiden, guide us straight
to the peaceful harbor of salvation;
we are tossed about on the sea of life
by the stormy winds of soul-destroying sins.
55. Water with the rain
of your mercies, Virgin Theotokos,
furrows of our souls, which are overrun
by the sinful passions as with thorny weeds.
56. Open up the door
of your mercy, O all-holy Maiden,
unto us who now call upon your name; for you are the timely refuge for mankind.
57. Maid, instead of myrrh
do accept this period of fasting
that we keep to honor your Burial;
and the death of sinful passions give to us.
58. As your servants stand
by your sepulcher, all-holy Virgin, graciously accept the melodious
odes they offer unto you as fragrant oils.
59. Pure one, we all know,
even if we offer odes in number
equal to the sands unto you, we do nothing worthy of the gifts you give to us.
60. Every hymn and ode
is incapable of duly praising
your uncounted graces and all the gifts we abundantly enjoy because of you.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
61. To the Father, Son
and the holy Spirit we all send up glory, honor worship most piously, to the Trinity, all-holy and divine.
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
62. O believers all,
as the servants of the Theotokos,
let us sing her hymns that are Orthodox and acceptable, extolling her today.
Right it is indeed
that we magnify you who received God; for you are the animate treasury
of the virtues and of every grace of God.
THIRD STANZA
Mode 3
1. All generations offer,
O Virgin, hymns in honor
and praise of your entombment.
2. To death you have submitted, O Virgin, who gave birth to Him who dealt death to Hades.
3. In dying you went over to the undying dwellings,
putting to death the foe death.
4. The hearts of all the pious leap in exultation,
O Lady, at your funeral.
5. Earth is celebrating
while heaven dances, Lady, as you are now uplifted.
6. You hasten to ascend now into the heights, O Virgin,
being above the earthly.
7. O Virgin, you were transferred to heaven, so that you might behold your Son’s great beauty.
8. You vivified the reaches of the world, O Virgin,
by your divine Dormition.
9. Your sepulcher, O Virgin, delivers us from passions,
and thus proclaims your glory.
10. Your sepulcher, O Virgin, proclaims your true entombment and also your translation.
11. We think that we are looking at you, O Theotokos,
when we gaze at your body.
12. Standing in your temple,
we think that we are standing in heaven, holy Virgin.
13. Pray to the Creator, with the saints together,
O Virgin, and your parents.
14. Pray that He may count us the Orthodox believers
worthy of joy forever.
15. Every nation’s people, O Virgin, call you Lady,
as they now venerate you.
16. And truly now, O Virgin, every generation
forever calls you blessed.
17. Only those who killed Christ in unbelief deny you
to be the Theotokos.
18. The other tongues and nations surround your tomb, O Lady, and faithfully extol you.
19. All of us entreat you
to grant us your protection, O Virgin, and assistance.
20. No one who seeks refuge in you, O Virgin Maiden,
departs from you embarrassed.
21. Imitating your Son
you grant requests, O Lady, alike to saints and sinners.
22. For you want all people to be saved, O Lady,
and to share your glory.
23. Maiden, we all know you
as one who loves all people, for you are God’s own Mother.
24. Who can truly tell of your divine virtues,
O only Virgin Mother?
25. And who can list the blessings that you give, O Lady,
so richly to all people?
26. Unto those who trust you, both deceased and living,
You provide assistance.
27. You do whatever you wish, for you can do all things
as Mother of the Most High.
28. Therefore, Maiden, guard us, both deceased and living
who ever sing your praises.
29. Deliver us, O Virgin, from the everlasting
fire of Gehenna.
30. You are the lone protectress of poor and homeless people and of orphans and widows.
31. And you are the sweetness of Angels, Virgin Mary,
the joy of those in sorrow.
32. We all proclaim that you are the shelter for us Christians, indeed even our Mother.
33. By your intercessions, raise us who have fallen
into the depths of evil.
34. Help us who revere you, O virgin Maid, to follow
the footsteps of the Master.
35. While we are gripped in evils, do not despise us, Virgin,
lest we utterly perish.
36. Knowingly and also unconsciously we all sin,
offending you and your Son.
37. Nonetheless, we pray now that you will not reject us,
O Virgin, from your presence.
38. Entreat your Son, O Lady, that He will show compassion on us when He will judge us.
39. For we know the power of your intercession
upon your Son, O Maiden.
40. Many times you only were able to appease Him
when we provoked His anger.
41. He honors you, His Mother, and bends to your entreaties, for you are due all glory.
42. As is right we also
with longing venerate you,
and sing hymns in your honor.
43. Through you, all-holy Maiden, God the Logos truly
has recreated our race.
44. And through you He saves us, who have taken refuge
in you, all-lauded Mary.
45. For you are God’s chosen instrument, O Virgin,
of humankind’s salvation.
46. Therefore as you know best do good to all your servants, O Virgin Theotokos.
47. When burying your body,
with fragrant oils they sprinkled your tomb, O holy Virgin.
48. Those present at your funeral with fragrant oils and flowers sprinkled your tomb, O Virgin.
49. Those present at your funeral with fragrant oils sprinkled your tomb, O Theotokos.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
50. Father, Son and Spirit, the Trinity, we pray You,
save us who adore You.
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
51. O all-holy Mother,
guard and shelter all those
who trust in you, O Lady.
All generations offer,
O Virgin, hymns in honor
and praise of your entombment.
Tradition has it that Mary moved (or was removed for her safety), to Ephasus in Asia Minor. There she died. And at Ephasus there was constructed a very early Church in her honor.
Amen!!!
Moat Holy Theotokos save us!!!!
Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for us!
Jesus as the Second Adam needed to posses perfect, primordial DNA which He could only inherit through His mother.
It was necessary that such perfect DNA be removed from this fallen world.
Can you imagine what the like of Fauci would attempt to do with it had it remained?
Sorry,
weak.
By your definition. However it was good enough for the early Christian’s who lived 1800+ years ago. I’d say they knew q bit more than you do
Thank you Lightman.
Berosus, just reproducing Lightmans post here
“Orthodox tradition places the Dormition of the Theotokos sometime between the Day of Pentecost and the Martyrdom of the first Apostle.
The Apostles were summoned the Holy Spirit and transported by the Angels to attend to her final hours and burial. After three days they discovered that her tomb was empty but filled with flowers.”
So tell me who were the early Christians who claimed that Mary was assumed into heaven ?
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