Great Feast
Dormition of the Theotokos
The falling-asleep of the Virgin Mary
When: August 15 (Old Calendar: 13 days later on the civil calendar).
The Dormition (“falling asleep”) celebrates the death of the Virgin Mary. According to ancient tradition the apostles were gathered miraculously to her bedside in Jerusalem, and Christ Himself came to receive her soul.
The Church believes that after her burial she was taken bodily into heaven, the first to share fully in her Son’s resurrection. The feast is preceded by the two-week Dormition Fast.
The icon shows Mary on her bier surrounded by the apostles, while Christ stands behind holding her soul, shown as a small child wrapped in white.
Written for this app in our own words from the Gospels and long-standing Church tradition. All Great Feasts & Holy Week · Calendar