👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾What Does #Covenant #Mercy Mean?
Dear followers of the Orthodox faith, peace and greetings in the name of our Lord. Today, we present to you a teaching on the mystery of Covenant Mercy, that you may read it, learn from it, and be strengthened in faith.
The Meaning of Covenant
The word covenant is derived from the Gəʿəz verb that means to make a covenant, to swear an oath, to make a promise. This word is often used in the Holy Scriptures.
“These are the words of the covenant” (Deut. 29:1).
“I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel” (Jer. 31:31–33).
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one” (Ps. 88:3).
Covenant of Mercy
The Covenant of Mercy (Kidane Mehret) means the oath of mercy. It is one of the thirty-three feasts of the Virgin Mary celebrated by the Church.
After the resurrection, when our Lady was leaving the tomb of the Lord, she asked Him in prayer:
“My beloved Son, You took flesh from me, You dwelt in my womb for nine months and five days, and I followed You in all Your journeys. I beg You to hear my prayer.”
At that moment, the tomb shook and was split open. The Lord appeared with ten thousand angels and said to her:
“Peace be to you, Mary. What do you ask Me to do for you?”
And she replied:
Whoever celebrates my memorial,
Whoever has compassion on the poor in my name,
Whoever builds a church in my name,
Whoever gives alms for my sake,
Whoever names his son after me with faith and love save them, O Lord, from death of body and soul.
The Lord then promised her, saying: “My covenant is with you, O my Mother, in the name of the living God, in the Holy Spirit.”
The Covenant in Scripture
The word covenant is mentioned in the Old Testament about 280 times, often in connection with the word word. In the New Testament, it appears more than thirty-three times.
The word mercy also comes from the Gəʿəz tongue, meaning forgiveness, compassion, agreement, oath. A covenant of mercy, therefore, is firmer and weightier than any human contract.
God’s Covenant with His Saints
As the Psalmist says: “I have made a covenant with my chosen ones” (Ps. 88:3). God has made covenants with His saints and continues to do so. His covenant is always a covenant of mercy.
The writings of the holy fathers, mothers, and martyrs tell us that before their death, God often revealed Himself to them and gave them this covenant of mercy.
This covenant is not limited to their souls alone, but extends even to:
their names,
their crosses,
their clothing,
the books that recorded their deaths,
the soil they walked upon,
and the places where they struggled.
For this reason, we venerate holy places, for God has made covenants through them.
God Reveals the Time of Death
It is not unusual in the Holy Scriptures for God to reveal the time and manner of a saint’s death.
Christ told Peter the way he would die (Jn. 21:19; 2 Pet. 1:14).
Paul was told about his departure (Acts 20:25; 21:10).
“I will appear to him before his death” is also written (Sene Golgotha).
God does this not for the saints’ own benefit, but so that those who come after may be strengthened. The saints themselves have already finished their race, but through their covenant of mercy, we receive encouragement and salvation.
Continues 👇🏾