DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS

Hebrews 9:1-7              (10/1)              Epistle for the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos

 

The Holiest of All: Hebrews 9:1-7, especially vs. 1: “...indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.”  In seven verses the Apostle sketches the essential features of the earthly sanctuary that served for conducting divine services under the first or Mosaic covenant.  He delineates its first part or chamber and the furnishings there, the designated place where “...the priests always went...[for] performing the services” (vs. 6), as well as “...the second part [wherein] the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance...” (vs. 7).  Thus, Saint Paul identifies a type of the All-Holy, Birthgiver of God, the Virgin Mary and supplies an ornate icon for understanding her place in salvation and this Feast honoring her prayerful protection.

            As a golden censer (vs. 4), she offered herself as a receptacle to hold Christ, the Divine Incense, providing her maternal warmth, to release Him to the world as sweet fragrance that calls mankind to Himself - igniting and encouraging us to release holy prayers to God the Father.

            As the golden ark of the covenant (vs. 4), she held Christ Who made the Eternal Covenant between man and God - He being fully man as well as God the Word, Who, as God the Word, wrote the Covenant on the tablets that still provide mankind’s moral compass.

             Thus, she was the golden pot (vs. 4), and He the Manna from on High held in the pot, the very Food of Angels come down to nourish wayfarers in this life.

            Being from Aaron’s Priestly lineage, she served as the rod (vs. 4) providing her pure body through which the Bud and Flower of immortality blossomed forth for our salvation.

            As the mercy seat (vs. 5), she served as the throne of the royal Monarch-from-on-High, He upon Whom even the Cherubim may not gaze as they overshadow Him with their wings.

            These are details of the type, which eyes of faith behold.  What service the Theotokos provides!  What a self-offering to God and man!  These images of the Virgin give reason to the eyes of the heart to see why she is the unique one who first was granted to follow Christ into the heavenly realms from her tomb following her Dormition.  From her birth of aged parents (far beyond child-bearing years), to her years growing up in the temple, to her visitation by Gabriel announcing her motherly role in our salvation - all was preparation that she might serve as the well-furnished Holiest of All, within whom God Himself chose to dwell in coming among us.  Yet, like her Son, she displayed only deep humility, servant love, and great devotion!

            The veil of the Theotokos was carefully saved in Palestine.  In the late Fifth Century, two Byzantine Patricians on pilgrimage discovered it, brought it to Constantinople, and had a Church built in the Blachernae district to honor the relic.  A Feast Day on July Second recalls those events.  Also, there is an icon in her church in Constantinople that shows the Virgin spreading her veil as covering over the faithful.  She is depicted as ever ready with protecting prayers.  The icon records a specific appearance of the Theotokos in her church at Blachernae in the Sixth Century.  The records states that Epiphanios “...beheld the Virgin Mary above the faithful and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection of all Christians.”

            By b ringing together the special role of the Theotokos in our salvation and the honor given her by raising her body into Heaven following her Dormition, we may gain an appreciation of why Epiphanios’ vision of her as a prime intercessor for us with Christ and all the Holy Trinity is so compelling to our minds beset with needs:  Oh, that she would cover us in this hour with her saving prayers to God!  Surely her humble, devout, and honored prayers for us will be answered!

            O Virgin, thou dost invisibly protect thy people from the foe’s every assault.  Pray for us.

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