At
the time Mary was making all the arrangements for her repose, suddenly
there was a loud noise like thunder and a heavy cloud hovered over the
home of Saint John. By the command of God all the Apostles were seized
from different places in the world and brought on this cloud to
Jerusalem. All but Thomas were miraculously placed at the doorstep of
Mary. As we know from other stories in Scripture this kind of gathering
up was not an unique happening. Sometimes its hard to accept such
stories but if God could create the universe then nothing is impossible
in His eyes. Think of the miracle of the virgin birth, or the
resurrection and ascension of our Lord. With faith everything is
possible. So it is best not to close your mind or heart to such
potential happenings and place our faith in the all -powerful God, the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
This event is recorded in the writings of many of the Church Fathers.
Saint Cosmos (7th-8th c.) writes,
“carried
to Zion as it were upon a swift cloud, the company of the Apostles
assembled from the ends of the earth to minister to thee, O Virgin”
Saint John of Damascus (7th c.) writes,
“
It was right that the eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word should see
the Dormition of His Mother according to the flesh, even the final
mystery concerning her: hence, they might be witnesses not only to the
Ascension of the Savior but also to the translation of her who gave Him
birth. Assembled from all parts by divine power, they came to Zion, and
sped on her way to heaven the Virgin who is higher than the cherubim.”
The
Apostles rejoiced when they saw each other and wondered why the Lord
had gathered them in this place. Saint John met them and told them
about the imminent departure of the Theotokos. This news of her
imminent departure brought sorrow to their hearts. They entered the
room where the Theotokos lay on her bed and they saw that she had a
joyful appearance. They greeted her, “Blessed is the Lord who made heaven and earth!” She replied, “Peace to you, brethren, chosen by the Lord Himself.”
She then inquired about how they were able to get there and they
explained how the Holy Spirit had brought them there. She marveled how
they had come from such distant places. Then the Apostle Paul arrived
and he praised her saying “Rejoice, Mother of my life and my preaching!
Gazing on you now, I think that I see your Son. Then came Paul’s
disciples, St. Dionysios the Areopagite, St. Heirotheos, Apostle Timothy
along with others including the rest of the Seventy Apostles.
The
Mother of God called each of them by name and praised their faith and
work in preaching about Jesus Christ. She wished each of them eternal
beatitude and prayed for the peace of the whole world. She told them
what the angel had told her and about the Palm branch that was given to
her by the angel.
She told them, “The
Lord has brought you here for the consolation of my soul which , as our
mortal nature demands, is soon to be separated from the body. Already
the time appointed by my Creator draws nigh.”
They sorrowfully replied, “During
your life on earth we were consoled by looking on you as on our Lord
himself. But now deprived of your presence, how can we bear the sorrow
that fills our souls? But now by the will of Him who was born of you,
Christ God, you are going away to the heavenly home and it is
imposssible for us not to rejoice at God’s decision regarding you. At
the same time we cannot refrain from weeping that we are left like
orphans as we will no longer be able to see you, our Mother and
comforter.”
Notice
the important role Mary played in the life of the early church. The Apostles said that she "consoled them like the Lord Himself. The
feeling of being a "orphan" is surely an exclamation of the loss they
would experience in their separation from her.
Mary replied to them “Watch and pray with me, that when the Lord comes to receive my soul, He will find you watching.” They all promised and prayed the whole night with psalms and chants.
The beloved disciple John then spoke emphasizing the important role she played in the church.
My
Lady Mother of God and my Mother, thy beloved Son had left you as a
consolation; and now you shall leave us? In all the world what will we
humble Apostles have to console us? Who will teach and and guide us?
What here on earth will encourage us if you leave us?
Hearing this Mary wept. She said,
“ Do not Sorrow, my children, for you make me sad when I see you cry so.
Although I will be going to my Son, O friends of my Son, I will not be
apart from you, nor from those who call on me. No, I shall be an
intercessor and mediatress for all the Christians before my beloved Son.
Therefore do not weep. Do not darken my joy by your sorrow and
mourning. Rather rejoice with me, for I am going to my Son and God.
My body that I have prepared for burial put in the earth in Gethsemane.
Afterwords return to the preaching of the Gospel assigned to you. If
the Lord wills, you will see me after my departure.
Life of the Virgin Mary pp 453-454
Again
she explains her role would continue to be an important one even after
her death. She told them that she will be an intercessor and mediatress
for all Christians. She encouraged them to continue the important work
they had already begun. See how central she was to them? This was a
big loss for the Apostles but she assured them again and again that she
would be able to help in a different way after her death.
A Matins Hymn
“When
the translation of thy most pure tabernacle was being prepared, the
Apostles surrounded thy deathbed and look upon thee with dread. And as
they gazed at thy body, they were filled with awe. In tears, Peter
cried aloud to thee: “O undefiled Virgin, I see thee who art the life of
all mankind lying here outstretched, and I am struck with wonder: for
He Who is the delight of the future life make His dwelling in thee. Pray
the, fervently to thy Son and God to save the city from harm.”
Saint Gregory Palamas writes,
“The
precepts and encouragements which she gave to God’s heralds (the
Apostles) were sent throughout the whole world. thus she herself was
both a support and comfort while she was both heard and seen among men.
She labored with the rest in every way for the preaching of the Gospel.
In such ways, she led a most strenuous manner of life proclaimed in
mind and speech.”
(Homily 37 On the Dormition)
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