The Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary was solemnly celebrated in the Metropolis of Belgium.
On Sunday, August 15, 2021, Metropolitan Athinagoras of Belgium presided over the Orthros and the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Metropolitan Church of the Holy Archangels in Brussels.
During the sermon, the Metropolitan referred to the face of Our Lady, noting that the Virgin Mary, the laboratory of the union of the two natures, is the ‘joy of all’ and ‘the hope of the world,’ the sanctification of all creation.
Not only because she has become the mother and intercessor of all people, but, mainly, because she sanctifies us by leading us to the source of life, the Savior Christ, and confirms within us the faith in His Resurrection.”
Elsewhere in his speech, he said, “Our Lady is the first to reap the fruits of the work of salvation in which she collaborated. If Christ saved us all with His Cross and Resurrection, the Virgin Mary becomes the first to experience this victory. For being the mother of life she was transferred to the true life of the Kingdom of her Son and God, highlighting the fruits of our salvation given by the victor of death our Lord.”
The Metropolitan thanked the priests, the cantors and the faithful, among whom were present the Consul General of Greece in Belgium, Vassilios Zarbalis, and the President of the Greek Community of Brussels, Dimitrios Argyropoulos, while hoping that the Virgin Mary will protect our life and be our consolation, joy and hope.