The Mystery of Flowers
The magnificent nature of flowers blooming especially during on the month of Meskerm from 26 until Hedar 6 E.C. (October 7- until November 16 G.C) has mystical meaning in Christian life. The Mother of the world’s redeemer Saint Mary is represented through flowers. Prophet Isaiah has described her as, “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” (Isaiah 11:1)
Flowers are also the imitation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as wise King Solomon said, “The flowers appear on the earth.; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land.” (Song of Songs 2:12) Here we can see that Holy Mother Saint Mary is imitated by earth where she gave the flower which is Her Holy Son, Lord Jesus.
The Syrian Saint Ephraim praised Saint Mary saying, “Mary is the garden upon which descended from the Father the rain of benedictions. From that rain she herself sprinkled the face of Adam. Whereupon he returned to life and arose from the sepulcher—he who had been buried by his foes in hell. . ..” (Sunday’s praise of Mary)
Onwards conceiving her Son Lord Jesus, on her flight to Egypt and Ethiopia in escaping King Herold, with Saint Joseph and Salome, Saint Mary sometimes looked like a red rose and other times like a roman white flower. Her face also seemed like the white bird Caladrius with unified color, red muslin, fire, flare, leaves and herbs, and other different faces. Saint Joseph who had difficulty differentiating her face, had to call her name saying “Mary” and reconfirm it was her on their voyage.
Saint John Chrysostom commentaries on the Evangelist Saint Matthew quote, “Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son,” is the additional for this notion. Accord to his interpretation, saint Joseph was unable to differentiate Saint Mary since her face changed like a rose and roman flower and thus he did not know her with one known color. (Matthew 1:24-25)
No human can have words that express the beauty, honor and nature of our Holy Mother Saint Mary. We can only use words that the Saints and Patristic Fathers in scripted in holy books in praising her name and glory. Just as Abba Tsige Birhan (Dengel) have done, we can express our love and reverence by songs known as “Mahleate” in Amharic. His book of “Mahleate Tsige” is a very known church song of praise where laities participated on Sundays through the forty days of “Wereha Tsige (The Month of Flower).”
Abba Tsige Dengel not only praised her with songs but brought 50 flowers for each of the days he stood in front of the miraculous picture of Saint Mary. These extraordinary painting was what changed this righteous father from a Judaism to Christian at first. He had the chance to witness the miraculous of Saint Mary’s picture and become a student of Abba Zena Markos. He then praised holy mother ever since.
Once he could not find the 50 flowers to present to her for it was summer where flowers had dried. He had to beg Saint Mary to allow him sing appraisal saying “Rejoice” 50 times instead of the flowers he could not present. Whilst he was praising her with these words, his appraisal turned in to flowers for him where people even witnessed Saint Mary receiving the flowers and embracing it.
In this season, we not only commemorate, Saint Mary and her flight with her beloved son, but also the blooming of flowers that beautify the earth. Flowers have mysteries meaning to our life as illustrated above. We are to be reminded about the work of salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ who came down from heavens to be born in flesh and blood from His Mother Saint Mary, for He would teach us word of God, made baptism, heal all the lame, leprosies, blinds and those with evil spirits.
Executing all His miraculous on earth and fulfilling the vow He made to the first mankind Adam, He had ascended to His Holy Father’s right, after all the suffering, crucifixion and resurrection. This path is also for us to follow, live on carrying the cross, defeat our enemy and inherit the Kingdom of heavens.
Dear Brethren, we are to embrace all His work of redemption by praising Him along with mother Saint Mary even during this season. Though the fast is not declared by Holy Orthodox Church but fasted with ones will, we shall pray, fast and praise the Mother and Son commemorating their flight during this season.
We shall praise with the church songs especially on Sundays, “Mahealete Tsige.” It is an honor to be part of the appraisal and all the songs that the priests perform inside the churches decorated with red roses, white and yellow flowers carried by all during the songs of appraisal.
May God receive all the appraisals, prayers and fasts of ours, Amen!