The Dormition: Pascha of the Summer
In the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom celebrated in the Orthodox Church, the priest repeats the following prayer a number of times: Let us commit ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
The ecclesiastical year, which begins on September 1st, has been divinely developed by the Church Fathers with feasts and fasts to aid our life in the God-Man Christ.
The longest and strictest fast, Great Lent, paves the way for Pascha (Easter), the Feast of Feasts. In addition to Lent, there are three other periods of prescribed fasting: that of the Apostles in June; the Dormition; and, that of Christmas in November-December.
The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is presently observing the Holy Dormition Fast; this period, which lasts two weeks from the 1st to the 14th of August, culminates on the 15th with the celebration of the Falling Asleep (Dormition) of the Mother of God (Gr. Theotokos). Read more…
The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary
The Lord Who, on Mount Sinai, gave the Fifth Commandment, Honor thy father and thy mother, showed by His own example how one should respect one’s parents. Hanging on the Cross in agony, He remembered His Mother, and indicating the Apostle John He said to her: Woman, behold thy son. After that, He said to John: Behold thy mother. And so, providing for His Mother, He breathed His last. Read more…
The Dormition: Hymn of Praise
Thus spoke the Lord Most-high:
“From thy heart, pure Virgin,
Living water will flow,
That those who thirst will drink Christ.”
Life-bearing source,
We all boast of thee!
Those who thirst will drink Christ.
By Him, the bitter is sweetened;
Read more…
Dormition: Gospel Reading and Apolytikion
Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28
At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me.” Read more…
The Dormition of Our Most Glorious Lady the Theotokos
After the ascension of Jesus Christ, the Theotokos was the one consolation for His disciples, their joy in sorrow and their firm teacher in the Faith. All the words and wondrous events which she had laid up in her heart, from the beginning, she then disclosed to them. She related to them the Archangel Gabriel’s joyful tidings regarding the seedless conception and the incorruptible birth of Christ from her virgin womb. Read more…
The Virgin at the Holy Places
Newly baptized men and women journeyed from all parts of the world to visit the Theotokos, and, as a true mother, she received all, without distinction or partiality. She bestowed upon all the bounties of her grace, by granting healing to the sick, health to the weak, and comfort to the sorrowing. She confirmed all in the Faith, strengthened their hope, instilled divine joy and love, and brought sinners to amendment. Thus, the pure Mother of God lived among the first Christians for many years. Read more…
The Theotokos Speaks a Parable
Our Lady, the Theotokos, then spoke to them, saying, “My beloved children, hearken to my brief words and small instruction, for this I wish and seek. My children, do you see this world? It is a festival. God is as a king, and you, His servants, are the merchants of my beloved Son. Now listen to this parable. There was a great and powerful king who had two servants. The king then heard that there was a great fair where there would be very many goods and products that would bring great gain. Read more…
The Theotokos Delivers Her Soul, Full of Light
It was the Lord’s day, and the 15th day of the month of August, when that blessed hour that all were awaiting drew near. It was the third hour of the day (nine o’clock in the morning). In the room a number of lamps were burning. The holy apostles were offering praise to God. Upon a beautifully adorned bed, the Theotokos was lying and preparing herself for her blessed end when her beloved Son and Lord would come to her. Read more…
Icons of the Feast of the Dormition
Icons of the Feast of the Dormition depict Christ in glory, surrounded by a mandorla, looking at the body of His Mother stretched on a litter, which is a richly draped bier. The Virgin is clad in her red and blue garments. We see Christ holding, in His arms, a small figure of a child clothed in white and crowned with a halo; it is the all-luminous soul of Mary, represented as a newborn infant, that He has just taken to Himself. Read more…
In Thy Falling Asleep, Death was Without Corruption
It must be remembered that it is not the assumption that the Holy Orthodox Church observes on the 15th of August, but the Feast of the Dormition (Keemeesis or Koimisis) or “falling asleep” of the holy Virgin. This most sacred feast marks the falling asleep of the Mother of God, which was followed by the translation of her sacred body three days later into heaven. Read more…