Dormition of the Theotokos

Feast Day: August 15 (preceded by two week fast)
Liturgical color: dark blue
Liturgical offering: flowers
Themes: the death and resurrection of our mother the Theotokos, and of all the faithful in Christ

Special prayers: the Small Paraklesis

Around the web:
Festal Learning Basket from Charming the Birds from the Trees
On Ancient Faith Radio
Readings for the fast: 15 Days for Panagia

Quotes:
"Even if we can say that we don’t know much at all about what happened she died, there are several things that we can say for absolute certain. One is that she died. She definitely died. That is what we are celebrating. But she was raised and glorified with the risen Christ too, because she cannot be separated from her Son who is risen from the dead, as any saint cannot be separated from Him. As St. Paul says, 'Neither height, nor depth, nor breadth, nor width, nor angels, nor demons, nor life, nor death, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.'" - Fr. Hopko, AFR

"And this is what we celebrate on the 15th of August. It’s something about her. In a sense, it’s everything about her, but it is also everything about us. Because to quote Father Alexander Schmemann again, “Mary’s not the great exception. She’s the great example.” And what we celebrate in her, we expect for ourselves. And whatever we say that God has given to her, making her more honorable than Cherubim, beyond compare more glorious than Seraphim, we expect that will be for everyone, who by faith and grace dies with Christ, is co-crucified with Him, is co-raised with Him, is co-enthroned with Him, and co-glorified with Him." - Fr. Hopko, AFR

The Dormition Fast

Feast Day: August 1-14
Liturgical color: dark blue
Themes: the death and resurrection of our mother the Theotokos, and of all the faithful in Christ

Special prayers: the Small Paraklesis

Around the web:
Festal Learning Basket from Charming the Birds from the Trees
On Ancient Faith Radio
Readings for the fast: 15 Days for Panagia

Happy St. Nicholas Day

"It's been a long journey from the Fourth Century Bishop of Myra, St. Nicholas, who showed his devotion to God in extraordinary kindness and generosity to those in need, to America's jolly Santa Claus, whose largesse often supplies luxuries to the affluent. However, if you peel back the accretions, he is still Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, whose caring surprises continue to model true giving and faithfulness." - from the Origin of Santa at the St. Nicholas Center

I hope you all have a lovely St. Nicholas Day! Learning about St. Nicholas is a beautiful way to delve into this season with a spirit of giving, and take a step back from the tensions and commercials that can overwhelm us this time of year.

We started the morning with just a few small treats in our shoes - a candy cane for St. Nicholas' staff, gold coins to remind us of his generosity, and a few small stickers just for fun. We read this story of St. Nicholas over breakfast (which was half chocolate coins, I'm afraid), and this afternoon we'll make cookies.

My intentions of making this day one of meaningful charity have fallen through yet again, and I marvel at those like St. Nicholas, for whom charity was a daily activity. Alas, the girls and I will make Christmas cards and cookies to give away, so that we can at least think of others throughout the day.

from the Life of St. Nicholas, at the council of Nicaea

Last year, I shared a picture of the story of St. Nicholas and the dowries from the St. Nicholas center, but this year I'm enjoying reading the stories about St. Nicholas at the council of Nicaea and the role he played in defending the doctrine of the Trinity. One retelling is here: Bishop Nicholas loses his cool.

Theology nerds will enjoy this silly song to the tune of "Supercalafragalisticexpialadocius" about the doctrines formulated at the council:

 [chorus] Superchristological and Homoousiosis Even though the sound of them is something quite atrociousYou can always count on them to anathemize your GnosisSuperchristological and Homoousiosis

One Prosopon, two Ousia are in one Hypostasis.
At Chalcedon this formula gave our faith its basis.
You can argue that you don't know what this means,
But don't you go and try to say there’s a "Physis" in between!

Go the St. Nicholas center to see the full song and the definitions of all the greek words.  And be sure to browse the stories, activities, and recipes. The makers of the St. Nicholas Center have filled it with buckets of information, stories and links. Enjoy!