DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Hebrews 9:1-7 (11/21) Epistle for the Feast of the Entry
of the Theotokos into the Temple
Two Tabernacles: Hebrews 9:1-7, especially vss. 8, 9: “...the first tabernacle...was symbolic for the
present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make
him who performed the service perfect....” Leading
up to the Feast of the Entry, the Church sings: “Today the whole world is
filled with gladness on the brilliant Feast of the Theotokos,
raising its voice and saying, 'This is she who is the heavenly
tabernacle.'” In the two
verses quoted above from Hebrews, the Apostle speaks of a sanctuary or tabernacle
in the wilderness (vss. 1,2), one organized by Moses
as directed by God: “Also, you shall make Me a sanctuary, and I will
appear among you.” (Ex. 25:8).
In giving birth to God the Son in the flesh, the Theotokos
discloses that, like herself, the wilderness sanctuary
was a type of the eternal, heavenly tabernacle.
Tabernacle, in the
original Hebrew, literally is tent.
The Apostle describes for us the three divisions within this wilderness
sanctuary: 1) a yard before the tabernacle proper - open to the elements -
where God’s People gathered; 2) next, behind a curtain, protecting the
entrance, was a space within the tent for the Priests and Levites, “...in
which was the lampstand, the table, and the
showbread, which is called the sanctuary...” or Holy Place (Heb. 9:2);
and 3) at the far end, separated by another curtain, lay the most interior
area, called the Holiest of All (vs. 3).
This ancient arrangement influenced the floor plan typical
of most Orthodox churches, which divide a Narthex into two parts prior to a
Nave. In early Christian times, the
outer and inner Narthex were separated from the Nave
by a door. The inner Narthex
provided space for catechumens to separate from the Assembly when the cry,
“The doors, the doors....” came. The Nave, where God’s People
worship, and the
The ancient Holy of Holies contained “...the golden censer and the ark
of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot
that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the
covenant...” (vs. 4). This most sacred space and its
furnishings are treated with high reverence on the basis of a theology of presence,
a language that enriches our magnification of the Theotokos
as the ultimate tabernacle. Through
her, He Who IS, comes, presents, and reveals Himself to the Faithful. He Who cannot
be contained is pleased to dwell among men. Hence, the Virgin is called Platytera, she whose womb exceeds the heavens, she
whom God “...hath sanctified...which hath contained God the Word
uncontainable.”
In the Mosaic rites of worship, smoke from the golden
censer was offered by the High Priest to cover the mercy seat above the tables
of testimony, and to keep the Priest from death in the presence of God (Lev.
16:13). Likewise, in humanity from
the Virgin, Jesus the Great High Priest offers His life and embraces death to
defeat our eternal death and gain life for us.
The Theotokos herself is called the
Aaron’s rod was made of wood from the almond tree -
in Hebrew, the Waker - being the first tree to
blossom in Spring. From Mary comes Jesus, the first blossom
of the new Life.
The tablets of the covenant, also in the
Let us extol Mary, whom the Prophets foretold, a jar, a
rod, a tablet, the holy ark.
Return to the November Calendar