08/16/2023
THE DORMITION FAST AND THE PLAGUE
IMAGE: Limburg Staurotheke, 900s AD
[Translation of inscriptions below]
Yesterday began our Dormition Fast (August 1-14 OS), a short Lenten period in preparation for the "funeral" of the Mother of God—that is, the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, St. Mary. This fast is rather ancient, observed by both Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians, and even by the Nestorians, who separated from the Great Church after AD 381—who indeed venerate Mary, despite rejecting her ancient title "Theotokos" (lit., "God-bearer" or Mother of God), preferring instead "Christotokos" (Christ-bearer). At latest, I think the Dormition was likely first celebrated sometime shortly after the Third Ecumenical Council, if not before.
The fast begins with the Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Precious and Life-giving Cross on August 1. The Greek Horologion explains: "Because of the illnesses which occur during the month of August, it was customary at Constantinople to carry the Precious Wood of the Cross in procession throughout the city for its sanctification, and to deliver it from sickness." The cross would be placed atop the altar table at Hagia Sophia, the Church of the Holy Wisdom, then processed throughout the City, and was made available for veneration by the people throughout the entire fasting season.
GREEK INSCRIPTIONS ON THE STAUROTHEKE
Around the outer rim:
No beauty had He, who was hanged upon the Wood /
And yet, even in death, Christ surpassed all beauty /
While He had no comely form, He embellished my unsightly face disfigured by sins and transgressions /
For, though He was God, He suffered in mortals’ nature /
Since Basil the Proëdros highly revered Him /
He greatly embellished the box of the wood /
On which He was stretched and embraced all creation.
On the back:
God stretched out his hands upon the Wood /
Gushing forth through it the energies of Life /
And Constantine and Romanos the emperors /
Have with the addition of radiant stones and pearls /
Made this same full of wonder.
Upon it Christ formerly smashed the gates of Hell /
Granting new life to the dead.
And the crowned ones who have now adorned it /
Crush with it the temerities of the barbarians.
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