August 1, 2007
Encyclical for the Falling Asleep of the Mother of Our Lord, the Holy Theotokos, published in August 1980 by His Grace, Bishop Maximos of Pittsburgh
[Reproduced as published in The Illuminator, July-August 1980, vol. 1, no.5.]

LENTEN ENCYCLICAL

MAXIMOS, BY THE GRACE OF GOD BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH, TO ALL THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF OUR DIOCESE. PEACE AND WELL-BEING FROM GOD.

Dearly Beloved,

The falling asleep of the Mother of Our Lord, the Holy Theotokos, draws forth from the very soul of the Church, the glorious refrain “The Heavens rejoice at your glorious repose...”.

Exiting this temporary and vain life becomes opportunity to rejoice for the friends of God. The passage from death to life for the righteous person is a joyful event for the Christian community. Much more so it is for the person of the Theotokos. The angelic orders, along with the congregation of the faithful, rejoice in the glorious Dormition of her who is most blessed among women, the one who became vessel of the Uncontained, the habitation of the Infinite Creator of both her and the entire world.

We honor our natural mothers for giving us our physical life. We honor even more our spiritual mothers. Especially we honor the Mother of True Life, the Mother of the Lord and Our God and of His faithful followers. The Holy Theotokos has become the New Eve, the New Mother of Life who came to free us from the curse of the first Eve. The latter introduced disobedience and death to humankind. The former, the Theotokos, introduced obedience to the will of God and eternal life, thus becoming the true Mother of Life.

This new Eve, the Mother of Life we honor in the first fifteen days of August. We honor her as the Church has ordered: Through prayer, fasting and active participation in the holy Eucharist.

Our priests will celebrate every day, either the Supplication Services or the festal vespers. This is our opportunity to come to our churches and ask for the intercession of the holy Mother of God. Let us ask her to intercede for our salvation, for the salvation of our relatives and friends, for the salvation of the entire world. In honoring the Mother of Life let us also renew our commitment to the New Life introduced by Her, through our receiving of the Holy Eucharist.

Wishing you a blessed fasting season and a joyous celebration of the feast of our All-Holy Mother, I remain,

With paternal love in Christ Jesus,

+MAXIMOS
Bishop of Pittsburgh