Shunoyo Lent Day 2

 

Θεοτοκος ἐν Λειτουργιᾳ

(Meditating Holy Theotokos through the Divine Liturgy)

 

 

 

Hymn

 

Kanye munfalamayole

Rakshekk uravidam aayole

Ekaathmajanod arthikka

Njangalil aardratha thoneedan

(Kolo, Sheema Namaskaram, Saturday Evening)

English translation

O virgin, who was the source from whom life (salvation) was transmitted, beseech and implore your Son, that He have mercy on us.

 

“Rakshekk uravidam aayole”

(The one who became the source of salvation)

In Orthodoxy, St. Mary is given the most significant, first place in the Divine council of saints. In precised ecclesiological understanding, the term 'saints' refers to the persons who led a pious life witnessing the Truth, the Word Incarnate, the Messiah- Jesus Christ. That is why in the Holy Eucharist, when we offer Thubden prayers, we remember only the saints who witnessed and showed us through their life and teachings about the Messiah. It does not mean those before the birth of Messiah are not saints. They are occasionally remembered through kukliyon incensory prayers. So, in this Divine council, St. Mary is attributed as the queen of saints! Why do our Church venerate St. Mary as the queen of saints? Our today's hymn is an answer very much applicable to this. The Syriac Fathers sing and exclaim- "she is the source of salvation!" Though, the syriac word used here is "haaye", which means 'life', this word rarely, when used as plural with a verb, means salvation. Either usage is right. Well, Mary becomes source because it is through her, the potential of the salvation of fallen human kind was fulfilled. Because, the Divine needed the human faculties to make the salvation possible. In the Divine plan of salvation, the Incarnation, Crucifixion and Resurrection were prime events (bodily) to defeat the sin or the death! And for that, God assumed the human faculties from St. Mary to save the entire human race. In other words, for God to act in the saving history of humankind, He willed to assume the human faculties first. So the salvific act begun with choosing the most humble human! Let us take an example for better understanding. The act of writing a new content is a good example. You first need to comprehend the thoughts in mind. It is the thoughts which finally at some point becomes an action of writing and finally a write-up. There are certain human faculties involved in this act. The first thing is comprehension in mind, which follows certain arm mechanism and skills to produce into something. Likewise, St. Mary is the source through which God assumed the human faculties to bring salvation to the humankind. This choice of God should never be belittled. Because, all the accounts about St. Mary, mentioned in the Holy Bible teaches us to bless her memory the most! It is not mere a human act of venerating, but a veneration truly inspired by the Holy Spirit! Remember, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed seeing Mary- "Why has this happened to me, that the mother of my LORD comes to me?" That is, the title "Mother of the LORD" or Theotokos, is Holy Spirit inspired! That's why the Church gives her first position among the saints and exclaims in awe that the Mother of the LORD is the source of salvation! Even the public service of the Holy Qurbana begins with Priest saying- "Ninne prasavicha Mariyamum, Ninne Mamodeesa nalkiya Yohannanum, njangalkk vendi Ninnod apekshikkum..." May the intercession of St. Mary be a strong refuge for the salvation of God's own creation! May God bless us.

Prayers and Regards - Dn. Jipson Thomas