The Profound Significance of the #Fast of #Assumption of Our Lady, the Virgin #Mary
Beloved brethren in the Lord and cherished children of the Holy Church,
It is with great reverence and solemn joy that I address you today concerning the sacred observance of the Fast of Assumption of our Lady, the Virgin Mary, held dearly by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church from the 1st to the 16th of Nehase each year. This period marks a profound celebration of the Holy Virgin Mary’s assumption, wherein we are called to reflect deeply on her assumption, or 'Fleshte Atsem,' from earthly dwelling to her glorified rest in the heavenly abode.
The Theological Foundation of the Fast
The term 'assumption' herein refers not to a terrestrial journey but to a divine transition from the temporal to the eternal, guided by the Almighty. The sanctified body of our Blessed Mother, having completed its earthly journey, was assumed into heaven, as was preordained by her Divine Son. This sacred transition is celebrated as her 'assumption,' akin to the movement of holy relics by divine will.
Prophet David, in his spiritual foresight, heralded this event, proclaiming, "O Lord, arise to your rest, you and the ark of your temple" (Psalm 132:8). Here, the 'ark' symbolizes the Blessed Virgin, the bearer of the Divine Word, signifying her pivotal role in the divine dispensation of salvation. Further, he adorns her in celestial royalty, saying, "The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold" (Psalm 45:9), depicting her exalted place beside her Son in the heavenly realm.
King Solomon’s lyrical invocations, "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away" (Song of Solomon 2:10), beautifully capture the ascent of the Virgin Mary, inviting her into the eternal spring of the heavenly kingdom.
Observances of the Fast
1. Monastic Observance: Our monastic fathers and mothers engage in a rigorous spiritual retreat. Confined within the sanctity of their cells, they embrace solitude, abstaining from worldly interactions and sustenance derived from animals. Their sustenance during this fast consists merely of corn and water, following the celebration of the Mass. This period is enriched with visions and divine manifestations of the Virgin Mary, affirming her intercessory presence.
2. Clerical and Lay Pilgrimage: Many of our faithful, both clergy and laity, undertake pilgrimages to monasteries and parishes, dedicating themselves entirely to fasting and prayer. This detachment from familial and societal duties allows for a profound spiritual renewal, through which many receive blessings and graces.
3. Vigilant Service by Church Fathers: The servants of the Holy Church devote these days and nights to unceasing prayer, liturgical services, and the spiritual edification of the congregation. They stand as intermediaries, offering prayers, teaching the Holy Scriptures, and administering the sacraments, thus fortifying the faith of the believers.
4. Congregational Participation: Members of the congregation actively participate in nocturnal and diurnal prayers, engage in fasting, partake of the Holy Communion, and immerse themselves in the teachings of the Church. This time is also marked by acts of charity towards the less fortunate, embodying the virtues extolled by the Virgin Mary.
5. Inclusivity of Children: Even the youngest among us are brought to the church, cradled in their parents' arms, to partake in the blessings of the Holy Communion and to be nurtured in the faith from their tenderest years.
6. Liturgical and Devotional Focus: Throughout this fast, the liturgy and prayers intensively reflect on the Virgin Mary’s eternal virginity, her role as the Mother of God, and her son's divinity. This period is steeped in theological reflection, drawn from the profound expositions of saints like Ephraim the Syrian and Saint Jared, whose writings celebrate the Virgin's virtues and her divine motherhood.
The Ineffable Mystery of the #Incarnation Expounded
Brethren, gather ye in the light of understanding as we delve into the profound mystery of how the Divine Word, co-eternal and consubstantial with the Father and the Holy Spirit, assumed humanity. Let us with careful and pious minds consider the teaching before us, reflecting upon each element with the diligence of a scribe and the awe of a pilgrim approaching holy ground.
The Preliminary State: Divinity and Humanity Distinct
Before the wondrous union of Tawahdo, divinity and humanity existed as two distinct natures and two distinct entities. Here, God the Son, omnipresent and omnipotent, shared one nature with the Father and the Spirit, yet stood apart from the manifold weaknesses of flesh, which encompasses earth, wind, fire, and water, and the soul's qualities—heart, prophecy, and life.
The Mystery of Fusion: Two Becoming One
The fusion, a divine mystery beyond human comprehension, entails the coming together of these two distinct natures—divinity and humanity—without alteration or dilution. This mystical union does not entail the physical enlargement of the divine or the diminution of the human but a sublime integration where each nature retains its properties yet becomes entirely united in the person of Christ.
Saint Theodosius and the Unified Nature
Saint Theodosius the Cenobiarch, with profound clarity, taught us that post-integration, we no longer speak of two natures but one. Echoing the ancient faith of our forebears, he professed that in Christ, divinity and humanity are not two but one, indivisible and singular, manifesting the fullness of God in the flesh.
St. Cyril's Proclamation of Unity
St. Cyril of Alexandria, a bulwark of orthodoxy, asserted the indivisibility of Christ’s nature through the analogy of economy, where the riches of the Word are as inseparable from the body as the body’s riches are from the Word. This unity signifies that in Christ, the divine and human are not merely adjacent but are profoundly one.
The Immutable Transformation: God Becoming Man
The transformation into flesh, as described by the holy fathers, was not akin to the changing of substances as seen in miracles like water turning to wine. Instead, it was a unique and singular event where the Word became flesh—fully God and fully man—without divinity converting into humanity or vice versa, an eternal union sanctified by the incarnation.
St. Gregory the Great on Divine Constancy
St. Gregory the Great illuminated this truth by teaching that the omnipotence of God, the Creator of all, did not diminish upon His incarnation. From eternity, as the Word, He was with God, and in time, born of the Virgin Mary, He became man, not altering His divine essence but humbling Himself to dwell among us.
The Irreversible Union
This union, unlike the temporal changes seen in nature—such as Moses’ staff transformed into a snake or the mixing of milk and water—remains forever unaltered and indivisible. St. Sawiros affirmed this, declaring the heresy of those who would suggest Christ's divinity could be separated from His humanity.
The Perpetual Presence of Divinity in Humanity
Saint Iokandios articulated that in every act of Christ, the divinity was never absent. Whether in moments of quiet solitude or in the agony of the cross, the divine nature was fully present, unseparated by any human act, underscoring the eternal and unchangeable devotion of God towards us.
The Unique and Wondrous Union
Thus, the union of divinity and humanity in Christ is not a mere juxtaposition nor a blending that alters the essence of either nature. It is a profound unity, likened to a sword sheathed in a scabbard or ink absorbed by the pages of a book, where each retains its distinct properties yet participates fully in a singular, divine mystery.