The Shepherd, August 2006
This grave gave up the mortal body it contained to the heavenly country. Eve became the mother of the family of mankind, and is not man, made after the Divine image, convicted by her condemnation: “earth thou art, and unto earth thou shalt return”? This tomb is more precious than the tabernacle of old, receiving the real and life-giving receptacle of the Lord, the heavenly table, not the loaves of presence but of heaven, not material fire, but her who contained the pure Fire of the Godhead. This tomb is holier than the ark of Moses, blessed not with types and shadows, but the Truth itself. It showed forth the pure and golden urn containing the heavenly Manna, the living tablet receiving the Incarnate Word of God from the impress of the Holy Spirit, the golden censer of the supersubstantial Word. It showed forth her who conceived the divine Fire embalming all creation.
Let demons take to flight, and the thrice miserable Nestorians perish as the Egyptians of old and their ruler, Pharaoh the younger, a cruel devastator. They were swallowed up in the abyss of blasphemy. Let us who are saved with dry feet, crossing the bitter waters of impiety, raise our voices to the Mother of God at her departure.
Let Mary, personifying the Church, lead the joyful strain. Let the maidens of the spiritual Jerusalem go out in singing choirs. Let kings and judges, with rulers, youths, and virgins, young and old, proclaim the Mother of God, and all peoples and nations in their different ways and tongues, sing a new song. Let the air resound with praise and instrument, and the sun gladden this day of salvation. Rejoice, O heavens, and may the clouds rain justice. Be glad, O divine apostles, the chosen ones of God’s flock, who seem to reach the highest visions, as lofty mountain tops. And you God’s sheep and His holy people, the flock of the Church, who look to the high mountains of perfection, be sad, for the fountain of life, God’s Mother, is dead.
It was necessary that what was made of earth should return to earth, and thus be taken to heaven. It was fitting that the earthly tenement should be cast off, as gold is purified, so that the flesh in death might become pure and immortal, and rise in shining immortality from the tomb.
Today she begins her second life through Him who was the Cause of her first being. She gave a beginning, I mean the life of the body, to Him who had no beginning in time, although the Father was the Cause of His Divine existence. Rejoice, holy and divine Mount Sion, in which reposes the living divine mountain, the new Bethel, with its grace: human nature united with the Godhead. From thee her Son ascended to heaven, from the the Mount of Olives.
Let a world-embracing cloud be prepared and the winds gather the Apostles to Mount Sion from the ends of the earth. Who are these who soar up as clouds and eagles to the cause of all resurrection, ministering to the Mother of God? Who is she who rises resplendent, all pure, and bright as the sun? Let spiritual lyres, the apostolic tongues, sing to her. Let grave theologians raise their voices in praise. Hierotheus, the vessel of election, in whom the Holy Spirit abides, knowing and teaching divine things by the divine indwelling, - let him be wrapt out of the body and join willingly in the joyful hymn. Let all nations clap their hands and praise the Mother of God. Let angels minister to her body. Follow your Queen, O daughters of Jerusalem, and, together with her virgins in the spirit, approach your Bridegroom in order to sit at His right hand. Make haste, O Lord, to give Thy Mother the welcome which is her due. Stretch out Thy divine hands. Receive Thy Mother’s soul into the Father’s hands unto which Thou didst commend Thy spirit on the Cross. Speak sweet words to her: “Come, my beloved, whose purity is more dazzling than the sun, thou gavest Me of thy own, receive now what is Mine. Come, My Mother, to thy Son, reign with Him who was poor with thee.”
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