John Damascene: Assumption of the Virgin

“EVEN though, according to nature, your most holy and happy soul is separated from your most blessed and stainless body and the body as usual is delivered to the tomb, it will not remain in the power of death and is not subject to decay. For just as her virginity remained inviolate while giving birth, when she departed her body was preserved from destruction and only taken to a better and more divine tabernacle, which is not subject to any death…. Hence I will call her holy passing not death, but falling asleep or departure, or better still, arrival….

"Your stainless and wholly immaculate body has not been left on earth; the Queen, the Mistress, the Mother of God who has truly given birth to God has been translated to the royal palaces of heaven…

"Angels and archangels have borne you upwards, the impure spirits of the air have trembled at your ascension. The air is purified, the ether sanctified by your passing through them. . . the powers meet you with sacred hymns and much solemnity, saying something like this: Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, elect like the sun? [cf. Cant 6:9] How you have blossomed forth, how sweet you have become! You are the flower of the field, a lily among the thorns [Cant 2.1] . . . Not like Elijah have you entered heaven, not like Paul have you been rapt to the third heaven; no, you have penetrated even to the royal throne of your Son himself . . . a blessing for the world, a sanctification of the universe, refreshment for those who are tired, comfort for the sorrowing, healing for the sick, a port for those in danger, pardon for sinners, soothing balm for the oppressed, quick help for all who pray to you. . .

“Good Mistress, graciously look down on us; direct and guide our destinies wheresoever you will. Pacify the storm of our wicked passions, guide us into the quiet port of the divine will and grant us the blessedness to come.”

~St. John Damascene: Excerpts from Hom. 1, on the Assumption of the Virgin.

Assumption of the Virgin, by Benozzo Gozzoli. Transferred fresco;
Biblioteca Comunale, Castelfiorentino.

John of Damascus: "This is my body"

"THE bread and the wine are not merely figures of the Body and Blood of Christ (God forbid!) but the deified Body of the Lord itself, for the Lord has said: "This is my body," not, this is a figure of my body; and "My blood," not, a figure of my blood."

~St. John of Damascus: "Exposition of the Orthodox Faith," 4, 13.

 

Artwork: The Institution of the Eucharist, by Joos van Wassenhove.

Oil on wood, 1473-75;  Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, Urbino.

John Damascene: "The wickedness of the evil one"

“SINCE the wickedness of the evil one has prevailed so mightily against man’s nature as even to drive some into denying the existence of God … the disciples of the Lord and His apostles, enlightened by the Holy Spirit and working wonders in His power and grace, took them captive in the net of miracles and drew them up out of the depths of ignorance to the light of the knowledge of God.”

~St. John of Damascus:  Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, 1, 3.

Guardian Angels and Intercessory Prayer

“THE angels must be entreated for us, who have been given us to guard us.” ~St. Ambrose:  Concerning Wisdom, 55.

“THE servants of Christ are protected by invisible, rather than visible, beings. But if these guard you, they do so because they have been summoned by your prayers.”
~St. Ambrose:  Sermo contra Auxent, 11.

"THEY are the guardians of the divisions of the earth; they are set over nations and regions allotted to them by their Creator. They govern all our affairs and bring us help. And the reason surely is because they are set over us by the divine will and command and are ever in the vicinity of God.”

~St. John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, 2, 3.

The Congregation of the Archangels, by Angelos Akotantos.
Tempera on panel; Vatopediou Monastery, Mount Athos.

“UNWORTHY as we are, we pray to you, O leaders of the heavenly hosts, to cover us by your prayers with the protection of the wings of your immaterial glory, preserving us who come to you and earnestly cry, Deliver us from sorrows, O chiefs of the powers above.”

~Byzantine Parakletike, Troparion for Monday, Tone 4.