Deposition of the Precious Cincture of the Theotokos;
St. Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne
~ FAST DAY~
The Holy Theotokos gave her cincture [sash] to the Apostle Thomas. That sash was later brought to Constantinople and kept in a sealed reliquary in the church of the Mother of God at Blachernae, the royal foundation [Zaduzbina] of Empress Pulcheria.
This reliquary was never opened until the time of Emperor Leo the Wise (886-912 A.D.). Leo's wife, the Empress Zoe, became mentally ill and, according to a mysterious vision, she desired that the sash of the Holy Theotokos be placed on her. The emperor implored the patriarch and the reliquary was opened and the sash was removed and placed on the ailing empress. The empress was immediately healed. This feast was instituted in commemoration of this miracle.
One part of the sash is to be found in Zugdidi, Georgia. That is to say: the daughter of Emperor Romanus was healed with the aid of this sash and later when her father married her to the Georgian Emperor Abu Chaz, she took a part of that sash with her. By order of the Russian Emperor Alexander I, a special church was built in Mingrelia in Zugdidi where that part of the miracle-working garment of the Holy Theotokos is kept.
CINCTURE (SASH) OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS
+ The Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul - Hebrews 9:1-7 KJV
9 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
+ The Holy Gospel According to Saint Luke 10:38-42 KJV
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Saint Herman of Alaska
“And I, a sinner, have been trying to love God for more than forty years, and cannot say that I perfectly love Him. If we love someone we always remember him and try to please him; day and night our heart is occupied with that object.
Is that how you, gentlemen, love God? Do you often turn to Him, do you always remember Him, do you always pray to Him and fulfill His holy commandments? ‘For our good, for our happiness at least let us make a vow that from this day, from this hour, from this minute we shall strive to love God above all else and to fulfill His holy will.’”.”
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