Message of the Month

Dearly beloved

As the Church enters the blessed season of the Dormition Lent, we prepare ourselves spiritually for the Feast of the Dormition (Shoonoyo/Assumption) of the Holy Theotokos, the Mother of God. This sacred season calls us to renew our faith in her loving intercession and to imitate her life of humility, obedience, and unwavering trust in God.

On August 6, the Church also celebrates the Feast of the Holy Transfiguration (Koodara Perunnal), one of the immovable feasts of the Orthodox Church. On Mount Tabor, the disciples beheld the divine glory of Christ as His face shone with the uncreated light while He was praying. The Transfiguration reminds us that every Christian is called to be transformed by God’s grace through prayer, repentance, participation in the Holy Mysteries, and regular communion with Him.

The feasts of the Transfiguration and the Dormition are not merely occasions for celebration or mere observance they are invitations to deepen our spiritual lives. They encourage us to keep Christ at the center of our hearts while seeking the prayers and intercessions of the Holy Theotokos, whom the Orthodox Church venerates as the greatest among all saints. Together with all the saints, she continues to inspire us through her perfect response to God’s will and her steadfast witness to Christ.

As we prepare for the Feast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos, it is helpful to understand the distinction between the Ascension (Suboro) of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Dormition (Shoonoyo) of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven by His own divine power forty days after His glorious Resurrection. Being true God and true Man, He returned to the Father in glory. The Holy Theotokos, on the other hand, did not ascend to heaven by her own power. After completing her earthly life, she experienced her Dormition, her peaceful “falling asleep” in the Lord, and was received into heavenly glory by the grace and power of her Son. This distinction reminds us of a profound truth: Christ is the Giver of Life; the Theotokos is the foremost recipient of His grace.

As we prepare to observe these holy days, let us ask ourselves a sincere question: Where is Christ in our feasts and celebrations? Is He only a fleeting thought that comes to mind on Sundays and feast days, or is He truly the center of our lives, guiding every decision, every relationship, and every step of our journey?

The true observance of any feast begins not with external celebrations but with an inward commitment to follow the example of those whom the Church commemorates. When we strive to imitate their faith, humility, obedience, and love for Christ, our celebrations become genuine expressions of worship rather than mere traditions.

Here in our context, our celebrations are generally more modest than those witnessed in Kerala. In recent years, the hierarchy has encouraged the faithful to rediscover the true meaning of our festal celebrations. This has prompted many to question unnecessary expenditure and to channel those resources towards meaningful acts of charity, service, and the mission of the Church. Such initiatives remind us that the beauty of a feast lies not in its grandeur but in the depth of our devotion to Christ and our love for one another.
Every saint points us towards Christ. Their lives invite us to renew our devotion to Him by embracing His teachings and living according to His commandments. But what does it truly mean to imitate a saint? It is not merely to admire them, imitate their outward actions, or recount the stories of their earthly lives. True imitation means allowing the same faith, humility, obedience, and love for Christ that shaped their lives to shape ours.

The Holy Theotokos is the perfect example of such discipleship. Standing at the foot of the Cross (John 19:25), she exemplified unwavering faith and steadfast love. While many fled in fear, she remained beside her suffering Son with complete trust in God’s saving plan. Even in the midst of unbearable sorrow, her devotion to Christ did not falter. She teaches us that genuine faith remains firm in times of pain, uncertainty, and sacrifice.

To remain with Christ is often our greatest challenge. If we truly believe that He is our constant companion and the very center of our lives, then we must allow His Gospel to examine our conscience daily. Many times our hearts resist His teachings. We know what is right, yet we choose our own desires over His will. In doing so, we gradually distance ourselves from Christ—not because He leaves us, but because we fail to remain faithful to Him. This holy season invites us to return, to repent sincerely, and to walk once again in the footsteps of our Lord.

May this holy season of fasting and prayer renew our hearts, strengthen our faith, and draw us ever closer to our Lord Jesus Christ through the loving intercessions of the Holy Theotokos and all the saints.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.
Yours in Christ

Fr. Binu B. Thomas

Asst. Vicar