Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God at the Romanian Parish in Mississauga

"This Sunday is twice blessed: it is the day of the Lord's Resurrection and the premise of our salvation and it is the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, said HG Bishop Ioan Casian in his homily at the end of Divine Liturgy at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Mississauga, Ontario.

With the Mother of God we begin and end the church year. We have the Nativity of the Mother of God in September and we end with the Dormition of the Mother of God in August. The Mother of God is the one who introduces us to the Son of God, the Word born according to the flesh from her. She is the one who approves with the words Be to me according to your word! entering perfect obedience to the Word of God at the news of Archangel Gabriel. That is why it is important to think about the Resurrection and to its link to the Mother of God.

Today's text refers to the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and the feeding of more than 5,000 people. It was night, the place was deserted and the availability of resources to feed the crowd was not obvious. The disciples had only five loaves and two fish. The Savior make the crowds sit, took the gifts, looked up to heaven, blessed, broke the bread, gave it together with the fish to the disciple to distribute to the crowds. To everyone's surprise, the food was enough, leaving 12 baskets full of crumbs.

This miracle is related to the mystery performed by us today, to the Divine Liturgy. In the same way we celebrate the Divine Liturgy.

At the Divine Liturgy the priest takes the gifts - prosphoras and wine - brought by the faithful and uses them at Proskomedia which is the preparatory part. He then raises them to God, consecrating them to Him. It follows the blessing of the gifts and the prayers of their transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit. Then the Body of Christ is broken and given with His Blood to the clergy and believers. In the Church we follow in the footsteps of Christ. The priest, the bishop, the priesthood of the Church is the priesthood of Christ. Christ by His sacrifice obtained salvation for us. That is why we can take no other steps to gain salvation than those whom Christ has made.”

The hierarch of Canada continued to speak about the Mother of God as the protector of the Diocese of Canada:

“The Mother of God is also one of the protectors of our diocese together with St. Apostle Andrew and St. John Cassian. The first Romanian parishes founded in Canada, at the beginning of the 20th century, were dedicated to Saint Mary, who was generally the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin. We also took this example. It means at the same time to honor the one who is the closest to Christ, that is, His Mother. It is at the same time a continuation of the faith of the pioneering Romanians who preceded us on Canadian soil and to be in communion with them.

Let us rejoice in this feast, let us ask for the help of the Mother of God, let her protect us to go further in our pilgrimage to the Kingdom of heaven.”