Dear Friends,

According to the calendar of the Armenian Church the feast of the Assumption (last Sunday) continues to be celebrated over a nine-day period. In the holy city of Jerusalem daily divine liturgies are celebrated on the tomb of the Holy Mother of God during this time.

Mary, the Holy Mother of God, serves as our greatest role model in terms of embracing and living God’s will each day. Because of her holiness and purity, she was chosen to have the great privilege of giving birth to the savior of the world.

Filled with great joy upon receiving word that she would give birth to Jesus and learning that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist, Mary offered the following prayer, often referred to by its Latin name, “Magnificat” or in Armenian “Medzatsoustse:”

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Through the intercession and prayers of the Holy Mother of God, may the Lord hear our prayers and save us. Amen.

May we continue to celebrate Mary’s role in our spiritual life as our role model, the first among the saints and the one who intercedes for us. During these trying times we do well to ask the Holy Mother to pray for understanding and peace throughout the world.

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With prayers.
Hayr Simeon
August 19, 2007