Sparta Efstathios on the Dormition of the Virgin: Let us honor the heritage of our Virgin Marytranslated

"Whatever the Lord says to you, do it", with these words begins the encyclical of the Venerable Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta and Efstathios for the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin. This saving word of the Virgin Mary, says His Holiness, "I offer you today as a message and slogan and I am asking you to guard this treasure and keep her covenant". The encyclical of the Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta

My Reverend Clergy and Beloved Christians,

This year we are honored to celebrate the great feast of Theotokos, the feast of her Dormition, and to participate sacramentally in the holy Easter of our Virgin Mary, in her passage from the life of this world to the life of eternity. At the same time, we reverently bring to mind the awesome Mystery that the Virgin lived and ministered. The paradoxical Mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and our Savior.

That pure Virgin of Nazareth becomes the Gate of Heaven and "a bridge that took them from earth to heaven". It becomes the burning and unburnt Reed. She becomes the Mother of the immeasurable God. She becomes the Mother of the God-man and Philanthropist Jesus. In her face "nature is overcome by the...