August 1, 2008
HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS ON THE DORMITION
My dear ones,

It hardly seems possible that we are already at the beginning of the month of August which is dedicated to the Panagia, and her Dormition. Of course, in predominantly Orthodox countries, we would really feel the spirit and the significance of this blessed and holy time, because the whole country would be united in observance. However here in the United States, Orthodox Christians are a minority so that we must strive to be intentional about our fasting and our prayer to enable us to truly join in the spirit of this blessed time. Our Church helps us in this attempt, as every night we have the Paraklesis.

The Paraklesis is a canon that has been written to express our feelings and our devotion to the Most Holy Mother of God, and to ask her intercession. In these wonderfully poetic hymns, we see that our souls feel humble and sinful:
“With my temptations surrounding me
Searching for salvation
I have sought refuge in you”

We cry out to her, entreating her to bring help to us as we suffer with “weaknesses of body, with most serious ailments and with passions so dark.” The Paraklesis helps us focus on the meaning of the Feast Day of the Dormition of the Mother of God, and at the same time, celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord, another major Feast of the Church, the moment our Lord let His disciples see and experience His Divine Nature. The most important thing is to utilize the tools or prayer, fasting and worship, so that we can truly experience the Feasts. Fasting is an essential part of Orthodox spiritual life, for if we are able to fast, we can better control our thoughts and our minds and guide them to Christ.

Because I want all of you to truly experience the joy of the Feast of the Dormition and the Transfiguration, I encourage you to begin fasting and praying to focus on the main event, the life and Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God.