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Note: The inclusion of this event in the online calendar is for educational purposes, and to remind the faithful of the mercy of our Lord as shown through the Holy Synod in granting us a shortened fasting period. Please follow the fasting period as per Patriarchal Encyclicals and guidance from one's spiritual father.On August 1st the Syriac Orthodox faithful of Malankara will commence the Fast of the Mother of God (sawmo d-Yoldath Aloho) in preparation for the commemoration of her Assumption (Shunoyo).In his article about the Holy Virgin Mary, the thrice blessed late HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I of blessed memory states, "Her Assumption in the flesh and soul was not instituted by the Syriac Church as doctrine. The Virgin’s Assumption is a confessional patristic tradition based on the Syriac narrative of Apostle St.Thomas." During the Assumption, St. Thomas was given the Girdle (soonoro/belt) of the Virgin as testimony to the other Holy Apostles that she was translated to heaven. "Syriac tradition reports that St. Thomas took the girdle of the Virgin Mary with him to India where he was martyred at the hands of pagan priests. When Thomas’ relics were taken to Edessa in the fourth century the Holy girdle was brought with them. Finally the girdle reached the Church of the Virgin in Homs, which has been called the Church of the Virgin’s Girdle (Um al-Zennar Church) ever since." In addition, the book ascribed to Dionysius the Areopagyte, the bishop of Athens (+95AD) relates that ”upon the dormition of St. Mary, all the Apostles gathered together so quickly coming from the Four Corners of Earth, where they were preaching the word. They arrived in Jerusalem, the Residence City of blessed Mary, & then Jesus came with His angels. Jesus received her soul and handed it to Michael the Archangel. Jesus appeared once more & transferred her holy body to heaven on a cloud. Up there, her body was united to her soul to enjoy her everlasting joy.”Due to the sacredness of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the Church instituted that the faithful should go on a fast in preparation for the celebration of this Feast. The faithful would only have one meal a day to break the fast, consisting of only simple vegan foods. This fast traditionally began on the 1st of August every year and ended on the 15th with Holy Qurbono for the Feast of the Assumption (Hido d'shunoyo). Pursuant to the decision taken by the Council of Homs in 1946 it became five days starting on August 10. However, it is common for the faithful of Malankara to follow the status quo and begin their fast on August 1st even to this day. May the intercession of the Holy Virgin Mary, the mother of God (Bthultho Yoldath Aloho) bless all the faithful who wholeheartedly keep the fast & earnestly seek her prayers. Amen.Article about Shunoyo Fast by HG Mor Themotheos Thomas Metropolitan: https://goo.gl/2SuKB8 Arabic article on fasting by late HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I: https://goo.gl/y1Dt2MPrayer book for the intercession of St. Mary in Malayalam/Manglish: https://tinyurl.com/nym2636c Prayer book for the intercession of St. Mary in English: https://tinyurl.com/3ms4cacc Intercessory prayers to St. Mary by HG Mor Polycarpus Zachariah: https://youtu.be/ZbMd6QNOO1A