Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

The Theotokos, as she approached the end of her earthly life gathered the people of God around her. At her falling asleep, her Son appeared to those who were at her side being as present and as real to them as He was in His earthly life and ministry. The Church – the people of God, the Body of Christ – is the presence of Christ and bears witness to His work in the world today. The Church does this continually in her life, in the liturgy and sacraments, and in her ministry and service to those in need. We live in a time when many “experts” talk about the decline of the Christian Church. These fifteen days in August, when we prepare for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, are a time for all of us to make the presence of the Church, the reality of Christ in the world, more visible than ever, in prayer, in worship, in acts of charity, philanthropy and hospitality.

The Tradition of our Church relates that when the Virgin Mary learned that the time of her death was approaching, because she was informed of this by an angel, the Apostles of the Lord were miraculously returned to her bedside to be with her. She also called out to her friends and relatives to be with her. As one of the ancient texts describes it, Mary said, “Go and call my relatives and acquaintances; say to them ‘Mary calls you’…And when they came to her, Mary said to them: ‘Help me! For I am about to depart from this body to my eternal rest. Arise, then, and show me a great act of generosity. I do not ask you for gold or silver, because all these things are vain and corruptible. But I ask you for the generosity of remaining with me these next two nights.’” (Archbishop John of Thessaloniki). And for the next three days, the assembly sat at her bedside praying and singing hymns, until the moment when the Lord Himself appeared from heaven, entered the room and embraced the soul of His Mother.

As we enter these fifteen days of August, the Church calls us to gather at the side of the Virgin Mary. For these two weeks we are asked to abstain from certain foods in order to focus our attention on the coming of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Just as the Virgin Mary asked for the generosity of her family and friends to be with her, the Church invites us to avoid the distractions of summer entertainment and spend time with Mary. Fast from food and feast on the Orthodox faith and what it teaches about the Mother of God. Use these days to study Scriptures and the riches of our Orthodox Tradition.

Just as the ancient sources relate, Mary taught the followers of Christ even as she awaited death; they spoke about what Christ had taught them, and they praised the Mother of God. The disciples and others approached the Mother of the Lord with confidence; they opened their hearts and entrusted to her their joys and sorrows. The cycle of Paraklesis services during this period brings us to the Theotokos, offering us the opportunity to open our hearts and share our hopes and challenges with her, and to ask her to intercede on our behalf as she waits to be received by her Son and our Savior.

May each of us answer the call of Mary to be with her during these fifteen days. May we bring our cares and concerns to her. May our fast, our prayer, and all the deeds of our lives make the presence of Christ visible to all we encounter.

To those who celebrate their Feast Day in this period, whether on August 6th on the Feast of the Transfiguration, or on August 15th on the Dormition of the Theotokos, may you be blessed with many years!

With Love in Christ,
+ G E R A S I M O S
Metropolitan of San Francisco