Dormition of the Virgin Mary the Theotokos
Translation of Her Body into Heaven
This Orthodox feast is not the assumption of Mary into heaven as is celebrated in the Roman Church. It is about her death and the salvation of her soul. We learn that Mary died as all people die because she had a mortal human nature affected by the corruption of this world. The Church proclaims that Mary needed to be saved by Christ just as all of us are saved from trials, sufferings, and death of this world. Having truly died, she was raised by her Son as the "Mother of Life" and already participates in the eternal life of paradise which is prepared and promised to all who "hear the word of God and keep it." (Luke 11:27-28) Finally, we celebrate the fact that what happens to Mary happens to all who imitate her holy life of humility, obedience and love.
The ascension of Mary was not recorded in the Gospels or Epistles but has been revealed to the Church. The glorification of the virgin-Mother is a result of her voluntary condescension of the Son who is incarnate of her and Made “Son of Man”, capable of dying. Mother of God was taken into heaven not having to wait for the General resurrection of the Last Judgment. This feast is a second mysterious Pascha. This event is important because it is seen as the firstfruits of the resurrection of the faithful that will occur at the Second Coming of Christ.
For three days they did not depart from the place of burial, praying and chanting Psalms. Through the wise providence of God, the Apostle Thomas was not to be present at the burial of the Mother of God. Arriving late on the third day at Gethsemane, he lay down at the tomb and with bitter tears asked that he be permitted to look once more upon the Mother of God and bid her farewell. He asked that the tomb be opened to pay his respects. The Apostles out of heartfelt pity for him decided to open the grave and permit to venerate the holy relics of the Ever-Virgin Mary. Having opened the grave, they found in it only the grave wrappings and were thus convinced of the bodily ascent of the Most Holy Virgin Mary to Heaven. Historically, it is important to remember that there are no relics of the Theotokos that have ever been mentioned throughout history.
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