“Today, the Mother of God shows us that death becomes a dormition through the Saviour Christ, who shows us that death becomes Resurrection,” said Bishop Atanasie of Bogdania on August 15 at Putna Monastery.
Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuți, together with his Assistant Bishop Damaschin of Dorna and Italy’s Assistant Bishop Atanasie of Bogdania, concelebrated at the Divine Liturgy on the patronal feast of Putna Monastery.
The Role of the Mother of God in Scripture
The assistant bishop to the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy reflected on how the Mother of God is presented in the Holy Scriptures, particularly in the moments of the Annunciation, during her meeting with Elizabeth, and at the Cross of the Saviour.
“We learn from these three Gospel-reported encounters that in all things, we must show ourselves obedient to the Lord, just as the Mother of God did when the Archangel Gabriel announced and placed in her heart this mystery, which we call ‘the mystery hidden from eternity and unknown to the angels.'”
The Mother of God Restores Paradise
The assistant bishop explained that through her “utterly unique” obedience, akin to a mystery, “the Mother of God restores the lost Paradise in our hearts.”
Therefore, the hierarch continued, “at this wonderful feast, we are all called to obey only the word of God, to set aside not only all worldly care but also all fallenness, weakness, and sin.”
The Dormition: A Summer Pascha
“How beautifully our Fathers spoke of this fasting season, which is a continuation of Great Lent because the celebration of the Dormition is nothing but a summer Pascha, a mystical resurrection that today shows us that she is the first to taste Resurrection,” the bishop added.
“She is the one who testifies to Christ as the Son of the living God, who comes to give life and resurrection to all who believe in Him.”
The Mystery of Light and Death Revealed
“The Lord praises Mary and the part she has chosen, but He also reveals a mystery when a woman from the crowd praises and blesses not only Him but also the Mother of God, who bore Him. She is the most blessed, pure, and well-blessed,” said Bishop Atanasie of Bogdania.
In conclusion, the assistant bishop of the Diocese of Italy explained that “the Mother of God reveals to us today the mystery of light, the mystery of death, which through her becomes sleep for all of us, restoring life to us.”
Photo: Putna Monastery / Facebook
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