The Dormition of the Theotokos commemorates the falling asleep, or death, of the Virgin Mary and the Church's hope in resurrection and eternal life.
What does Dormition mean?
The word means falling asleep, a traditional Christian way of speaking about death in the light of Christ's Resurrection.
Why is the feast joyful if it commemorates death?
The hymns combine grief with hope. The Theotokos completes her earthly life, while the feast proclaims that death is not the final destiny of those who belong to Christ.
Orthodox honor of Mary is not worship. See Do Orthodox Christians Worship the Virgin Mary?
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Established with the blessing of V. Rev. Fr. Wiaczeslaw, Rector of Orthodox Christian Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord (NY). |
