Οι Πατέρες της Εκκλησίας για την Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου

Η Κοίμησις της Θεοτόκου. Τοιχογραφία στο Καθολικό της Ιεας Μεγίστης Μονής Βατοπαιδίου Αγίου Όρους

πρωτοπρεσβυτέρου Δημητρίου Αθανασίου

Το γεγονός της Κοιμήσεως ή Μεταστάσεως της Θεοτόκου, όπως ήταν φυσικό, δεν ενέπνευσε μόνο τους μεγάλους υμνογράφους και αγιογράφους, αλλά και πολλούς Πατέρες της Εκκλησίας μας, οι οποίοι αφιέρωσαν σ’αυτό είτε ειδικές Ομιλίες είτε αποσπάσματα – αναφορές. Άλλωστε δεν ήταν δυνατό να συμβεί διαφορετικά. Στο πάνσεπτο πρόσωπο της Παναγίας «νενίκηνται της φύσεως οι όροι» σε πολλές φάσεις της ζωής της: Ούσα Παρθένος γέννησε τον Ιησού Χριστό, το δεύτερο πρόσωπο της Αγίας Τριάδος. Έμεινε Παρθένος πριν, κατά και μετά τη γέννησή Του. Είναι αειπάρθενος. Και όταν ως άνθρωπος απέθανε και τότε νικήθηκαν «της φύσεως οι όροι», αφού «τάφος και νέκρωσις» δεν την κράτησαν στη γη, διότι «ως ζωής Μητέρα, προς την ζωήν μετέστησεν, ο μήτραν οικήσας αειπάρθενον».

Η φράση του  Απολυτίκιου της εορτής της «Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου»

The Dormition of Theotokos (3)

Sermon (3) by St. John of Damascus

LOVERS are wont to speak of what they love, and to let their fancy run on it by day and night. Let no one therefore blame me, if I add a third tribute to the Mother of God, on her triumphant departure. I am not profiting her, but myself and you who are here present, putting before you a spiritual seasoning and refreshment in keeping with this holy night. We are suffering, as you see, from scarcity of eatables. Therefore I am extemporising a repast, which, if not very costly nor worthy of the occasion, will certainly be sufficient to still hunger. She does not need our praise. It is we who need her glory. How indeed can glory be glorified, or the source of light be enlightened? We are weaving a crown for ourselves in the doing. «I live,» the Lord says, «and I will glorify those who glorify Me.» [202] Wine is truly pleasant to drink, and bread to eat.

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The Dormition of Theotokos (2)

Sermon (2) by St. John of Damascus

THERE is no one in existence who is able to praise worthily the holy death of God’s Mother, even if he should have a thousand tongues and a thousand mouths. Not if all the most eloquent tongues could be united would their praises be sufficient. She is greater than all praise. Since, however, God is pleased with the efforts of a loving zeal, and the Mother of God with what concerns the service of her Son, suffer me now to revert again to her praises. This is in obedience to your orders, most excellent pastors, so dear to God, and we call upon the Word made flesh of her to come to our assistance. He gives speech to every mouth which is opened for Him. He is her sole pleasure and adornment. We know that in celebrating her praises we pay off our debt, [172] and that in so doing we are again debtors, so that the debt is ever beginning afresh.

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The Dormition of Theotokos (1)

Sermon by St. John of Damascus

THE memory of the just takes place with rejoicing, said Solomon, the wisest of men; for precious in God’s sight is the death of His saints, according to the royal* David. If, then, the memory of all the just is a subject of rejoicing, who will not offer praise to justice in its source, and holiness in its treasure-house? It is not mere praise; it is praising with the intention of gaining eternal glory. God’s dwelling-place does not need our praise, that city of God, concerning which great things were spoken, as holy.† David addresses it in these words: «Glorious things are said of thee, thou city of God.» What sort of city shall we choose for the invisible and uncircumscribed God, who holds all things in His hand, if not [148] that city which alone is above nature, giving shelter without circumscription* to the supersubstantial Word of God? Glorious things have been spoken of that city by God himself. For what is more exalted than being made the recipient of God’s counsel, which is from all eternity?

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