Homily on the Dormition of the Theotokos:
The Glory and Honor of our Panagia Inseparably Linked to Christ
By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou
(Delivered in 2009)
The Glory and Honor of our Panagia Inseparably Linked to Christ
By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou
(Delivered in 2009)
On today’s Great Theometoric Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, a portion of the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians is read as an apostolic reading, which refers to the kenosis and humility of Christ. And one may ask: Why is a reading that refers to Christ read in the Church on such a day when we honor and glorify our Panagia?
The answer is that the glory and honor of our Panagia is inseparably linked to the glory of Christ. The Panagia was not simply a good person, a virtuous woman, as there were many virtuous women in the Old Testament, but she was the Mother of Christ. After all, this is what we chant in the Theometoric hymn: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the savior of our souls.” Everything within the Church refers to Christ and the glory that the Panagia enjoys is due to the “fruit of her womb,” since she gave birth to Christ.
Then, the apostolic reading refers to the mystery of the kenosis of Christ. Christ, without abandoning His divinity, assumed human nature from the Panagia, obeyed His Father until death on the cross, and thus the name of the God-man has great glory. Humility is exalting, obedience to the will of God is glory. This is the mystery of the divine economy, which our Panagia served.
This mystery of the kenosis-humility of Christ, observing the analogies, was also experienced by our Panagia. She obeyed God with all her heart, preserved her purity, lived with great humility, for this reason God glorified her and gave her the grace and ability to pray for the human race. God is Master, the Panagia is the Mistress. Just as the glory of Christ appeared on the Cross and in His Resurrection, so the glory of the Panagia appeared intensely during her Dormition, which is called glorious, but also the ascension-metastasis of her body into heaven.
The Son and Word of God became man in order to deify man, and this was first realized in the person of His Mother, the Panagia, who is called Theotokos, because she did not give birth to a mere man, but to the Son and Word of God.
All this shows that glory is connected with humility and honor comes from obedience to the will of God. Many people today seek glory from men, they seek to enjoy honors through human means and from men, but they are dissatisfied. Because human glory is called vanity, that is, empty - it is a hollow glory, it cannot give rest to the soul of man who seeks something authentic, complete, eternal.
The Panagia, with her humility and simplicity, with her obedience and love, with her sacrifice and offering, after Christ, is the model for all of us. Whatever glories and honors people offer us, whatever positions we may acquire, whatever hours we may have fun, all come and go, evaporate, disappear, like the dreams of the night and like smoke that dissolves in the atmosphere. In fact, many times they leave behind bitterness, sadness and pain. What remains is obedience to the will of God, humility and love, a peaceful Christian life.
I wish you many and blessed years and that the Panagia intercede with God for the spiritual progress of all of us.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
