It has been an amazing week for all oriental church goes, as this past week and the following week is a special period in the Oriental Orthodox Christian calendar. As we commenced our fast on August 1st (Geez), 7th(Julian) calendar we have seen the importance of this fast as our church has been blessed daily with liturgy and holy prayers from early hours of the morning. This fast is called the ‘The Fast of The Virgin’ or ‘Tsome Flseta’. Firstly lets look at the reason for the fast and its importance, the fast is significant because it is in this fast that the apostles prayed to see the body of St Mary to come back to them so that they may see what the beloved St John saw in the heavens. This is because when St Mary died, the apostles went to bury her body but where not able to stay, they were approached by the Jews who intended to kill them and burn the body of St Mary. However, all the apostles had run away but only the beloved St John evangelist remained with the body of St Mary. At that moment St John remembered the words of Christ on the day of the crucifixion:
“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” John 19:26-27
St Mary lived on earth for 64 years during her life she had a sacred existence and was truly blessed. At the age only three St Mary was give to a convent by her father Eyacheim and mother Hana, she was their only daughter as her mother Hana was a barren women, but Hana’s prayers was answered and God allowed her to give birth to a truly blessed child at her old age. St Mary spent her youth in the convent as a servant of God, and this is where St Gabriel gave her the blessed massage to be the true mother of God,
“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” Luke 1:28-31
to be continued……
