BVM Series : Blessed Virgin Mary | Tabernacle & Ark of the Covenant

The Ark of the Covenant contained the Israel’s most sacred objects and each object prefigured Christ.

Mosha chamachora – pedaka drushtantham
Mariyame slomo –jeevajalathin munkuriyam…..

Peace thee Mary – Ark of mysteries,
That Moses did make – Thy symbol as veil divine

God commanded Moses on Mount Sinai to make a Sanctuary for Him, An Ark of Testimony (beautiful ark-chest of fine acacia wood), covered with gold. He asked to place in the ark of testimonies of His promise: the two tablets of the law, the pot of manna, and the rod of Aaron. On top of this ark, God told Moses to place a symbolic “Mercy Seat,” with an icon of a cherub on each side of it. And God told Moses, “I will meet with you and commune with you on the Mercy Seat of the ark.” The Tabernacle was the place where the Glory of God dwelt.So too, the Glory of God dwelt in the Theotokos the Living Tabernacle.

Blessed Virgin Mary, typified the Ark of Covenant, the true, perfect and living ark, of the New Covenant made in His own likeness and covered with the pure gold symbolizing virginity and greatness, the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Ark of the Old Covenant.

Just as God’s presence and His Glory was made manifest through the shinning cloud filling the holy place (Ex. 40:34-38), so also at the Annunciation, Archangel Gabriel said, “The power of the Highest will overshadow you” (Lk 1:35).Thus, Virgin Mary is the True Tabernacle where God Himself dwelt. She is the true dome, wherein God dwells! The Theotokos is the Ark, for the Glory of God settled on her, just as the Glory of God descended on the Mercy Seat of the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25: 10-22). God used to appear between the cherubim on the cover of the Ark and speak to Moses the Prophet. The Cover represents the dwelling place of God and consequently is a symbol of St. Mary’s womb where God the Word dwelt for nine months. The veil separating the holy place from the holy of holies foreshadows the Incarnation (Heb. 10: 19, 20). The veil was a type of the life-giving flesh of Christ (Heb. 10: 20; Jn.6: 51).

The Ark of the Covenant foreshadows the Theotokos the Mother of God with Christ in her womb. Mary’s body contained the very body of Jesus Christ. The Ark held the Commandments of the Law, but the mystical Ark holds within herself not just God’s words, but the very Word of God Himself. The Ark of the Covenant contained the Israel’s most sacred objects. Each object prefigured Christ.

Bhagha vathee mariyame nizhalayi moosha paninja,
Pettiayathal nee chithree kruthayai ghoodarathaathil Pettikkullil deivi kamayore dukal pole
Nyastham ninnil satthyam mariyam jeevana poopam

His death and Resurrection are Life-giving. Let us ask Mother Mary most pure and living ark, dwelling place of the Redeemer to intercede for us before God that we be set free of bondage and find the promised salvation.

Manna nikshepitha cheppum
Aharon than kilurtha vadiym
Ulkkondoru niyamappetti……………

The Tablets of the Law, prefigured Christ the Lawgiver (Heb. 9: 4); He is Lawgiver and fulfiller of the Law of righteousness.

The Manna, the heavenly bread with which He fed His people, typified Christ the Bread of Life; He is the heavenly Manna, the Living Bread of Life, who fed the souls of His people.