Feast of Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God – May 15 I (i’do d-yeldas Aloho d Al Shablo) – Feast of Good Crops / Harvest

The Holy Church has set commemorative days for the Virgin Mary to be celebrated all the year round and observes five feasts of Blessed Virgin Mary every year, including May 15, in the honour of St. Mary, the Protectress of Crops, for the blessing of spikes, as the first step of harvesting.

There was a time when the entire efforts linked with the agriculture, were submitted to the care and protection of St. Mary, Mother of God, as well as all the Saints including the Apostles. In origin, an agricultural feast which arose from the needs of the farmers to seek God’s help for a fruitful harvest, as the farmers were at the mercy of the elements and depended upon sufficient rain and good weather. As a result, they sought God’s assistance and begged the intercession of Mary for their crops.

Syrian poets attribute these feasts of the Virgin Mary to John, the Evangelist. Those poets are quoted saying: “With dew and drizzle the land of Ephesus was sprinkled when St. John brought to it the messages of the Virgin Mary commanding that the blessed Feasts of the Virgin be celebrated three times a year. The Feast of the Virgin Mary of the sowing of seeds is in January. In May is the Feast of the Virgin Mary for blessing the crops and in August is her Feast of the blessing of the vineyards, which are the symbol of the mystery of life”. Ever since its existence our Orthodox Syrian Church has incessantly extolled the Virgin Mary’s virtues and canonized her as a patron saint of the Church, repeating her Holy name in church prayers day and night.

With the sin of our first parents the earth lost the perfect rhythm of creation and became completely barren, but Christ’s death on the Tree of Life, the lost balance of creation was restored and thus the earth became again fruitful. It was the consent of Mary, Mother of God, that is instrumental and pivotal to this restoration. Blessed Virgin Mary is to be the most fruitful field. Hence, the Holy Church has entrusted their spiritual and mental energy, determination and enthusiasm as well as material and temporal life to the protection of Blessed Virgin Mary. It became a custom to offer the first fruits to our Blessed Lady.

St. Ephrem, speaks of Mary, says that Mary became of the field who received the grain of wheat in her womb and this grain of wheat, Jesus Christ our Lord, gives life to the world. Through the harvest we receive the gifts of bread and wine which become for us the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

Our forefathers used to take out the seeds from the store houses which were commonly known as (Ara), only after prayers and intercessory prayers. St. Mary was considered as a special fort around their efforts during the entire season and especially when the crops were almost ripe from natural calamities breakage of the boundary (varambu) and thereby the flow of water from neighboring canals or rivers. Our forefathers used to whisper every time My God and My Mother, (Ente Daivame and Ente Maathave) Their faith was very sound and solid.

During the harvest season, the first and best bundle of crop was kept apart for the Parish Church. Lord let the crops and fruits to grow more so that the poor and destitute could praise thee after having them and get satisfied and enable us to have regular and needy rains.

The hymn in the Divine Liturgy after the Holy Gospel reading on this day

‘Kathirukale orthth-idavaththil-viththinu makarathil
Munthiriye prathi chingathil-perunal moonnevam
Varsham thorrum- bhagyavathi smruthiyaai
Ghoshikkanname-nnezhuthappettavayaam
Kanyakathan granthangallumaai- Yoohanon sleeha
Vannappozhepphessoossil- panimazha varshichhu
Halleluiah- avall praarthana sharannam’

When John the apostle came to Ephesus brought a book written about the Virgin Mother. In it, it is asked to celebrate three feasts every year to remember the blessed lady. To remember spike of corn in the month of Edavam, to remember seed in the month of Makaram, to remember grapes in the month of Chingom. Let her prayers be our refuge.

“On this beautiful feast day, we praise the Virgin Mary,
Mother of the Son of God, He who is our Holy Lord.
May He, the Sea of mercy, grant His servants rich graces,
banish all their afflictions, and give peace and health to all.

Let us not lose the tradition of seeking the intercession and protection of St. Mary, Mother of God in our day-to-day affairs. Let us turn to Mary, seek the continuous intercession of the Mother of God, pray for Mary’s protection over the crops and nurturing of a mother and to avail the blessings calling her Ente Daiva Maathave. For each and every need in our houses, like children getting sick all of a sudden or so, our Mothers used to utter Daiva maathave first before seeking the worldly remedies. Let us inculcate the great and rich tradition in our lives too. In May, we reignite this devotion and reach out to Mary who carried her Son, asking her to intercede and pray for us.

“For a good climate, a fruitful year, an abundant harvest and the prosperity of the whole world, through the intercession of the holy Virgin Mary, we implore You, Have mercy on us, O Lord.”

May God bless us all!