this issue BOX & SPOON - August 2010 MONTHLY

Letter from Fr. Mark

August
2010
Newsletter for Stewards of Holy Anargyroi
Sts. Kosmas & Damianos Greek Orthodox Church Box & Spoon
Liturgical/Organization Calendar
for August 2010

Greek Fest

A Poem on the Transfiguration

St. Ephraim the Syrian

Homily on the Dormition

St. Gregory Palamas

Youth News

Faith and Science: Contradictory or complementary

meanings? By Michael G. Houlis

Brothers of Christ?

Festival & Silent Auction

Kidron Valley, Jerusalem: Entrance to the Tomb of the Mother of God

Dormition/Assumption, Tomāto/Tomăto…what’s the big deal?

The month of August offers us one of the most beloved and celebrated feasts of the entire Orthodox liturgical year: the Dormition
(falling asleep) of the Theotokos. As we know a two week period of fasting and preparation precede this feast simultaneously under-
scoring its importance and offering us the opportunity to celebrate with a pure heart, clear conscience, and joyful spirit. Many of us
are also accustomed to attending the beautifully poetic service of the Paraklesis in which we beseech the Mother of God to intercede
for our salvation. All of these elements encourage us to encounter and experience the profound theological truth the Dormition re-
veals: because of the Incarnation and indwelling of Christ within the womb of the Theotokos, her death and bodily translation are the
„first fruits‟ of the resurrection, the pledge of mankind‟s reconciliation, and the confirmation of the incorruptibility that awaits us all.

Over the years many people have inquired as to the relationship, if any, between the Orthodox celebration of the Dormition and the
Latin feast day called the Assumption. Many have commented that several Orthodox parishes are called “Assumption” Orthodox
Church…so obviously we share a common feast day and belief, right? Not so fast. Although there are obvious similarities between
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED the two celebrations their theological implications are poles apart.

holyanargyroi@gmail.com
http://www.holyanargyroi.org
(507) 282-1253 fax
Permit No. 278
(507) 282-1529 phone
Rochester, MN
Rochester, MN 55902
U.S. Postage Paid 703 West Center Street
Non-Profit Org. Greek Orthodox Church
Holy Anargyroi/Sts. Kosmas & Damianos
First and foremost, the word „dormition‟ (κοίμησις =falling asleep) is a verb found often in Holy Scriptures to refer to actual physical
death; a theological term revealing the Christian anticipation of resurrection to eternal life. By utilizing this term „dormition‟ the Or-
thodox accentuate the reality of her physical death, i.e. she was conceived in a manner identical to the rest of humanity (as opposed
to the Latin doctrine of the “Immaculate Conception”), she was not immune to mortality nor exempt of mankind‟s sinful nature, and
therefore had to experience death. Immediately after confirming her physical death and mortal condition we chant triumphantly
“You have risen to live eternally with your Son…neither the tomb nor death could hold you. As Mother of Life you were translated
to life by Him who dwelt in your ever virgin womb”. As St. Germanos of Constantinople teaches us “Just like one of us she had a
body; therefore, she could not escape encountering death, the common destiny of all men…It was impossible for her, the God-
containing vessel, to be dissolved by death and corruption into the dust.”
Feast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady, The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary August 15th, 2010 Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection.

Standing Committees – 2010

ICON OVERSIGHT TEAM

Diana Orbelo – Chair
Liturgical and Organizational Calendar Festival and Silent Auction
Tia Maragos
Andru Peters
Fr. Mark Muñoz August 2010 Dear Fellow Parishioners and Friends,
BUDGET
Dan Jerghiuțǎ – Chair Sunday August 1st Dormition Fast Begins Our dear Holy Anargyroi Church will host its 47th Annual Greek
Johnny Mangouras
Monday August 2nd Vacation Church School 9am - 12pm Festival on August 27th, 28th and 29th of 2010. The Festival
Fr. Mark Muñoz
Monday August 2nd Adult Religious Education 6pm will again take place on the church grounds.
HOUSING
Johnny Mangouras – Chair
Monday August 2nd Paraklesis Service 7pm
Ionel Dumitrascu Tuesday August 3rd Vacation Church School 9am - 12pm I hold the church close to my heart, and I am honored to be the
Tuesday August 3rd Paraklesis Service 7pm Silent Auction Chairperson this year. We have many new ideas
BUILDING and plan to feature several exciting items – a wish list is being
Ari Kolas – Chair Wednesday August 4th Vacation Church School 9am - 12pm
Dr. Nick Maragos Wednesday August 4th Greek Fest Meeting 6pm - 7pm put together and we will present it soon. The Silent Auction is a
Wednesday August 4th Paraklesis Service 7pm major fundraiser for our church, with proceeds going directly to
PHILOXENIA HOUSE
Chamaidi Belanger– Chair Thursday August 5th Vacation Church School 9am - 12pm church operating budget. In order to make our Festival a suc-
Beth Lechner – Treasurer Thursday August 5th Great Vespers of the Transfiguration 6pm cess this year, we need your help by making a donation.
AHEPA Friday August 6th Transfiguration Feast: Orthros & Liturgy 8:30am
John Sakellariou – President Friday August 6th Vacation Church School 9am - 12pm Any donation to the silent auction would be greatly appreciated.
Sam Kolas – Vice President
Brad Holman – Treasurer
(Attending Liturgy, Fasting Potluck & Performance afterwards)
George Margellos – Secretary
In addition, you can also donate your item in “Memory of” or in “Honor of” a loved one.
Saturday August 7th Great Vespers 6pm
STEWARDSHIP Monetary Donations are also being accepted from donors who desire to adopt an auction item (we will have a
John Maragos – Chair Sunday August 8th Project Mexico Departure
Ari Kolas Monday August 9th Adult Religious Education 6pm wish list soon). Your generosity will be recognized in our church bulletin, as well as verbally announced by
Johnny Mangouras
Monday August 9th Paraklesis Service 7pm our motivated Silent Auction Committee! If you are donating your item in “Memory of ” or in “Honor of” a
Ray Ostfeld
Angie Rustad Tuesday August 10th Paraklesis Service 7pm loved one, your loved ones name will be displayed with the item as well, therefore allowing you to honor or
Wednesday August 11th Paraklesis Service 7pm memorialize your loved one in a special way.
GREEK FESTIVAL
Dan Jerghiuțǎ – Chair Thursday August 12th Paraklesis Service 7pm
Steve Kereakos – Treasurer Friday August 13th Paraklesis Service 7pm Any items you can donate they are greatly appreciated. The Silent Auction committee will be in charge with
Lorenda Jerghiuțǎ – Silent auction
Saturday August 14th Great Vespers: Dormition Feast (Panagias) 6pm arranging, grouping the items or creating beautiful baskets. If you would like to make a monetary donation
Joe Ferrer – Set-up/Teardown
Tim Kelly – Outdoor Cooks Sunday August 15th Dormition Feast: Orthros/Liturgy/Artoklasia 8:30am please fill out the form below.
Johnny Mangouras – Marketing (Fast of the Dormition Ends)
Ari Kolas – Marketing Donor Name ________________________________________________________________
Penny Kolas – Pastries
Maria Thomas – Pastries Wednesday August 18th Parish Council Meeting 7pm
Denise Mangouras – Pastries
Saturday August 21st Great Vespers 6pm Home Phone __________________________________Cell Phone______________________
Presbytera Michele – Volunteers
Martha Voytovich – Market place Monday August 23rd Adult Religious Education 6pm
Andru Peters – Beverages Friday August 27th ROCHESTER GREEK FEST 5pm - 8pm Address ___________________________________________________________________
Mike Brekke – Beer Garden
Larissa Osfeld – Children Area Saturday August 28th ROCHESTER GREEK FEST 11am - 8pm
Mrs. Mangouras – Inside Kitchen Sunday August 29th ROCHESTER GREEK FEST 11am - 6pm Email ____________________________________

In Honor of: or In Memory of: (Circle one) _________________________________________

SAVE THE DATE! Item ______________________________ Donation Amount ______________

August 15th
Write check payable to: Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church.
“HONKERS ORTHODOX CHURCH DAY” Mail to: Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, 703 West Center Street, Rochester, MN, 55902

Game Time: 1:05pm Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Cost: $10 for a ticket, hot dog and soda pop.
With Sincere Appreciation, Loredana Jerghiuta, 507-271-5928, loredanaj@yahoo.com
Feast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady, The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary August 15th, 2010
Brothers of Christ?
<< continued from the June/July Edition >>
One of many similarly phrased excerpts says the following: “Isn‟t this the
carpenter‟s son? Isn‟t His mother‟s name Mary and His brothers are
Jacob (James) and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, aren‟t they all fa-
miliar to us?” (Matthew 13/XIII 55 – 56, Mark 6/VI 3, Luke 8/VIII 19). This
is the verse used by some non-Orthodox, to show that the Holy Mother had
other children.
Yet the explanation here is simple. Even in our time, we refer to half-brothers
as “brothers”. The fact that everyone believed Jesus to be Joseph‟s son does
not mean that Joseph actually was His real father! The same applies to His
brothers and sisters. If some uphold that this verse refers to Jesus‟ proper
brothers and sisters, then they must also uphold that Jesus is actually Joseph‟s
son and not God‟s.
Let‟s observe something else: In the Holy Bible, “brethren” are also called the
distant relatives, and not only the children of the same parentage. Observe an
example from the lives of Abraham and Lot. Abraham was Lot‟s uncle, yet the
Holy Bible refers to them as “brothers”. This is found in Genesis, 13/XIII 8. In
it, Abraham says to Lot: „….we people are brothers”.
Another example of the many that we can present, is: “And Laban said to Jacob, for (the fact) that you are my
brother, you shall not work for me for free”. But he wasn‟t his brother, in today‟s sense!
Let‟s look at another example, in the excerpt of: Luke 2/II 48. There, the Holy Mother herself says to Jesus with
reference to Joseph: “behold, your father and I have been grieving and searching for you”. Are we to assume that
because Mary refers to Joseph as Jesus‟ “father”, it means that Joseph is indeed His father? Or perhaps, she wasn‟t
aware that Joseph was not Jesus‟ father? Well, the same thing applies to Jesus‟ “brothers and sisters”. They were all
Joseph‟s children from another marriage.
Furthermore, the fact that in another verse the Holy Mother is referred to as the “wife” of Joseph, does not mean
that he had married her. We can see this, in Matthew 1/I 18-20, where, although in verses 19 and 20 she is men-
tioned as Joseph‟s “wife”, in verse 18 it is clarified that she was his “betrothed”. Thus, revealing that the Virgin
and Joseph we indeed betrothed to one another but not officially married.
Another argument: In Matthew 1/I 25, it says of Joseph and Mary: “….and he did not have any (carnal) knowl-
edge of her…” (implying that they did not have any sexual relations, given that the word “knowledge” also means
“uniting” in the Holy Bible) until she gave birth to her firstborn son”. The argument here is as follows: “Why
does it say „firstborn‟? Were there other children afterwards?” Again, this contains the same logic as the
“until”. Protestantism strives to make the Holy Bible say things that it doesn‟t. It supposes, without presenting
any proof.
But, there is another verse that says of Jesus Christ: “…Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of
all creation”. Are we to suppose, because the Lord is mentioned here as the “firstborn” of God, that God also had
other Sons, apart from Christ? Isn‟t Jesus “His Only-Begotten Son”, as God Himself proclaimed during Jesus‟
baptism in the Jordan river?
<< continued in the September Edition >>
Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection.
Letter from Fr. Mark
The Empty Tomb of the Most Holy Theotokos
<<from page 1>>
The Orthodox recognize this great paradox: a
mortal woman sharing all aspects of our human-
ity, yet she is set apart and unique because the
Incarnation of Christ was accomplished through
her personal will and physical body. We believe
she was taken to paradise bodily, after her physi-
cal death, because of the historical account (the
Apostle Thomas opening and finding her tomb
empty except her zoni/belt) but more importantly
because it reflects the ontological reality and awe-
some power enacted by God taking on flesh and
uniting the Divinity with humanity in the person
of Christ.
Now that we‟ve reviewed the Orthodox understanding of this awesome event how does it differ from the Latin
„Assumption‟? A majority of Western Christian thought and theology exclusively relies on the teaching of one man:
Augustine. Augustine essentially taught that all men are born with inherited guilt of original sin, and thus are guilty and
are under God‟s just sentence of death and bondage to the devil. To say these teachings are incompatible with Orthodox
theology is a gross understatement and reveals why Augustine still occupies a rather ambiguous and dubious position
within the Orthodox Church. Because of this tainted theological foundation the Papacy found it necessary to formally
proclaim the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception (i.e. exempting the Virgin from original sin thereby protecting the
sanctity of Christ‟s humanity) and the bodily Assumption of the Mother of God (due to the fact she was without original
sin the punishment of death and corruption could not possibly apply to her). These doctrines declared the Theotokos
was exempt from both the inherited guilt of original sin and death thereby revealing their departure from the Tradition of
the One and undivided Apostolic Church.
The Latin Church‟s position was promulgated by Pope Pius XII in 1950 when he defined ex cathedra (i.e. officially
unleashing the Pope‟s „infallibility‟) the Virgin‟s bodily ascent to heaven without mentioning or affirming her physical
death. To simplify, because of their theological dependence on Augustine the Latin West has transformed the Theotokos
into a super-woman conceived without sin who never tasted death (immortal); almost transforming her into a quasi god-
dess. St. John of Damascus poignantly states, “We celebrated her Dormition. We do not call her a goddess; God for-
bid! Such myths belong to pagan quackery, for we even proclaim her death”.
To equate the “Dormition” with the “Assumption” is simply untenable given the profound theological disparity. It is
impossible for us to understand and confess her bodily ascent to heaven without first confessing her death and burial.
Therefore, I would propose that we should preserve the ancient nomenclature “Dormition” to describe this great feast as
opposed to using the confusing, and often misleading, term “Assumption”. For only the former properly proclaims the
ancient teaching of her physical death and subsequent bodily ascent into paradise.
“For today Heaven spreads open its arms, receiving the Birth Giver of Him who cannot be con-
tained even by the totality of all living things together. And yielding up the Source of Life, the earth
is adorned with blessing and majesty”.
+Fr. Mark
Feast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady, The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary August 15th, 2010 Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection.

Faith and Science: Contradictory or complementary meanings?

By Michael G. Houlis
Over the past few years, there has been an unnecessary return to essays and
articles at the forefront of research, even by various positive scientists, on
the old, misunderstood topic of the “enmity” between Science and Faith, or,
Dear Stewards and Friends,
Logic and Religion. This phenomenon is being fuelled once again, mostly by
representatives of the positive sciences, but also by circles of the more con-
The 2010 Greek Festival is less than one month away! It is an opportunity to servative in America, who are opposed to the contemporary findings of Biol-
share our traditions with our community, to eat, dance and have fun. It is also a ogy, Astronomy, Physics, etc. with their verbatim interpretation of the first
critical component of our yearly budget by providing almost 20% of our yearly Chapter of the Holy Bible (Genesis) and who are also against certain
income. To maintain the financial viability of our Parish we have to ensure that branches of Science with scientific and religious criteria.
the Festival is successful every single year. The key to this success is you. The
time and talent brought by volunteers every year is what makes this Festival hap- We must make it clear from the very start, that Theology and Science do not
pen and grow every year. oppose each other by nature, given that Science concerns itself with the
structure and the functions of Nature, whereas Theology deals with God‟s
There is still time for you to help this year‟s Festival: revealed truth and with the Holy-Spiritual meaning of Life. Science can answer questions about how the world and the uni-
verse are made, but it cannot of course answer the questions of who created the universe and why. These last questions are the
There is a sign-up board in the Narthex of the Church. Please do sign up. business of Theology and by extension, of the Church. The great contemporary scientist Stephen Hawkins had stated that
If you can‟t work the whole weekend just pick the day/time that work for “even if science could manage to explain everything that happened from the birth of the universe to this day, it will not be
you. able to explain why.” (FOCUS magazine, vol.2, April 2000, p.80-84).
If you haven‟t signed up you may be contacted by Presbytera Michele who is coordinating the volunteers
this year. If she asks for your help please say “yes”. Science does not have the right to formulate methodologies by resorting to metaphysics (i.e., by accepting or rejecting God),
regardless whether each and every scientist is personally faithful or faithless. On the other hand, it is the duty of Theology to
You can donate items or money for the Silent Auction. The auction has been very popular lately. All
help us – from within the spiritual experience of the Church – to reach the (spiritual) heavens. Similarly, Theology does not
items are donated so there are no bills to pay – 100% of the proceeds go to the Church. Contact Loredana have the right to concern itself scientifically, either with how the “cosmic” heavens were created, or how Man appeared on
Jerghiuta for more information. Earth, because these are matters that preoccupy Science, not Theology.
Tell all your friends, co-workers etc. about the Festival. Point them to our web site http://
greekFestRochester.com where they can buy The purpose of the first chapters of the Book of Genesis is to reveal that the entire universe has a Creator-God - that it did not
discounted coupons. just happen to appear, as though by magic - and also, that the heavenly bodies and all of Creation are not “gods”, as was the
Put Festival posters at work (in break rooms, belief of the numerous idolatrous nations that surrounded Israel at the time. The intention, therefore, of the divinely-inspired
bulletin boards etc.). If you are in contact with authors was not to project any kind of science but rather, a sublime theology, for which purpose they utilized the religious and
local businesses ask them if they are willing to scientific knowledge that existed at the time. One cannot therefore regard the (purely auxiliary) scientific world-images of the
display our poster. Contact me if you need post- divinely-inspired authors‟ times as “divinely-inspired images”; only the theological message of the Bible is considered di-
ers, we can print them any time in the Church vinely-inspired. That is the ONLY sector of the Holy Bible that can be called infallible, and not necessarily the scientific
office. knowledge that has been utilized therein. We can therefore understand why the representatives of either side are not justi-
If you own a business you can lend us some of fied in their reactivation of situations and settings that had been contained over 100 years ago. Given the above, one discerns
your advertising time. If you have radio or TV how Science actually betrays itself, if and when it strives to discover the uncreated God through physical means, because by
clips use just a few seconds of your paid time to doing so, it is going beyond the boundaries of its own research. But certainly Theology is also not obliged to accept each
and every scientific theory that conflicts with the Christian world-theory on God and the world.
mention:
o that your business is supporting the In this context, Atheism does not have the right to use Science as its vanguard against Christianity and religions in general,
Rochester Greek Festival because when Science embarks on researching an absolute knowledge, it lacks the instrument, the object and the method re-
o the dates: August 27 to 29 spectively that can even come close to understanding the meaning of “God”, since the essence of God is beyond everything
o the web site greekFestRochester.com for absolute and is entirely inapprehensible. Atheist scientists, therefore, are not atheists thanks to any findings of their science,
more information but on account of a specific, materialistic ideology that they believe in.

In hope of yet another successful year, Faith and Logic, Religion and Science are not seen as conflicting, by well-meaning persons. Only the erroneous placements of
the representatives of each side are in conflict. Proof of this is the fact that eminent Christians, clergymen and laymen, as well
Dan Jerghiuta as the major Fathers of the Church, were also well educated for their time and some of them – for example Saint Basil the
Festival Chair Great – were also well versed in all the sciences. Wasn‟t the Belgian scientist Georges Lemaitre – the “father” of the “Big
djerghiuta@yahoo.com Bang” theory on the Beginning of the Universe – a priest? Weren‟t many of the Teachers during the Turkish Occupation, such
507-271-7688 as: Eugene Bulgaris, Nikephoros Theotokis, Methodios Anthrakites, Benjamin of Lesvos, e.a., also the first teachers of positive
sciences in our homeland, and at the same time priests? << continued in the September Edition >>
Feast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady, The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary August 15th, 2010 Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection.

Youth News
Maybe you have offered your help in the past and felt rejected. Maybe you never did and you don‟t know where to
start. Maybe you never knew we needed you. Whatever the reason were in the past, we ask for your help this year.
I have participated in the Greek Festival for many years in many different ways. First just being in attendance, then
helping one Saturday in the food line, later helping the whole weekend, cooking in the kitchen, setting up, tearing
down, and lately organizing.

In all these roles I enjoyed it and had my share of frustrations. I want to share with you some of the imperfections we
all notice and explain why they should not keep you from participating:

● I don‟t know what to do – It‟s OK, most of us don‟t. Few of us cook or serve food the rest of the year. Give
it a try, try to imitate the others and by next year you will have your own system that works best for you.
● They seem to do fine without me – No matter how short we are on help, we need to figure out a way to
The new school year is just around the corner and so too is a new Church School year. It has been a few years since we serve all our customers. Hopefully we always look like we are doing fine. In reality when we‟re short on
had a Church School registration, so it's time again. It's important to have an accurate list of names, grades and parent staff the workers are stressed, tired, hungry and have no time to think of how to do things differently. Con-
email addresses for all of the youth in the parish so that we can serve them as best we can and communicate with the par- tact the Volunteer Coordinator and we will find a place for you to help or somebody to replace.
ents. Calli Kelly will be heading up this registration effort during coffee hour in the first part of August. ● I see the same people every year, they know what they are doing – actually this is a problem. There are
people who have been doing the same thing every year for many years. They are very good at it but they‟re
All children ages 3 years through high school should be registered. Questions, contact Calli: callikelly@pitel.net. The not getting any younger. We need new people to learn
first day of Church School will be Sunday, September 12th and will run through May 22nd, 2011 with a few breaks for and eventually take over.
Christmas and liturgical processions during lent. On Church School Sundays, children should go directly to their desig- ● I don‟t know anybody – this is always true in the
nated classrooms immediately following Communion. beginning. It turns out that the best way to know peo-
ple is to work together.
Class duration will range from 30 minutes for the younger children to 45 minutes for the GOYAs. Please do not disturb ● I‟m wasting my time. There‟s too many of us here
classes that are in progress by pulling your child out early or by participating in loud conversations outside the class- – this is a great problem to have. You‟re probably at a
room. There is a slight change this year to the age groupings, so check the list and make sure your child is in the correct less busy time of the day, perfect for a break to rest,
class: eat or just have fun and dance. If you leave now we
will be shorthanded when the rush hour comes.
Pre-K: Connie J, Stephanie S, Presbytera Michelle; meet in partition room #1 downstairs ● I‟ve worked all day in this heat. Why do you make
me pay $3 for a drink? – It is true that we ask you to
K-1 grade: Loredana J., Calli K.; meet in partition room #2 downstairs pay for the food and drink you consume. We recog-
nize the risk of getting dehydrated and in recent years
2-3 grades: Kris B., Kathy L.; meet in the SW room downstairs we bought bottled water in bulk for the volunteers.
We usually store it in the food cooler. If you don‟t
4-6 grades: Carl V. Terri M.; meet in the back room upstairs (old clergy office) know where it is, just ask. You can also bring your
preferred drinks and store them in the same coolers.
GOYA: Trevor H, Halina W., Bernie L.; meet in the library We ask you though not to bring any alcohol as it
would be tempting and easily accessible to underage
The GOYAs have been working hard all summer raising money for their mission trip to Project Mexico by staining decks helpers.
and cleaning parking lots. They will be in Mexico from August 10-16 and will give trip presentation to the parish in Sep-
tember. Please pray for a safe and spiritually fulfilling trip. Dan Jerghiuta
Festival Chair
Family camp will be held October 8-10 at Camp Wapogasset in Amery, Wisconsin. This year‟s speaker for family camp djerghiuta@yahoo.com
will be Father Tim Sas, formerly of St. Mary‟s Greek Orthodox Church and currently the priest at Twelve Apostles Greek 507-271-7688
Orthodox Church. SAVE THE DATE! Detailed registration information will be sent out in August.
Feast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady, The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary August 15th, 2010
A Poem on the Transfiguration
by St. Ephraim the Syrian
And after six days he took Simon Peter and James and John his brother to a very high mountain and he was transfigured before
them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white like light‟. Men whom he said would not taste death until
they saw the image of his coming, are those whom he took and led up the mountain and showed them how he was going to come
on the last day in the glory of his divinity and in the body of his humanity.
He led them up the mountain to show them who the Son is and whose he is. Because when he asked them, `Whom do men say the
Son of man is?‟ They said to him, “some Elias, others Jeremias, or one of the Prophets.” This is why he leads them up the moun-
tain and shows them that he is not Elias, but the God of Elias; again, that he is not Jeremias, but the one who sanctified Jeremias
in his mother‟s womb; not one of the Prophets, but the Lord of the Prophets, who also sent them. And he shows them that he is the
maker of heaven and earth, and that he is Lord of living and dead. For he gave orders to heaven and brought down Elias, and
made a sign to the earth and raised up Moses.
He led them up the mountain to show them that he is the Son of God, born from the Father before the ages and in the last times
incarnate from the Virgin, as he knows how, born ineffably and without seed, preserving her virginity incorrupt; for wherever
God wills it, the order of nature is overcome. For God the Word dwelt in the Virgin‟s womb, and the fire of his divinity did not
consume the members of the Virgin‟s body, but protected them carefully by its nine month presence. He dwelt in the Virgin‟s
womb, not abhorring the unpleasant smell of nature, and God incarnate came forth from her to save us.
He led them up the mountain to show them the glory of the godhead and to make known to them that he is the redeemer of Israel,
as he had shown through the Prophets, and they should not be scandalized in him when they saw his voluntary sufferings, which
as man he was about to suffer for us. For they knew him as a man, but did not know that he was God. They knew him as son of
Mary, going about with them in the world, and he made known to them on the mountain that he was Son of God and God. They
saw that he ate and drank, toiled and rested, dozed and slept, things which did not accord with his divine nature, but only with his
humanity, and so he took them to the mountain that the Father might call him Son and show that he is truly his Son and that he is
God.
He led them up the mountain and showed them his kingship before his passion, and his power before his death, and his glory be-
fore his disgrace, and his honor before his dishonor, so that, when he was arrested and crucified by the Jews, they might know that
he was not crucified through weakness, but willingly by his good pleasure for the salvation of the world. He led them up the
mountain and showed the glory of his divinity before the resurrection, so that when he rose from the dead in the glory of his di-
vine nature, they might know that it was not because of his harsh toil that he accepted glory, as if he lacked it, but it was his be-
fore the ages with the Father and together with the Father, as he said as he was coming to his voluntary passion, `Father, glorify
me with the glory which I had with you before the world existed‟.
Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection.
Homily on the Dormition
by St. Gregory Palamas
The death of the Theotokos was also life-bearing, translating her into a celestial and immortal life and its commemoration is a
joyful event and festivity for the entire world. It not merely renews the memory of the wondrous deeds of the Mother of God,
but also adds thereto the strange gathering at her all-sacred burial of all the sacred apostles conveyed from every nation, the
God-revealing hymns of these God-possessed ones, and the solicitous presence of the angels, and their choir, and liturgy round
about her, going on before, following after, assisting, opposing, defending, being defended. They labored and chanted together
to their uttermost with those who venerated that life- originating and God-receiving body, the saving balsam for our race and
the boast of all creation; but they strove against and opposed with a secret hand the Jews who rose up against and attacked that
body with hand and will set upon theomachy. All the while the Lord Sabaoth Himself, the Son of the Ever-Virgin, was present,
into Whose hands she rendered her divinely-minded spirit, through which and with which its companion, her body, was trans-
lated into the domain of celestial and endless life, even as was and is fitting. In truth, many have been allotted divine favor and
glory and power, as David says, "But to me exceedingly honorable are Thy friends, O Lord, their principalities are made ex-
ceeding strong. I will count them and they shall be multiplied more than the sand" (Ps. 138:17). And according to Solomon,
"many daughters have attained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but she doth exceed, she hath surpassed all, both men and
women" (cf. Prov. 31:29). For while she alone stood between God and the whole human race, God became the Son of Man and
made men sons of God; she made earth heavenly, she deified the human race, and she alone of all women was shown forth to
be a mother by nature and the Mother of God transcending every law of nature, and by her ineffable childbirth-the Queen of all
creation, both terrestial and celestial. Thus she exalted those under her through herself, and, showing while on earth an obedi-
ence to things heavenly rather than things earthly, she partook of more excellent deserts and of superior power, and from the
ordination which she received from heaven by the Divine Spirit, she became the most sublime of the sublime and the su-
premely blest Queen of a blessed race.
But now the Mother of God has her dwelling in Heaven whither she was today translated, for this is meet, Heaven being a suit-
able place for her. She "stands at the right of the King of all clothed in a vesture wrought with gold and arrayed with divers
colors" (cf. Ps. 44:9), as the psalmic prophecy says con- cerning her. By "vesture wrought with gold" understand her divinely
radiant body arrayed with divers colors of every virtue. She alone in her body, glorified by God, now enjoys the celestial realm
together with her Son. For, earth and grave and death did not hold forever her life-originating and God-receiving body -the
dwelling more favored than Heaven and the Heaven of heavens. If, therefore, her soul, which was an abode of God's grace,
ascended into Heaven when bereaved of things here below, a thing which is abundantly evident, how could it be that the body
which not only received in itself the pre-eternal and only-begotten Son of God, the ever-flowing Wellspring of grace, but also
manifested His Body by way of birth, should not have also been taken up into Heaven? Or, if while yet three years of age and
not yet possessing that super- celestial in-dwelling, she seemed not to bear our flesh as she abode in the Holy of Holies, and
after she became supremely perfect even as regards her body by such great marvels, how indeed could that body suffer corrup-
tion and turn to earth? How could such a thing be conceivable for anyone who thinks reasonably'? Hence, the body which gave
birth is glorified together with what was born of it with God-befitting glory, and the "ark of holiness" (Ps. 131:8) is resurrected,
after the prophetic ode, together with Christ Who formerly arose from the dead on the third day. The strips of linen and the
burial clothes afford the apostles a demonstration of the Theotokos' resurrection from the dead, since they remained alone in
the tomb and at the apostles' scrutiny they were found there, even as it had been with the Master. There was no necessity for
her body to delay yet a little while in the earth, as was the case with her Son and God, and so it was taken up straightway from
the tomb to a super-celestial realm, from whence she flashes forth most brilliant and divine illuminations and graces, irradiat-
ing earth's region; thus she is worshipped and marvelled at and hymned by all the faithful . Willing to set up an image of all
goodness and beauty and to make clearly manifest His own therein to both angels and men, God fashioned a being supremely
good and beautiful, uniting in her all good, seen and unseen, which when He
made the world He distributed to each thing and thereby adorned all; or rather
one might say, He showed her forth as a universal mixing bowl of all divine,
angelic and human things good and beautiful and the supreme beauty which
embellished both worlds. By her ascension now from the tomb, she is taken
from the earth and attains to Heaven and this also she surpasses, uniting those
on high with those below, and encompassing all with the wondrous deed
wrought in her. In this manner she was in the beginning "a little lower than the
angels" (Ps. 8:6), as it is said, referring to her mortality, yet this only served to
magnify her pre-eminence as regards all creatures. Thus all things today fit-
tingly gather and commune for the festival.