Orthodox iconography is unusually multifaceted. A special place among the shrines is occupied by images dedicated to church events and holidays. Almost every important fact in Christian history is dedicated to a specific icon.

Orthodox icon painters could not ignore the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. An amazingly beautiful icon is dedicated to him, undoubtedly worthy of attention both from art critics and among believers.

So, the composition includes the following elements:

• In the center: a bed covered with cloth, on which the body of the Mother of God is located.
• Before the bed: mourning apostles.
• Behind the bed: Jesus Christ bending over the body of His Mother, and holding Her soul in his hands (depicted as a newborn wrapped in cloth).
• Angels fly over the Lord and the soul of the Mother of God.

All these elements are necessarily included in each icon of the “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” You will learn about what they pray for in front of this image in the next part of the article.

We also note that there are several different iconographic types of images of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Some of them are significantly enriched with other elements, others are more modest. The type of image of the Dormition on the icon depends on the personal preferences of the icon painter, on the era in which he lived and many other factors. However, undoubtedly, each of the icons of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary deserves attention.

What to pray for in front of the image

In many Orthodox churches there is an icon of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What do believers pray for when standing in front of this shrine? There are no restrictions on requests (except, of course, for sinful requests). However, it is known that traditionally Orthodox believers ask for help in front of this shrine in the following situations:

• Healing diseases (mental and physical).
• Strengthening faith.
• The granting of virtues and deliverance from sins, addictions, and so on.
• Justification in case of slander, denunciation of untruth.
• Parting words for the dying.

If you don't find your petition on this list, don't worry. In any case, you can ask for the prayerful intercession of the Virgin Mary. This can be done both in an Orthodox church and at home.

We remind you: you need to pray not only when you are in a difficult life situation or have problems. Do not forget to thank the Most Pure Virgin for her heavenly intercession in joyful moments of life. It is definitely worth it if your request expressed in the prayer reading has been fulfilled. You can also follow the pious tradition and order a prayer service in front of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary icon. How does prayer in front of an image help? To summarize: any pious request, if the Lord pleases, will be fulfilled.

However, much still depends on the sincerity and faith of the person praying. Pray with your soul and diligently, then the Most Pure Virgin will definitely hear you.

In the Orthodox world there are many icons of the Mother of God that have exceptional properties in healing and helping all those who turn. The icon of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is no exception, and is especially revered among Christians.

The Dormition, or the transition of the Mother of God from the world of the living to our Lord and her son, is described in the Bible. According to legend, the Virgin Mary tirelessly prayed to the Lord for the end of her earthly life. During one of her prayers, the Archangel Gabriel visited her and told her that her earthly life was over and in three days she would find peace.

History of the icon

The tireless prayers of the Mother of God exalted her. Her holiness and sincere concern for everyone living on earth helped her ascend to the Kingdom of God and remain the patroness of people, the comforter of their sorrows and support in difficult moments of life. At the hour of her dormition, the house was illuminated by divine light, looking over the deathbed of the Mother of God. In this light, Jesus himself appeared behind the Mother of God, surrounded by singing angels.

The end of the earthly life of the Mother of God is called the Dormition because her death was not ordinary. The soul of the Virgin Mary ascended like Jesus into the Kingdom of Heaven, and her spirit still looks at the human race with humility and a desire to help.

Where is the image of the Virgin Mary located?

The image can be found in almost every Orthodox church. The icon “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary” is located in churches of the same name in the cities: Vladimir, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Smolensk, Ryazan, Murom, Astrakhan, Moscow. The significance and miraculous properties of the icon cannot be underestimated, therefore, every year on August 28, believers offer prayers to the Mother of God with various requests.

Description of the icon

The icon depicts the Dormition (death) of the Mother of God. She is positioned on her deathbed and surrounded by mourning apostles. At the top of the icon we see Jesus holding the soul of his Mother in his arms, surrounded by jubilant angels. They herald the transition of the Mother of God from earthly life to immortal life.

How does a miraculous image help?

They instill confidence in believers and eradicate fear of the end of earthly life. Every Orthodox Christian turns to the image with prayers so that at the end of the path he can gain eternal life and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Offering prayers helps to heal the soul and body from all kinds of ailments and illnesses, strengthen oneself in the true Orthodox faith, gain firm support under one’s feet and not succumb to all kinds of temptations.

Prayer before the icon of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Most Holy Theotokos, save and preserve the servant of God (name). Protect from temptations on the path of life, protect, Mother, from self-interest and strengthen my faith in Jesus Christ, generous and all-forgiving. Cover me with your cover from haters and ill-wishers, and forgive them their malice. Give me the strength to fight temptations and do not allow the machinations of the devil to turn me away from the Orthodox faith. Show your mercy to me and my family, save and protect us. Amen".

Days of celebration

August 28 (15). In the Orthodox Church, this holiday is considered one of the main twelve, and is preceded by a two-week strict Dormition Fast. During fasting, every Orthodox Christian atones for his sins and strengthens his faith, freeing his soul and thoughts from negativity. On this day, everyone can visit the church or pray at home at the iconostasis, glorifying the transition of the Mother of God from earthly life to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary: iconography of the holiday in the art of Byzantium and Ancient Rus'

The Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is bright and joyful for every Christian. On the day of the blessed death of the Mother of God, all humanity found a Prayer Book and Heavenly Intercessor, an Intercessor before the Lord. The significance of this great celebration is determined by the church charter - this feast of the Mother of God does not have four ordinary days of after-feast, but eight, the same as one of the greatest lordly feasts - Epiphany. The event being celebrated is preceded by strict fasting, which ranks first after Lent in terms of the degree of abstinence.

Reliable information about the history of the Feast of the Assumption begins only at the end of the 6th century. It is generally accepted that it was installed under the Byzantine Emperor of Mauritius (592–602). Apparently, until this time, the Dormition was a local, not a general church holiday in Constantinople. The establishment of the Dormition in the church calendar was facilitated by the growing veneration of the Mother of God, which the emerging heresies, including Nestorianism, could not shake.

The Gospel says nothing about the earthly life of the Mother of God after the Ascension of the Savior. Information about Her last days was preserved by church tradition. That is why the iconographic sources for the images of the Dormition in Byzantium, the Balkans and Ancient Rus' were widespread apocryphal legends: “The Word of John the Theologian on the Dormition of the Theotokos”, “The Word of John, Archbishop of Thessalonica”, as well as the oldest holiday word on the Dormition of the Patriarch of Jerusalem Modest ( † 632), Words of Saints Andrew of Crete, Patriarch Herman of Constantinople and three Words of Saint John of Damascus (all - VIII century). The legends about the Assumption that have existed for a long time are not the same in scope and differ in details.

The formation of mature iconography of the Dormition dates back to the post-iconoclastic era. Two ivory plates date back to the end of the 10th century - for the setting of the Gospel of Emperor Otto III from the Bavarian Library in Munich and a plaque from the Metropolitan Museum in New York (ill. 1). The general composition of the Assumption scene in both monuments will become traditional for the art of Byzantium and Ancient Rus'. The Mother of God is depicted in the center on a bed, on either side of Her are the weeping apostles, behind the bed stands the Savior with the soul of the Mother of God, depicted in the form of a swaddled baby. In some Balkan monuments (frescoes of the Church of the Ascension in the Žiča monastery, 1309–1316; frescoes of the Church of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” in the Peć Patriarchate, c. 1335), the soul of the Virgin Mary in shrouds will be depicted with wings.

The composition has been found in icon painting since the 11th century (an icon from the monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai), and has been part of the festive epistiles since the end of the 11th century (Deesis, twelve apostles and twelve feasts from the same monastery).

The Dormition of the Mother of God, like the Resurrection of Christ, symbolized the trampling of death and the resurrection to the life of the next century. The images of the Assumption have a complex liturgical interpretation. Thus, the bed with the body of the Mother of God is clearly likened to the throne in the temple, and the arrangement of the apostles in two groups, headed by Peter and Paul, on either side of it - their presence at the Eucharist and communion under two types. Christ behind the bed was the image of a bishop at a meal. The image in some monuments of the Apostle Peter with a censer in his hand indicated, perhaps, the incense of the holy gifts in the liturgy, and the image of the Apostle John falling to the bed of the Virgin Mary indicated a priest kissing the throne. Often in the Assumption scene two or four bishops were depicted, along with the apostles standing before the Mother of God. These images of saints Dionysius the Areopagite, Hierotheus, Timothy of Ephesus and James, brother of the Lord, according to legend, who were present at the Dormition of the Mother of God, symbolized the bishop’s communion of the priests in the sacrament of the Eucharist. The angels who fly to Christ in the scenes of the Assumption with covered hands, as if to receive the holy gifts, seem to serve at the liturgy as deacons. According to tradition, the Dormition was depicted as an event taking place in the house of John the Theologian in Jerusalem - in the Zion Upper Room, where the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles had previously taken place. The stage is usually surrounded by architectural buildings.

Around the 11th century, an expanded version of the iconography of the Assumption, the so-called “cloud type,” became widespread. At the top of the composition (for example, in the fresco from the Church of Hagia Sophia in Ohrid, Macedonia) the apostles are depicted flying to the bed of Our Lady on the clouds. According to the “Word of John the Theologian,” the apostles, whom the Blessed Virgin wished to see before Her death, were miraculously raptured by angels from different countries and brought to Jerusalem, and the apostles Andrew, Philip, Luke and Simon Thaddeus were awakened from their graves.

The oldest example of a “cloud Assumption” in Rus' is an icon from the early 13th century, coming from the Novgorod Tithe Monastery (now in the State Tretyakov Gallery) (ill. 2). At the top of the icon there is a blue semicircular segment of the sky with golden stars and figures of angels carrying away the soul of the Mother of God. A rare and touching iconographic detail of this icon is the red shoes standing at the foot of the Mother of God’s bed. This is a symbol of Her leaving the earthly path.

Most often, one or more burning candles are depicted at the bed of the Virgin Mary, symbolizing a prayer to the Lord. On the Pskov icon of the Dormition of the first quarter of the 14th century (Fig. 3), a jug-stamna inserted into a bowl is depicted near the bed - this is one of the poetic symbols of the Mother of God, found in Byzantine and Old Russian hymnography. The Blessed Virgin is likened to a golden barrel containing manna from heaven, made at the command of Moses. The closest iconographic analogy to the icon in question is the fresco of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration Monastery in Pskov (mid-12th century) (ill. 4). In both monuments, the general composition and poses of the apostles are repeated; the stage is flanked by high chambers, inside of which the weeping women of Jerusalem are depicted. However, on the icon the apostles do not have halos, and the “glory” - the mandorla of Christ - is held by the angels surrounding it.

In the 15th century, icons of the Dormition were widely distributed in Rus', depicting the miracle of the cutting off of the hands of the wicked Jew Authonia (Athonia, in some sources - Jephonia) by an angel in the foreground, in front of the bed. Perhaps the popularity of the plot at that time and in the 16th century was associated with the fight against heretical movements. For the first time this plot was recorded in the fresco of the Church of Panagia Mavriotissa in Kastoria (the turn of the 12th–13th centuries), and in ancient Russian art - in the frescoes of the Snetogorsk Monastery and the Church of the Assumption on Volotovo Field.

In Russian icons of the Assumption of the second half of the 15th century - from the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin (c. 1479), from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery (1497, now in the Tretyakov Gallery), from the Assumption Cathedral in Dmitrov (late 15th century, now in the Andrei Rublev Museum) - a detailed iconographic diagram is presented. The apostles are depicted traveling on clouds, at the bed of the Mother of God are the sobbing women of Jerusalem, apostles and angels, in the foreground is the scene of the cutting off of the hands of Auphonia. The upper part of the icon depicts the heavens opening, to which the Mother of God is lifted up by angels in “glory.” This detail is interpreted in the “Word on the Dormition” of St. Andrew of Crete: “The door of the heavenly gates has risen to receive into the heavenly kingdom... the Most Heavenly Door of God.” Examining the icon from the Assumption Cathedral (ill. 5), E. Ya. Ostashenko notes the design and color of the “glory” of the ascending Mother of God, which has no analogues in other monuments. Instead of the traditional blue hues here, the outer outline of the "glory" is made up of two shades of red, while the inner parts include a radiance with short rays. Apparently, the red color of “glory” and the rays inside it are associated with a number of poetic images of the Mother of God, for example, with the image of the “Woman clothed with the sun” (Rev. 12: 1) and the image of the Church, which was clothed with the “Sun of Truth - Christ.” A special feature of the above-mentioned icon of the Assumption of 1497 from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery is the depiction of the episode with the Mother of God presenting her belt to the Apostle Thomas. According to one of the legends about the Assumption, Thomas arrived late, when the Mother of God was already ascending to heaven, and received the belt from Her hands. Having joined the rest of the apostles, he told them about his meeting with the Mother of God, thereby testifying to Her ascension to heaven.

Along with the developed and detailed iconographic types discussed above, a short version of the iconography of the Assumption was also widespread at the same time. Thus, the Russian Museum houses a Novgorod icon of the 15th century (Fig. 6), which does not contain images of angels, apostles flying on clouds and traditional figures of apostles at the bed of the Mother of God. The overall composition of the icon is distinguished by extreme laconicism - only the Savior Himself and two saints stand before the Mother of God. At the top of the icon are the half-figures of St. John the Baptist and St. Archdeacon Stephen. This is connected either with the dedication of the altars of the church from which the icon comes, or with the desire of the customer of the icon to see the patron saints of his family on the image of the Dormition.

The icon of the Assumption from the mid-16th century from the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve stands out with an interesting iconographic feature. If in all the monuments discussed above, Christ was most often depicted frontally, holding the soul of the Mother of God with both hands, then here He is presented in a spread, blessing the Mother of God with his right hand, lying on the bed. This detail appears to appear in the “cloud” version of the Assumption in the first half of the 16th century and spread widely in the 16th–17th centuries. The Savior is also represented blessing the Mother of God on a 16th-century icon from the collection of the Russian Museum (ill. 7). It also depicts the ascension of the Mother of God, sitting on a throne, to the open gates of heaven, behind which are visible the angelic ranks, the Heavenly city (in the form of a cruciform tower) and several trees of paradise.

The placement of the Assumption scene in church paintings in the 16th century was also associated with heavenly symbolism. Thus, in the decoration of the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin and the Assumption Cathedral in Sviyazhsk, this plot is placed above the altar conch, which allows us to interpret this composition based on ideas about the symbolism of the altar space as a heavenly, heavenly place.

In the 17th century, monumental temple icons of the Assumption appeared, accompanied by stamps in which the “Tale of the Assumption” was illustrated. Thus, on the 1658 icon from the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, the stamps depict the prayer of the Mother of God before her death, the farewell of the Mother of God to her loved ones, the journey of the apostles, their conversation with the Mother of God and other scenes. The most detailed story about the Dormition of the Virgin Mary ends with the image of the Mother of God on a bed in the Garden of Eden. The same story about the Assumption is contained in the stamps of the Assumption icon of the late 17th century from the Andrei Rublev Museum (ill. 8). In the last mark, the Mother of God, as in the traditional iconography of the Assumption, is depicted lying on a throne, behind and in front of him are two burning candles. Not only the apostles stand at the bed of the Mother of God - in the lower right corner the Old Testament righteous are depicted bowing, among them the prophets David and Daniel can be noted. The presence of the Old Testament righteous at the Dormition of the Mother of God, as well as the prudent thief with a cross standing behind Mary’s bed, directly indicates that the event depicted in the icon takes place not on earth, but in heaven, or rather, in paradise. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the subject of the stamp in question is written on a white background. It was this color that, from the very birth of Christian art, symbolized paradise, as A. N. Ovchinnikov writes about this: “Any image on a white background should be understood as participation in paradise.”

- autumn Easter, how to prepare for it and how to spend it, Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov talks about the event of the holiday.

The main and greatest monastic laurels and monasteries in Rus' are named in honor of the Dormition

Quickly, as it always happens, alas, the gracious, bright, fine days of the Assumption Lent flew by, sometimes, however, punctuated by autumn rain. Left behind is an imperishable radiance, the non-evening light of the holiday. And now - the Assumption - the autumn Russian Easter, as this wonderful day is called. It is wonderful that our people consider the Dormition of the Lady Theotokos a special celebration. Otherwise, why are the main and greatest monastic laurels and monasteries named in honor of the Assumption? Assumption Pochaev Lavra, the inheritance of the Mother of God on earth - the Assumption Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the main temple of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra - in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, the Pskov-Pechersky Assumption Monastery, where these days are so solemn and beautiful that almost all of the people flock here Russia in order to help the monks and workers of the monastery lay out a path of fresh flowers along which the priesthood will carry the ancient miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. However, in any parish church, dear friends, if you want to actively outwardly express your love for the Queen of Heaven, you can take part in this holiday. I'll tell you exactly how to do this.

Work hard for the Mother of God - take part in laying out a path of fresh flowers along which Her icon will be carried

For the Assumption, the temple is usually decorated with white lilies and roses. Lilies frame the icon of the Assumption itself; in vases, these royal flowers are fragrant with a delicate aroma, creating a special atmosphere. In the center of the temple there is a shroud with the image of the Mother of God, who had just surrendered Her immaculate soul into the hands of Jesus Christ, who appeared to Her, as is typical for the Son of God, who during his earthly life was in complete obedience to His Mother, until He went out for public preaching . So, according to your wealth, according to your desire and will, bringing one, two, three lilies or roses to the temple, you will feel that incorruptible beautiful flowers of paradise are opening in your heart, which will not be touched by earthly withering, because the Mother of God none of Her benefactors, those who honor Her virginity and Her heavenly glory are not left without consolation, without help, without reward. If you happen to be in some Russian monastery - the Tolga convent on the banks of the beautiful Volga, in the Pskov-Pechersky monastery I mentioned, I suggest you take part in laying out the path. In Pechory, they begin this holy task within a few days, and of course, with clean hands, and most importantly, with pure thoughts. If any of you wants to quit smoking, but can’t part with the evil passion that has ingrained itself under the skin like a poisonous larva, if you are tired of your own irritability or struggling with despondency, if you want to gain those qualities with which the Queen of Heaven Herself shines ... And She, remember, completely exuded grace. Her lips were anointed with peace and understanding, her heart was never troubled by any thought of hostility. Friendly, smiling, quiet and taciturn, She knew how to console every person who came to Her in accordance with his age: with babies she was gentle, like a mother; respectful to old people; She brought chastity to the young men with Her outer image alone, for the atmosphere of virginity hovered over Her; she taught spouses to live a temperate life with mutual care for each other; For the apostles, She was a teacher, thanks to Whose instructions they were not embarrassed by any persecution and malice, Jewish or pagan, but with great boldness they glorified the risen Lord and preached the news of His rising from the dead.

So, taking part in this sweet earthly task, in these efforts to decorate the monastery, laying out a path of fresh flowers, pray mentally: “, Lady Theotokos, I want to be Your pure son... grant me the grace to be Your pure daughter... help me return home , into the circle of household members, into your home changed/changed so that the mind is not darkened by earthly vanity, the lips are not mired in condemnation and idle talk, and the heart has finally learned to preserve that blessed peace, that peace and quiet with which it is imbued here in Your abode . Mother of God, I will work a little and decorate this path along which the priesthood will pass, holding the icon of the Assumption in their hands, and You help me, because I am tormented by pressure, its changes, sometimes thick, sometimes empty, ischemia, palpitations, tormenting me and migraine, and gout…” – each of us, dear friends, as you well know, has our own set of ailments, our own medical record. It's a long way from the doctor, and the medicines are expensive. Of course, we are not canceling therapy at all, what medicine prescribes to us. But on the Dormition days we deeply believe that the Mother of God will stretch out Her invisible right hand to us, touch with Her tender, incorruptible fingers the aching body and wounded soul, and we will gain the strength and strength that people who touched with faith the bed of the Mother of God then gained. in Jerusalem, in the 1st century after the Nativity of Christ.

According to legend, the Queen of Heaven passed away at the age of just over 70 years. I would like, dear friends, to remind you that a few days and hours before the Lord called His Most Pure Mother to the heavenly villages, on the Mount of Olives under the canopy of olive trees, where Her Son and God once spoke with intimate, sublime conversations, with the teaching of Kingdom of Heaven to the apostles, the Mother of God kneeled, watering Her face with tears, prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ that He would release Her soul from the body and would release Her from the visions of unclean spirits. Such was the humility of the most honest cherub and the most glorious without comparison seraphim, who surpassed the angels with her purity and surprised heaven with her moral perfections. Such was Her humility, Her humble self-esteem, that She asked the Creator to deny fallen spirits access to Her immaculate soul. The Queen of Heaven knew that the ascent from earth to heaven is the final exam, a test that you and I will certainly undergo, one sooner, the other later, but we all must die once and appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is why the Feast of the Assumption is very important for each of us.

If we give ourselves the trouble not to be late for the all-night vigil and, like a candle spreading light and warmth, we pray at the shroud of the Mother of God, looking at Her radiant face, contemplating this beauty of lilies and roses; let us begin the Divine Mysteries at the Assumption Liturgy, and having partaken, we will maintain the solemn mood of the heart, we will not allow any worldly malice, vain curiosity, intemperance in food and drink, over-judging the shortcomings of others to steal the beads of Divine grace from our hearts, then, undoubtedly, they will intercede for us at the hour of our own death. Read the Canon on the Exodus of the Soul (it can be found in large prayer books), and you will see how these words are pronounced on the face of a dying person: “O Queen of Heaven, I tremble and do not know where to turn my gaze: evil spirits frighten me and try to drag me down. the bottom of hell, but You, like a meek dove, spread Your grace-filled wings over me. Accept me as Your child, fired from all sides, wounded by demonic cackling and laughter, protect me from these predatory dogs and birds, but send me guardian angels who will lead my soul to the gates of the Mountainous Jerusalem, and through Your intercession may I be worthy to see Christ the Savior and enjoy His face, so that the dark forces are crushed and do not find a single flaw or dark part in me.” This, dear friends, is how we should pray in advance. He who is forewarned is forearmed. The one who honored the Dormition of the Mother of God will himself be honored by the Virgin Mary and will not be put to shame at the hour of exodus.

And if, God forbid, one of us becomes hardened, loses faith, begins to defile his lips with unclean curses hated by the Queen of Heaven, corrupts himself with carnal sins and remains unrepentant, then is it not about such unfortunates that it is said: “The death of sinners is cruel”?

The Feast of the Assumption serves as our best preparation for our own death.

That is why the Feast of the Assumption serves for us, dear friends, as the best preparation for our own death and at the same time gives us hope that God, through the intercession of the Mother of God, will add to us hour by hour, day by day, month by month, year by year, so that we, Having repented of all their sins, they glorified the name of the Lord with deeds of repentance, deeds of faith and love.

Returning to the historical outline of the Feast of the Assumption, let us remember that the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary in the Garden of Gethsemane, the one who, from Her tender years, from her youth, from the shrouds of her infancy, spiritually led the Virgin Mary and with his presence marked the main milestones of Her life. It was from his hands, according to legend, that the Queen of Heaven once ate the immaterial heavenly bread daily while staying in the silence of the Jerusalem Temple. Archangel Gabriel, as you remember, the Immaculate Virgin Mary about the riches of God's Providence - that, in the event of Her humble consent, the Spirit of the Lord will descend on the Virgin and weave together under Her heart in the immaculate womb a beautiful Fruit - the Holy Son of God, in whose face it is wonderful Humanity and Divinity will unite. Here too, shortly before the Dormition, the Archangel Gabriel appears to Mary the Mother of God, who has already labored in establishing the Church of Christ on earth, having already visited Athos when the idols fell and demons fled in horror from this lot of the Mother of God. And the archangel handed over a luminous paradise branch, which became a sure sign of notification of Her approaching blessed death.

Tradition testifies - whoever does not believe or wants to check, please read the detailed account of the Feast of the Dormition of St. Demetrius of Rostov - it can be in Russian, it can be in Church Slavonic, it can be in English, as you wish - that this branch was placed in the Zion upper room , near the bed, where the Most Pure Virgin lay down with a luminous face, having managed to convey Her blessing to the apostles, gathered by the invisible power of God in the Zion upper room at the hour of Her departure. The incredible, the impossible happened: it was as if the roof of this building had opened, and in Heavenly Glory the risen Christ, surrounded by archangels and angels, appeared here, stepping on the stone slabs of this room, and received into His hands, like a pure, immaculate dove, the soul of the Most Holy Theotokos. Look at the icon of the Assumption, and you will see: the Queen of Heaven lying down, Her virgin and incorruptible body, and above Her in the mandorla, that is, surrounded by heavenly powers, the Son of God, and in His arms it is as if a child, swaddled in clean linen swaddling clothes. What kind of child is this? And this is the soul of the Most Holy Theotokos, who has never been separated from the Heavenly Father, neither in word, nor in deed, nor even in thought.

On this, dear friends, we probably need to complete our reflection, because we are all children of God. All ages are submissive to Divine love. And best of all, it is best to enter the Feast of the Dormition under the arches of the church with a soul of childlike faith, kindly, joyful, friendly towards everyone, forgetting completely insignificant and unnecessary grievances, having outlived suspiciousness, shaking off the dust of despondency from one’s feet, so that, with ardent, sighted faith, love With trembling and trust in the heavenly help of the Mother of God, approaching Her icon, hear the words of the Dormition troparion: “In the Dormition you did not forsake the world, O Mother of God.”

August 28 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Great Church holiday.

WHAT DO YOU PRAY FOR IN FRONT OF THE ICON OF THE DORMSION OF THE VIRGIN

It is useful for a Christian to pray in front of the icon of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary if he has a fear of death. After all, for someone who truly believes, death is actually just a stage of transition from present life to eternal life.

Saint Mary, through any of her images, helps to heal people, so as not to stray from the path of salvation on the path of life. Through the icon of the Dormition, the Mother of God is thanked in prayer for Her high patronage and protection.
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HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF THE DORMSION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

For twenty-four years, according to the holy books, the Holy Virgin lived on this earth after Her Son was crucified on the Cross.
All this time, the Mother of God was a real Mother for the sick, who received help from Her and were cured. People came to Her with joy and their misfortune, and Holy Mary provided them with help. She helped in many matters, all people found consolation in the Mother of God - the poor, the sick, the disadvantaged, the suffering.
Throughout her earthly life, She, like the apostles, was a true preacher of the teachings of Her Son, Jesus Christ.

And then one day, at the age of about seventy, She was on the Mount of Olives and praying to the Lord, Archangel Michael appeared to Her, who told Her good news for Her. She has three days left on this earth, after which the Mother of God will go to the Lord and will be able to finally meet her beloved Son.
Saint Mary returned to the house of the Apostle John, who, by order of Jesus Christ, took care of Her as if he were his own mother, informed him about this and called all the apostles to say goodbye to them and give them a blessing. Having learned about the reason why the Mother of God asked them to come to Her, the apostles, of course, were very upset, but She began to console them and promised that She would pray to the Lord so that He would continue to help His disciples and support them.
Three days passed and then the moment arrived that the Archangel announced.

The Virgin Mary lay on a bed that was decorated with flowers, and a large number of candles were burning in the house.
In the morning, at nine o'clock, a wonderful extraordinary light suddenly appeared in the house. The roof of the house opened and Jesus Christ Himself appeared, approaching His Mother. At this moment, the Blessed Virgin Mary

“As if having fallen asleep in a sweet sleep, you betrayed your most holy soul into His hands”

Immediately after the Dormition of the Mother of God, extraordinary cases began to occur - everyone who touched the bed of the Reposed Mother of God received healing from their illnesses. Those who were blind began to see, and those who heard nothing became deaf. Then the apostles lifted the body of the Mother of God, took it out of the house and, singing sacred songs, carried it to the burial cave. Having buried the Mother of God, the entrance to the cave was closed with a huge stone.

Three more days passed when the Apostle Thomas arrived, hurrying to the Assumption from distant India. When he learned that he was late and would no longer be able to say goodbye to Saint Mary, he was very upset. In order to somehow console him, the apostles decided to give Thomas the opportunity to say goodbye and, approaching the cave, they rolled away the boulder from the entrance.

Entering the tomb, the apostles saw only the captivity in which the body of the Mother of God was buried, and in the cave there was a wonderful fragrance. Then everyone understood that the Most Pure Mother had risen, and Her body, after a three-day sleep, ascended incorruptible into the Divine Kingdom.

On the same day, the Heavenly Queen consoled her beloved apostles, appearing before them surrounded by Angels.

Rejoice! I am always with you

- these were Her words addressed to them. And the apostles asked her:

Holy Mother of God, help us

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THE FEAST OF THE DORMSION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

In Orthodoxy they do not talk about the death of the Mother of God; Her death is considered a migration to Her Son, our Lord, and in the Church this is called the “Dormition”. Saint Mary just fell asleep, so that three days later She would wake up and move into a heavenly home.
After her hard, toil-filled life, the Mother of God

"resigned to the Belly"

to the Source of all Life. She prays for us living on earth, so that we can save our souls, so that with Her Dormition she can instill in us confidence in the just and eternal Kingdom of Heaven, where the soul of every Christian should strive

ASSUMPTION POST

The Dormition of the Virgin Mary is not a holiday of death, but of joy. And during this fast we ourselves must shake off everything that prevents us from living and leads us to spiritual death, we must return home, to God, for this our souls will come to life and feel the Lord’s love for us.

Saint Simeon of Thessalonica writes that

“The August (Assumption) fast was established in honor of the Mother of God’s Word, who, having learned of Her repose, as always labored and fasted for us, although, being holy and immaculate, she had no need for fasting; So She especially prayed for us when she intended to move from this life to the future, and when Her blessed soul had to unite with Her son through the Divine spirit. And therefore we must fast and sing Her praises, imitating Her life and thereby awakening Her to prayer for us...”

The Dormition Fast is as strict as the Great Fast. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - dry eating. On Tuesday and Thursday you can eat hot food without oil. On Saturday and Sunday, food with vegetable oil is allowed. On the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6/19), fish is allowed.
Dormition is a holiday non-fasting day, but if this holiday falls on Wednesday or Friday, then breaking the fast should be postponed to the next day; in this case, you can still eat fish.