From kidusmarkos.org, ethiopiantewahedo.org and ninesaintsethiopianorthdooxmonastery.org:
Week One, Day Seven
The Seventh Day
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Kidist Mariam (Holy Virgin Mary)
The Feast of the Dormition - Falling Asleep
of
The Blessed Ever-Virgin St. Mary
"Astario Mariam"
On the Twenty-first day of Tir, on the Western calendar, the Twenty-ninth of January, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church commemorates the Dormition (Falling Asleep) - "Astario Mariam" of the Most Blessed Ever-Virgin St. Mary, the Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Holy Gospels depict the Blessed Virgin St. Mary as having constant concern for Her Son, following Him in His journeys, always ready to help Him at any time, caring for His well-being and tranquility at home, which He always refused to take advantage of. Finally, we see St. Mary standing in indescribable grief by The Cross of Her Crucified Son, hearing His final words and commandments, entrusting her care to His beloved Disciple, St. John. Not a word of reproach or despair left her lips. She conceded all to the will of God. This was the time of her supreme greatness.
In the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, the Blessed Virgin St. Mary is shown as remaining with the Disciples of The Lord, and being present on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended in the form of fiery tongues. After that, according to tradition, the Blessed Virgin lived some 10 to 20 years. Fulfilling the Lord's will, the Apostle John took her into his home, and with great love, as if being her own son, he cared for her till the very end. When the Christian faith spread to other countries, many Christians came from far off countries to see and speak with her. From that time the Most Holy Virgin St. Mary became a mother to all of Christ's followers and a high example of virtue.
Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin St. Mary often went to offer prayers at the Holy Sepulcher of The Lord Jesus. There, while in prayer, she received a vision, in which the Archangel Gabriel once again appeared to her. He informed her that her time on earth had come to an end, and like all flesh, she too was to taste death soon.
The Lord arranged it so that toward that time the Apostles congregated in Jerusalem from the many parts of the world where they were preaching the Gospel. At the hour of her end, a bright light illuminated the room in which the Virgin St. Mary was lying. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, surrounded by Angels, appeared and received her soul. The Apostles buried her holy body, according to her wish, at the foot of the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane, in the cave where reposed the bodies of her parents and of her husband, the Righteous St. Joseph. During the burial, many miracles came to pass. By touching the bier of the Mother of God, the blind regained their sight, demons were exorcised, and many diseases were cured.
St. Thomas the Apostle was not present at the time of St. Mary's Dormition - Falling Asleep. He wanted to go to Jerusalem and a cloud carried him there. On his way, he saw the soul of St. Mary carried by the Angels and ascended to heaven with it. One of the Angels told him, "Make haste and kiss the pure body of St. Mary," and he did.
When St. Thomas arrived where the Disciples were, they told him about St. Mary's departure and he said to them, "You know how I conducted myself at the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and I will not believe unless I see her body." They went with him to the tomb, and uncovered the place of the body but they did not find it, and everyone was perplexed and surprised. St. Thomas told them how he saw the Blessed Virgin St. Mary's body and the Angels that were taking it into paradise. They heard the Holy Spirit saying to them, "The Lord did not will to leave her body on earth."
The Blessed Virgin St. Mary life on earth was a total of 60 years. She was 12 years of age when she left the Temple; she spent 34 years in Joseph's house, until the Ascension of the Lord, and 14 years with the Holy Apostle - Evangelist, Saint John, according to the commandment of the Lord which He told her at the Cross, "Behold, this is your son," and to St. John, "Behold, this is your mother."
Scriptural Readings and Prayers:
Week One, Day Seven
The Seventh Day
Morning Prayer
Make the sign of the cross as you or the priest say:
In the name of the Father and the Son…
Opening Prayer
Lord God, who are the source of our lives, giver of grace we ask you to help us and to enlighten us with your grace and to fill our heart with your fatherly love, today and always. Amen. Our Father….
Psalm 35: 1-28
35:1 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 35:3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I am your salvation. 35:4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them. 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them. 35:7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. 35:8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 35:10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like to thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoils him? 35:11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. 35:12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 35:14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother. 35:15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: 35:16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. 35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 35:20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. 35:21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. 35:22 This you have seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 35:23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord. 35:24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to your righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 35:25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 36: 1-12
36:1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 36:2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. 36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. 36:4 He devises mischief upon his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. 36:5 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 36:6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; your judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. 36:7 How excellent is your loving-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings. 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house; and thou shall make them drink of the river of your pleasures. 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in your light shall we see light. 36:10 O continue your loving kindness to them that know thee; and your righteousness to the upright in heart. 36:11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. 36:12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,….
Scripture Reading
1st Reading
Deuteronomy 4: 39-40
4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shall keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with your children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong your days upon the earth, which the Lord your God gives thee, forever.He who receives the prophet by the name of the prophet shall receive the prophet’s reward. Amen
2nd Reading
Romans 14: 17-19
14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm 135: 1-2
135:1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord. 135:2 Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Halleluiah! Stand and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel of St. John 14: 12-14
14:12 Verily, verily, I say to you, He that believeth in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life…
Prayer
Make the sign of the cross as you or the priest say:
In the name of the Father and the Son…
Opening Prayer
O God, our Almighty King and Lord, who are merciful, we ask you in our evening prayer; to lighten our darkness and by your great mercy to defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your Holy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our Father…
Psalm 37:1-40
37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shall be fed. 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of your heart. 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 37:6 And he shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday. 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 37:10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 37:12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes upon him with his teeth. 37:13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seesthat his day is coming. 37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 37:15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholds the righteous. 37:18 The Lord knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever. 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 37:21 The wicked borrows, and pays not again: but the righteous shows mercy, and gives. 37:22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way. 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with his hand. 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 37:27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. 37:28 For the Lord loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever. 37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. 37:32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeks to slay him. 37:33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 37:34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shall see it. 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 37:36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 37:38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 37:40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning…
Scripture Readings
1st Reading
Deuteronomy 7: 6, 8-9
7:6 For you are an holy people to the Lord your God: the Lord your God hath chosen thee to be a special people to himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn to your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God, he is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations He who receives the prophet by the name of the prophet…
2nd Reading
1st Corinthians 2: 7-10
2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm 37: 27-28
37:27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. 37:28 For the Lord loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. Halleluiah! Stand and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel of St. John 14: 15-17
14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeshim not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life…
Concluding Prayer
O lord our God, who never failed to help and support those you did bring up in your steadfast care and love; we pray you to you to keep us under the protection of you good providence and love. Amen. Our Father…
The Synaxarium:
THE FIFTH MONTH
TIR 21
(January 29)
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ONE GOD. AMEN.
On this day took place the assumption of the body of our pure, and holy, and honorable Lady, the Virgin Mariyam, the God-bearer, who is indeed the Lady of all the women of this world. And our Lady prayed continually at the holy grave of our Lord Christ; the Holy Spirit made known to her that she was to depart from this fleeting world, and then told the virgins who were with her from Dabra Zayt, even as our Lord told them. Then our Lady Mary prayed, saying, “O my Lord Jesus Christ, hearken Thou unto me, and unto my prayer at this time, and unto my petition, and bring unto me thy disciple, John the evangelist, and likewise all Thy disciples, both those who are living and those whose souls Thou hast taken, for Thou art the God of the living and of the dead, and unto Thee belongeth glory for ever and ever, Amen.” and behold a cloud straightway took up John in the spirit from the city of Ephesus, and brought him to our Lady the holy Virgin Mariyam; and when he stood before her she glorified our Lord Jesus Christ. And John said unto her, “Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace, who didst bear our Lord Jesus Christ.” And the Holy Spirit spoke by his mouth, saying, “Thou shalt go forth from this world with great honor and glory, and after many great signs and wonders which our Lord and God shall make manifest by thee.” When our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam heard these words, she rejoiced exceedingly, and she prayed, saying, “Glory unto Thee, O my Lord and God Jesus Christ, Who hast granted unto me what I asked. And now, honor me by Thy coming with Thine angels, so that they may take my soul and bear it up with Thee into the heavens.” And straightway the voice of the Holy Spirit from heaven was heard, saying, “At this time all the angels shall come from heaven, and the Apostles from all the ends of the earth, riding upon the clouds, and they shall come to Bethlehem, for the sake of the holy and blessed Virgin Mariyam, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And straightway all the Apostles came, for those who were dead rose up from their graves, and they stood before our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam, and said unto her, “Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace, for our God was born of thee. He shall take thee out of this fleeting world with great glory even as He promised thee.” And straightway our Lady Mariyam sat down upon her bed, and said unto the Apostles, “Now do I know that my God and your God, Jesus Christ, will come to me, and that I shall see Him as I see you, and then I shall depart from this world. And now I desire you to tell me whence ye knew that I was to depart from this world, and so hastened your coming to me.” And Peter and all the Apostles said unto her, “The Holy Spirit commanded us to come unto thee, and straightway we mounted upon a cloud of light, and we arrived where thou art in the twinkling of an eye.” When our Lady Mariyam heard this from the Apostles, she lifted up her voice and said, “I praise and hymn Thy Holy Name, O my Lord Jesus Christ, my God, because Thou hast seen my suffering, and hast revealed unto me wonders, for Thou art Almighty; henceforth all generations shall hold me blessed.” And when the Virgin had finished her prayer and supplications, she said unto the Apostles, “Bring me incense and a censer, and summon our Lord Jesus,” and they did as she commanded them; and straightway our Lord Jesus Christ came. And thousands of thousands, and tens of thousands of tens of thousands of angels, surrounded Him, and archangels, and our Lord Jesus Christ comforted her, and told her of the rest and joy which were prepared for her. At that moment many miracles took place; the blind received their sight, and the dumb spoke, and the lame stood up straight and walked, and the lepers were cleansed, and from those who were possessed of devils the evil spirits went forth quickly. And all those who were suffering from sicknesses of divers kinds, as soon as ever they came to the place where was our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam, were healed straightway of their sicknesses, no matter of whatever kinds they were. Then our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam said unto her beloved Son, “O my Lord Jesus Christ, I am afraid of the awful and terrifying angels who are in the air of the Land of Fire.” And our Lord said unto her, “Which of them can have dominion over thee?” When the time for her to depart from her body drew nigh, the Apostles and the virgins who were there weeping asked her to bless them, and she laid her hands upon them, and blessed them. And straightway our Lord Christ took her pure soul in His Divine Hands, and He wrapped it up in a cloth of light, and took it up with Him to the habitation above. And her Son, our Lord, commanded the Apostles to bury her body in a fitting manner, and they carried it to Gethsemane. And before her soul departed, our Lady looked and saw a great light, which it is impossible for the tongue of man to describe. And our Lord Christ said unto her, “Henceforth thy body shall depart to the Garden of Delight, and thy soul shall dwell in the abode of joy, wherein the angels shall praise [God] before thee.” And our Lady said unto Him, “I beseech Thee, in the operation of Thy wisdom, to hearken unto my petition. Whosoever shall pray unto Thee in my name do Thou in Thy mercy receive his petition. Whosoever is in tribulation and shall pray to Thee in my name, deliver Thou him from all his tribulation, for Thou art Almighty in heaven and on earth. Bless everywhere those who shall celebrate the commemoration of my name, and accept the offerings of all those who shall offer gifts in my name.” And our Lord Jesus answered and said unto her, “Behold, I have done for thee all which thou didst ask of Me. Rejoice, for every gift and every honor I will give thee from my holy Father. And everyone who shall pray unto Me in thy name henceforward shall never perish, neither in this world nor in that which is to come, for I will be to him a kindly intercessor with My heavenly Father.” After our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam was dead the Apostles prepared her for burial, and they carried her on a bier so that they might take her to Gethsemane, as our Lord commanded. When the Jews heard of this and they knew that it was our Lady Mariyam [on the bier], they went out to her, and one of them seized her bier with his hand in order to throw her off from it on the ground; and the angel of God smote him with a sword of fire, and cut off his hands, and they remained hanging on the bier. And then the Jew believed on our Lord Christ, and he entreated our Lady Mariyam with tears and repentance for what he had done, and he wept bitterly, saying, “Verily, O pure Virgin, thou art the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, Thou God in truth, I beseech Thee to have compassion upon me.” And through the prayers of the holy Apostles his hands were restored to their former positions. When the Apostles had buried her they remained there three days; now her death took place on Sunday, the twenty-first day of the month of Ter. And our Lord Jesus sent angels of light, and they carried her body away from the grave, and laid it under the Tree of Life, which is in the Garden of Delight. Now Thomas the Apostle was not present at the time of her death, but as he was coming on the cloud, he found her body with the angels. And one of the angels said unto him, “Make haste and salute the body of the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mariyam”; and he made haste and saluted her. And when he came to the Apostles they told him how our Lady Mariyam was dead, and he said unto them, “I did not know it until I saw her body, even as ye made me to know when I doubted the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when he came to the grave to see the body of our Lady Mariyam, and they opened the grave, they could not find her body; and they were amazed and marveled exceedingly. And straightway Thomas told them how he had saluted her holy body as the angels were carrying her up [to heaven]. And the Holy Spirit said unto them, “God doth not wish her body to lie in the earth.” And God made a covenant with the Apostles that even as He had shown Himself, so He would show her to His servants a second time, and He bade them wait until the seventeenth day of the month Nahase (Aug.-Sept.); and He fulfilled the covenant. And all the days of her life were sixty years; twelve years she lived in the Temple, three and thirty years she lived with Joseph, and after the Resurrection of our Lord Christ she lived for fifteen years in the house of John the evangelist, even as our Lord commanded her when He said unto her, “Behold thy son,” and to John, “Behold thy mother.” Salutation to the going forth of thy soul from the body without fear of death. Salutation to the going forth of thy soul, and to thy death, which was like unto a marriage.
And on this day also died the righteous woman Hilaria, the daughter of the Emperor Zeno. Her father was of the True Faith, and he loved the Church. He begot two daughters, namely this saint, and another, but he had no son. This saint, from her earliest years, used to love to sit by herself, and she determined in her heart to adopt the ascetic life and to wear the garb of the angels. And she went forth from the palace, and changed her apparel, and put on a man’s attire, and departed to the land of Egypt, and thence to the desert of Scete. And she found there a certain righteous elder whose name was Abba Bamu, and she told him her mind, and informed him that she was a woman, and he hid her secret, and brought her into a cell, and he visited her frequently for twelve years. And she dwelt in her cell, and as no beard appeared upon her face, the holy elders thought that she was a eunuch, and they called her “Hilarion (sic) the eunuch.” And an unclean Satan took possession of her sister, whom she had left with her father, and her father gave much money to the physicians, but they were unable to cure her of her sickness. And his fellow-nobles advised her father to send her to the desert of Scete, to the holy elders, for the report of their holiness had reached the country of Rome. And her father sent her off with nobles, and officers, and slaves, and handmaidens, and he wrote a letter to the holy elders, saying, “O my holy fathers, I will tell you what hath happened to me. God gave me two daughters, and one of them hath fled and I know not whither she hath gone, and of this one, her sister, an unclean Satan hath taken possession. I have always thought that she would be a comforter to me. I beseech your holinesses to pray on her behalf so that God may heal her of her sickness.” And when the saints had read the emperor’s letter, they prayed that God would heal her of her sickness; and the holy elders continued to pray on her behalf for many days, but she was not healed of her sickness. Then they called “Hilaria the eunuch.” who was her sister, and said unto her, “Take this daughter of the emperor and pray over her.” And Saint Hilaria said unto them, “I am a sinner and I am not able to do this difficult thing,” but they urged her until she took her. And Hilaria carried her off to her cell, and prayed for her, and she was healed in a few days and that unclean Satan fled. Now Saint Hilaria knew that the maiden was her sister, but the maiden did not recognize Hilaria, and she embraced her, and kissed her. And Hilaria went outside [her cell] and wept, and then she brought the maiden to the holy elders, and said unto them, “Behold, through your prayers I have healed her sickness.” And the saints rejoiced, and they sent her to her father in peace; and when she arrived and stood up by him he rejoiced in her greatly; and all the people in the palace rejoiced, and gave thanks to Christ. And the emperor asked her, saying, “What manner of life didst thou lead with the holy elders of the desert of Scete?” And she told him about Saint Hilarion (sic), who healed her of her sickness, and she said unto him, “He loved me very much and kissed (?) me.” when the emperor heard this his mind was greatly disturbed, and he said unto her, “Is it seemly for a monk to kiss a woman?” And straightway he sent a letter to the holy elders in the desert of Scete, saying, “Send hither to me Saint Hilarion, who healed my daughter, so that I may be blessed by him.” And the saints called Hilaria and commanded her to go to the emperor, and she wept bitterly and prostrated herself at the feet of the desert monks, and said unto them, “I am unable to go there.” And they said unto her, “This righteous emperor is a lover of the Church, and it is not seemly for us to transgress his commandment, even as the Holy Scriptures command us”; and they urged her, and she departed to the emperor her father against her will. And when she arrived he saluted her, and all those who were with her. When the people had gone, and the emperor was left alone with Saint Hilaria, he asked her, saying, “I have been disturbed in my mind because I heard that thou didst kiss my daughter, and I wish thee to explain the matter to me”; now only the emperor and empress were there with Hilaria. And she said unto them,, “Bring me the Holy Gospel, and swear unto me that if I tell you ye will not prevent me from departing to the desert of Scete”; and they swore to her even as she asked. Then she spoke unto them, saying, “I am your daughter Hilaria.” And she told them how her going forth took place, and how she had changed her apparel, and put on a man’s attire, and she showed them the marks on her body. And straightway they cried out loudly, and all wept [bitterly], and there was a very great outcry in the palace, and [her parents] said unto her, “We will never let thee go.” And Hilaria said unto them, “Remember the oath which ye swear to me on the Holy Gospel”; and she passed the Great Fast of forty days with them, and [then] went to the desert of Scete. And from that day the Emperor Zeno, her father, commanded the [governors] to give to the holy men who dwelt in the desert of Scete the tax of the land of Egypt for one year, and after this they gave the monks what they needed according to the emperor’s command. And the monks rejoiced, and they became numerous, and they built nine hundred churches near the monastery of Abba Macarius, and seven hundred churches near the monastery of Abba John, and five hundred churches near the monastery of Abba Besoy (‘Ebsoy). And Saint Hilaria lived in the mountain of Scete for five years after she came from her father, and she died [in peace], and none knew that she was a woman until she died. Salutation to thy going into the desert of Scete, O Hilaria.
And on this day also died the holy father Saint Gregory, the brother of Basil, Bishop of Dasyat. Now behold we have mentioned the commemoration of his father and of his brother in the section for the seventh day of the month of Ter. This blessed man Gregory was appointed Bishop of the city of Dasyat, and he was a most honorable and learned man; and behold, we have written a little about his strife in the section for the fifth day of this month Ter. It is said of him that when he was consecrating the Offering, he used to see the Holy Spirit descending from heaven upon the altar, and then he saw one of the Cherubim embrace his head, and clasp him to his bosom; and then Gregory would come out of this sleep, and rest himself on the altar; and all the people used to think that this was merely the sleep of the body. When he had completed three and thirty years in his Episcopal office, Saint Basil his brother came to him to visit him, for he was sick of a grievous sickness which was caused by excessive fasting; and Gregory welcomed him and rejoiced in him. And when Saint Gregory welcomed him and rejoiced in him. And when Saint Gregory went up to the altar to consecrate the Offering, according to his wont, our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam appeared unto him, and she said unto him, “This day thou shalt come with me.” After he had finished the Liturgy, he asked his brother Basil to admonish the people to keep fast hold upon the True Faith. And he became like one who was asleep, and when [they tried] to rouse him they found that he was dead. And Basil commanded them to make a coffin for him, and they did so, and he buried him with many prayers, and psalms and dirges. Salutation to Gregory.
And on this day also are commemorated Nicolaus the martyr, and Abba Victor the bishop.
And on this day also Paul the governor, and Silas the priest became martyrs in the days of Marcion, the Emperor of Rome, the Melchite heretic. When all the faithful were gathered together at Gethsemane, on the festival of the death of our Lady, Julian the infidel came and surrounded them, and killed them, leaving not one of them alive.
On this day also Bakhayla Maryam became a martyr in Dabra Matmak.
Salutation to Jeremiah, who prophesied and was rebuked, when Israel loved to worship gods of wood and stone. He destroyed wild beasts and fierce lions by the power of his prayer, and therefore his festival is celebrated in Egypt.
Salutation to Paul the governor, and to Silas the priest. Salutation to John, whom the Virgin Mariyam promised should depart from this world without seeing the terrors of death.
Salutation to Kawestos.
Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
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Wisdom from the Church Fathers
Let us not render evil for evil, and we shall not receive our due for our sins. For we find the forgiveness of our trespasses in the forgiving of our brothers; and the mercy of God is hidden in mercifulness to our neighbor. Therefore the Lord said, "Forgive, and you shall be forgiven," and, "With what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again." See how the Lord bestowed on us the method of salvation and has given us eternal power to become sons of God!
In addition to the other gifts of divine grace which the great Abba Euthymius obtained, this too was granted him, to know in advance the day of his death and what was going to happen to his monastery....
When all were assembled round him, he said, "My beloved brethren, I myself am setting out on the path of my fathers; you yourselves, if you love me, must keep these commandments. In all things aim at pure love, the source and goal of every good work and `the bond of perfection.' Just as it is not done to eat bread without salt, so it is impossible to achieve virtue without love. For each virtue is made secure through love and humility, with the aid of experience, time, and grace. While humility exalts to a height, love prevents falling from this height, since `he who humbles himself will be exalted' and `love never fails.' Love is greater than humility, for it was on account of love for us that God the Word humbled himself to become like us. Therefore we ought to confess him from our hearts and address him with hymns and thanksgivings without ceasing."
Week One, Day Seven
The Seventh Day
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Kidist Mariam (Holy Virgin Mary)
The Feast of the Dormition - Falling Asleep
of
The Blessed Ever-Virgin St. Mary
"Astario Mariam"
On the Twenty-first day of Tir, on the Western calendar, the Twenty-ninth of January, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church commemorates the Dormition (Falling Asleep) - "Astario Mariam" of the Most Blessed Ever-Virgin St. Mary, the Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Holy Gospels depict the Blessed Virgin St. Mary as having constant concern for Her Son, following Him in His journeys, always ready to help Him at any time, caring for His well-being and tranquility at home, which He always refused to take advantage of. Finally, we see St. Mary standing in indescribable grief by The Cross of Her Crucified Son, hearing His final words and commandments, entrusting her care to His beloved Disciple, St. John. Not a word of reproach or despair left her lips. She conceded all to the will of God. This was the time of her supreme greatness.
In the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, the Blessed Virgin St. Mary is shown as remaining with the Disciples of The Lord, and being present on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended in the form of fiery tongues. After that, according to tradition, the Blessed Virgin lived some 10 to 20 years. Fulfilling the Lord's will, the Apostle John took her into his home, and with great love, as if being her own son, he cared for her till the very end. When the Christian faith spread to other countries, many Christians came from far off countries to see and speak with her. From that time the Most Holy Virgin St. Mary became a mother to all of Christ's followers and a high example of virtue.
Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin St. Mary often went to offer prayers at the Holy Sepulcher of The Lord Jesus. There, while in prayer, she received a vision, in which the Archangel Gabriel once again appeared to her. He informed her that her time on earth had come to an end, and like all flesh, she too was to taste death soon.
The Lord arranged it so that toward that time the Apostles congregated in Jerusalem from the many parts of the world where they were preaching the Gospel. At the hour of her end, a bright light illuminated the room in which the Virgin St. Mary was lying. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, surrounded by Angels, appeared and received her soul. The Apostles buried her holy body, according to her wish, at the foot of the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane, in the cave where reposed the bodies of her parents and of her husband, the Righteous St. Joseph. During the burial, many miracles came to pass. By touching the bier of the Mother of God, the blind regained their sight, demons were exorcised, and many diseases were cured.
St. Thomas the Apostle was not present at the time of St. Mary's Dormition - Falling Asleep. He wanted to go to Jerusalem and a cloud carried him there. On his way, he saw the soul of St. Mary carried by the Angels and ascended to heaven with it. One of the Angels told him, "Make haste and kiss the pure body of St. Mary," and he did.
When St. Thomas arrived where the Disciples were, they told him about St. Mary's departure and he said to them, "You know how I conducted myself at the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and I will not believe unless I see her body." They went with him to the tomb, and uncovered the place of the body but they did not find it, and everyone was perplexed and surprised. St. Thomas told them how he saw the Blessed Virgin St. Mary's body and the Angels that were taking it into paradise. They heard the Holy Spirit saying to them, "The Lord did not will to leave her body on earth."
The Blessed Virgin St. Mary life on earth was a total of 60 years. She was 12 years of age when she left the Temple; she spent 34 years in Joseph's house, until the Ascension of the Lord, and 14 years with the Holy Apostle - Evangelist, Saint John, according to the commandment of the Lord which He told her at the Cross, "Behold, this is your son," and to St. John, "Behold, this is your mother."
Scriptural Readings and Prayers:
Week One, Day Seven
The Seventh Day
Morning Prayer
Make the sign of the cross as you or the priest say:
In the name of the Father and the Son…
Opening Prayer
Lord God, who are the source of our lives, giver of grace we ask you to help us and to enlighten us with your grace and to fill our heart with your fatherly love, today and always. Amen. Our Father….
Psalm 35: 1-28
35:1 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 35:3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I am your salvation. 35:4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them. 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them. 35:7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. 35:8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 35:10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like to thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoils him? 35:11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. 35:12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 35:14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother. 35:15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: 35:16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. 35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 35:20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. 35:21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. 35:22 This you have seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 35:23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord. 35:24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to your righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 35:25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 36: 1-12
36:1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 36:2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. 36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. 36:4 He devises mischief upon his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. 36:5 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 36:6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; your judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. 36:7 How excellent is your loving-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings. 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house; and thou shall make them drink of the river of your pleasures. 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in your light shall we see light. 36:10 O continue your loving kindness to them that know thee; and your righteousness to the upright in heart. 36:11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. 36:12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,….
Scripture Reading
1st Reading
Deuteronomy 4: 39-40
4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shall keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with your children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong your days upon the earth, which the Lord your God gives thee, forever.He who receives the prophet by the name of the prophet shall receive the prophet’s reward. Amen
2nd Reading
Romans 14: 17-19
14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm 135: 1-2
135:1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord. 135:2 Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Halleluiah! Stand and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel of St. John 14: 12-14
14:12 Verily, verily, I say to you, He that believeth in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life…
Prayer
Make the sign of the cross as you or the priest say:
In the name of the Father and the Son…
Opening Prayer
O God, our Almighty King and Lord, who are merciful, we ask you in our evening prayer; to lighten our darkness and by your great mercy to defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your Holy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our Father…
Psalm 37:1-40
37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shall be fed. 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of your heart. 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 37:6 And he shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday. 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 37:10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 37:12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes upon him with his teeth. 37:13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seesthat his day is coming. 37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 37:15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholds the righteous. 37:18 The Lord knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever. 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 37:21 The wicked borrows, and pays not again: but the righteous shows mercy, and gives. 37:22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way. 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with his hand. 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 37:27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. 37:28 For the Lord loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever. 37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. 37:32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeks to slay him. 37:33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 37:34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shall see it. 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 37:36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 37:38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 37:40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning…
Scripture Readings
1st Reading
Deuteronomy 7: 6, 8-9
7:6 For you are an holy people to the Lord your God: the Lord your God hath chosen thee to be a special people to himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn to your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God, he is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations He who receives the prophet by the name of the prophet…
2nd Reading
1st Corinthians 2: 7-10
2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm 37: 27-28
37:27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. 37:28 For the Lord loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. Halleluiah! Stand and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel of St. John 14: 15-17
14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeshim not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life…
Concluding Prayer
O lord our God, who never failed to help and support those you did bring up in your steadfast care and love; we pray you to you to keep us under the protection of you good providence and love. Amen. Our Father…
The Synaxarium:
THE FIFTH MONTH
TIR 21
(January 29)
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ONE GOD. AMEN.
On this day took place the assumption of the body of our pure, and holy, and honorable Lady, the Virgin Mariyam, the God-bearer, who is indeed the Lady of all the women of this world. And our Lady prayed continually at the holy grave of our Lord Christ; the Holy Spirit made known to her that she was to depart from this fleeting world, and then told the virgins who were with her from Dabra Zayt, even as our Lord told them. Then our Lady Mary prayed, saying, “O my Lord Jesus Christ, hearken Thou unto me, and unto my prayer at this time, and unto my petition, and bring unto me thy disciple, John the evangelist, and likewise all Thy disciples, both those who are living and those whose souls Thou hast taken, for Thou art the God of the living and of the dead, and unto Thee belongeth glory for ever and ever, Amen.” and behold a cloud straightway took up John in the spirit from the city of Ephesus, and brought him to our Lady the holy Virgin Mariyam; and when he stood before her she glorified our Lord Jesus Christ. And John said unto her, “Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace, who didst bear our Lord Jesus Christ.” And the Holy Spirit spoke by his mouth, saying, “Thou shalt go forth from this world with great honor and glory, and after many great signs and wonders which our Lord and God shall make manifest by thee.” When our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam heard these words, she rejoiced exceedingly, and she prayed, saying, “Glory unto Thee, O my Lord and God Jesus Christ, Who hast granted unto me what I asked. And now, honor me by Thy coming with Thine angels, so that they may take my soul and bear it up with Thee into the heavens.” And straightway the voice of the Holy Spirit from heaven was heard, saying, “At this time all the angels shall come from heaven, and the Apostles from all the ends of the earth, riding upon the clouds, and they shall come to Bethlehem, for the sake of the holy and blessed Virgin Mariyam, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And straightway all the Apostles came, for those who were dead rose up from their graves, and they stood before our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam, and said unto her, “Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace, for our God was born of thee. He shall take thee out of this fleeting world with great glory even as He promised thee.” And straightway our Lady Mariyam sat down upon her bed, and said unto the Apostles, “Now do I know that my God and your God, Jesus Christ, will come to me, and that I shall see Him as I see you, and then I shall depart from this world. And now I desire you to tell me whence ye knew that I was to depart from this world, and so hastened your coming to me.” And Peter and all the Apostles said unto her, “The Holy Spirit commanded us to come unto thee, and straightway we mounted upon a cloud of light, and we arrived where thou art in the twinkling of an eye.” When our Lady Mariyam heard this from the Apostles, she lifted up her voice and said, “I praise and hymn Thy Holy Name, O my Lord Jesus Christ, my God, because Thou hast seen my suffering, and hast revealed unto me wonders, for Thou art Almighty; henceforth all generations shall hold me blessed.” And when the Virgin had finished her prayer and supplications, she said unto the Apostles, “Bring me incense and a censer, and summon our Lord Jesus,” and they did as she commanded them; and straightway our Lord Jesus Christ came. And thousands of thousands, and tens of thousands of tens of thousands of angels, surrounded Him, and archangels, and our Lord Jesus Christ comforted her, and told her of the rest and joy which were prepared for her. At that moment many miracles took place; the blind received their sight, and the dumb spoke, and the lame stood up straight and walked, and the lepers were cleansed, and from those who were possessed of devils the evil spirits went forth quickly. And all those who were suffering from sicknesses of divers kinds, as soon as ever they came to the place where was our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam, were healed straightway of their sicknesses, no matter of whatever kinds they were. Then our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam said unto her beloved Son, “O my Lord Jesus Christ, I am afraid of the awful and terrifying angels who are in the air of the Land of Fire.” And our Lord said unto her, “Which of them can have dominion over thee?” When the time for her to depart from her body drew nigh, the Apostles and the virgins who were there weeping asked her to bless them, and she laid her hands upon them, and blessed them. And straightway our Lord Christ took her pure soul in His Divine Hands, and He wrapped it up in a cloth of light, and took it up with Him to the habitation above. And her Son, our Lord, commanded the Apostles to bury her body in a fitting manner, and they carried it to Gethsemane. And before her soul departed, our Lady looked and saw a great light, which it is impossible for the tongue of man to describe. And our Lord Christ said unto her, “Henceforth thy body shall depart to the Garden of Delight, and thy soul shall dwell in the abode of joy, wherein the angels shall praise [God] before thee.” And our Lady said unto Him, “I beseech Thee, in the operation of Thy wisdom, to hearken unto my petition. Whosoever shall pray unto Thee in my name do Thou in Thy mercy receive his petition. Whosoever is in tribulation and shall pray to Thee in my name, deliver Thou him from all his tribulation, for Thou art Almighty in heaven and on earth. Bless everywhere those who shall celebrate the commemoration of my name, and accept the offerings of all those who shall offer gifts in my name.” And our Lord Jesus answered and said unto her, “Behold, I have done for thee all which thou didst ask of Me. Rejoice, for every gift and every honor I will give thee from my holy Father. And everyone who shall pray unto Me in thy name henceforward shall never perish, neither in this world nor in that which is to come, for I will be to him a kindly intercessor with My heavenly Father.” After our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam was dead the Apostles prepared her for burial, and they carried her on a bier so that they might take her to Gethsemane, as our Lord commanded. When the Jews heard of this and they knew that it was our Lady Mariyam [on the bier], they went out to her, and one of them seized her bier with his hand in order to throw her off from it on the ground; and the angel of God smote him with a sword of fire, and cut off his hands, and they remained hanging on the bier. And then the Jew believed on our Lord Christ, and he entreated our Lady Mariyam with tears and repentance for what he had done, and he wept bitterly, saying, “Verily, O pure Virgin, thou art the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, Thou God in truth, I beseech Thee to have compassion upon me.” And through the prayers of the holy Apostles his hands were restored to their former positions. When the Apostles had buried her they remained there three days; now her death took place on Sunday, the twenty-first day of the month of Ter. And our Lord Jesus sent angels of light, and they carried her body away from the grave, and laid it under the Tree of Life, which is in the Garden of Delight. Now Thomas the Apostle was not present at the time of her death, but as he was coming on the cloud, he found her body with the angels. And one of the angels said unto him, “Make haste and salute the body of the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mariyam”; and he made haste and saluted her. And when he came to the Apostles they told him how our Lady Mariyam was dead, and he said unto them, “I did not know it until I saw her body, even as ye made me to know when I doubted the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when he came to the grave to see the body of our Lady Mariyam, and they opened the grave, they could not find her body; and they were amazed and marveled exceedingly. And straightway Thomas told them how he had saluted her holy body as the angels were carrying her up [to heaven]. And the Holy Spirit said unto them, “God doth not wish her body to lie in the earth.” And God made a covenant with the Apostles that even as He had shown Himself, so He would show her to His servants a second time, and He bade them wait until the seventeenth day of the month Nahase (Aug.-Sept.); and He fulfilled the covenant. And all the days of her life were sixty years; twelve years she lived in the Temple, three and thirty years she lived with Joseph, and after the Resurrection of our Lord Christ she lived for fifteen years in the house of John the evangelist, even as our Lord commanded her when He said unto her, “Behold thy son,” and to John, “Behold thy mother.” Salutation to the going forth of thy soul from the body without fear of death. Salutation to the going forth of thy soul, and to thy death, which was like unto a marriage.
And on this day also died the righteous woman Hilaria, the daughter of the Emperor Zeno. Her father was of the True Faith, and he loved the Church. He begot two daughters, namely this saint, and another, but he had no son. This saint, from her earliest years, used to love to sit by herself, and she determined in her heart to adopt the ascetic life and to wear the garb of the angels. And she went forth from the palace, and changed her apparel, and put on a man’s attire, and departed to the land of Egypt, and thence to the desert of Scete. And she found there a certain righteous elder whose name was Abba Bamu, and she told him her mind, and informed him that she was a woman, and he hid her secret, and brought her into a cell, and he visited her frequently for twelve years. And she dwelt in her cell, and as no beard appeared upon her face, the holy elders thought that she was a eunuch, and they called her “Hilarion (sic) the eunuch.” And an unclean Satan took possession of her sister, whom she had left with her father, and her father gave much money to the physicians, but they were unable to cure her of her sickness. And his fellow-nobles advised her father to send her to the desert of Scete, to the holy elders, for the report of their holiness had reached the country of Rome. And her father sent her off with nobles, and officers, and slaves, and handmaidens, and he wrote a letter to the holy elders, saying, “O my holy fathers, I will tell you what hath happened to me. God gave me two daughters, and one of them hath fled and I know not whither she hath gone, and of this one, her sister, an unclean Satan hath taken possession. I have always thought that she would be a comforter to me. I beseech your holinesses to pray on her behalf so that God may heal her of her sickness.” And when the saints had read the emperor’s letter, they prayed that God would heal her of her sickness; and the holy elders continued to pray on her behalf for many days, but she was not healed of her sickness. Then they called “Hilaria the eunuch.” who was her sister, and said unto her, “Take this daughter of the emperor and pray over her.” And Saint Hilaria said unto them, “I am a sinner and I am not able to do this difficult thing,” but they urged her until she took her. And Hilaria carried her off to her cell, and prayed for her, and she was healed in a few days and that unclean Satan fled. Now Saint Hilaria knew that the maiden was her sister, but the maiden did not recognize Hilaria, and she embraced her, and kissed her. And Hilaria went outside [her cell] and wept, and then she brought the maiden to the holy elders, and said unto them, “Behold, through your prayers I have healed her sickness.” And the saints rejoiced, and they sent her to her father in peace; and when she arrived and stood up by him he rejoiced in her greatly; and all the people in the palace rejoiced, and gave thanks to Christ. And the emperor asked her, saying, “What manner of life didst thou lead with the holy elders of the desert of Scete?” And she told him about Saint Hilarion (sic), who healed her of her sickness, and she said unto him, “He loved me very much and kissed (?) me.” when the emperor heard this his mind was greatly disturbed, and he said unto her, “Is it seemly for a monk to kiss a woman?” And straightway he sent a letter to the holy elders in the desert of Scete, saying, “Send hither to me Saint Hilarion, who healed my daughter, so that I may be blessed by him.” And the saints called Hilaria and commanded her to go to the emperor, and she wept bitterly and prostrated herself at the feet of the desert monks, and said unto them, “I am unable to go there.” And they said unto her, “This righteous emperor is a lover of the Church, and it is not seemly for us to transgress his commandment, even as the Holy Scriptures command us”; and they urged her, and she departed to the emperor her father against her will. And when she arrived he saluted her, and all those who were with her. When the people had gone, and the emperor was left alone with Saint Hilaria, he asked her, saying, “I have been disturbed in my mind because I heard that thou didst kiss my daughter, and I wish thee to explain the matter to me”; now only the emperor and empress were there with Hilaria. And she said unto them,, “Bring me the Holy Gospel, and swear unto me that if I tell you ye will not prevent me from departing to the desert of Scete”; and they swore to her even as she asked. Then she spoke unto them, saying, “I am your daughter Hilaria.” And she told them how her going forth took place, and how she had changed her apparel, and put on a man’s attire, and she showed them the marks on her body. And straightway they cried out loudly, and all wept [bitterly], and there was a very great outcry in the palace, and [her parents] said unto her, “We will never let thee go.” And Hilaria said unto them, “Remember the oath which ye swear to me on the Holy Gospel”; and she passed the Great Fast of forty days with them, and [then] went to the desert of Scete. And from that day the Emperor Zeno, her father, commanded the [governors] to give to the holy men who dwelt in the desert of Scete the tax of the land of Egypt for one year, and after this they gave the monks what they needed according to the emperor’s command. And the monks rejoiced, and they became numerous, and they built nine hundred churches near the monastery of Abba Macarius, and seven hundred churches near the monastery of Abba John, and five hundred churches near the monastery of Abba Besoy (‘Ebsoy). And Saint Hilaria lived in the mountain of Scete for five years after she came from her father, and she died [in peace], and none knew that she was a woman until she died. Salutation to thy going into the desert of Scete, O Hilaria.
And on this day also died the holy father Saint Gregory, the brother of Basil, Bishop of Dasyat. Now behold we have mentioned the commemoration of his father and of his brother in the section for the seventh day of the month of Ter. This blessed man Gregory was appointed Bishop of the city of Dasyat, and he was a most honorable and learned man; and behold, we have written a little about his strife in the section for the fifth day of this month Ter. It is said of him that when he was consecrating the Offering, he used to see the Holy Spirit descending from heaven upon the altar, and then he saw one of the Cherubim embrace his head, and clasp him to his bosom; and then Gregory would come out of this sleep, and rest himself on the altar; and all the people used to think that this was merely the sleep of the body. When he had completed three and thirty years in his Episcopal office, Saint Basil his brother came to him to visit him, for he was sick of a grievous sickness which was caused by excessive fasting; and Gregory welcomed him and rejoiced in him. And when Saint Gregory welcomed him and rejoiced in him. And when Saint Gregory went up to the altar to consecrate the Offering, according to his wont, our holy Lady the Virgin Mariyam appeared unto him, and she said unto him, “This day thou shalt come with me.” After he had finished the Liturgy, he asked his brother Basil to admonish the people to keep fast hold upon the True Faith. And he became like one who was asleep, and when [they tried] to rouse him they found that he was dead. And Basil commanded them to make a coffin for him, and they did so, and he buried him with many prayers, and psalms and dirges. Salutation to Gregory.
And on this day also are commemorated Nicolaus the martyr, and Abba Victor the bishop.
And on this day also Paul the governor, and Silas the priest became martyrs in the days of Marcion, the Emperor of Rome, the Melchite heretic. When all the faithful were gathered together at Gethsemane, on the festival of the death of our Lady, Julian the infidel came and surrounded them, and killed them, leaving not one of them alive.
On this day also Bakhayla Maryam became a martyr in Dabra Matmak.
Salutation to Jeremiah, who prophesied and was rebuked, when Israel loved to worship gods of wood and stone. He destroyed wild beasts and fierce lions by the power of his prayer, and therefore his festival is celebrated in Egypt.
Salutation to Paul the governor, and to Silas the priest. Salutation to John, whom the Virgin Mariyam promised should depart from this world without seeing the terrors of death.
Salutation to Kawestos.
Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
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Wisdom from the Church Fathers
Let us not render evil for evil, and we shall not receive our due for our sins. For we find the forgiveness of our trespasses in the forgiving of our brothers; and the mercy of God is hidden in mercifulness to our neighbor. Therefore the Lord said, "Forgive, and you shall be forgiven," and, "With what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again." See how the Lord bestowed on us the method of salvation and has given us eternal power to become sons of God!In addition to the other gifts of divine grace which the great Abba Euthymius obtained, this too was granted him, to know in advance the day of his death and what was going to happen to his monastery....
When all were assembled round him, he said, "My beloved brethren, I myself am setting out on the path of my fathers; you yourselves, if you love me, must keep these commandments. In all things aim at pure love, the source and goal of every good work and `the bond of perfection.' Just as it is not done to eat bread without salt, so it is impossible to achieve virtue without love. For each virtue is made secure through love and humility, with the aid of experience, time, and grace. While humility exalts to a height, love prevents falling from this height, since `he who humbles himself will be exalted' and `love never fails.' Love is greater than humility, for it was on account of love for us that God the Word humbled himself to become like us. Therefore we ought to confess him from our hearts and address him with hymns and thanksgivings without ceasing."
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