The Nativity of the Theotokos – The context of salvation.

Posted on September 5, 2025 Tagged bible, christianity, faith, god, jesus, mary, Nativity of the Theotokos, Orthodox, Orthodox Canada, Orthodox Church in America, Orthodox mission, Orthodoxy, TheotokosLeave a comment

This week we celebrate the first feast of the Church year, the Nativity of the Theotokos. Although this is not a scriptural feast (Like the Annunciation) it nonetheless has been woven into the spiritual and liturgical life of the Church for many centuries. Indeed this can be a challenge for many people trying to understand Orthodox Christianity as it gives the impression that we are adding stuff to the Gospel, or that the scriptures are not enough. Yet if we scratch the surface of a feast like the Nativity of the Theotokos, we see that everything about Mary, is about her son Jesus, and the witness of the Lord’s saving love as revealed in holy scripture… or to quote Fr. Thomas Hopko ” The Gospel is not about Mary, but Mary is certainly about the Gospel!”

In all those feasts that are dedicated to her, what is brought to our attention is the whole economy (working out) of salvation. Her being conceived by Joachim and Anna (which we are celebrating), her nativity, her entrance into the temple (Nov. 21st), her conception of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ at the Annunciation of Gabriel (March 25th), and her Dormiton (Aug. 15th), speak with clarity about the love of God for His creation, and the length He goes to save us; “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men”(Phil. 2:6-7).

The through line of all that is celebrated those feast days that focus on her, is the principle that the Lord’s saving work was never demonstrated in a vacuum.

It started with Israel’s covenant with the Lord, and the struggles to follow Him as witnessed by the holy men and women who clung to the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets. This struggle continued with the righteous Joachim and Anna, who in faith conceived, and brought forth a child in their barren old age -Mary – who in the fullness of time brought forth her son and our saviour, Jesus Christ. Emanuel, God with us!

In the same way that the Lord worked with humanity, and through history, He continues to work with us; here and now. What was accomplished by the Old Testament those many prophets, kings, men and women like Joachim and Anna, who although “having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise^”God having provided something better for us,” (Heb. 11:39,40) is now accomplished by us through the grace of the Holy Spirit “poured into our hearts” (Rm. 5:5). For if the Lord in His love for Humanity, did not act independently or arbitrarily in His saving work in those days of old, why would he do it now?

This feast of the most holy Theotokos’ nativity is the perfection of a promise to redeem Israel and all humanity, manifested not in some awesome demonstration of divine power that would put most amazing CGI to shame, but in the most basic and natural way; through people willing to trust in the Lord, through a family.

Although not a part of scripture, this feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, profoundly expresses the scriptural principle of the Lord’s saving love – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved”. (Jn. 3:16-17). By the prayers of the most holy Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, and like the saints who throughout all the ages have placed their trust in Him (those “who hear the word of God and Keep it” (Lk. 11:28)).

May we also strive to work with a God who comes to save us, by being with us, by working with us, and profoundly, by being like us in every way except sin.

The Dormition Fast – it is about “us”.

Posted on August 1, 2025 Tagged bible, christianity, Fasting, jesus, prayer, TheotokosLeave a comment

As we enter the final month of summer holidays, we are presented with the two week fast, as being part of our preparation for the Dormition of the most holy Theotokos and ever virgin Mary. To be honest, no fast is easy, and I suppose that one could make an excuse to avoid fasting in any of the four major fasts (Great Lent, Advent, the Apostles fast, and the Dormition fast) yet these summer fasts always seem to be either waterdown or completely ignored. This is for obvious reasons, given that they happen when most of us are away on holiday, visiting family and friends, or just relaxing – not to mention it is a challenge trying to fast when no one else (family or friends) is fasting.

I more than understand the challenge of this fast, and as always, I recommend that if fasting rules can’t be entirely followed due to one thing or another, that we defer to modesty and restraint; we shouldn’t eat as much as we want, or as St. Cassian says “stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are satisfied”.

All this being said, fasting is more than just a diet, in fact the restraint from certain foods is only part of a fast. We are called to pray more, be less distracted, and be more charitable.

While it might be hard to refuse eating meat at a friend’s BBQ, or when traveling – there is generally nothing compeling us to spend hours upon hours scrolling on our phones, or inhibiting us from taking time to silence our thoughts, and pray throughout the day; let alone prohibit us from thinking, and more to the point – acting – in serving the needs of those who are in want. If we are being honest, making time for prayer, and charity are far more challenging than being vegan for a couple of weeks.

It is one thing to fast from food; but to put the phone down when one is bored, and pray for the people around you, or just say the Jesus prayer (Lord Jesus Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner) is something completely different – indeed it seems fruitless. It is one thing to fast from food; but to be in silence even for a few minutes, for the sake of recognizing both our brokenness and needs, and the love offered to us, is something completely different – indeed this is even uncomfortable. I suppose anyone can fast from food; but to pray for those in need – and more than that, to serve and provide for them, as we would desire and expect to be served (which is to say very well) is something completely different – indeed it is counterintuitive.

Fasting from food has profound value- and should not be outrightly dismissed, yet without our willingness to engage the counter intuitive, or uncomfortable, and seemingly fruitless “little things” like putting down our phones to pray or being in silence to be reflective, or put our prayer for those in need, by serving and providing for them, we open our hearts to see that it isn’t just about “me” – rather it is about the relationships that we have with those around us (whether they be friends, family or strangers) and our relationship with a loving God. It is about “us”.

After all, fasting in all its forms, is a way for us to see and understand the saving work of the Lord for each of us; and to see specifically that it is done for “us” by the Lord who humbles Himself to be with “us” (Cf. Phil. 2:7). The Dormition of the Theotokos is a feast that brings this all in sharp focus; for when the Theotokos said “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Lk. 1:38), she dismissed the concept of “me” and opened her heart to bear the Lord of Glory – being a part of what the Lord was doing for “us” in his saving love for humanity; by being with “us” as a child being carried in her womb like every person. Truly the Theotokos exemplifies that salvation is about “us” – the divine and the created.

Even in these heady days of summer, this feast which we are preparing ourselves for through fasting, prayer and charity, is the opportunity to broaden our perspective and follow the example of the most holy Theotokos. That we like her can bear Christ – in our own hearts – manifesting the love of the Lord for “us” to a world mired in the loneliness of isolation of individuality, the manifestation of the “me”.

By the prayers of the most holy Theotokos, may the Lord bless our fasting, prayers and charity with peace and mercy.

“As she is, we will be.” The feast of the Dormition.

Posted on August 14, 2024 Tagged Dormtion of the Theotokos, koimesis, Orthodox, Orthodox Canada, Orthodox Church in America, Orthodox mission, Orthodoxy, Panigia, Theotokos, Virgin Mary1 Comment

So much could be said about the importance of the feast of the Dormition the Theotokos (Aug. 15th). Indeed many, beautiful and illuminating commentaries have been composed by the Fathers of the Church that convey its importance. Yet Saint Andrew of Crete’s (who also composed the Canon that we sing in the first week of Great Lent) commentary on the Dormition, is one that I always come back to. Indeed St. Andrew sees in the Dormition of the Theotokos, a hope for humanity, with the simple phase “as she is (raised and glorified) we will be”.

Indeed by our struggle to be faithful, and work to live a life like hers (hearing the “word of God and keeping it” (Lk. 11:27)), we also will be raised on that last day to life eternal by the perfect love of her son Jesus Christ. Her empty tomb being the template for our empty tombs, her “deathless Dormition”, being the template of for our “translation to life” (as we sing in the Troparion of the feast) . For good reason this feast is known as the “summer Pascha” as it is a witness of God’s saving victory over sin and death (Jn. 5:25) manifested in the Dormition of His mother, and our beloved intercessor, who by her prayers will “deliver our souls from death”.