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Anastasia Balezdrova

Traditionally, August 15 is a feast in Greece when thousands of Greeks go to churches and monasteries named after Mary, to pray, to seek support or to thank for the successful ending of a serious health or another problem. There are numerous stories of the miracles that icons of the Mother of God made, which are most often associated with health problems and difficulties of conception in women.

For the meaning and symbolism of the great Christian feast, GRReporter talked with the secretary of the committee of publications, public relations and enlightenment at the Greek Holy Synod Father Timotheos Anthis.

What is the meaning of the feast of the Assumption to Orthodox Christians?

There is a perception that the Assumption is the summer Easter. This is a very important feast for the Orthodox faith as well as the other important feast which we celebrate on August 6 - Transfiguration of Jesus.

These feasts relate to the mission of our faith, which is the salvation of men. Jesus Christ came to Earth not to establish a kingdom or to meet the expectations of the people of that era for the coming of the Messiah, but to show people the true God and that they would be saved through faith in Him. Transfiguration is a very important event, because Jesus showed His divinity on the Mount Tabor.

On August 15, we honour the Assumption, because the Mother of God has come to the end of her earthly life as everyone else. But what is it that we observe? It is not her death - so the term we use is "assumption" - her ascension. I.e., that she ascended with her body to God. This is a very big event, because as theologians John of Damascus and John Palamas indicated, the Virgin does not expect the Second Coming as all other people and saints. For the saints, who performed miracles and whose bodies languish after their ascension, also expect the Day of Judgment. However, His mother Mary does not expect the Second Coming, because the Son of God was created in her body and she was filled with the Holy Spirit and became a saint. That is why she is called Panagia, because she dominates over all the saints. Her body could not languish, so it has ascended into heaven three days after the funeral. When the apostles went to worship at the grave of Mary, the Apostle Thomas, who had not attended the funeral, saw that her body was not there. The tradition and faith of our Church suggests that she has ascended into heaven, where she is now with her son. This is a great message for us because a person who truly believes in God can become a saint, live eternally and participate in the glorification of God.

The aim of the Orthodox faith and doctrine, and the appearance of Christ among the people is to save them and make them saints. This is the purpose of the Church too because we become sacred there. Therefore, we see that although it is summer and people are on vacation and need to rest, they always find a way to go to a temple on August 15 to light a candle, to bow before the icon of the Virgin and ask for her support and compassion. She is the only true mother of all people because she is the mother of God and people want her to help them cope with the difficulties in their lives. All we address her for any joyful or sad event in our lives as the young children seek support in their mothers.

Greece has a long Orthodox tradition. Do the Greeks have a strong religious feeling today?

The Orthodox Greek people keep this feeling deep inside, although sometimes the people are away from the church, they have no time for it or sometimes they are even wary of what is happening in it. Nevertheless, no one remains adamant to the sacred icon of Virgin Mary without saying a prayer or asking help or thanking for something.

This is very important because although we, the Greeks, are "involved" in this faith, there are events initiated by life itself, or even priests, which afflict us. Then, we turn away from the Church. Of course, this is not right. We do save our souls neither from the priests and their lives, nor from the actions of others. Our faith in God, the relationship we have with Him will save us. It is the essence to be able to realize our faith.

Today, we see many people who claim to be atheists. I recently read about a Christian pastor – a Protestant in Holland, who said he does not believe in what he preaches. I think the people who can say they are atheists are very small in number and they do so consciously. There are people who harbour doubts inside themselves and even challenges, if you wish. However, this happens to believers too. Everyone struggles to find his or her faith and this is a life goal.

Even the Disciples of Christ who lived with Him needed time to believe Him. I said in the beginning that Christ showed His divinity to three of Hs disciples - Peter, James and John. Exactly 40 days later, Peter betrayed Him. When Christ took the road to Calvary, some people told Peter that he was His follower and he replied "I do not know this man." In this way, Peter put into question their relationship, which lasted three years and was based on the contact with Christ, His miraculous actions and teachings. He made the miracle of Peter, who walked on the water in the sea. Yet Peter renounced Him at the time when Christ was persecuted. The human beings are weak and easily succumb to certain events and situations.

However, Jesus teaches us the opposite - to be strong, have courage, cope with the events in life, but not with any spirit but with the spirit of faith in Him. Peter, who lived with Jesus and then denied Him, has become the most dynamic preacher and His apostle after the Resurrection.