Journey with Saint Mary: Part 2
OBJECTIVE
Through the 2 lessons "Journey with Saint Mary - Part I and Part II," students will experience the Journey of St. Mary's life and gain a deeper understanding of how our beloved Coptic Orthodox Church takes us through the journey yearly through the different feasts of St. Mary.
INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes
Review the major feasts of Saint Mary discussed in the previous lesson.
- Annunciation of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Joachim
- The Birth of St. Mary
- The Entry of the Holy Theotokos into the Temple at Jerusalem
- Annunciation of the Birth of Christ to St Mary
Saint Mary the Mother of Christ, gave Him all the love a mother can give. She suffered the pain of seeing her beloved Son on the cross to save us. She is our great intercessor in heaven in front of the Throne of Glory.
Our beloved Church continues the Journey with Saint Mary by celebrating the milestones of her life through the following feasts:
- The Arrival of the Holy Family in Egypt - Bashans 24 (June 1)
- The Dormition of the Theotokos - Toba 21 (January 29) This celebration is repeated on the 21st of every Coptic month
- The Assumption of St.Mary's body to heaven, which ends the 2 week fast of saint Mary.
- Dedication of the first church for the All-Holy and Blessed Virgin Mary in the city of Ephesus, where she lived with Saint John the Beloved.
- The Apparition of the Theotokos in Zeitoun, Egypt in 1968
In this lesson, we will discuss the feast of the Dormition of our Lady the Theotokos and the Assumption of St. Mary's body to heaven.
HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." (Matthew 2:13-15)
CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 10 Minutes
The Dormition and Assumption of St. Mary
When St. Mary was around sixty years old, she once again received a message from God. He told her that in three days, she would join her Son in heaven. The apostles gathered together to say goodbye. They witnessed a bright light as our Lord Jesus Christ and a host of angels received Saint Mary's shroud at her death. The passing away or falling asleep of Saint Mary is called the dormition. Her body was buried at the Mount of Olives with her parents and Saint Joseph.
Saint Thomas had been preaching in India at the time of Saint Mary's dormition. He was not in Jerusalem when she departed, however, he saw the body of Saint Mary being carried away by angels. When Saint Thomas returned to Jerusalem several months later, he asked the other disciples if he could see where they buried her, they opened the tomb for Saint Thomas' benefit, but found the tomb empty. Saint Thomas then explained to the disciples what he had seen while in India. The event of Saint Mary's body being carried to heaven after her death is called the Assumption.
The disciples wanted to see the same miracle that Saint Thomas witnessed. So, they all fasted for two weeks together until they saw the Holy Virgin's body being carried up by angels. The Coptic Orthodox church continues the tradition of fasting for two weeks every August to remember this miracle.
DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes
- What can we learn from Saint Mary throughout her life?
- How is Saint Mary's intercessions and presence in our Church is witnessed throughout the history of the Church? Highlight the may apparitions of Saint Mary including the apparition in Zeitoun, Egypt. She usually appears to provide spiritual encouragement or physical healing to those who call on her.
LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes
Saint Mary is our most beloved and fervent intercessor. She is included in many of our Orthodox prayers and hymns. The entire month of Kiahk is full of praises for Saint Mary in preparation of the Feast of the Nativity. In the Coptic Orthodox Church, we always celebrate the day a Saint passes away because that is when they receive their eternal reward to be with our Lord Jesus Christ forever in Heaven. We celebrate St. Mary's passing/Dormition on the 21st of Toba (January 29). This day is so important that we commemorate Saint Mary's Passing on the 21st of every Coptic month We also celebrate the day when the Apostles witnessed the Assumption of her body on the 16th of Mesra (August 22).