From the "Doxastikon" of Elytis to the glory of the Virgintranslated

By Rev. Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden On the fifteenth of August, the Church does not simply attempt to explain to us the mystery of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mostly he sings it. He surrounds it with poetry, with images, with sounds, with light and with resurrected expectation. Theology becomes hymn, teaching becomes eulogy, and dogma takes on the beauty of poetry.

The Feast of the Dormition is full of sacred contrasts. We see death, but sing life. We stand before a grave, but expect a resurrection. The Apostles mourn, but the Angels rejoice.

The Mother separates from the world, but does not abandon her children, which is why the Church sings in the Apolytikion of the feast: "Do not fall asleep in the sleeping world, Theotokos; turn to life, mother existing of Life".

The Virgin moves towards Life, because she is the Mother of Him who said: "I am the resurrection and the life". Her death is a transition and entry into the fullness of communion with her Son.

Orthodox hymnography does not hide the fact of death. On the contrary, he transforms it with the light of the Resurrection. At Vespers of the feast we sing: "Oh of the strange miracle! The source of Life is commemorated and…