Dormition of the Mother of God
August 15, Friday
History of the holiday
According to Christian tradition, the Mother of God peacefully departed to the Lord in Jerusalem, surrounded by the apostles. After her death, the apostles buried her body in the Valley of Gethsemane, but after three days, the tomb was found empty — a testimony of her bodily assumption into heaven.
The holiday was established in the 4th–5th centuries and has since been celebrated throughout the Christian world.
Meaning of the holiday
The Dormition symbolizes:
* the end of the earthly life of the Most Holy Virgin,
* her assumption into the Kingdom of Heaven,
* the hope of believers for resurrection and eternal life.
How it is celebrated
In Orthodoxy, the Dormition is preceded by a two-week strict fast. On the day of the holiday, the following take place:
* solemn liturgies and processions,
* blessing of bread, herbs, and flowers,
* reading of special prayers to the Most Holy Mother of God.
In the Catholic Church, this day is known as the Feast of the Assumption of Mary and is celebrated as a solemnity accompanied by masses and festive processions.
Interesting fact
The Dormition of the Mother of God is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, and in the Catholic Church, it holds the status of a dogma proclaimed by Pope Pius XII in 1950, which underlines its importance for believers.