Dormition of the Theotokos

Hm, I know that the juicier subject is the intercession of the saints, but let me take up the subject of the assumption of the Theotokos because it will let me make some points about the differences in approach between the East and the West.

OK, so both the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic believe that Mary is physically in heaven. Why, then, do we so strongly say that the Roman Catholic Church should have never declared the assumption of Mary to be a dogma? Well, for a couple of reasons. One is our reticence in making beliefs mandatory to the point that someone would be labeled a heretic for not believing such. Mind you, our Church has significant authority. Just try to alter the Divine Liturgy without the clear permission of our hierarchs and you will see just how quickly one can be disciplined! But, that is not the same as being a heretic, uhm, maybe disobedient, undisciplined,  arrogant, self-serving, etc., but not a heretic.

Yet, when we look at the argument between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants, we see the same mistake being made in both their arguments. One of the favorite lines in the West is lex orandi, lex credendi. What does this line mean?

Latin, loosely translatable as the law of prayer is the law of belief, refers to the relationship between worship and belief, and is an ancient Christian principle which provided a measure for developing the ancient Christian creeds, the canon of scripture and other doctrinal matters based on the prayer texts of the Church, that is, the Church’s liturgy. [<== at least this is how the West sees it]

In other words, what you say in worship is what you doctrinally believe. Well, frankly, I would hope that would be true! But, look at the strength with which it is said. The word “law” is used. And, of course, if one breaks the law, one is liable to punishment. This has been the approach of the West to worship. It is law. For both Roman Catholics and Protestants, making a mistake in worship makes one liable for punishment. This is why there is so much Catholic and Protestant debate about the minutiae of worship. One cannot dare to make a mistake in worship or one will be punished, whether by God or the Church or both.

And, because the West is so law-oriented, it is an all or nothing battle. To say that something need not be believed is tantamount to saying that we should discard it from worship or that one cannot preach it or that one cannot have it on the list of those things which the Church believes. So, it is of crucial importance to determine whether the Theotokos was assumed or not, along with corresponding penalties for holding the wrong view, and/or charges of not truly understanding the doctrines of salvation. After all, the law of prayer is the law of belief, right?

But, that is not the approach to the East. We will celebrate feasts about historical events that, uhm, may not have happened. So, how can we celebrate such a feast? Well, it is because we are not law-oriented. Now, we do have some hesitancy and caution about history. If you notice, our feast in August is still the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos and NOT the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Nevertheless, the prayers in the feast lead one to believe that the Theotokos was taken bodily into heaven.

So, what will happen if the Theotokos was never assumed and we were celebrating something that did not happen? Well, according to all too many Protestants (and some Catholics), we have offered “strange fire” and, at best, God will ignore us while, at worst, he will discipline us for our ignorance. But, C.S. Lewis had Aslan make an interesting comment in his last book in the Chronicles of Narnia series. There, speaking to Emeth who had worshiped in the wrong way, he said, “no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to [Tash, a stand-in for Satan].” You see, even if we were historically mistaken, nevertheless our service will be accepted.

However, we are convinced that the Theotokos is in heaven. Why so? For two reasons. One, it is what we have received as Tradition. But, two, it is hinted at in archeological history. If one looks back at the history of the Early Church, one can see that pilgrimages started rather early. Needless to say, this led to the “growth” of pilgrimage sites. But, here is the interesting fact. One can find a church and/or relics for almost anything related to a saint’s life, particularly in Palestine. This is where they were born; this is where  they lived; this is where they died; this is where they are/were buried; these are their relics. But, there is only one person for which there is no church built over their tomb. And, that is Mary. There is no tomb of Mary; there are no relics of Mary. In other words, the belief that she was taken up into heaven is both early and universal.