The Feast of the Assumption (Shunoyo) of St. Mary

by Fr. Mathai Varkey Puthukkunnathu

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Gen: 3:15

The Holy Syrian Orthodox Church observes the sacred Fast of the Assumption of Saint Mary (Theotokos-Yoldas(th) Aaloho-God Bearer) from the 10th of August for 5 days and concludes with the celebration of the Assumption Feast on the 15th. Saint Mary is the Blessed Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was chosen by the Almighty, according to the divine commandment made at the Garden of Eden. Redemption from the aberration of sin is made possible by the blood of the unblemished Lamb. Saint Mary gave birth to that unblemished Son of God, the Virgin Eve Lamb, who crushed the head of the arch enemy, Satan. This made her to be the Theotokos, God Bearer, and the Second Eve. The first Eve brought disobedience and caused sin to overpower the creation, where as Saint Mary’s absolute submission to the Will of God brought forth eternal salvation to the world. “I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her”. Luke 1:38. This unique obedience and unparallel forbearance to uphold the Divine Will has brought about the Redemption of the sinful humanity. It is worth mentioning here that the Holy Syrian Orthodox Church does not believe in the immaculate birth of Saint Mary. All humans are born with the original sin and one of the divine mercies that we receive through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is the grace that wipes away the blemishes/stain of the original sin. That is the reason why the Feast of the Assumption has been given more importance by the Holy Church than to the feast of the birth of Saint Mary.

Beyond all heretical teachings and deviations, the prominence of Saint Mary is made clear in the words of Cyril of Alexandria, "I have been amazed that some are utterly in doubt as to whether or not the Holy Virgin is able to be called the Mother of God. For if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, how should the Holy Virgin who bore him not be the Mother of God?" (Epistle to the Monks of Egypt 1 [A.D. 423-431]) and the visionary declaration of Gregory of Nazianz, "If anyone does not agree that Holy Mary is Mother of God, he is at odds with the Godhead. If anyone asserts that Christ passed through the Virgin as through a channel and was not shaped in her both divinely and humanly, divinely because without man and humanly because in accord with the law of gestation, he is likewise godless" (Epistle to Cledonius the Priest 101 [A.D. 382]). It is Saint Mary, not anyone else, who agreed to become the human channel through which Christ would enter the world in order to crush the serpent’s head. She herself was wounded when the serpent struck Jesus. Simeon had prophesied to her that "a sword will pierce through your own soul also," a prophecy fulfilled when Mary saw her Son hanging from the cross (John 19:25–27). 

Saint Mary proclaims this Divine commission in her own words, as we read in the book of Luke. “-- for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed”. Luke 1:48. This verse from the Magnificat is very much relevant at present as at all times. The life of Saint Mary, the Mother of God was a mission to believe in the Divine Will and in Christ. In this sense Saint Mary is the first human being who accepted Christ as the Savior of the World. She believed in Him without any doubt and it is crystal clear at the wedding in Cana. “His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." John 2:5. She intercedes for the needy and those who experience pain and suffering. The words of Saint Mary, the Crown of all Saints, have very deep meaning here at this instance. She persuades the whole world to listen to the Son of God who is omnipotent. This pleading continues even at present times. Jesus grants Saint Mary’s wish by performing the miracle at Cana that turned the tasteless, colorless water into the tasteful and colorful wine. Saint Mary’s powerful intercession continues throughout the ages. If one hears and heeds to “Do whatever he tells you.” the result would be matchless and inexplicable. As we come across the Mariology, i.e. the study of the doctrines and beliefs concerning Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, it becomes unambiguously clear that the intercession of Saint Mary is highly theologically accurate. 

Although a sharp sword pierced through the heart of Saint Mary, she knew it was inevitable. But her Son never abandoned her. In spite of the fact that she had to suffer excruciating pain, Christ, her beloved Son cared for her, entrusting her to the beloved Apostle Saint John. “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” John 19:25-27. Furthermore Saint John cared for her until her demise. The faith and tradition of the Holy Church teaches us that the body of Saint Mary was taken (assumed) to heaven after her demise at Jerusalem. Apostle Saint Thomas, who was in India at that time also joined the heavenly hosts late and was given the blessed Girdle (Zunoro) of Saint Mary. It is believed that while the mortal remains of Apostle St. Thomas was taken from Mylapore to Edessa in the 4th Century A.D., the box containing the Girdle of Saint Mary was taken with the relics and later on kept at the Saint Virgin Mary Church in Homs, Syria. This blessed Girdle was discovered at the Virgin Mary Church of Homs by the Late Lamented Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem I and has been placed at the Church for blessings to all faithful.

Our faith in the intercession to the Saints is biblically accurate. They are entrusted to intercede on behalf of the sinful to the Lord. This is obviously portrayed in the book of Job 42: 7-9. “After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job's prayer”. The prophetic words of Elizabeth, the wife of High Priest Zachariah and the mother of John the Baptist alone is sufficient to prove the greatness of Saint Virgin Mary. “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" Luke 1:39-45. 

Being the Crown of all Saints, the priceless intercession of Saint Mary is certainly powerful and pleasing to the Lord. It is very much significant to know that the first Church was dedicated and named after Saint Mary. The learned comment of Athanasius on Saint Mary is a clear evidence of Saint Mary’s prominence, “O noble Virgin, truly you are greater than any other greatness. For who is your equal in greatness, O dwelling place of God the Word? To whom among all creatures shall I compare you, O Virgin? You are greater than them all. O [Ark of the New] Covenant, clothed with purity instead of gold! You are the Ark in which is found the golden vessel containing the true manna, that is, the flesh in which divinity resides.”

We shall pray “O virgin, Mother of God, may your memory be for a blessing (to us). Grant the petitions of those who are afar and those who are near. Grant health to whoever is sick. Ask comfort for whoever is distressed, and drive away the evil one from whomever he torments. By your prayer and intercession may mercy be upon us, Halleluiah. May your prayer assist us”. Hymn of Quqoyo, from the book of Church Festivals (Ma`de`dono) by the Late Lamented Archbishop H.E. Mor Athanasius, Yeshue Samuel.

The word of Blessed Mother Theresa is remarkable; “Love Jesus as Mary loves Jesus, love Mary as Jesus loves Mary.” 

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Saint Mary, (Shunoyo) let us submit ourselves to the Lord in the valuable intercession of Saint Mary.