Ryland’s Papyrus 470
“Under cover of your motherly heart we flee for refuge, Mother of God [Theotokos]; do not brush aside our entreaties in our distress, but rescue us from danger, you, peerlessly holy and blessed.”-Sub Tuum Prayer, written in 250 A.D.

Liber Requiei Mariae (Written ca 250 A.D.)

“And as all of the Apostles were sitting in front of the entrance to Mary’s tomb, disputing Paul’s words, behold, our Lord Jesus Christ came from heaven with the angel Michael… Then the Savior spoke to Michael, the leader of the hosts: ‘Bring the soul of this blessed one into the hands of Gabriel and Raphael, and let them carry it into Paradise.’” -Liber Requiei Mariae (The Book of Mary’s Repose), Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2002. pg 290. Trans. by Stephen J. Shoemaker from the Syriac text published by William Wright in Contributions to the Apocryphal Literature of the New Testament (London: Williams and Norgate, 1865).

“And the Lord said to the apostles: ‘Take up the body of Mary and carry it to the east side of the city, and you will find a new tomb where you shall place it.’… And behold, a cloud of light appeared and enveloped the body and carried it up into heaven.” -Liber Requiei Mariae (The Book of Mary’s Repose), Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2002. pg 292. Trans. by Stephen J. Shoemaker from the Syriac text published by William Wright in Contributions to the Apocryphal Literature of the New Testament (London: Williams and Norgate, 1865).

Epiphanius of Salamis
”Like the bodies of the saints, however, she has been held in honor for her character and understanding. And if I should say anything more in her praise, she is like Elijah, who was virgin from his mother’s womb, always remained so, and was taken up, but has not seen death” –Panarion 79, written 350 A.D.

“How will holy Mary not possess the kingdom of heaven with her flesh, since she was not unchaste, nor dissolute, nor did she ever commit adultery, and since she never did anything wrong as far as fleshly actions are concerned, but remained stainless?”- Panarion Adversus Haereses 42:12 (Written 375 A. D.)

“Let them search through the Scriptures and find neither Mary’s death, nor whether or not she died, nor whether or not she was even buried. Though John travelled throughout Asia, yet nowhere does he say that he took the Holy Virgin with him. Scripture simply kept silence because of the overwhelming wonder… The Holy Virgin may have died and been buried, but her falling asleep was with honour, her death in purity, her crown in virginity.”- Panarion Adversus Haereses 78:11 (Written 375 A. D.)

“If the holy Virgin is dead and has been buried, surely her dormition happened with great honor; her end was most pure and crowned by virginity. If she was slain, according to what is written: “A sword shall pierce your soul” (Lk 2:35), then she obtained glory together with the martyrs, and her holy body, from which light shone forth for all the world, dwells among those who enjoy the repose of the blessed. Or she continued to live. For, to God, it is not impossible to do whatever he wills; on the other hand, no one knows exactly what her end was.” – Panarion Adversus Haereses 78:23 (Written 375 A. D.)

Pseudo-Melito
“Then the Savior spake, saying: Arise, Peter, and take the body of Mary and bear it unto the right-hand side of the city [Jerusalem] toward the East, and thou wilt find there a new sepulchre wherein ye shall place it, and wait till I come unto you….[T]he apostles carrying Mary came into the place of the valley of Jehosha-phat which the Lord had showed them and laid her in a new tomb and shut the sepulchre.”-the Assumption

Theoteknos of Livias
“For Christ took His immaculate flesh from the immaculate flesh of Mary, and if He had prepared a place in heaven for the Apostles, how much more for His mother; if Enoch had been translated and Elijah had gone to heaven, how much more Mary, who like the moon in the midst of the stars shines forth and excels among the prophets and Apostles? For even though her God-bearing body tasted death, it did not undergo corruption, but was preserved incorrupt and undefiled and taken up into heaven with its pure and spotless soul.” –the Assumption of Mary

Balai of Qennshrin (Died ca 450 A.D.)

“O Mother of our Lord, we place our trust in you truly, for your majestic Son listens to you kindly. To you be glory on the day of your mother’s memorial, O Son of God, who strengthens His martyrs. O blessed Mary, come and be the protection of our weakness, that we may live in grace with you through your prayers. O holy ones, be our companions, with mercy. Persevere in prayer and righteousness before God. Help us fervently with prayer, martyrs, and expel the Evil One, for behold, he constantly harms us. Call the departed and raise them by way of command, Son of God, for You are truly the Resurrection. May the commemoration of [Saint] Thomas bring blessings to us, and his prayer be a bulwark to our souls. O departed, tomb-dwellers, be comforted. The Good News is upon you, for Resurrection is standing at the door. Glory be to the Father, who chose Mary among all generations, and worship be to the Son, whose hidden power dwells in the holy ones. The one who has always loved fasting and rejoices in it, their lives are joined to God, and they delight in Him. May the Church worship the Father, who crowned her with the crown of fasting, and may her children give thanks to the Son, who fasted for our sake. Pray on our behalf to your Lord, who is pleased with you, that through your prayer we may rejoice in your gladness. We beseech the martyrs and entreat them earnestly to implore with us the Lord, who crowned them.” – The Book of Hymns (also called the “Sliba” or “Sliba d-Mari”) of Balai: Hymn on the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.  The Liturgical texts of the Syriac Orthodox Church

Modestus of Jerusalem (Died 630 A.D.)

“O most blessed dormition of the glorious Mother of God, of her who always remained a virgin, even after giving birth, and who did not experience corruption in that life-sheltering body of hers, even in the tomb! She is preserved [from it] by Christ the Savior, who came forth from her and who is mighty to do all things.” –Encomium on the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, Mary, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin, chap 7

“O most blessed dormition of the glorious Mother of God, through whom Christ, the divine light and light-giver, has shone forth, and the holy martyrs, conformed to his sufferings, are kindled from him like lamps shining in the world! Even with their blood, they confess her to be Mother of God, and receive from him the crown of righteousness. O most blessed dormition of the glorious Mother of God, for whose sake angels and archangels come down from on high, and divine apostles gather from the ends of the earth, in a way known to God alone, who leads them on the way and gathers them for the holy celebration of her dormition as Mother of God! In this our Lord, who is good above all others, fulfills the command which he gave to Moses long ago, “Honor your parents” (Ex 20:12), since he is by nature one who gladly shows honor.” –Encomium on the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, Mary, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin, chap 7

Theoteknos of Livias (550-650 A.D.)

“The assumption of the body of the holy one [Mary], and her ascension to heaven, took place on the fifteenth day of August, which is the sixth day of the month of Mesore… For if, when he saw his disciples discouraged by his passion, Jesus said to them, ‘I go to prepare a place for you’ (Jn 14:2), how much more will he have prepared a place for the one who begot him…” –Encomium, Section 5

Maximus the Confessor (580-662 A.D.)

“Now by her grace let us speak about her Dormition and removal from the world to the eternal kingdom, for it is the joy and the light of pious souls to hear such a story. When Christ our God wanted to bring his all-holy and immaculate mother forth from the world and lead her into the kingdom of heaven so that she would receive the eternal crown of virtues and supernatural labors, and so that he could place her at his right hand beautifully adorned with golden tassels in many colors (cf. Ps 44.10, 14) and proclaim her queen…” –The Life of the Virgin: Maximus the Confessor, Chapter 8, translation by Stephen J. Shoemaker

John of Thessalonica (wrote ca 610-649 A.D.)

Since, then, it is very necessary for the good of this Christ-loving metropolis, in order that it lack no blessing, that the world’s benefactress and lady, the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of God, receive our sincere praise as we celebrate with spiritual joy the memory of her entry into divine rest, we have ourselves spent no small effort preparing to set before your devout ears-to awaken and to build up your souls-not everything we have found written, in different ways in different books, about that event, but only what truly happened, what is remembered as having taken place, and what is witnessed until today by the existence of actual sites.” –Homily on the Dormition of Our Lady, Mother of God & Ever-Virgin Mary, chap 2. ON THE DORMITION OF MARY: Early Patristic Homilies.  From the “Popular Patristics Series Volume 18”.  Brian E Daley S.J. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, NY

“The Apostles, however, lifted up the precious body of our most glorious lady, Mary, the Mother of God and evervirgin, and placed it in a new tomb, in the place the Savior had showed them. They remained in that place, awake in unity of spirit, for three days. And after the third day, they opened the sarcophagus to venerate the precious tabernacle of her who deserves all praise, but found only her grave-garments; for she had been taken away by Christ, the God who became flesh from her, to the place of her eternal, living inheritance.” –Homily on the Dormition of Our Lady, Mother of God & Ever-Virgin Mary, chap 14. ON THE DORMITION OF MARY: Early Patristic Homilies.  From the “Popular Patristics Series Volume 18”.  Brian E Daley S.J. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, NY

“And our Lord Jesus Christ himself, who bestowed glory on his immaculate Mother Mary Theotokos, will also bestow glory on those who glorify her. Those who call upon her, celebrating her memorial every year, he will save from every danger, and he will fill their households with good things, like the house of Onesiphorus (cf. 2 Tim 1:16; 4:19). And they will receive the forgiveness of their sins, both here and in the age to come. For he has shown her to be his cherubic throne on earth, an earthly heaven, the hope and refuge and confidence of our race, so that if we celebrate, with the sacred mysteries, the festival of her holy Dormition, we might find mercy and grace in the present age and in the age to come, by the grace and kindliness of our Lord Jesus Christ: to whom be glory and power, with his unbegotten Father and with the all-holy and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for the ages of ages. Amen.” –Homily on the Dormition of Our Lady, Mother of God & Ever-Virgin Mary, chap 14. ON THE DORMITION OF MARY: Early Patristic Homilies.  From the “Popular Patristics Series Volume 18”.  Brian E Daley S.J. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, NY

Germanus I of Constantinople (634-733 A.D.)

“Her body, being human, was adapted and conformed to the supreme life of immortality; however, it remained whole and glorious, gifted with perfect vitality and not subject to the sleep of death, precisely because it was not possible that the vessel that had contained God, the living Temple of the most holy Divinity of the Only-begotten, should be held by a tomb made for the dead.” -Homily I On the Dormition (Written 715 A.D.)

“Indeed, as a son looks for and desires his own mother, and the mother delights to live with her son, thus it was right that you also, whose heart was full of motherly love for your Son and God, should return to him; likewise it was altogether fitting that God, who for his part had the kind of feelings of love toward you that a son has for a mother, should make you a sharer in his community of life.” -Homily I On the Dormition (Written 715 A.D.)

Andrew of Crete (650-740 A.D.)

“The [Lord’s] birth escaped corruption, nor did her [Mary’s] tomb allow corruption, which does not touch what is holy. You want me to tell you what the proof is. Do not, for your part, overlook her empty tomb, for I ask you: Why is no body visible? Why are the burial wrappings missing from the tomb if not because what had been entombed there escaped destruction, and because the treasure was transferred to another place?” –Homily 2 on the Dormition (Written ante A. D. 740)

“Today, Jesus transports the Queen of the human race outside of her earthly dwelling: his Ever-Virgin Mother, in whose womb he took human form without ceasing to be God.” –Homily 2 on the Dormition (Written ante-740 A.D.)

John of Damascus (675-749 A.D.)

“It was necessary that the body of the one who preserved her virginity intact in giving birth should also be kept incorrupt after death. It was necessary that she, who carried the Creator in her womb when he was a baby, should dwell among the tabernacles of heaven.” –Homily II on the Dormition 14 (Written ca 730 A.D.)

“Even though your most holy and blessed soul was separated from your most happy and immaculate body, according to the usual course of nature, and even though it was carried to a proper burial place, nevertheless it did not remain under the dominion of death, nor was it destroyed by corruption. Indeed, just as her virginity remained intact when she gave birth, so her body, even after death, was preserved from decay and transferred to a better and more divine dwelling place. There it is no longer subject to death but abides for all ages.” –Homily I on the Dormition 10 (Written ca 730 A.D.)

Theodore the Studite (759-826 A.D.)

“Today, that ark of holiness, wrought with gold and divinely furnished, has been lifted up from her tabernacle on earth and is borne towards the Jerusalem above, to unending rest; and David, the ancestor of Christ, poet as he is, strikes up a song for us and cries, ‘Virgins’ -meaning souls- ‘will be led to the King’ -to you O God- ‘behind her (Ps 45:14).” -Encomium on the Dormition of’ Our Holy Lady, the Mother of God (Written 747 A.D.) Patrologia Graeca: The Greek Fathers of the Church Vol 99. Edited Jacques-Paul Migne. 1857–1866

return to top ⇑