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 observes five feasts of BVM every year, including May 15, in the honour of St. Mary 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, this is an agricultural feast which arose from the needs of the farmers to seek God’s help for a fruitful harvest. 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”.

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 orththidavaththil-viththinu makarathil
Munthiriye prathi chingathil-perunal moonnevam
Varsham thorrum- bhagyavathi smruthiyaai
Ghoshi kkanname-nnezhuthappettavayaam
Kanyakathan granthangallumaai- Yoohanon sleeha
Vannappozheppessoossil- 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.

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 seek the continuous intercession of the Mother of God and to avail the blessings let us call 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.

May God bless us all!