Any Christian knows that on holy holidays it is necessary to attend church and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary also implies the presence at the service. But what cannot be done on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a more complicated question, because. Many different signs are associated with this day.

The history of the appearance of the holiday of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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 Saint Mary helped them. She helped in many matters, all people found comfort in the Mother of God - the poor, the sick, the destitute, the suffering.

All the time of her earthly life, she, like the apostles, was a true preacher of the teachings of her Son, Jesus Christ.

Archangel Michael announces the Dormition And once, at the age of about seventy, She was on the Mount of Olives and prayed to the Lord, Archangel Michael appeared to Her, who told Her joyful news for Her. She has three days left on this earth, after which the Mother of God will depart to the Lord and will finally be able to meet her beloved Son.
Saint Mary returned back to the house of the Apostle John, who, by order of Jesus Christ, took care of Her as of her 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 that He would continue to help His disciples and support them.

Three days have passed and now the moment has come, which the Archangel announced.

The Descent of Christ on the Dormition of the Theotokos The Theotokos was lying on a couch, which was decorated with flowers, and a large number of candles were burning in the house.
In the morning, at nine o'clock, a wonderful unusual light suddenly appeared in the house. The roof of the house opened and Jesus Christ Himself appeared, approaching His Mother. At this moment, the Most Holy Theotokos

“Sleeping like a sweet dream, I betrayed His most holy soul in my hands”

Immediately, after the Dormition of the Mother of God, unusual 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 did not hear anything got rid of their deafness. Then the apostles lifted the body of the Mother of God, carried 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, who was in a hurry to the Dormition from distant India. When he learned that he was late and would no longer be able to say goodbye to St. Mary, he was very upset. In order to somehow console him, the apostles decided to give Thomas the opportunity to say goodbye and, going up to the cave, rolled away the boulder from the entrance.

Entering the tomb, the apostles saw only captives in which the body of the Virgin 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 incorruptibly into the Divine Kingdom.

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

Rejoice! I am always with you

Such were Her words to them. And the apostles asked her:

Holy Mother of God, help us

The Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the dozen most important church holidays. According to legend, Mary's earthly life lasted 72 years, and before her death, the archangel Gabriel appeared to her and announced her imminent death. Three days after the death of the Virgin, it was discovered that her crypt was empty.

Christians consider the Dormition to be a dual holiday: on the one hand, they mourn for the Mother of God, on the other hand, they rejoice at her meeting with the Creator and the forthcoming eternal life. Therefore, the holiday is called the Assumption - not death, but the transition from earthly life to eternal.

Now believers celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin on August 28, according to the old style - on the 15th. In Syria, where the tradition of celebrating the Assumption appeared for the first time, the holiday was celebrated on December 26 for a long time. For two weeks before the Assumption, believers observe fasting, the day before is pre-holiday, and the next 8 are post-holiday.

What do they pray for in front of the icon "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary"

It is useful for a Christian to pray before the icon of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos if he has a fear of death. After all, for someone who truly believes, death is actually just a stage of transition from the present life to eternal.

Holy Mary, through any of her images, helps to heal people, about not going astray on the path of salvation on the path of life. Through the icon "Assumption", the Mother of God is thanked in prayers for Her high patronage and protection.

The spiritual meaning of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In Orthodoxy, they don’t talk about the death of the Mother of God, Her death is considered a resettlement to His Son, our Lord, and in the Church this is called “Assumption”. Holy Mary only fell asleep, so that after three days She woke up and moved to a heavenly dwelling.
After her hard life full of labors, the Mother of God

"passed away to Life"

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

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: what can not be done on this day?

One of the most famous prohibitions is that you cannot walk barefoot on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Dew on this day symbolizes the tears of Mary, so wet her feet to troubles and misfortunes. In addition, on the Assumption, you can’t stick anything into mother earth, otherwise you can offend and upset her.

It is undesirable to cook food on the feast of the Assumption - this must be done in advance. In general, on this day, you should not pick up piercing and cutting objects. Even believers try to break bread, not cut it. But what you should do for the holiday is to pickle cabbage and cucumbers. They will turn out tasty, fragrant and will definitely last until spring.

It is not worth working on the feast of the Assumption. The only exception is the work that cannot be postponed, as well as deeds to help others. But if the work begun in advance is completed precisely on the Dormition, this is a very good sign that promises good luck.

Ancient beliefs say that you can’t wear bad shoes on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin - old, uncomfortable, rubbing corns. If you neglect this sign, your future life will be overshadowed by various difficulties and problems.

An unmarried girl who dreams of finding family happiness cannot talk to anyone in the morning on the Dormition. Before starting to communicate with relatives, the girl should wash herself with icy water, saying a conspiracy to herself three times: “Blessed Mother of God, you crown everyone, unite families, help me find a groom. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen".

What can be done on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

In the villages, on the Feast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, it was customary to finish the harvest, and dress up the last sheaf as a maiden and put it under the icons. On this day, they also prepared mead, picked apples and pears, and organized wide festivities.

A person who fasted before the Assumption could afford all the festive dishes on this holiday. And, besides, he could believe that the "evil one" would not come close to him for a year.

On the Dormition, bread was always brought to the church. The consecrated edge acquired excellent taste and medicinal qualities. But when eating this bread, it was impossible to drop even one crumb on the floor.

Christians also looked closely at the weather for the Assumption - signs for this holiday were considered very accurate. The sun and fine weather promised a rainy and cold autumn, but the bad weather for the holiday promised fertile and dry weather until the very cold.

On August 28, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This holiday is one of the twelve, that is, 12 important ones. We tell you what the essence of the Assumption is, what you can’t do on this day and what traditions are associated with the Assumption of the Virgin 2018.

What is the essence of the church holiday of the Assumption?

The word dormancy means death. On August 28, Orthodox Christians remember the death of the Mother of God - the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

According to legend, the death of the Virgin was righteous. She said goodbye to the apostles and rested. And after the burial, the body of the Virgin Mary disappeared from the coffin. Christians believe that the Mother of God ascended to heaven, where she prays for all people, writes the magazine "Thomas".

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: traditions of celebration

The holiday is preceded by the Dormition Fast. It lasts two weeks, from 14 to 27 August. The Dormition Fast is dedicated to the Theotokos.

If the Assumption falls on a fast day - Wednesday or Friday - then it is advisable to give up meat, dairy food and eggs, but you can eat fish. If August 28 falls on other days of the week, then there are no food restrictions.

In 2018, the Dormition is not a fast day.

In folk creation, the church traditions of the Assumption were mixed with the customs of farmers. At this time, the peasants worked on the harvest. The Eastern Slavs dated the feast of the harvest - "Obzhinki" to the Dormition. This day was also called "Lady" or "Lady Day": the name reflects the popular veneration of the Virgin, writes the magazine "Thomas".

And on August 29, Nut Savior is celebrated, which is also called Khlebny Savior in another way. At this time, they collected nuts and made preparations for the winter.

What can not be done on the Assumption of the Virgin?

The Church advises on the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin not to get carried away by various beliefs and signs. For example, that if you rub your leg on August 28, you will attract trouble: this is superstition.

There is a widespread but incorrect opinion that on Orthodox holidays it is forbidden to work in the garden, sew, and clean up. This is not true. It is recommended to dedicate the holiday to God and communication with loved ones, but if this is not possible, no one will judge.

The church advises on Orthodox holidays (as well as on other days) to refrain from conspiracies, occult and magical rites. This is unequivocally negative in the church.

On the Orthodox holiday of the Assumption, there is no need to swear, envy, swear with others.

Is it possible to get married in Assumption-2018?

There is no direct ban on the wedding on August 28. However, in many churches they try not to hold weddings on the days of the twelfth holidays, so that the emotions from a personal celebration do not overshadow the joy of a church holiday.

August 28, 2018: Assumption of the Virgin
The full name of the holiday is the Assumption of the Blessed Lady of our Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary.

What does the word "Assumption" mean?
"Assumption" is an obsolete word. Translated into modern Russian, it means "death, death."

What is the Assumption of the Virgin

The full name of the holiday is Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. This is one of the twelve Orthodox holidays. The Twelfth Feasts are dogmatically closely connected with the events of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Theotokos and are divided into the Lord's (dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ) and the Theotokos (dedicated to the Mother of God). Dormition - Mother of God holiday.

The holiday, which is celebrated in the Russian Orthodox Church on August 28 according to the new style (August 15 according to the old style), is established in memory of the death of the Mother of God. Christians are led to it by the two-week Assumption Fast, which is comparable in severity to Great Lent. Interestingly, the Assumption is the last twelfth holiday of the Orthodox church year (ending on September 13 according to the new style).

When is the Assumption of the Theotokos celebrated?

The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 28 according to the new style. He has 1 day of prefeast and 9 days of afterfeast. Prefeast - one or several days before a big holiday, the divine services of which already include prayers dedicated to the upcoming celebrated event. Accordingly, the afterfeast is the same days after the holiday.

What can you eat on the Assumption of the Virgin

On August 28, on the feast of the Assumption of the Mother of God, if it falls on Wednesday or Friday, you can eat fish. In this case, the conversation is postponed to the next day. But if the Dormition falls on other days of the week, then there is no fasting. In 2016, the feast of the Assumption is not a fast day.

Events of the Assumption of the Virgin

Everything that we know about the death of the Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ is gleaned from Church Tradition. In the canonical texts, we will not read anything about how and under what circumstances the Mother of God departed to the Lord and was buried. Tradition is one of the sources of our doctrine, along with Holy Scripture.

From the New Testament we learn that the Savior, crucified on the cross, asked his closest disciple, the Apostle John the Theologian, to take care of Mary: Seeing the mother and the student standing here, whom he loved, he says to his Mother: Woman! Behold, your son. Then he says to the student: behold, your mother! And from that time on, this disciple took her to him(John 19:26-27). After the crucifixion of Christ, the Mother of God, together with the disciples of her Son, remained in prayer and fasting. On the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles (Pentecost), she also received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In written monuments, starting from the 4th century, we find references to how the Mother of God lived on. Most authors write that she was bodily raptured (that is, taken) from earth to heaven. It happened like this. Three days before her death, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Mother of God and announced the upcoming Assumption. At that time she was in Jerusalem. Everything happened exactly as the Archangel said. After the death of the Most Pure Virgin, the apostles buried her body in Gethsemane, in the same place where the parents of the Virgin and her husband, righteous Joseph, rested. Everyone was present at the ceremony, except for the Apostle Thomas. On the third day after the burial, Thomas wanted to see her coffin. The coffin was opened, but the body of the Virgin was no longer in it - only her shroud.

The history of the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin

Reliable information about the history of the feast of the Assumption begins only at the end of the 6th century. Most church historians believe that the holiday was established under the Byzantine emperor Mauritius, who ruled from 592-602. Most likely, until that time, the Assumption was a local holiday in Constantinople, that is, not a general church holiday.

Icon of the Assumption of the Virgin

Traditionally, icon painters depict the Mother of God in the center of the image - she lies on her deathbed, on either side of her are weeping apostles. A little behind the bed stands the Savior with the soul of the Mother of God, depicted as a swaddled baby.

In the 11th century, an expanded version of the iconography of the Assumption, the so-called "cloudy type", spread. We can see it, for example, in a fresco from the church of Hagia Sophia in Ohrid in Macedonia. In the upper part of such a composition, the apostles are depicted flying to the deathbed of the Mother of God on the clouds. The most ancient example of the “cloudy Assumption” in Russia is an icon from the beginning of the 13th century, which comes from the Novgorod Tithes Monastery. In the upper part 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. Now this image is stored in the Tretyakov Gallery.

Often, icon painters depict one or more burning candles near the bed of the Virgin, which symbolize prayer to God.

Church of the Dormition

The Feast of the Assumption has one day of forefeast and 9 days of afterfeast. Prefeast - one or several days before a big holiday, the divine services of which already include prayers dedicated to the upcoming celebrated event. Accordingly, the afterfeast is the same days after the holiday.

The celebration of the holiday takes place on September 5 according to the new style. And the Dormition of the Mother of God is preceded by a two-week Assumption fast. It runs from 14 to 27 August.

There is a special Service for the burial of the Mother of God. It is performed in the likeness of the Matins service on Great Saturday; during it, they read the 17th kathisma - "Blessed are the Immaculate." Currently, the rite of the burial of the Mother of God can be seen in many cathedral and parish churches on the second or third day of the holiday. The service begins with an all-night vigil. At the great doxology, the clergy of the temple come out to the shroud lying in the middle of the temple with the image of the Mother of God; incense to her, and then carries her around the temple. After that, all worshipers are anointed with oil (consecrated oil). And finally, litanies are read (a series of prayer petitions) and dismissed (the blessing of those praying to leave the temple at the end of the service).

The Stichera of the Dormition was written by Patriarch Anatoly of Constantinople in the 5th century. And in the 8th century, Cosmas of Mayumsky and John of Damascus wrote two canons of this holiday.

Prayers of the Assumption of the Virgin

Troparion of the Dormition of the Theotokos

In the Nativity you preserved virginity, in the Assumption of the world you did not leave the Mother of God, you reposed to the stomach, Mother of the Life of the Life, and with Your prayers you deliver our souls from death.

Translation:

At the birth of Christ, you, Mother of God, preserved your virginity and did not leave the world after your repose; You have passed to eternal life, Mother of Life, and with Your prayers you deliver our souls from death.

Kontakion of the Assumption of the Virgin
voice 2:

In prayers to the Unsleeping Mother of God and in intercession, the immutable hope / coffin and mortification cannot be restrained: as if the Mother’s Belly to the stomach, put it into the womb of the ever-virgin.

Translation:

The Mother of God, tireless in prayers and unchanging hope in intercessions, the coffin and mortification did not hold back, for she transferred Her to life, as the Mother of Life, Who dwelled in Her ever-virgin womb.

Magnification of the Assumption of the Virgin

We magnify Thee, Immaculate Mother of Christ our God, and gloriously glorify Thy Assumption.

Translation:

We magnify You, Immaculate Mother of Christ our God, and gloriously glorify Your Dormition.

Metropolitan Anthony of Surozh: Sermon on the Dormition of the Mother of God

Today we celebrate our patronal feast; we all stand before the one and only throne that exists: the throne on which our God sits; but, as it is said in the Holy Scriptures, God rests in the saints: not only in holy places, but in the heart and mind of those cleansed by feat and grace, in the life and in the very flesh of the saints.

And today we celebrate the day of the Assumption of the Most Holy of all saints - the Mother of God. She fell asleep with the sleep of the earth; but just as She was alive to the very depths of Her nature, so She remained alive: a living soul, ascended to the throne of God, alive and resurrected in Her body, to which She now stands and prays for us. Truly She is the throne of grace; The Living God dwelt in Her, He was in Her womb, as on the throne of His glory. And with what gratitude, with what amazement we think of Her: the Source of life, the Life-Giving Source, as the Church calls Her, glorifying Her in one of the icons, the Life-Giving Source, the Mother of God, ends Her earthly life, surrounded by the tremulous love of all.

But what does she leave us? Only one commandment and one marvelous example. Commandment - those words that She said to the servants in Cana of Galilee: Whatever Christ says, do it ... And they did; and the waters of ablution became the good wine of the kingdom of God. She leaves this commandment to each of us: understand, each of us, the word of Christ, listen to it and do not be only a listener, but fulfill it, and then everything on earth will become heavenly, eternal, transfigured and glorified ...

And She left us an example: it is said about Her in the Gospel that every word about Christ and, of course, every word of Christ She put into Her heart as a treasure, as the most precious thing that She had ...

Let us also learn to listen in the same way as one listens with all love and all reverence, to listen attentively to every word of the Savior. The Gospel says a lot; but the heart of each of us responds first to one thing, then to another; and what my or your heart responded to is the word spoken by the Savior Christ to you and me personally ... And we must preserve this word as the path of life, as a point of contact between us and God, as a sign of our kinship and closeness with Him.

And if we live like this, listen like that, put the word of Christ in our hearts like they sow seed on plowed land, then what Elizabeth said to the Mother of God when She came to her will be fulfilled over us: Blessed is she who believed, for everything will be fulfilled, what was said to you from the Lord ... May it be with us; may the Mother of God be our example; Let us accept Her only commandment, and only then will our glorification of Her by us in this holy temple, which is given to Her as a dwelling place, be true, because then we will worship God in and through Her both in spirit and in truth. Amen.

Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

For six centuries, bishops, metropolitans and patriarchs were elevated to the rank of bishops, metropolitans and patriarchs in the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin, state acts were announced, prayer services were served before military campaigns and in honor of victories.

The first stone building of the cathedral was laid in 1326. This was done personally by the first Moscow Metropolitan Peter and Prince Ivan Kalita. At the end of the 15th century, Grand Duke Ivan III Vasilyevich ordered the cathedral to be rebuilt; in 1479, the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti worked on this project.

The modern appearance of the cathedral was determined by the middle of the 17th century. It was then that the murals and iconostasis that have survived to this day were created. In front of the iconostasis are the prayer places of the king, queen and patriarch. Also in the XIV - XVII centuries, the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was the burial place of the metropolitans and patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church.

After the revolution of 1917, the temple became a museum. Worship services began again in 1990.

Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir

The Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir was built in 1158-1160 at the behest of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky of Vladimir. Initially, the cathedral was built of white hewn stone, it was single-domed with three small narthexes and towers at the western corners.

In 1185-1189, under Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, the narthexes and towers were dismantled and replaced with high galleries. The cathedral was rebuilt - in particular, it became five-domed.

The painting of the cathedral has survived to this day only in fragments. The painting of 1161 includes the figures of the prophets between the columns in the northern gallery, the painting of 1189 includes the figures of Artemy and Abraham in the southwestern corner of the ancient part of the cathedral.

In 1408, the Dormition Cathedral in Vladimir was painted by St. Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny. Separate images of a large composition of the Last Judgment, which occupied the entire western part of the temple, and several more frescoes have been preserved. It was for the iconostasis of this cathedral that the icon painters created a grandiose deesis tier and icons of the festive row, which are now kept in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

Folk traditions of the celebration of the Assumption

The Orthodox feast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos coincided in time with the harvest. At this time of the year, the Russian peasants were busy harvesting. That is why, in the popular mind, agricultural customs were superimposed on the church traditions of the Assumption.

Among the Eastern Slavs, the so-called "Obzhinki" were timed to coincide with the Dormition. Obzhinki - the feast of the harvest of bread. In addition, this day was called "Lady", "Lady", "Lady's Day" - these words reflected the veneration of the Virgin, to whom believers refer as the Lady, Lady.

The next day after the Dormition - August 29 - they celebrated the “Nut (or Bread) Savior”. It was named so in honor of the tradition of collecting nuts at this time of summer. By the end of August, they also began to pick mushrooms, and made vegetable and fruit preparations for the winter. They tried to sow winter crops: "This winter is three days before the Dormition and three after."

« Nut, or Bread, Savior "

"Nut, or Bread, Savior" - this is how the simple Russian people called the feast of the Transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of the Image Not Made by Hands of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is celebrated on August 29 (according to the new style). This holiday fell on the first day after the end of the Dormition Fast, that is, the day after the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

"Nut (or Bread) Savior" was named so in honor of the tradition of collecting nuts at this time of summer and completing the harvest of bread.

Sermon on the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

Saint Theophan the Recluse
After the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, His Most Pure Mother lived for about fifteen years in Jerusalem, in the house of the holy Apostle John the Theologian, to whom the Lord Himself entrusted Her from the Cross. The time has come for her to move to the heavenly abode of her Son. When the Mother of God was praying on the Mount of Olives, the legend tells, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Her, bringing a date branch, and announced Her death in three days.

The Most Pure One was overjoyed to hear such news, and began to prepare. By the day of Her repose, at the command of God, miraculously appeared in Jerusalem, except for the Apostle Thomas, all the apostles scattered for preaching throughout the world. They were witnesses of Her peaceful, quiet, holy and blissful death. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, in heavenly glory, surrounded by countless angels and righteous spirits, appeared to receive the soul of His Most Pure Mother and with glory lifted Her up to heaven.

This is how the Most Holy Virgin Mary ended her earthly life! With lit lamps and the singing of psalms, the apostles carried the body of the Mother of God to Gethsemane, where Her parents and Joseph were buried. The unbelieving high priests and scribes, struck by the grandeur of the funeral procession and embittered by the honors given to the Mother of God, sent servants and soldiers to disperse the mourners and burn the very body of the Mother of God.

The excited people and warriors rushed at the Christians with fury, but were stricken with blindness. At this time, the Jewish priest Athos passed by, who rushed to the tomb with the intention of throwing it to the ground; but as soon as he touched the bed with his hands, an angel cut off both his hands: their severed parts hung by the bed, and Athos himself fell to the ground with a cry.

The Apostle Peter stopped the procession and said to Athos: "Make sure that Christ is the true God." Athos immediately confessed Christ as the true Messiah. The Apostle Peter ordered Athos to turn to the Mother of God with fervent prayer and attach the remains of the hands to the parts hanging by the bed. By doing this, the hands grew together and healed, and only signs remained at the cut-off site. The blinded people and the soldiers repentantly touched the bed and received sight not only of the body, but also of the soul, and all reverently joined the procession.

On the third day after the burial of the Mother of God, the Apostle Thomas, who was absent, by the will of God, arrived and wished to see Her coffin. At his request, the coffin was opened, but the body of the Mother of God was not found in it. In the evening of the same day, during their meal, the apostles saw in the air the Most Holy Virgin in heaven, alive, with many angels. Standing and indescribably radiant with glory, the Mother of God said to the apostles: “Rejoice! I am always with you"; the apostles exclaimed: "Most Holy Theotokos, help us." This appearance of the Mother of God completely convinced the apostles, and through them the whole Church, of Her resurrection. In imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who often visited the places that Her Son and God sanctified with the feet of His most pure feet, a custom arose among Christians to visit holy places.

Screensaver: Jaime Serra. Assumption of the Virgin (detail). 1361-1362

According to BF "Orthodox Heritage of Ukraine on Mount Athos", the church tradition tells about the departure to the Lord and the burial of the Mother of God.

In the manuscripts of the 4th century there is evidence that the Mother of God, after death, went to Heaven in body and soul. Three days before her Dormition in Jerusalem, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Her and said that the day of Her death was approaching. He gave the Mother of God a branch of the tree of paradise shining with an unearthly light - a symbol of the victory of eternal life over death, bestowed by the Savior on the cross. Therefore, the Assumption is not a mourning event, but a holiday.

Then all the apostles arrived in Jerusalem to say goodbye to the Virgin Mary. Only the Apostle Thomas could not come. The roof of the chamber in which they had gathered opened, and an unearthly light shone upon all present. The Savior descended into the upper room, surrounded by angels. The Mother of God prayed to Her Son and gave her soul into His hands.

The apostles buried the body of the Theotokos in Gethsemane, where Her holy parents Joachim and Anna and the betrothed Joseph rested. At the head of the funeral procession was John the Theologian, who carried a branch of paradise, and the coffin with the body of the Mother of God was carried by all the apostles, except for Thomas. Many Christians carried lighted candles and censers. People and angels sang, glorifying the Most Holy Theotokos.

In the funeral procession was the Jewish priest Affoniy, who tried to turn over the bed on which the body of the Mother of God lay. The angel did not allow this and cut off Affoniy's hands at the moment when he touched the coffin. He repented and received healing, after which he converted to Christianity.

The Apostle Thomas arrived in Jerusalem on the third day after the funeral. He wanted to see the tomb of the Mother of God. When the coffin was opened, Her body was not in it, only the shroud remained. The Virgin Mary ascended in body and soul to Her Son.

The Apostle Thomas said that he saw the Mother of God ascend to Heaven. At that moment he asked her to bless him. Then the Mother of God threw off Her belt to him.

The Mother of God also appeared to the apostles, saying: "Rejoice, for I am with you all the days."

On the Holy Mountain on August 28, the Panigir celebrates the Iberian Monastery. As you know, Athos is called the earthly lot of the Mother of God. Many miraculous icons of the Most Holy Theotokos are kept in the monasteries of Athos, and Her belt is kept in the Vatopedi monastery.

The people call the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary "First Clean". Assumption fast ended today.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a great holiday in Orthodoxy. It is dedicated to the representation (death) of the Mother of God and her ascension to heaven. Every year on August 28, Orthodox believers go to church to touch the origins. Why shouldn't you mourn? Because death is just a transition to another world. The soul of the deceased, who led a righteous life, ascends to the Kingdom of Heaven for eternal life in happiness and peace.

So the Virgin Mary, having completed her earthly journey and having fulfilled her destiny, gave her soul to the Heavenly Father, Jesus. On the icons of the Dormition of the Blessed One, dedicated to this event, one can see angels and archangels next to the deathbed of the Mother of God and in the center - Her Son with a baby in her arms. The baby symbolizes the soul of the deceased Virgin Mary. After death, there is a rebirth for eternal life. Therefore, the holiday is joyful and bright. It signifies the victory of life over death.

The Most Pure Virgin met the Archangel Gabriel on her way to the Mount of Olives, where she often prayed. He held a palm branch in his hand. As we know, with this plant, the messengers of God brought good news to believers. This time the news was about an imminent death. The Mother of God learned that in 3 days she would ascend to heaven and meet her Son. Jesus will lift her up to the Kingdom of Heaven, where her mother will live forever.

Returning home, the Virgin Mary spoke about the fateful meeting. Then she wrote a will in which she indicated that she wanted to be buried in Gethsemane near her parents. Also, according to her will, her vestments went to poor servants who helped the Virgin Mary honestly and diligently for many years.

According to the old style, on the fifteenth of August, the Dormition of the Virgin was to take place. The history of the holiday says that at that time candles were lit in the temple, where the Mother of God lay on a bed decorated with flowers. In an instant, the space was flooded with light and all the heavenly powers appeared in it together with the Lord.

The Virgin Mary rejoiced, and Jesus embraced her, uttering words of approval. Then He took her soul.

The body of the Virgin Mary was placed in a tomb, the entrance to which was blocked with a huge stone. But after 3 days, the Apostle Thomas began to ask and beg to give him the opportunity to say goodbye to the Most Pure. Then the other apostles pushed away the stone and entered with Thomas into the cave. The greatest amazement froze on the faces of all those who came: only vestments lay on the bed, and Mary herself was not there. A pleasant herbal aroma hung in the cave.

What does the Assumption of the Mother of God mean

The feast of the Dormition has long been celebrated in churches with morning services, to which the Orthodox bring seeds of cereal crops for illumination. This happened after the night services, as soon as the sun rose.

The people called the Theotokos the Most Pure, the Lady. For this reason, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin is called:

• Mrs. day (Mrs.);
• First Pure;
• Easter of the Mother of God.

On this day, we believers found our intercessor in heaven. In grief and sorrow, in suffering and sorrow, we pray to the icons of the Mother of God with requests for mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. We ask for health and healing. And she helps all those who suffer, intercedes before the Lord for forgiveness and help for His lost children.

Icon of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary miraculous. This is the most powerful image in which they pray for health and help. This icon is endowed with the power to help worthily pass the earthly path and are not afraid of death.

Assumption of the Virgin - August 28

On the eve of the holiday, many doubt the date of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. The answer is simple - August 28 every year is unchanged. It is on this day that the Dormition Fast ends (it lasted from August 14 to 28).

In the old days, this date was celebrated on the eighteenth of January. But the emperor Mauritius timed the Assumption of the Virgin to the Day of Victory over the Persians and moved the date to August 28.

All day the believers pray and rejoice. There is no place for sadness and sadness. After all, this day once again reminds us of the possibility of eternal life. This day gives one more hope for salvation. The Creator rewards righteous behavior. We are all his children. And we are all destined for eternal life. You just need to come to Him, accept Him, love Him.

our earthly path is only a stage before eternal life. You need to go through it with dignity, with love and faith. This is the path of learning, suffering and joy. Good deeds and pure thoughts affect eternal life. It will be for those who repent of their sins and come to Christ. He will take his children into the kingdom of heaven.

According to the Bible, death is the result of the fall of the first people. The disobedience shown by Adam and Eve led to their expulsion from paradise, where the Lord settled them forever. Now people were prepared for an earthly path of suffering in order to repent and be cleansed for eternal life.

What does "assumption" mean? This is death. But it can be overcome by opening your hearts to goodness, mercy and faith. And an example of this is the Resurrection of Christ and the Assumption of the Virgin.

Signs and traditions on the day of Assumption

• This holiday is held in the family. Helping mothers and parents. They thank them for their care, pray to the icon of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• You can’t wear new clothes so that you don’t feel discomfort all year.
• You can not swear and be in a bad mood.
• It is forbidden to walk barefoot and pierce the ground with sharp objects, so as not to attract crop failure.
• A leg injured on this day promises failure and obstacles.
• Although the church clearly refers to the adherence of believers to rituals and superstitions. You can not believe in ridiculous beliefs. There is one faith: in our Lord.
• A rainy day of dormition - to a dry autumn.
• It is necessary to collect fruits and vegetables of a new crop, to make preparations for the winter. Salted cucumbers will be especially good.
• Everyone prepares festive dishes for a family meal in honor of the holiday of the Assumption. They bake bread from the flour of the new harvest. A piece of loaf baked on the feast of the Assumption is placed next to the images and kept all year round. This bread has healing power.
• They give alms and help the poor, finish the work they have started.
• Young men who decide to marry go to matchmakers.

We congratulate all believers on this bright holiday and wish peace, goodness and light in the soul and in life. Love and be loved. Live in harmony and happiness.

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