The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

 

Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.

With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus’ Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying “Rejoice” to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.

 The Orthodox Church teaches that when the Virgin Mary “fell asleep” (Greek:kimesis or Latin dormitio), she did, in fact, die. The Church also teaches, however, that since she literally bore God in the flesh, her Son would not allow her body to see corruption. On the third day after her repose, the Church teaches, her Son sends angels to carry her body up into heaven; and, at the same time, He whom she cradled now cradles her in perfect love.

In the arms of her Son, then, the Virgin Mary becomes the first fruit of those who will follow Jesus into the Resurrection. Her hope and glorification become now our hope and glorification! Her personal Pascha becomes the foretaste of our own Pascha, as well!

 

 

Apolytikion in the First Tone

In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not abandon the world, O Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from death by your intercessions.

 

Kontakion in the Second Tone

Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her to life.

 

 

Read also:

 

On the Feast of the Dormition of the All-Holy Theotokos, here

 

The Dormition of the Theotokos, here

 

August: A Month dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, here

 

The Theotokos, here

 

The Feast of the Dormition at the Tomb of Mary in Gethsemane, here

 

Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, here

 

Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica on the Feast of the Dormition of Theotokos, here

 

Dormition of the Theotokos:The Great Vespers, here

 

Dormition of the Theotokos: The Matins, here

 

Dormition of the Theotokos: The Hymns of the Matins and the Divine Liturgy, here

 

Dormition of the Theotokos: The Encomia, here