My
beloved spoke and said to me,
“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
come with me.
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.”
Song of Solomon 2, 10-11
My explications of the Patristic Texts
Epiphanius of Salamis (A.D.
377)
Panarion 78.23
“If the Holy Virgin had died and was
buried, her falling asleep would have been surrounded with
honor, death would
have found her pure, and her crown would have been a virginal one…Had
she been martyred according to
what is written: ‘Thine
own soul a sword shall pierce,’ she would
shine gloriously among the martyrs, and her
holy body would have been declared blessed, for by
her did the light come to
the world.”
In the text, Epiphanius, the Bishop of Salamis, addresses a significant theological concept
regarding the fate of Mary, the mother of Jesus, known as the
"Dormition" or "falling asleep." This term encapsulates the
belief that Mary did not experience a typical death but was rather taken up
into heaven, a notion reflecting her unique status in Christian theology.
St. Epiphanius contemplates the implications of Mary’s death, or lack thereof. He posits that if Mary had died and been buried, it would have been an occasion of immense reverence and honor due to her exemplary life characterized by purity, virtue, and unwavering devotion to God. This perspective underscores the esteem in which she is held within Christianity.
The discussion takes a deeper turn when Epiphanius considers the possibility of Mary being martyred. He suggests that such an event would elevate her significance even further, as martyrdom in Christian tradition entails a profound commitment to faith, often resulting in the individual being revered as a martyr. In this light, her body would be deemed blessed and cherished, indicative of the high regard accorded to martyrs.
Despite these contemplations, Epiphanius ultimately emphasizes that Mary’s true importance transcends her passing. He highlights her pivotal role as the mother of Jesus, stressing that her life and actions were integral to the arrival of Christ, who symbolizes enlightenment for humanity. Thus, while her death (or Dormition) could hold different meanings, it is her motherhood and the role she played in the incarnation that solidifies her enduring significance in the Christian faith.
In summary, Epiphanius reflects on the reverence for Mary’s figure, considering various interpretations of her departure from earthly life while affirming that her true legacy lies in her maternal connection to Jesus.
Gregory of Tours (575-593
A.D.)
Eight Books of Miracles
“The course of this life having been
completed by Blessed Mary, when now she would be called
from the world, all the
Apostles came together from their various regions to her house. And when
they
had heard that she was about to be taken from the world, they kept watch
together with
her. And behold, the Lord Jesus came with His angels, and taking
her soul, He gave it to angel
Michael and withdrew.”
At daybreak, however, the Apostles
took up her body on a bier and placed it in a tomb, and they
guarded it,
expecting the Lord to come. And behold, again the Lord stood by them. Having
received The holy body, he commanded that it be taken in a cloud into paradise:
where now,
rejoined to the soul, [Mary] rejoices with the Lord’s chosen ones,
and is the enjoyment of the good
of an eternity that will never end.”
St. Gregory recounts
the events following the completion of Blessed Mary’s life on earth. Upon
hearing that she was about to depart, the Apostles gathered together from their
various regions at her house. They kept watch together with her, knowing that her
passing was imminent. At that moment, the Lord Jesus arrived with His angels
and took Mary’s soul, giving it to angel Michael before departing. It was a
profound moment that affirmed Mary’s exceptional status as the Mother of God.
The following day,
the Apostles placed Mary’s body on a bier and laid it in a tomb. They guarded
it with great care, expecting the Lord to come. The scene is one of deep
reverence and devotion, as the Apostles recognized the importance of Mary’s
body and its connection to her life and spirit. And behold, once again, the
Lord stood by them. He commanded that the holy body be taken in a cloud into
paradise, where it was rejoined to her soul. This momentous event confirmed
Mary’s unique place in salvation history and affirmed the belief in the
afterlife and the idea of eternal life in paradise. Mary is now in paradise,
enjoying eternity with the Lord’s chosen ones, but in body and soul.
Modestus of Jerusalem (ante
A.D. 634)
Encomium in dormitionnem Sanctissimae Dominae nostrae Deiparae
semperque
Virginis Mariae
“As the most glorious Mother of
Christ, our Savior and God and the giver of life and immortality,
has been
endowed with life by him, she has received an eternal incorruptibility of the
body
together with him who has raised her up from the tomb and has taken her up
to himself in a way
known only to him.”
The text reflects a
veneration of the Virgin Mary, emphasizing her role as the Mother of Jesus
Christ, who is recognized as both Savior and God. It highlights several key
points.
The use of
"most glorious" signifies Mary's esteemed position within Christian
theology, particularly in Catholicism and Orthodox traditions. It underscores
the honor and reverence attributed to her.
The phrase “endowed
with life” points to the belief that Mary was given a special grace and life by
Christ. It suggests a divine purpose and an intimate connection between her and
Jesus, reinforcing her significance in the Christian narrative.
Eternal
incorruptibility suggests that her death was raised to a state of eternal life
without decay. It signifies her purity and virtuous life, in which she shares a
unique participation in the resurrection of Christ.
The phrase “Taken Up
to Himself” indicates the belief in the Assumption of Mary, the doctrine that
she was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. It emphasizes the mystery of
divine action and suggests that this event is known fully only to God.
In summary, the text
encapsulates profound theological beliefs regarding Mary’s role, her
relationship with Christ, and her exalted status after death, combining themes
of honor, divine grace, and mystery.
Theoteknos of Livias (ante
A.D. 650)
Homily on the Assumption
“It was fitting …that Mary’s most holy body, God-bearing body,
the receptacle of God, divinized,
incorruptible, illuminated by divine grace
and full glory …should
be entrusted to the earth for a
little while and raised up to heaven in glory,
with her soul pleasing to God.”
St. Theoteknos,
Bishop of Livias, affirms that the mother of Jesus was taken up bodily into
heaven at the end of her earthly life. He uses a range of adjectives to
describe the nature of Mary’s body, including “holy,” “divinized,”
“incorruptible,” “illuminated by divine grace,” and “full of glory.” These
adjectives emphasize the extraordinary nature of Mary’s physical being and
suggest she was a person of great spiritual significance. The author also notes
that Mary’s soul was pleasing to God, underscoring her spiritual purity and
moral righteousness. The text implies that Mary’s assumption was a fitting end
to her life on earth, given her exceptional character and central role in the
story of salvation.
Germanus of Constantinople
(ante A.D. 733)
Sermon 1
“You are she who, as it is written,
appears in beauty, and your virginal body is all holy, all chaste, entirely the
dwelling place of God so that it is henceforth completely exempt from
dissolution into dust. Though still human, it has been changed into a heavenly
life of incorruptibility, truly living and glorious, undamaged and sharing in
perfect life.”
The Bishop of
Constantinople describes a female figure in great detail. According to the
passage, she is known for her beauty and purity, emphasized by the phrase “she
who appears in beauty.” The passage describes her body as holy and chaste,
which suggests that she is virtuous and pure in mind and body. Furthermore, he
suggests that this woman’s body has been transformed into a dwelling place of
God. This implies that she is spiritually connected to a higher power and has
been blessed with divine grace.
As a result of this
transformation, her body has become exempt from decay and will not dissolve
into dust. In other words, her body has been elevated to a higher spiritual
plane, where it is no longer subject to the limitations of human mortality.
Despite being human, Germanus suggests that this woman’s body has been
transformed into a heavenly state of incorruptibility. This implies that her
body has been purified, perfected, and has become truly living and glorious.
Germanus further emphasizes that her body is undamaged and shares in perfect
life, suggesting that it has been elevated to eternal bliss and joy.
John of Damascus (ante A.D.
749)
Dormition of Mary
“It was fitting that the she, who
had kept her virginity intact in childbirth, should keep her own
body free from
all corruption even after death. It was fitting that she, who had carried the
Creator as a child at her breast, should dwell in the divine tabernacles. It
was fitting that the
spouse, whom the Father had taken to himself, should live
in the divine mansions. It was fitting
that she, who had seen her Son upon the
cross and who had thereby received into her heart the
sword of sorrow which she
had escaped when giving birth to him, should look upon him as he sits
with the
Father. It was fitting that God’s Mother should possess what belongs to her Son
and that
she should be honored by every creature as the Mother and handmaid of
God.”
The passage reflects
on the life, death, and ultimate destiny of the Virgin Mary, the mother of
Jesus. St. John of Damascus begins by highlighting Mary’s unique and
significant role in the history of Christianity. He notes that Mary remained a
virgin even after giving birth to Jesus, which was seen as a miraculous and
fitting sign of her purity and devotion. The author then emphasizes that Mary’s
life was marked by her faithfulness, devotion, and suffering. He emphasizes
that Mary nourished Jesus, the Creator of the universe, as a child; therefore,
it was fitting that she reside in the divine dwelling places. Mary’s motherhood
was also seen as an essential part of her role in the life of Jesus, and the
text suggests that it was fitting for her to be honored by every creature as
the mother and servant of God.
Furthermore, the
text highlights the depth of Mary’s suffering as she witnessed her son’s
crucifixion and shared in his sorrows. The author notes that Mary’s suffering
was also seen as a sign of her faithfulness and devotion to God. He suggests it
was fitting for Mary to look upon her son as he sits with the Father, having
escaped the sword of sorrow when giving birth to him. The Damascene concludes by
emphasizing that God’s mother should have possessed what rightfully belongs to
her son, Jesus. It celebrates Mary’s unique relationship with Jesus; all
Christians should aspire to emulate her purity, devotion, and faithfulness as
exemplary qualities. Overall, this passage from The Dormition of Mary is a
powerful tribute to Mary’s life and legacy, and its message is one of hope,
faith, and devotion to God.
And
Mary said:
My soul does magnify the Lord.
And my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
For he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid;
behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because he that is mighty has done great things to me;
and holy is his name.
Luke 1, 46-49
