A surprise for the feast of the Dormition!

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PennyinCanada

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This evening we are going to church to celebrate the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, in the Eastern Rite. (Assumption in the Latin Rite) The tradition is that when the apostles came back to her tomb after her burial, her body was gone, and there were piles of fragrant fresh flowers in her place. So for this feast day the faithful bring flowers to church to fill the church with their fragrance. Such a lovely tradition.

Imagine my surprise to find a beautiful cluster of white (and very fragrant) lilac cluster on this Japanese lilac last night…These bloom in the early part of June. Very unusual. And we have been in a heat wave. Not spring like at all.

i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/pennypie_2007/DSCN3177_zpshus06eta.jpg

i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/pennypie_2007/DSCN3178_zpsqoctk5t6.jpg

Troparion — Tone 1

In giving birth you preserved your virginity, / In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. / You were translated to life, O Mother of Life, / And by your prayers, you deliver our souls from death.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Neither the tomb, nor death could hold the Theotokos, / Who is constant in prayer and our firm hope in her intercessions. / For being the Mother of Life, / She was translated to life by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb.

Holy Theotokos, pray for us!
 
Beautiful.

A further detail to the tradition is that, while the apostles had been summoned from around the world, St. Thomas arrived late, after she had been entombed, and asked for the tomb to be opened so he could see her face one last time. That is when they discovered her body had been “translated to life” as we sing in the troparion.

Happy Feast!
 
PennyinCanada said:
This evening we are going to church to celebrate the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, in the Eastern Rite. (Assumption in the Latin Rite) The tradition is that when the apostles came back to her tomb after her burial, her body was gone, and there were piles of fragrant fresh flowers in her place. So for this feast day the faithful bring flowers to church to fill the church with their fragrance. Such a lovely tradition.

Imagine my surprise to find a beautiful cluster of white (and very fragrant) lilac cluster on this Japanese lilac last night…These bloom in the early part of June. Very unusual. And we have been in a heat wave. Not spring like at all.

i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/pennypie_2007/DSCN3177_zpshus06eta.jpg

i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/pennypie_2007/DSCN3178_zpsqoctk5t6.jpg

Troparion — Tone 1

In giving birth you preserved your virginity, / In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. / You were translated to life, O Mother of Life, / And by your prayers, you deliver our souls from death.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Neither the tomb, nor death could hold the Theotokos, / Who is constant in prayer and our firm hope in her intercessions. / For being the Mother of Life, / She was translated to life by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb.

Holy Theotokos, pray for us!
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What a beautiful flower and tradition! A nice way to honor Mary.
 
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