Saint George and the Dragon: A Poem Pt. 4

Plus: Commemorating the Dormition of the Mother of God

Joyous Feast!

This week in the Orthodox Church we are celebrating the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. It’s one of my personal favorite feasts. Here’s a brief overview of the commemoration:

The Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 15 each year. The Feast commemorates the repose (dormition and in the Greek kimisis) or "falling-asleep" of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord. The Feast also commemorates the translation or assumption into heaven of the body of the Theotokos.¹

Five years ago today, the men’s choir at our parish had the opportunity to record the album O Marvelous Wonders. The hymn, which inspired the title of the album², explores in rich imagery many of the beautiful elements of the falling asleep of the Mother of God.

The whole of the Christian life is full of wonders. How wonderful it is God would become like us, share in our humanity and have one He knows as Mother! Christ not only humbled Himself to dwell among us but raises us up to heaven to dwell with Him.

I pray you will be blessed by this hymn!

Saint George and the Dragon - Pt. 4

Photo by Ashton Mullins on Unsplash

Part 1
In the days after the Word ascended enfleshed
Signs and wonders spread east to west
I, too, witnessed the courage and valor true 
Of the saintly George against the serpent he slew
I heard the whispers as they slithered
"It lurks in waters dark and bitter
Veiling the shore with vile foul air 
To devour all who dare draw near."
Terror crept from the edge of the village
As a thief moves at night to claim his pillage
First one then more were taken to the deep
Leaving widows to mourn and loudly weep 

Part 2
The king and council gathered together
We sworn to protect and to duty fettered
Yet hearing how monstrous the dragon be
How swift, how quick I saw courage flee
The chamber filled with cries of fearful men
Such that order could not be found within
Then slipping silent into our midst came one
With a deceitful heart and sly forked tongue
He slowly wound along a crooked path
Parting guards and swords as blades of grass
Until the serpent's servant stood face to face
With the King who he wrapped in a grim embrace 

Part 3
"Lord of the land and men gathered here
Cast off your woe and be of good cheer
I faced the one who dwells beneath the lake
Vast are his wings, at his stride earth quakes
Yet upon our people shall rest sacred peace 
When we have as a protector the holy beast
I shall be your priest and he will be your god 
To whom is offered gifts by the cast of lots
Blessed will be they who no longer confined
To the shackles of flesh and limits of time
Become one as a bride and bridegroom wed
Sacrificed that wrath and appetite be fed"

Part 4
Then with no dissent heard among their yeas
Promptly preparing their act of praise
The first of countless lots were drawn
Away to the dragon, children went as fawns
Until one day the hand of Providence fell
Causing the King's heart with dread to swell
For the child would be his own daughter fair
To be offered and caught within hell's snare
But upon the word, neither did she cry nor plea
But offered a bow saying "Let it be unto me"
Parting adorned with the brightest white
She left home for death in evening's glad light

Thank you for reading!

Goodnight, Child of God is set to be released next month! Stay tuned and please pray for me and the release.

With gratitude,

Drew Chancey

---

1. Dormition of the Theotokos - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (goarch.org)

2. As you may have guessed, this hymn was also one inspiration for the name of this newsletter.