𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. മറിയാമെന്ന വരണ്ടഭൂമിയിൽ നിന്നു മുളച്ചു വളർന്ന അനുഗ്രഹിത സസ്യം.

This liturgical painting is a reflection from the sedro reading of the preparatory service (Thuyobo), which states:

“We worship and thank You, O Creator of the worlds and the Framer of creation, the Blessed Shoot who sprang forth and came up out of the thirsty ground, Mary, and by the scent of Whose glorious sweet fragrance the whole earth was filled, and Who dispelled the foul odor of paganism from all the regions by His glorious teaching.”

Malayalam: ലോകസ്രഷ്ടാവും സൃഷ്ടികളെ ക്രമീകരിക്കുന്നവനും, മറിയാമെന്ന വരണ്ടഭൂമിയിൽ നിന്നു മുളച്ചു വളർന്ന് തന്റെ മഹനീയ സൗരഭ്യത്താല്‍ ഭൂമിയെ മുഴുവനും നിറയ്ക്കുകയും തന്റെ വിശിഷ്ടോപദേശം മുഖാന്തരം സൃഷ്ടിയുടെ എല്ലാ ഭാഗത്തു നിന്നും തിന്മയുടെ ദുർഗന്ധത്തെ അകറ്റുകയും ചെയ്ത അനുഗ്രഹിത സസ്യമായുള്ളോവേ! നിന്നെ ഞങ്ങള്‍ വന്ദിച്ച് സ്തുതിച്ച് സ്തോത്രം ചെയ്യുന്നു

This prayer reflects on the mystery of the Incarnation, drawing us to the image of Christ, the life-giving Shoot, who emerged from the pure womb of the Virgin. In His humility, He came forth from the barrenness of a fallen world, bringing life, hope, and salvation. His presence fills the earth with the sweet fragrance of grace, dispelling the foul odor of darkness.

Similarly, St. Ephrem the Syrian writes:

“Greatly saddened was the Tree of Life when it saw Adam stolen away from it; it sank down into the ‘virgin ground’ and was hidden, to burst forth and reappear on Golgotha. Humanity, like birds that are chased, took refuge in it, so that it might return them to their proper home. The Chaser (hunter) was chased away, while the birds that had been chased now hop with joy in Paradise.”

I am unsure if the Thuyobo prayer was adopted from this passage, but in this poetry, St. Ephrem expresses how the Tree of Life, which was hidden in the “virgin ground” after Adam’s fall, mirrors Christ being hidden in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He is then revealed through His birth and, ultimately, through His crucifixion on Golgotha. The imagery ties the role of Mother Mary in salvation history with that of the Tree of Life, suggesting that just as life was lost through Adam, new life comes through Christ, who is born of the Virgin.

Mother Mary, the “virgin ground,” stands at the center of this cosmic mystery. Just as the Tree of Life gives refuge and joy to birds, so too does Christ, born of Mary, become the refuge and hope of all humanity. Her role as Theotokos (God-bearer) is intimately tied to the restoration of life, underscoring her unique participation in the divine plan of salvation.

Fr Rijo Geevarghese
Diocese of Ahmedabad
Sopana Orthodox Academy