The readings:

Phillipians 2:5-11
Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28

Paul's letter recounts the choice that Jesus made in being human. The Lukan reading recalls the story of Mary and Martha and how Mary "chose the greater part and it will not be deprived of her." The chapter 11 verses proclaim the blessedness of the Virgin.

These readings must also take into account the readings from Matins and Vespers which are the same readings as for the Annunciation.

Thus, the themes for this day are: death is directly derived from life and life itself arises from choice.

It is curious that we typically do not consider the Virgin as "choosing the better part for herself." Rather, we view her blessedness as arising from her sacrifice for all mankind. In the Mary and Martha story, I would have ascribed her "type" of holiness to Martha, the worker behind the scenes. Yet, it is the sacrifice that is the "better part." Her holiness derives from intimacy not from activity.

And intimacy is what we celebrate today. This is an intimacy that death cannot sunder, that death cannot destroy. It is the "greater part" that is chosen, that can be chosen by each of us.

The Dormition thus is a celebration of choice, a celebration of intimacy, and a celebration of victory over death.

John

Dear John,

Right you are!

But, for me, the Dormition and its spiritual significance derives from the deuterocanonical New Testament tradition, on which the liturgical services are based, rather than from the New Testament itself.

The icon/shroud of the Dormition speaks volumes and conveys that intimacy, victory and glory of which you speak.

Happy Feast of the Dormition!

Alex

Alex,

I don't mean to get off the point but I've always considered the "Deuterocanonical" books to be part of the canon (i.e. 2 St. Peter, St. Jude, the Apocalypse, etc.) These were the disputed books which were spoken against (anti-logomena) which were ultimately "added to the canon" (which is why they have the name "Deutero-canonical" which refers to an added canon. The Old Testament deuterocanonical books include, Judith, Tobit, Maccabees, etc. Thus the word is similarily used for both Testaments.

I think the books you refer to like the "Proto-Evangelion of St. James" and other books like it are usually called the Psedopigrypha or the N.T. Apocrypha since they do not constitute our N.T. Scriptural Canon. (I have a very brief discussion of these books at this link:

http://www.geocities.com/wmwolfe_48044/apologetics.html

Finally, I agree with you that our faith in things like the Assumption etc. do not derive primarily from the Scriptures. Rather they derive from the historical Holy Tradition preserved in some of these above mentioned writings which the Church has always recognized as teaching us the truth even if they weren't ultimately canonized.

Let me know what you think.

My Dear Armenian Friend,

Yes, I stand corrected.

It would seem that some of my misguided Orthodox colleagues have taken to calling the Pseudepigrapha "Deuterocanonical."

And if you can't trust Orthodox Christians, who can you trust?

But I agree and find the reading of those books to be most spiritually nourishing.

In addition, and as our learned colleague Stuart is wont to point out, other Churches have their own local traditions with respect to Biblical Canons.

As you know, the Ethiopians add Enoch and Jubilees to the Old Testament and the 8 Apostolic Constitutions to the New Testament.

The Celts always included the Shepherd of Hermas and the Apostles' Creed in their New Testament Canon.

The Assyrians read the Gospel of Mary and the Protoevangelium of James etc.

The book on the Assumption of Mary is truly moving and a fitting accompaniment for reading on the Feast of the Dormition.

Alex

"The book on the Assumption of Mary is truly moving and a fitting accompaniment for reading on the Feast of the Dormition." -Alex

Thanks for the suggestion! I will do this tomorrow with my family as the Armenian Church celebrates the feast of the Assumption of the Asvadzadzeen (Mother of God). This is one of the five great feasts of our Church and we celebrate it with great solemnity.

We also have a ceremony for the blessing of the grapes. In it we have theological hymns and reflections which draw out Christian religious significance connecting this harvest ceremony with this great feast day. I hear other Churches do this too. Do you know of any who celebrate the blessing of the grapes?

Midday Hymn For the Feast of the Translation of the Mother of God.
Tone III.

Unfading flower, uncondemned scion, come forth anew from the root of Jesse; Isaiah had afortime proclaimed thee to be the vessel of the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit; Mother of God and virgin, we magnify thee.

Of the savoury fruit thou reasonable bough, from which was gathered for us the cluster of grapes for the inexhaustible joy of those who were sorrowful because of the tasting of the tree of knowledge. O holy immaculate, we all magnify thee.

Having led a spotless life in the flesh, thou wast this day shrouded by the apostles, but at the behest from above thou wast translated into the kingdom of thy Son and our God. O intercessor for us confessors, we magnify thee.


In Christ's Light,

Wm. Der-Ghazarian