For Dormition: A Hymn In Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos

The last feast of the Liturgical Year is today's feast: The Dormition of The Theotokos. Unlike some Orthodox who seem to be very close to Mary, I am more of a distant admirer. Much in the way I assent to the Periodic Table of the Elements, I assent to the Church's teaching on the Mother of God: I know it is true, but I don't get excited about it. Except for this one feast: The Dormition revs my engine. I mean, what's not to get excited about? A woman like us, resurrected from the dead and taken to heaven! She, before all of us is raised by her Son, never to die again. The general resurrection is not far off in the future but has already begun.

Thus spoke the Lord Most-high:
"From thy heart, pure Virgin,
Living water will flow,
That those who thirst will drink Christ."
Life-bearing source,
We all boast of thee!

Those who thirst will drink Christ.
By Him, the bitter is sweetened;
By Him, the scales are washed from blind eyes;
And by Him, the grief of those in sorrow is healed.
Life-bearing source,
We all boast of thee!

Sweet drink sprung from eternity,
The brook filling our arid age:
Once more raised toward heaven,
Our exhausted world becomes refreshed.
Life-bearing source,
We all boast of thee!

Glory to thee, O Most-pure One!
Glory to thee, O Mother of God!
Thou didst bear for us the Living Christ,
The living water of grace!
Life-bearing source,
We all boast of thee!

- St. Nikolai Velimirovic, Prologue of Ohrid