Daily Devotion to the Theotokos -- Day 21

Daily Devotion to the Theotokos

Twenty-first Day of the Month

Introduction

The Orthodox Christian Teaching About the Life of the Holy Theotokos, the Ever-Virgin Mary

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Queen of all Creation

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"Through death, He destroyed the one who had the power of death.-..and delivered those who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime held in bondage." (Hebrews 2:14-15)

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The repose of the Virgin is marvelous and full of wonder. In her falling asleep, the hope of the Resurrection was confirmed for all mankind. The Theotokos was raised from the dead and taken into heaven after three days, and by this, God assured us all of the truth of the promise that we will all be raised on the last day.

When we contemplate the miracle of your life and Dormition, O most pure one, our hearts are filled with wonder and joy. In you, we see clearly the love which God has for us humans. You were born in the flesh like us, born into the fallen human nature. Because "a servant cannot serve two masters", God freed you completely from the master of this world and made you His servant alone. Since Satan holds us in bondage through fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15), God delivered you from this fear and would not leave your pure body in the grip of death. Though every human being must die (Hebrews 9:27), it was not proper that the Mother of Him Who conquered death, should remain under the power of death. You, O Theotokos, fulfilled the Scripture by tasting death, but the Holy Spirit fulfilled the promise in you by raising you up and taking you into heaven after three days. By this we know that you are especially glorified by God and counted higher than all other humans.

Your life has taught us, O Most Pure Virgin, that the more fully we serve God, the more His grace liberates us from the bondage of the master of this world and makes us His own. Your glorious repose has taught us that all the faithful will follow our Lord Jesus Christ in death, resurrection and ascension into the Kingdom of Everlasting Glory.

Seeing these things, O Most Pure Mother, we cry out to thee: O Mother of Him Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, pray for me that I may learn to follow Him. By your example and prayers, teach me to seek after the way that leads to eternal life in Christ our God and Saviour. You who were the greatest servant of the Master, make me His servant also; You who were His first and most complete disciple, make me His disciple also. O Theotokos, by your prayers lead me from the bondage to fear of death into the glorious freedom of your Son and our God, Jesus Christ, to Whom be all glory, honor and dominion, with the Eternal Father and the Life-bestowing Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!

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