'Daily Bread'
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
A Robe of Divine Incorruption
The pure and true tabernacle of God the Logos, the animate cloud, and the jar of Manna, Mary the Theotokos: let us all who were saved by her child in faith call her blessed; and let us carress her august Garment in which she wrapped the Master and held Him as an infant, when He had put on flesh. Through her, our human nature was lifted to supernal life and kingdom. Therefore in a loud voice we cry out to her with joy: Rejoice, O Virgin, the boast of Christians everywhere (Festal Oikos of Matins).
Daily Scripture Reading
Epistle: Romans 4:4-12
4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.”
9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,
12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.
Gospel: Matthew 7:15-21
15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
The Placing of the Honorable Robe of the Most-holy Mother of God at Blachernæ (5th c.)
The Church commemorates the Placing of the Honorable Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God at Blachernae, and celebrates the memory of St. Juvenal, Patriarch Jerusalem, and New Martyr Lambros.
According to Synaxarion, the brothers Galbius and Candidus set out from Constantinople to Palestine to venerate the holy places.
During their visit to the Holy Land, they met a pious Jewish woman, who had in her possession and preserved in a jeweled chest a very precious sacred item: the Robe of the Mother of God.
After having venerated the sacred garment, Galbius and Kandidus set out to transfer it to Constantinople.
When they arrived in Constantinople, they tried to hide the sacred treasure in Blachernae.
Once the emperor had been informed of the sacred treasure, he venerated the sacred garment with appropriate solemnity.
At Blachernae, a new church in honor of the Mother of God was constructed by the emperor’s order so that the sacred Robe could be placed there within a new reliquary.
The saints’ items sometimes become a source of God’s grace and blessing for the consolation and support of the faithful.
Especially in times when people seek signs of God’s grace due to weakness and various trials. The Virgin Mary is our constant support and consolation but also an example of purity, holiness, humility and obedience.
Church of Mary of Blachernae and the Maphorion
One of the most famous churches in Constantinople was St. Mary of Blachernae. It was a giant columned basilica close to the Golden Horn in the far northwestern corner of the city . It was built in the fifth century and survived for 1,000 years being rebuilt at least once in its history. It was beautifully decorated and housed a famous icon of the Theotokos and the robe of the Virgin called the maphorion.
During the 5th century there was a increase in veneration of the Virgin Mary who was named the Theotokos - Godbearer - at the Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. The elevation of Mary's status was strongly supported by women in general and members of the Imperial family specifically. It was an early feminist movement.
Above is an example of a three-aisled Byzantine basilica with a flat wood gilded roof and mosaics. This would have been very similar to the church as it was rebuilt in 11th century. It is missing an ambo and chancel screen.
Nestorius, the Bishop of Antioch who was deeply involved in the controversy over the Divinity of Christ, was scandalized by the 'excessive worship and near-deification of Mary in the city, bolstered by the Imperial court". He had a head-on collision with Pulcheria who was the most prominent promoter of the cult of Mary in Constantinople. Many of the most famous icon types of the Virgin and Child appear at the same time. Some of them ended up being attributed to the Evangelist Luke, who was believed to have been a painter and created these portraits from life. New churches were created in Constantinople to celebrate the Virgin's new status. The most famous was the great basilica Church of St. Mary of Blachernae - Panagia Blacherniotissa - which was traditionally built by Empress Pulcheria and her husband Marcian in 450.
This week’s calendar reminders:
Monday 7/1: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday 7/2: no services
Wednesday 7/3: no services
Thursday 7/4: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Friday 7/5: Matins 8:30 a.m.
Saturday 7/6: Great Vespers 6 p.m.
Sunday 7/7: Divine Liturgy 9: 15 a.m.
