Homily II on the Dormition of the Theotokos by Metropolitan Avgoustinos

The Dormition of the Theotokos (source)

  
Homily II on the Dormition of the Theotokos by Metropolitan Avgoustinos Kantiotes (+2010): "The Glorious Dormition"

"Your glorious Dormition caused the Heavens to rejoice, along with the ranks of the Angels, while the whole earth is glad..." (Sticheron from the Praises of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

Panagia was a poor girl from Nazareth, from unassuming parents. She did not have anything that would bespeak of glory. Her nativity passed by unnoticed [by the world]. Humble was her entrance into the world, and humble was her life.

But while her entrance was humble, her exit was glorious, and righteous. For she passed throughout her whole life in purity, humility, and utter obedience to the will of God. Which other woman has a calling that could be reckoned with hers? Every [woman] gives birth to mortals, but she was made worthy to become the Mother of the Son of God. As St. Kosmas Aitolos preached: "There were thousands of thousands of women in the world, but none could be found to fill the side of Adam, except our Lady the Theotokos."

When Panagia gave up her spirit to her Son and God, the earth and Heaven were astonished. The burial of her sacred body had a unique grandeur. The Apostles were brought from the ends of the earth to Gethsemane upon the clouds. Myrrh-bearing women and the faithful people followed. An impious Judean tried to defile the sacred body, but was repulsed...

The earth, with her most chosen children gathered to bury the King's Mother. But what were the honors of the earth before the honors of Heaven? As she ascended to the Kingdom on high, she was given an exceptional reception.

The leaders of the Angels knelt to venerate. The Son received the Mother. And she stood and continues to remain at His right hand, interceding on behalf of sinners.

Humble was her entrance, glorious, all-glorious, was her exit. Are these a phantasy, are these a myth? No, a thousand times, no. Our holy Church confirms this, who ordained that today the Dormition of the Most-Holy Theotokos be celebrated. Today, most-beautiful hymns are chanted, with which the greatness of Panagia is praised, and especially, the event of her repose, of her Dormition.
  

Detail from the icon of the Dormition of the Theotokos (source)

  
Many, my beloved, are the lessons of this feast. We will limit ourselves to one thing only, one lesson, which is contained in the word which the Church uses to characterize the event of the repose of the Virgin. Her repose is not called "death", but "dormition". Why? Please pay attention.

In the language of the Holy Scriptures, death does not mean the disappearance of the human existence. No. At death there is a separation. The soul is separated from the body. The soul leaves towards the things above, towards the heavenly world of the spirits. This path is not fantastical, but is a reality, which is confirmed by the word of God. Then, what does the soul meet, how many tollhouses does it pass through, what censures does it undergo, we do not know in detail. The words of holy people, who saw the souls of the reposed pass towards the verdant meadows of Paradise, or towards the dark places of hell, shine some light on this, but this light is dim, and unable to satisfy people's curiosity. To man, through the Scriptures, it has been revealed that the soul that leaves the body does not die (see Luke 12:20, 16:23-26, 23:42-43). This is a fact and the Christian cannot deny this.

But while the soul of man, which has finished this station of his life, ascends as a spirit to the other world, the body, as physical creation is given away to corruption, to temporary corruption. For from this corrupted body, during the universal Resurrection [at the Last Judgment], there will come a renewed and incorrupt body, which will be united with the soul and they will live together unto the ages of ages.

Yes! The body will be raised. In anticipation of the Resurrection, death according to the Scriptures is called "dormition". The Prophet David "slept" (Acts 13:36). The Protomartyr Stephen "slept" (Acts 7:60). The Apostle Paul, when he speaks of those who have left for the other life, does not say that they "died", but he calls them "those who are sleep". "I do not want you to be ignorant, my brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you might not grieve as the others do who have no hope." (I Thessalonians 4:13). Our Lord Jesus Himself called death "sleep". When He entered the house of Jairus and saw them weeping for the dead girl, He told them: "Do not weep. She has not died, but is only sleeping." (Luke 8:52, Mark 5:39) And regarding Lazarus He said that he had "fallen asleep" (John 11:11-15). And He proceeded to resurrect him, with such ease as if he were waking him from sleep.

Dormition! This word of the Scriptures should be sufficient to teach, console and strengthen Christians, at least those who hasten to churches to celebrate and feast at the "glorious", "all-sacred", and "dormition transcending death", of the Most-Holy Theotokos. Do you hear this, O you who celebrate? Panagia has not died, but has fallen asleep! Her body was buried, placed within the grave, but as the Church chants: "the grave and death could not hold her, for as the Mother of Life, she has proceeded to Life, Who dwelt within the womb of the Ever-Virgin." (Kontakion of the Feast of the Dormition) Panagia, shining forth with all the light of the virtues, "as arrayed in gold" (Psalm 44:10) has proceeded towards the Heavens. "Who", cry out the Angels, "is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?" (Song of Songs 6:10)
  

The Dormition of the Theotokos (source)

  
Panagia, from the height of her glory, is heard to say to all Christians who are tempted here: "Faithful children of the heavenly Father, have strength. What do you fear? Death? But death is the gateway to the new life. Here on high where I am there is a new life, which no one on earth could even begin to imagine. This life is preordained for those who will live with faith and virtue. Here there is no partiality. My Son is the just Judge. When I was below on the earth, I heard voices that blessed me, for I was made worthy to become His Mother, and He said that, in the cycle of blessedness, it would not be me alone who gives Him birth, but for all those who hear Him and keep His word. For Christ is born spiritually in every soul who believes in Him and worships Him as the only Savior. 'Yea of a truth, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.' (Luke 11:28) Therefore, I invite you all to the glory of Heaven."

As the Church chants, truly glorious was the Dormition of the Most-Holy Theotokos. Glorious was also the dormition of all the Righteous, who faithfully completed their missions. Each of them, as they left from this world, could say like the Psalm: "In peace I will lie down and sleep, and I awoke, for You, O Lord, have made me to dwell in hope." (Psalm 4:9) The antithesis occurs with those who did not love God and their neighbor, and did not fulfill their holy duties, and did not complete their mission, but were conquered by evils and passions, and trampled upon divine gifts, walling themselves off and making themselves unworthy of their holy calling, betraying the faith. Their dormition was not radiant, but dark, not glorious, but inglorious. Not radiant Angels, but dark demons were their fellow travelers during the exodus of their souls to the other world. For mourning and cutting are heard during the exodus of the unrepentant sinner. Who would not weep?

O Christians! Panagia had a glorious dormition. But we also must have a glorious dormition. Glorious through faith and virtue. May we receive even one laurel leaf from that glory! May the Lord, through the intercessions of the Most-Holy Theotokos, who proceeds to the Heavens, grant us an end like this. May the prayer of the Church be fulfilled for each of us: "For a Christian ending to our life: painless, blameless, peaceful, and a good defense before the dread Judgment Seat of Christ, let us pray."
(+) Bishop Avgoustinos 
(source)

  

The Dormition of the Theotokos (source)

  

Most-Holy Theotokos, save us!