Homily on the Dormition of the Theotokos:
Rejoice Dawn of the Secret Day
By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou
(Delivered in 2011)
Rejoice Dawn of the Secret Day
By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou
(Delivered in 2011)
The feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos is a feast with a profound spiritual meaning, it is a continuation of the Resurrection of Christ. Christ received His body from the Panagia, resurrected it with His divinity, therefore the body of the Panagia also had to receive glory, honor and dignity. After all, all the gifts that the Panagia has are related to the fact that she is the Mother of Christ. Thus, today we celebrate the glorious Dormition of the Theotokos and her Metastasis into heaven. The Panagia experienced what all the saints will experience at the Second Coming of Christ and in the life that will follow.
The event of the Dormition of the Theotokos directs our thoughts to the basic issues of our lives related to death, repose, heaven, and God. We are usually busy with everyday life, with eating, drinking, working, having fun, going on trips and many other activities, but we ignore or bypass the problems that relate to existential questions, such as what life is, what death is, why there is death, where does man go after death, where are our loved ones who have left this world, how will we live the rest of our lives without them, and so many other questions that torment us in various ways.
Many have identified the fact that the greatest problem that afflicts a person in his life is not the financial one, but death. An example that confirms this fact is the death of a loved one. In such a case, nothing pleases us, the rich festive table does not satisfy us, the beauty of nature does not delight us, nothing in life makes us happy. Sometimes when we go through these states of mourning we are eccentric, we behave peculiarly, perhaps even aggressively, something that annoys and surprises the people who are close to us. Thus, death is the greatest social problem.
However, the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos shows us that even death in the Church, by the Grace of Christ, takes on a meaning that banishes all sorrow, since death does not lead man to loss, to nothingness, but to a relationship and encounter with other persons who have gone before us. Indeed, death is a passage, a passage from the land of exile to the true homeland, just as the Israelites passed from Egypt to the Promised Land, through the Red Sea. Such a passage is death, it is an encounter with Christ, the Panagia, the Saints, the Angels, it is an entrance into the Heavenly Church. Thus, death is not a dissolution, a rupture, a division, but an entrance into the Heavenly Church, when, of course, we live with its nostalgia and according to the will of God.
The sacred hymnographer, praising the Panagia, says to her: “Rejoice dawn of the secret day.” "Dawn" is the passage from darkness to light. How beautiful is the dawn when the sun begins to shine and rise! The Panagia shows us this spiritual dawn with her glorious ascension. "Day" is the uncreated Light of God that illuminates everything. And, of course, this day is "secret," which means that it is not understood by reason, the senses, but is granted to those who know how to love Christ with their hearts. They have hope, meaning of life, optimism.
The feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, beloved brethren, shows us that the Panagia is the dawn of the secret day and her death is a glorious Dormition, it is a meeting with her Son, as also She is the Mother of Life, She went towards life, since the grave and death did not hold her. The Dormition of the Theotokos is also for us the “dawn of the secret day,” it is the hope of life, the expulsion of tears and mourning. This reminds us of the words of the Prophet David: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps. 22:4). When someone loves Christ and lives with Him, they fear nothing, because He is the conqueror of death and the giver of life.
With this perspective, this Theometoric feast is an occasion of joy and gladness, not simply because we are on vacation, living in nature and enjoying the beautiful natural environment. The feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos gives meaning to our lives, or rather points us to this very Life, Christ. With this faith we overcome all obstacles, we cast away all sorrows, we calm our hearts.
I wish you all many years and that the Panagia, who is the “dawn of the secret day”, may rejoice our lives, may she guide us to the Light of this secret day, where Christ is.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
