On August 28 (August 15, Old Style), the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.  The importance of this Feast in the conscientiousness of the Orthodox Church is underscored by the fact that it is presided by a two-week Fast.  Some Orthodox theologians and preachers refer to the Dormition as the "Pascha of the Theotokos," likening the Feast to the most glorious Day of Pascha.

In Church iconography, especially in the frescoes of the Byzantine and Russian traditions, we note these two events depicted in symmetrical balance. In one fresco, we see Christ descend into hell6 as the righteous ones of the Old Testament stretch out their arms to Him, the Conqueror of death.  That fresco is complemented by another fresco, of life size and composition, on the opposite wall.  The Apostles stand at the reposed Theotokos' deathbed.  At the top of the fresco we see Christ depicted taking the soul of the deceased Theotokos into His arms.  While the fresco of the descent into hell is filled with drama and movement, the fresco depicting the Dormition of the Mother of God flows with peace and tranquility.  In it, death has already lost its awful visage and tragedy, separation and decay.  For the Mother of God, death has become a smooth transition from temporal life to life eternal.  The light of Pascha gently illumines her most pure Dormition, and in her departure from the world, the Kingdom of God, come in its power, already shines forth.  First among all created beings, the Mother of God became heir to that victory over death which her Divine Son, who had taken His human nature from her, accomplished.  For that reason, almost all cemetery churches erected in Orthodox countries are dedicated to the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.  The image of that Feast illuminates the graves so precious to us, and strengthens within us faith in the general resurrection of the dead.

The Church believes that the most pure body of the Mother of God, like her holy soul, has already entered in the fullness of glory of the Kingdom of God, before the second coming of Christ and the general resurrection of the dead.

We revere the Most Holy Virgin Mary as the pinnacle of creation, sanctified and glorified by God.  The praises offered up to the Most Blessed One during Divine Services place her higher that even the angelic powers.  Throughout the history of Christianity, monastics, people of a strict and prayerful life, have shown special reverence for the Mother of God.

We congratulate you, dear parishioners and readers, with the approaching great feast of the Pascha of the Theotokos.

Archpriest Victor Potapov