The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos: The "Summer Pascha"
Just as Jesus Christ is the perfect revelation of the uncreated God, “being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person” (Heb. 1:3), so too (if it is not too bold to say) the Mother of God is the perfect revelation of our created humanity — of all that God has created our humanity to be, and of all that His grace has given our humanity to become. The Mother of God reveals to us darkened sinners the true beauty and glory and joy of a human life that has been given wholly and unstintingly to her Son.
- Hieromonk Gabriel
I came across this odd, minimalist version of the festal icon:
I wouldn't put it in a church, but it does highlight the icon's central image: Christ receiving the soul of his Mother as she is born from life into Life. I've always loved the icon's image of the Theotokos as an adult being held like an infant, wrapped in cloths that could as easily be grave-wrappings or swaddling clothes.
During the Dormition season, the modern hymn Agni Parthene (O Pure Virgin) ran through my mind every day. The words were composed by St. Nektarios of Aegina in a collection that he published in 1905. Decades later, Hieromonk Grigorios of Simonopetra Monastery on Mount Athos set a selection of its verses to music. The hymn spread quickly through the Orthodox world and has become one of the treasures of the contemporary Church.
Here are:
- a recording (in Greek) by Serbian singer Divna Lubojevich;
- a recording (alternating Greek & English) by Eikona;
- a recording (more earthy!) by the monks of Simonopetra Monastery, where the hymn originated.
Here are the lyrics, as translated into English by Bishop Basil of Wichita:
O pure and virgin Lady,/ O spotless Theotokos
Refrain: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride! (after each line)
O Virgin Queen and Mother/ O dewy fleece most sacred
O height transcending heaven above/ O beam of light most radiant
O joy of chaste and virgin maids/ surpassing all the angels
O brilliant light of heaven above/ most clear and most radiant
Commanding chief of heavenly hosts/ O holiest of holies
O ever-virgin Mary/ O Mistress of creation
O Bride all-pure and spotless/ O Lady all-holy
O holy Mary, Bride and Queen/ and cause of our rejoicing
O Maiden Queen most hon'rable/ O Mother most holy
More precious than the cherubim/ more glorious than the seraphim
Surpassing principalities/ dominions, thrones and powers
Rejoice, song of the cherubim/ Rejoice, hymn of the angels
Rejoice, ode of the seraphim/ and joy of the archangels
Rejoice, O peace; Rejoice, O joy/ and haven of salvation
O bridal chamber of the Word/ unfading, fragrant blossom
Rejoice, delight of paradise/ Rejoice, life everlasting
Rejoice, O holy tree of life/ and fount of immortality
I supplicate thee, Lady/ I humbly call upon thee
O Queen of all, I beg thee/ to grant me thy favor
O spotless and most honored maid/ O Lady all holy
I call upon thee fervently/ thou temple most holy
O thou my help, deliver me/ from harm and all adversity
And by thy prayers show me to be/ an heir of immortality
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icon: by Victoria Movchij. That's all I know.
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IC XC NIKA
IC XC NIKA