On August 28, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Assumption Holy Mother of God... This holiday is one of the twelve, that is, 12 important. We will tell you what the essence of the Assumption is, what should not be done 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 "dormition" 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 Mother of God 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 is ascended to heaven, where she prays for all people, writes the Thomas magazine.

Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary: traditions of celebration

The holiday is preceded by the Assumption Fast. It lasts two weeks, from 14 to 27 August. The Assumption Fast is dedicated to the Mother of God.

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 restrictions on food.

In 2018, the Assumption is not a fast day.

In folk creation, the church traditions of the Assumption mixed with the customs of the farmers. At this time, the peasants were working on the harvest. The Eastern Slavs timed a harvest holiday - "Obzhinka", to coincide with the Dormition. This day was also called "Lady" or "Lady's Day": the name reflects the popular veneration of the Virgin, writes the magazine "Thomas".

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

What cannot be done on the Assumption of the Virgin?

The Church advises on the feast of the Assumption of the Theotokos not to get carried away by various beliefs and omens. For example, that if you rub your leg on August 28, you will bring in 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 do cleaning. This is not true. It is recommended to devote the holiday to God and communication with loved ones, but if this is not possible, no one will condemn.

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

On the Orthodox holiday of the Assumption, you do not need to use foul language, envy, or quarrel with others.

Is it possible to get married on the 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 twelve great holidays, so that the emotions of a personal celebration do not overshadow the joy of the church holiday.

The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is the last Great Twelveth Feast of the Orthodox Church Year, ending on September 13 in the new style. The Dormition of the Theotokos is celebrated on August 28 (New Art.), Has 1 day of the forefeast and 8 days of the feast, the giving takes place on August 23 (September 5).

Its full name is the Assumption of the Most Holy Lady of our Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. The date of the Assumption of the Mother of God is not known for certain, but researchers suggest that by the time of the Assumption she was 72 years old.

The Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven. The Holy Apostles, filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, went to different countries to preach the Gospel. But in Jerusalem, along with some of the Lord's disciples, the Most Holy Virgin, his Mother, remained with whom the eyes of the Apostles and many thousands of Christians turned with reverence, turned by them to the light of truth.

Ural icon "Life and Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos"

Her dwelling was in Zion, in the house of St. John the Theologian, whom her Divine Son himself adopted. An ancient legend tells that the Mother of God traveled from Jerusalem and to other cities and countries, lived for some time in Ephesus, blessed Mount Athos, visited Cyprus, where St. Lazarus (raised from the dead) was a bishop. Christians saw in her as it were the image of Jesus Christ, a mentor and example of faith and all virtues.

Until the end of her earthly life, the Most Holy Theotokos was a Virgin not only in flesh, but also in spirit: humble in heart, God-wise in words spoken without haste, tireless in reading, vigorous in labors, chaste in conversations, not offending anyone, not laughing at anyone , who did not disdain the poor and the poor, but who wished everyone well, she had the appearance of internal and external perfection Ambrose of Mediolansky

Duccio di Buoninsegna. Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Annunciation

Finally, the time came when the animated Ark of the Lord's shrine was to be transferred to the place where the Lord himself had ascended. Archangel Gabriel, giving her the sign of victory over bodily death - a branch of the Paradise Date tree, announced that her Divine son was calling her to him, to the abode of the Heavenly Father. The Most Holy Virgin accepted this long-desired message with lively joy. But, leaving this small world, she wished to see the holy Apostles in it once again and prayed to the Lord for this.

Arrival of the apostles

Duccio di Buoninsegna. Assumption. Seeing off Mary St. John

By invisible power the Apostles were transferred from different countries to Jerusalem to the dwelling of the Ever-Virgin. Saint Paul also appeared, together with his disciples: Hierotheos the wondrous, Timothy the Bishop of Ephesus and Dionysius the Areopagite. "Apostles, from the end you copulated, bury My Body in Gethsemane, and You, Son and My God, receive My soul." - said the Blessed Virgin.

The apostles shed tears. But the Most Pure Lady consoled those who were crying, telling them that she would not leave them sire at her repose, and not only them, but the whole world would be "Visit, nurture and help the needy".

Assumption Day. Soul Ascension. Burial.

Fra Angelico. Assumption of the Virgin

The fifteenth of August came. The upper room of Zion was lit with many lamps, filled with fragrances, announced by the fervent prayers of the Apostles: the most pure Virgin Mary awaited the moment of her soul's separation from her body. Suddenly, heavenly light shone through the entire temple, Jesus Christ himself appeared, surrounded by angels, took the holy soul of the Mother of God and ascended into heaven.

Burial

The apostles now saw before them only the lifeless body of the Mother of God, shining with a wonderful light, fragrant with aromas. It was carried by the hands of the Apostles to Gethsemane and buried in the cave in which the righteous Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Mother of God, and her betrothed Joseph, were buried.

Resurrection

Carracci, Annibale. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin

On the third day after the burial of the Ever-Virgin, Saint Thomas also arrived in Jerusalem, who, according to God's dispensation, was not present at her repose. To comfort the lamenting one, the Apostles opened the cave where the body of the Virgin Mary was buried - and they found nothing there except her robe. But on the same day she herself appeared to them in heavenly radiance, surrounded by a host of Angels.

At the end of their evening meal, the Apostles, lifting up the bread that they had laid down in honor of Jesus Christ, wanted to say as usual: "Lord Jesus Christ, help us." But when they saw the Mother of God, they exclaimed: "Blessed Virgin Mary, help us".

This is the beginning, which is still performed in some monasteries, of the rite of Panagia (of the Most Holy). The death of the Most Pure Virgin was a dream, after which She was resurrected and ascended to heaven. "The Angels saw the Most Pure Assumption and wondered how the Virgin ascended from earth to heaven".

Veneration

From the time of the assumption and ascension of the Mother of God, her universal glory begins, hidden until that time under the cover of deepest humility. Wherever the preaching of the Gospel reached, where the name of Jesus Christ was glorified, the name of the Ever-Virgin Mary was glorified there.

The Holy Ecumenical Council (which was in Ephesus in 431) forever approved the title of the Mother of God, or Mother of God, which belongs to it. The Orthodox Church every day in all its services begs, thanks and glorifies the Most Honorable Cherubim and the Most Glorious Seraphim.

“We are blessed to all of you, Mother of God ... Blessed are we, the intercession of the property. Day and night pray for us and the sceptres of the kingdom are confirmed by Thy prayers. "

The Most Holy Mary made a complete change in the fate of the female sex, returning to her the meaning and dignity that had been lost by the fall of Eve. At the same time, the Mother of Christ - our God is the most perfect example of a Christian woman ..

By her example, she teaches young women good behavior, obedience, diligence, virgins and wives - meekness, chastity and piety, mothers - truly maternal love and devotion, the orphan and the poor - patience and selflessness, the great and glorious - humility.

Ancient evidence

Although the bodily ascension to heaven of the Mother of God was not included in the Symbol of Faith, the whole Church agrees to believe that she was resurrected by the Lord after her death and delighted to heaven, where he dwells in body and soul. The circumstances of the Assumption of the Mother have been known since ancient times.

In the IV century, there appeared two, ancient already at that time, works on the bodily transmigration of the Virgin Mary to heaven - one under the name of John the Theologian, and the other - Meliton, Bishop of Sardis, who lived at the end of the II century. In the 5th century Juvenal, Patriarch of Jerusalem, testified before Empress Pulcheria about the reliability of these events, drawn from the most ancient and irrevocable sources and legends.

What is Assumption

The demise of the Mother of God is called the Dormition, because with her holy body she seemed to fall asleep for a short time, and then, having risen from earthly sleep, ascended to heaven.

Celebration history

This holiday has been celebrated by the Orthodox Church since ancient times of Christianity. He is mentioned in Canon 431 of the Nomokanon, borrowed from the Gangrian Council, which was in 361, in the writings of Blessed Jerome and Augustine, writers of the Church of the IV century. In former times, for some peoples, such as the Gauls, Copts and Greeks, this holiday was set off, instead of August 15 - January 15.

But in 582, at the request of the Greek Emperor Mauritius, it was transferred to the 15th of August, in respect of the fact that in the ancient calendars it is designated on this day .² This is also reported by Nicephorus Callistus Xanfopulus in his Church History. According to other researchers, Mauritius timed it to the day of his victory over the Persians on August 15, 582.

Assumption Fast

The Orthodox Church, in awe of the day of the Dormition of the Mother of God, prepares itself and the faithful for worthy remembrance and triumph of this event by fourteen days of fasting, which lasts from 13 (1) to 27 (14) August and is second in holiness (severity) only to Great Lent, surpassing Christmas ...

Eating eggs, meat, dairy products, fish and vegetable oil is prohibited during the Dormition Fast (except for fish only on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on August 19). You can eat nuts, honey, bread, cereals, fruits and vegetables.

On August 28 (15), fasting ends if the holiday falls on any day of the week, except Wednesday or Friday. If Assumption falls on Wednesday or Friday, then breaking the fast is postponed to the next day, and on this day fish is allowed.

Folk traditions, spoons

They called the holiday in different localities in their own way: Bolshaya Most Pure, First Most Pure, Assumption Day, Assumption Day, Dozhinki, Goblin, Pozpozhinka, Pozpozhinka, Spozhinka, Lady, Lady's Day (possibly from "Lady", that is, "Lady" (Mother of God The Third Savior is celebrated the next day, August 16/29 (new) - on the day of the transfer of the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands.

In the old days, with the arrival of the women, the end of the harvest was celebrated. In the minds of the people, as always, one thing was superimposed on the other - agricultural and christian holidays... Agricultural holidays were associated with the calendar work of the villagers. Their ceremonies expressed gratitude to mother earth for the harvest and were aimed at obtaining the next.

"We lived, we lived,
The mistresses met
Loaf started,
Tolokna visited,
The guests were treated
They prayed to God! "

M. Stakhovich. Dozhinki. 1821. Photo - wikipedia

• They arranged a clubbing (brotherhood), baked pies from the flour of the new harvest, brewed beer.
• Weaved wreaths of ears, danced in circles.
• In the field, after the harvest, they knitted the last, birthday sheaf, dressed it up, carried it with songs and dances to the master's yard, where the landowner treated his peasants and celebrated the end of the harvest with them.
• The last sheaf was especially revered, it was assigned a special role in the ritual. The sheaf was called: dozhinochny or grub, gossip, strawberry, Solokha, Ovsey, ergot (from knotweed - double grain, king-ear - the embodiment of fertility), beard, beard of God or Ilya, Ivanushka, Christ's shirt, master. It was installed on festive table, and after the feast was kept until the new harvest in the Red corner under the images.
• The "young Indian summer" begins with the Assumption, which will last until Ivan the Postny, August 29. / 11 Sep (popular name for the day of the Beheading of the honest head of St. John the Baptist) ⁴
• The girls looked at the guys, choosing grooms: "You won't look after the Assumption - you will sit in girls for the winter."

Proverbs, signs

Most Holy Theotokos, help us!

Literature:

¹ pravoslavie.ru
² Mirsky Vestnik magazine, 1865
³ Wikipedia
⁴ A.A. Corinthian. People's Russia
⁵ Sakharov I.P. Legends of the Russian people
Lessons from Archpriest I. Yakhontov, 1864, St. Petersburg.
Dal V.I. Mesyatseslov - Proverbs of the Russian people

Looking at the church calendar on August 28, you can see this date highlighted in color. After looking at the description, it is easy to find out that the day of the Assumption of the Virgin is celebrated, but what does the word "Assumption" mean? What is death and resurrection of the soul? Perhaps, many do not know the answer to this, as well as the history of the holiday itself. Let's try to figure it out together.

Church traditions

From the words of Holy Scripture, you can learn that, after the ascension of her son Jesus Christ to heaven, the Mother of God remained in the care of the saint

Many church legends explain the Assumption in different ways, what is the resurrection of the soul, the emergence of the celebration of death. The customs and rules for celebrating the Assumption are little covered in the scriptures, as are all the main points of the end of the earthly path of the Mother of God.

Also, from the entire sacred history of the New Testament, everyone knows how highly the Mother of the Lord was honored among the apostles when she was with them in Jerusalem.

Unfortunately, very few manuscripts of that time have come down to us. Most of these creations were collected in the Holy Gospel and the New Testament.

Thanks to new archaeological devices, after numerous excavations in Jerusalem, the creations of the saint were still found.

In these documents, the life of the Mother of God is mentioned, her very Dormition is shown, what this event is for the people and the whole history of that period.

In this apocrypha (a secret written history that was not included in the canon of the Bible) it is said that after the massive persecutions of King Herod Agrippa on the Church, the Mother of God, together with John the Theologian, moved for a time to the city of Ephesus.

When the persecution ended, the Mother of God, together with John, returned to Jerusalem, where she settled in his house on

The history of the holiday

As the legend says, when one day the Mother of God went to the Mount of Olives to pray, she met the Archangel Gabriel there, in whose hands was a branch of a paradise palm. He preached the gospel to the Virgin Mary that after three days she would be gone to Heaven, the Lord would exalt her, his own mother, into the Kingdom of Heaven, in which she would be with him forever.

On her return to the house, the Mother of God told Saint John about her meeting with the Archangel Gabriel and her future death.

In her will, she asked to be buried in Gethsemane, next to her parents and her obrochnik, the righteous Joseph.

In addition, the will instructed to give two of her vestments to beggar girls, who served her with great affection and hard work.

Presenting the Virgin Mary to the Lord

The very presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was supposed to come on the 15th day of August at the third hour of the day. At this time, candles were lit in the temple, and Mary lay on a beautifully decorated bed. In an instant, a sea of \u200b\u200blight flooded the Temple, in which Jesus Christ himself appeared with angels, archangels and all heavenly powers, and he approached the Virgin Mary.

Seeing the Son, the Blessed Virgin joyfully spoke to him, and the Lord with trembling and pride took her to himself, and she, hearing his approval, gave the most pure soul to His only Son.

According to church beliefs, after the death of the Mother of God, the apostles laid her body in a tomb and filled up the entrance to it with a large stone. Three days after his death, they were joined by the Apostle Thomas, who tearfully asked and prayed for a chance to say goodbye to the Blessed Virgin Mary. At his request, the apostles rolled off the stone and entered the cave with it, but what was their surprise when they found only the Virgin's clothing, and she herself was not there, and from the cave itself came a pleasant fresh smell of herbs.

Celebration in temples

Since ancient times, it has been established to celebrate this holiday with a morning service, at which the believers brought cereal seeds for illumination and blessing. This happened after the night service at sunrise.

Among the people, the Most Holy Theotokos is called the Lady, and from this the feast of the Assumption bears another name, the Lady of the Day, the Lady. Among the people, it is customary to call the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin the Second Most Pure, and the Dormition of the Most Holy - the First Most Pure.

This holiday was celebrated with a great feast, with home brewed beer, sweet dishes and pies.

So, one of the great and last of the twelve feasts church calendar in August is the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

The spiritual meaning of the celebration

Such a phenomenon as death has always caused fear, hesitation, surprise and awe in the soul of every person.

On the path to eternal life, everyone needs to go through the path of learning, experience and joy in ordinary worldly life. It is the righteousness of today's life, our actions and deeds that influence the future eternal life of peace and happiness. This concept of death is the foundation of the Christian faith.

If you remember the Holy Scripture, then death is not something noble, but on the contrary, the process of the fall, the soul's disobedience to the human will of God.

According to the teachings of the Church, the concept of death is the Assumption. What is death and why is it needed? We can confidently say that our Creator did not want human death at all, but people predicted it for themselves by constant falls and disobedience.

But even in such a situation, the gates to Paradise open before us, where those who to this day do not violate the laws of God, who constantly strive to do good and bring joy and help to others, will be close to the Creator.

Celebrating the death of the Virgin Mary

On the icons, which depict the Dormition of the Theotokos, Christ always rises next to her bed, in whose hands a small figurine of a baby, symbolizing the soul of the deceased Virgin. This children's figurine is a prototype of the rebirth of the Soul after death, which its Son came to accept.

Historical background

In the writings that speak of the liturgical practices of the ancient Greek Church, the first references to the Dormition of the Theotokos appeared at the end of the 6th century.

The Emperor Mauritius, who ruled at that time, made this day a common church day. In most churches, this day was celebrated on January 18, but according to some experts who study the writing of that period, it was Mauritius that moved its celebration to August, on the Day of Victory over the Persians.

It falls just at the end of the Assumption Lent, which lasted from August 1 to 15 according to the old style and from 14 to 28 according to the new style, and directly on 28 - the Assumption.

The preparatory period and the celebration itself

As mentioned earlier, the feast of the Assumption begins with a very severe two-week fast. This is one of the four annual fasts and is considered one of the most ancient and strict. Even fish is allowed to eat once during the entire fast and on a certain day.

The priests wear blue robes to celebrate. Church liturgy begins in the evening and lasts all night, and from the very morning the liturgy of the Assumption itself is served. On the third day, the shroud is brought out, symbolizing the robe of the Virgin Mary, similar to the shroud of Christ. The only difference here is the image on it of the Mother of God lying in a coffin.

According to the custom of the Church, at the morning liturgy before the burial of the shroud, praiseworthy prayers are read, the kontakion and troparion are sung, and then a solemn procession follows with the shroud around the temple.

As can be seen from all that has been said, the significance of the holiday is very great. From his story, we can conclude that the righteous path of life is always rewarded by our Creator. All incredible miracles of the ascension provide hope for every believer to gain eternal life after death.

In all the prescribed canons and stichera of the holiday, the greatness and joy of the Assumption of the Virgin are emphasized. Here there is no place for sorrow and sorrow over death, but there is great happiness of victory over it.

People spend the whole day of August 28 (Assumption) in prayer and joy, eating cooked dishes at the family table after a long night liturgy

Historical content

After the Lord accomplished the salvation of the human race and His ascension into heaven, the most pure and most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Intercessor of our salvation, lived among the first Christians for quite a long time; She was filled with great spiritual joy, beholding the expansion of the Church of Christ throughout the whole universe and the expansion of the glory of His Son and God to the ends of the earth; In these early days of the life of the Christian Church, the Most Holy Theotokos saw with her own eyes the fulfillment of Her words that all generations would bless Her () - Christians, everywhere glorifying Christ God, blessed His Most Pure Mother, who then still dwelt on earth.

The Most Holy Theotokos approached Her most honorable and glorious Assumption, already full of days; She herself wished to leave the body as soon as possible and enter God. Her soul was always enveloped in one incessant desire to see the sweet face of His Son, Sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven (); grief to Him with incomparably greater love than the Seraphim. The Mother of God, pouring out streams of tears from her holy eyes, prayed warmly to the Lord that He would take Her from this vale of weeping to the heavenly blessed abodes. Living in the house of St. John the Theologian in Zion, She often moved away from here to the Mount of Olives, the place of the ascension to heaven of Her Son and the Lord; here, alone, She offered Her fervent prayers to Him. And then one day, during such a solitary prayer to the Mother of God on the Mount of Olives that the Lord would sooner send her death and take her to heaven, the archangel Gabriel appeared before her, serving the Most Holy Theotokos from the first days of her childhood: he nourished her in the holy of holies, brought Her the good news of the birth of the Son of God from Her (), relentlessly guarded Her throughout her life on earth. With a bright face, the heavenly messenger conveyed to the Most Holy Theotokos the joyful words of the Lord for Her, that soon, after three days, She would go to Christ God. Proclaiming to the Blessed Virgin the hour of death, the archangel told Her not to be embarrassed, but to gladly accept his words, for they call Her into immortal life to the eternal King of glory:

Your Son and our God, - said the archangel, - with the archangels and angels, cherubim and seraphim, with all the heavenly spirits and souls of the righteous, will receive You, His Mother, into the heavenly kingdom, so that You may live and reign with Him for an endless time.

As a sign of the triumph of the Theotokos over death, that is, that bodily death will not have power over Her, just as spiritual death did not possess Her, and that She, as if sleeping death for a short time, soon, as she awoke, will rise and, having driven away from Herself death, as if from the eyes of a dream, will see in the light of the face of the Lord immortal glory and life, where it will go with joyful cries with spiritual joy - in a sign of all this, the archangel handed the paradise branch to the Blessed Virgin: it was, shining with the light of heavenly grace, a branch from a date palm ; She was to be carried, as the archangel said, before the bed of the Mother of God, when Her most honorable and most pure body would be carried for burial. The Most Blessed Mother of God was filled with unspeakable joy and spiritual delight, for what could be more joyful and more pleasant for Her to live in heaven with Her Son and God and - bliss at contemplating His sweet face? Falling down on her knees, She began to earnestly thank Her Creator:

I was not worthy, - prayed the Most Holy Theotokos, - to receive You, Master, in My womb, if You Yourself did not have mercy on Me, Your servant; I have kept the treasure entrusted to Me, and therefore I have the boldness to ask You, King of glory, that You protect Me from the region of Gehena: if heaven and angels tremble before You, much more is a man made of dust, who has no merit behind him except those bestowed by Your goodness ; You, Lord and God, blessed forever.

The Most Pure Lady, upon her departure from this life, wished to see the holy Apostles who had already dispersed with the gospel preaching throughout the universe; She prayed to the Lord that at the hour of Her death She would not see the prince of darkness and his terrible servants, but that Her Son and God Himself, fulfilling His promise, would come and take Her soul into His holy hands. When our Lady, bending her knees, offered her prayer requests and thanksgiving to her Creator on the Mount of Olives, Her prayer was accompanied by such a miraculous phenomenon: the olive trees that stood on the Mount of Olives, as if animated, bowed along with the Mother of God: when the Mother of God knelt on her knees, then the trees bent down; when She rose, then they straightened up again; trees, like slaves, served the Mother of God, venerating the Mother of God.

At the end of the prayer, the Most Holy Theotokos returned home, and immediately everything shook from the presence of the invisible power of God surrounding the Mother of God, and from the glory of the Lord, with which She was shone. Her face, and always shining with the grace of God more than the face of Moses, who once spoke with God at Sinai (), was enlightened with an even more ineffable glory. - The Most Blessed Lady began to prepare for Her death. First of all, She informed her adopted beloved disciple of Christ John about her and showed him the luminous branch of paradise, bequeathing to him to carry it before His bed; then the Blessed Virgin reported the same to the others who served Her in the household. Then She commanded to fill Her upper room with a fragrance, prepare and light as many lamps as possible in it, decorate both the upper room itself and the bed in it, in a word, arrange everything necessary for burial. Saint John the Theologian immediately sent to Saint James, the brother of the Lord and the first bishop of Jerusalem, as well as to all relatives and neighbors, informing about the imminent, - with the exact designation of the day - the departure of the Mother of God. Saint James was not slow to inform all Christians who lived not only in Jerusalem, but also in the surrounding towns and villages, so that with the Bishop of Jerusalem all the relatives and a great multitude of believers of both sexes gathered at the Most Holy Theotokos. The Most Pure Lady publicly told the audience the words spoken to Her by the archangel about Her transfer to heaven and in confirmation showed the Paradise branch received from Her evangelist, which, as sunbeam, shone with the light of heavenly glory. Hearing from the lips of the Mother of God the news of Her imminent death, the believers around Her could not refrain from crying: the whole house was filled with weeping and sobbing; all begged the merciful Lady, as the common Mother of all, not to leave them orphans. But the Mother of God asked not to cry, but to rejoice at Her death, since, having become closer to the throne of God, looking face to face at Her Son and God and talking with Him mouth to mouth, She can, after death, with great boldness, beg Him for mercy and goodness; at the same time, the blessed Mother of God promised not to leave orphans after Her departure, and not only them, but the whole world: She will visit the whole world, attending to his needs and helping the needy. The comforting words of the Mother of God wiped away the tears of those who wept and consoled their sorrow. The Most Pure Lady then made a will concerning Her two garments, so that they would be given to two poor widows, who with zeal, receiving food from Her, served Her. The Mother of God bequeathed Her most pure body to be buried in the Garden of Gethsemane lying on the Mount of Olives, not far from Jerusalem, where the tomb of Her righteous parents, Joachim and Anna, and Her Betrothed Saint Joseph was located; these tombs were adjacent to the Jehoshaphat Valley of Olives, which stretched between Jerusalem and the mountain, which was a common burial place for the poor inhabitants of Jerusalem.

During these dying orders of the Most Holy Theotokos, a noise was suddenly heard that resembled thunder in power, and the clouds surrounded the house of St. John the Theologian - then, by God's command, the angels delighted the Apostles who had dispersed with the preaching of the Gospel at the ends of the universe and brought them to Jerusalem in the clouds. placing in Zion before the doors of the house where the Mother of God dwelt. The holy Apostles, seeing each other, rejoiced and at the same time were amazed, saying:

What is the reason the Lord has brought us together?

Saint John the Theologian came out to them and greeted them with joyful tears, informing, at the same time, of the imminent repose of the Most Holy Theotokos. Then the holy Apostles understood that the Lord had gathered them from different parts of the universe to be present at the blessed end of His Most Pure Mother, so that they would with honor buried Her most pure body. The news of the imminent death of the Mother of God filled the hearts of the holy Apostles with great sorrow. Going inside the house, they saw the Mother of God sitting on a bed with a joyful face; the holy Apostles greeted Her with the words:

Blessed are you from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

Peace to you, brothers, chosen by the Lord Himself! - answered the Most Pure Lady.

And then she asked:

How did you get here?

The Holy Apostles revealed to Her that each of them was caught up by the power of the Spirit of God from the place of their preaching and brought to Zion on a cloud. The Mother of God glorified God, who heard Her prayer and fulfilled Her heartfelt desire to see the holy Apostles at Her death.

The Lord, - she said, turning to them, - has brought you here to comfort My soul, which, as mortal nature requires, is to be soon separated from the body: the time predetermined for Me by My Creator has already come.

They, in response to this, sadly told her:

During Your stay on earth, we, the Lady, were comforted, looking at You as our Lord and Teacher Himself, and now, losing Your presence, how can we endure the heavy sorrow that announced our souls? But You are leaving for the premier abodes by the will of the Christ God born by You, and we cannot but rejoice at God's decision about You, although at the same time we cannot but mourn our orphanhood, for we will no longer see You, our Mother and Comforter.

At these words, the holy Apostles shed tears.

Do not cry, - the Most Holy Theotokos consoled them, and do not darken My joy, friends and disciples of Christ with your sorrow, - better rejoice with Me, since I am going to My Son and God. My body, which I myself have prepared for burial, bury it in the earth in Gethsemane, and then return again to the preaching of the Gospel entrusted to you; But me, if the Lord wills, you will also see me after My departure.

During this conversation of the Mother of God with the holy Apostles, a vessel chosen by God also arrived - the holy Apostle Paul: falling at the feet of the Most Holy Theotokos, he opened his mouth, praising and pleasing Her:

Rejoice, - said the holy Apostle, - Mother of Life and my preaching; If before the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ I could not enjoy seeing Him here on earth, then, looking at You now, I think that I see Him as it were.

The Apostle Paul was with his close disciples Dionysius the Areopagite, Hierotheos and Timothy; the rest of the seventy, the Apostles, were also present - all were gathered by the Holy Spirit in order to receive the blessing of the Most Pure Virgin Mary and by their presence to contribute to the greater solemnity of Her burial. The Most Pure Lady of each of the holy Apostles called to Herself by name, praising faith and deeds in the gospel of Christ Jesus; She wished everyone eternal bliss and prayed for the peace of the whole world.

The fifteenth day of August came, and the blessed hour, expected by all, approached - it was the third hour of the day - of the departure of the Most Holy Theotokos. In the upper room many lamps were lit; the holy Apostles offered praise to God; The most blameless Virgin was reclining on a decorated bed, preparing for a blessed end and waiting for the coming to Herself of His beloved Son and Lord. Suddenly in the upper room the ineffable light of Divine glory shone, darkening the lamps. Those to whom this vision was revealed were horrified. They saw that the roof of the upper room was open and the glory of the Lord descended from heaven, - the King of glory Christ Himself with the darkness of angels and archangels, with all the heavenly powers, with the holy forefathers and prophets who had once foretold of the Most Holy Virgin, and with all righteous souls approached the Most Pure To your Mother. Seeing the approach of the Son, the Mother of God in great joy exclaimed the words of Her song:

- "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, My Savior, that He has looked upon the humility of His Servant" ().

And rising from her bed, as if trying to meet her Son, She worshiped the Lord. He, approaching and looking at her with love, said:

Come My neighbor, come My dove, come my precious treasure and enter the abode of eternal life.

The Mother of God, bowing down, answered:

Blessed is Thy name, Lord of glory and My God, who delighted in choosing a humble servant to serve Thy sacrament; remember Me, King of glory, in Your eternal kingdom; You know that I have loved You with all my heart and kept the treasure entrusted to Me, and now receive My spirit in the world and protect Me from all the wiles of the dark, satanic power.

The Lord consoled Her with words full of love, urging her not to fear the satanic power, which had already been defeated by Her; He lovingly urged Her to fearlessly pass from earth to heaven.

- "My heart is ready, God, my heart is ready" (), - answered the Blessed Virgin.

And, then, having uttered the words she once said, - "let it be to me according to your word" (), again lay down on the bed. Feeling inexpressible joy at the sight of the bright face of Her Son and Lord, the Mother of God, filled with spiritual delight out of love for Him, gave up Her most pure soul into the hands of the Lord; At the same time, She did not feel any pain, but, as it were, fell asleep in a sweet dream: The One Whom She conceived without breaking virginity and gave birth without illness, received Her soul from her most pure body. And immediately began the wondrous angelic singing filled with joy, in which the words of Gabriel's greeting to the Blessed Virgin were heard, often repeated by the angels:

- "Rejoice, Blessed One! The Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women" ().

With such solemn hymns, the heavenly ranks saw off the blessed soul of the Mother of God, coming in the hands of the Lord to the heavenly abodes. The Holy Apostles, who were rewarded with the vision, with tender eyes saw off the Mother of God as once the Lord ascended from the Mount of Olives (); they stood for a long time, feeling horror and as if in oblivion. Having come to themselves, the disciples of Christ bowed down to the Lord, who with glory lifted the soul of His Mother to heaven, and with weeping surrounded the bed of the Mother of God. The face of the blessed Virgin Mary shone like the sun, and a wonderful fragrance emanated from Her most pure body, the likes of which cannot be found here on earth. All the believers, reverently venerating the most pure body, kissed it with fear; a sanctifying power emanated from the honest relics of the Mother of God, filling the hearts of all those who touched him with joy. The sick received healings: the blind received their sight, the deaf opened their ears, the lame straightened up, the demons were expelled, - any illness completely disappeared from just one touch of the bed of the Mother of God.

Among these events, which accompanied the death of the Mother of God, a solemn procession began with Her most holy body for his burial: the holy Apostle Peter, together with the holy Apostles Paul and James, the brother of God, having become at the head, raised together with other holy Apostles from among the twelve beds of the Most Holy Mother of God ; Saint John the Theologian carried in front of him a branch of paradise, emitting radiance. The rest of the believers with candles and censers walked close, surrounding the bed. Everyone sang the original prayers: the holy Apostle Peter began, and the others sang harmoniously after him a psalm of David: in the exodus of Israel from Egypt (), attaching alleluia to each verse; other solemn and thanksgiving prayers and psalms were sung by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. A solemn procession with the most pure body of the Mother of God headed from Zion through Jerusalem to Gethsemane. Above the bed and those who were accompanying, a cloudy circle appeared, resembling a crown and illuminated with an unusually bright radiance. And in the clouds, loudly, filling the air, wonderful angelic singing was heard. This cloudy crown floated through the air over the bed of the Mother of God to the very place of burial; during all this time, the angelic singing did not stop. But the joyous procession — the weak human language cannot fully describe it — was suddenly interrupted. Many of the Jews who did not believe in Christ, hearing unusual singing and seeing a solemn procession, left their homes and joined him: they also went outside the city, wondering at the glory and honor that were given to the most honorable body of the Mother of Jesus Christ. Learning about this, the bishops and scribes became very furious and sent servants and soldiers - having also persuaded many from the people - to catch up with the procession and disperse its participants; at the same time they ordered the disciples of Christ to kill and burn the body of the Mother of God. But when the crowd, obedient to the instigators, armed as if for battle, ran in a rage after those accompanying the body of the Most Holy Theotokos and already began to overtake them, suddenly a cloudy circle, floating in the air, descended to the ground and surrounded both the holy Apostles and the rest of the Christians with a wall; the pursuers heard only singing, not seeing anyone behind the cloud. The holy angels, invisibly soaring over the body of the Mother of God and the Christians, struck the evil persecutors with blindness: some of them smashed their heads on the city walls; others felt them and, not knowing where to go, looked for guides. At this time, one Jewish priest, by the name of Athos, happened to set out on a journey: seeing the holy Apostles, the cloud at God's command for the greater glory of the Mother of God rose again, and a multitude of Christians with candles and singing surrounding the body of the Ever Virgin Mary, Athos was overwhelmed with envy; in him his former malice flared up towards our Lord, and he said:

See what honor surrounds the body of the One Who gave birth to the flatterer who destroyed the law of our fathers!

Being very strong, he ran with fierce fury through the crowd of Christians to the bed to throw the body of our Most Pure Lady to the ground: when the bold hands of the priest touched the bed, immediately an invisible angel cut them in the middle with the immaterial sword of God's vengeance, and they hung without looking up from the bed. , Athos himself fell to the ground, exclaiming:

Woe is me!

Realizing his sin, he began to repent and say to the holy Apostles:

Have mercy on me, servants of Christ!

The Holy Apostle Peter ordered those who were carrying the body of the Mother of God to stop and said to Athonius:

Now you got what you wanted; know that God is revenge The Lord has revealed Himself (), and we cannot heal you from your wounds; this can only be done by our Lord Himself, against whom you unrighteously rebelled and, seizing, killed; but He will not want to give you healings until you believe in Him with all your heart and confess with your lips that Jesus is the true Messiah, the Son of God.

Athos exclaimed:

I believe that He is the Savior of the world, foretold by the prophets - Christ; we saw from the very beginning that he was the Son of God, but, darkened by malicious envy, did not want to openly acknowledge the greatness of God and put Him to death innocently; but He was resurrected by the power of His Divinity on the third day, shaming all of us - his haters: we tried to conceal His resurrection by bribing the guards, but we could not do anything, since the fame of this spread everywhere.

When Athos said this, repenting of his sin, the holy Apostles and all believers rejoiced in the joy of angels about the repentant sinner: Saint Apostle Peter commanded Athos with faith to apply the wounds of his truncated hands to those hanging on the bed, calling on the name of the Most Holy Theotokos. Athos fulfilled this, and immediately the severed hands joined their place; they became completely healthy; only the cut-off mark remained - like a red thread that surrounded the elbow. Athos fell on his face, bowing to God, born of the Most Holy Theotokos, and pleasing His Most Pure Mother with many praises: he cited prophecies from Holy Scripture testifying both to Her and to Christ, and everyone was doubly surprised, seeing the miraculous healing of the truncated hands of Athonius and hearing from him the words of wisdom, with which he glorified the Lord Jesus and praised the Mother of God. Then Athos joined the holy Apostles, following with other Christians to Gethsemane for the bed. Likewise, those who were struck with blindness received healing, who, realizing their sin, with repentance approached the bed with guides and touched it with faith - they received the enlightenment of not only bodily, but also spiritual eyes. The Merciful Mother of all, Our Most Holy Lady, as by Her birth brought joy to the whole universe, so in Her dormition she did not want to grieve anyone: as the good Mother of the good King, She mercifully comforted Her former enemies with Her gracious gifts.

But now the holy Apostles with all the multitude of Christians reached the Garden of Gethsemane; when they made the bed with the most honorable body, weeping arose again among Christians: all, being deprived of such a treasure, wept for their orphanhood; giving the last kiss, Christians fell to the body of the Most Holy Theotokos and kissed it, shedding tears, so that only in the evening they could put the most honorable body in the grave; but even when a huge stone had already been rolled to the grave, Christians did not leave it, held back by love for the Mother of God. - The Holy Apostles stayed at the tomb of the Most Holy Theotokos, without leaving the Garden of Gethsemane, for three days, day and night singing psalms. And all this time in the air was heard the wondrous singing of the heavenly armies praising God and pleasing His Most Pure Mother.

According to the special dispensation of God, one of the Apostles, Saint Thomas, was not present at the glorious burial of the body of the Most Pure Theotokos; he only appeared in Gethsemane on the third day. The Holy Apostle Thomas was deeply grieved and distressed that he had not received, like other holy Apostles, the last greeting and blessing of the Most Pure Mother of God; he also wept strongly that he alone did not see the Divine glory, the wondrous mysteries and works of God, revealed during the dormition and solemn burial of the Mother of God. The holy Apostles, taking pity on him, decided to open the tomb so that Saint Thomas could see, at least the dead body of the Blessed Virgin Mary, bow to him and kiss him and through this receive some weakness in his sorrow and consolation in grief. But when the holy Apostles, having rolled away the stone, opened the tomb, they were horrified: the body of the Mother of God was not in the tomb, only the burial shroud remained, spreading a wondrous fragrance; the holy Apostles stood in amazement, wondering what this meant! Kissing with tears and reverence the burial shroud remaining in the coffin, they prayed to the Lord to reveal to them where the body of the Most Holy Theotokos disappeared? Towards evening they sat down to get some food. During the meal, the holy Apostles had the following custom: they left one place among themselves unoccupied, laying on it in honor of Christ - as His part - a piece of bread. At the end of the meal, offering thanks, they took the mentioned piece of bread, called the part of the Lord, and lifted it up, glorifying the great name of the Most Holy Trinity, then, after the words "Lord Jesus Christ, help us!" ate this piece as God's blessing. This was done by the holy Apostles not only when everyone was together, but also when everyone was far from each other. Now, in Gethsemane, during the meal, they did not think about anything else and did not talk about why the most pure body of the Mother of God was not found in the tomb. And so, when, having finished the meal, the holy Apostles began to erect a piece of bread laid down in honor of the Lord, glorifying the Most Holy Trinity, they suddenly heard angelic singing: raising their eyes, they saw the Most Pure Mother of God standing in the air, surrounded by many angels. She was shone with an ineffable light and said to them:

Rejoice! - for I am with you all the days.

The holy Apostles, filled with joy, instead of the usual "Lord Jesus Christ, help us," exclaimed:

Most Holy Theotokos, help us!

From that time on, they both believed themselves and taught the holy Church to believe that the Most Pure Mother of God on the third day after her burial was resurrected by Her Son and taken with her body to heaven. Entering the tomb again, the holy Apostles took up the abandoned shroud to comfort the mourners and as an untrue testimony of the rising of the Mother of God from the tomb. It was not fitting for the tabernacle of life to be in the power of death and the creature that gave birth to the Creator to share the fate of corruption with the earthly creature. The Lawgiver was the executor of the law given from Him, - let the sons honor their parents: He honored His most blameless Mother as Himself, just as He Himself rose with glory on the third day and then ascended with pure flesh into heaven, so He raised His Mother with glory in the third day and took him to the heavenly villages. Saint David also predicted this, saying: "Stand, O Lord, in the place of Thy rest, - You and the ark of Thy might."(); His prophetic words came true at the resurrection of the Lord and the resurrection by Him of His Mother. - The empty coffin of the Mother of God, carved in stone, like Her Son, has survived to this day and serves as an object of reverent veneration for the faithful.

The Lord, by His special watch, slowed down the arrival of Saint Thomas to the day of the repose of the Most Pure Theotokos, so that the tomb was opened for him, and the church, thus, was convinced of the resurrection of the Mother of God, just as earlier, through the unbelief of the same Apostle, she was convinced of the resurrection of Christ () ... - So the Dormition of our Most Pure and Most Blessed Mother of God and the burial of Her immaculate body, Her glorious resurrection and solemn assurance of taking Her to heaven with flesh was accomplished.

At the end of all these wondrous miracles and mysteries of God, the holy Apostles, again carried by the cloud, each returned to the country from which he was taken during his preaching of the Gospel.

Saint Ambrose, speaking of the life of our Lady on earth, describes the wondrous spiritual qualities of the Most Holy Theotokos:

She is a Virgo not only in flesh, but also in spirit: she is humble in heart and not haste in speech; Her words are full of Divine wisdom; She is almost constantly in the reading of the Holy Scriptures and is tireless in her labors; chaste in conversations, speaking with people as before God; She has never offended anyone, wishing everyone well; no one, even a wretched one, not disdaining, not laughing at anyone, but covering everything that she saw with Her love; from her mouth never came a word that did not bring grace; in all Her works She showed the image of the highest virginity. Her appearance was a reflection of inner perfection - goodness and gentleness.

So says Saint Ambrose. We also find a description of the sacredness of the soul and appearance of the Mother of God in Epiphanius and Nicephorus:

In any case, She maintained a venerable dignity and constancy; spoke very little, only about the necessary and the good, - Her words were sweet to the ear; She treated everyone with due respect; she had a corresponding conversation with each person, not laughing, not indignant, all the more not being angry. Her height was average; complexion like the color of a grain of wheat; the hair is light blond and somewhat golden; quick, penetrating glance; eyes that resembled an oilseed fruit; the eyebrows are slightly tilted, dark; middle nose; a mouth like the color of a rose and sweet words; the face is not quite round; arms and fingers are oblong; there was no pride in her, simplicity in everything, without the slightest pretense; She was alien to all connivance, while showing, at the same time, an example of the highest humility. Her clothes were simple, without any artificial ornaments, as the cover of Her head that has survived to this day testifies - in a word, in everything Her Divine grace was manifested in Her.

This is how Nicephorus and Epiphanius narrate about the mental and physical image of the Most Holy Theotokos during Her life on earth.

Now, only the heavenly spirits, and the souls of the righteous, who stand in the Mother of God and enjoy the sight of both God and the Most Pure Virgin, can tell about the Mother of God, who has settled in heavenly abodes and stands at the right hand of the throne of God; they can only tell us about Her, as Her holiness requires. We, glorifying the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God in the Trinity, praise His Most Pure Mother according to Bose, and we worship Her, glorified and blessed from all generations forever.

Separate events from the life of the Most Holy Theotokos from the day of her birth were written on her deliberate holidays: for conception, birth, introduction into the temple, annunciation, as well as for the Nativity of Christ and the Meeting. And here, after the story of Her immortal dormition, in addition to the history of Her life, we will tell you where and how our Lady lived after the Ascension of Christ.

The Holy Evangelist Luke in the Acts of the Apostles writes that after the departure of the Lord to heaven, His disciples returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem; entering the upper room (where Christ's last supper was), "they all were unanimously in prayer and supplication, with some wives and Mary, the Matter of Jesus" (). After the ascension of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God was for His disciples the only consolation, joy in sorrow, and a firm teacher of faith. For all the words and miraculous events that the Mother of God laid in Her heart (), starting with Gabriel's joyful annunciation of seedless conception and the incorruptible birth of Christ from a girl's womb, and ending with the years of the Lord's infancy and the time of life before the baptism of John, she revealed all this disciples of His Son; as having abundant revelations from the Holy Spirit and herself being a witness of all the miraculous actions that took place in the life of Christ before the day of the Lord's appearance to the world, the Mother of God strengthened the faith of the holy Apostles with a detailed story about the life of the Savior before His baptism. All believers, staying in the mentioned upper room, prayed tirelessly, preparing to receive the gifts promised by the Lord from the Father, the Holy Spirit. And during the descent, - on the 11th day after the ascension of the Lord, - the Holy Spirit on the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire (), the Comforter sent down from the Father () first rested on the Most Pure Virgin, and until this was a temple worthy of Him, in which He stayed relentlessly ... The gifts of the Holy Spirit were poured out on the blessed Virgin in greater abundance than on the holy Apostles, just as a larger vessel can hold more water in itself, and the Most Pure Virgin, the vessel richest in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, because She is higher than the Apostles, prophets and all saints, as the Church calls to Her: "Truly, you, pure Virgin, are above all"; therefore, She also contained the gifts of the Holy Spirit more than anyone else.

The Mother of God lived in the house of St. John the Theologian, located at the highest place in Jerusalem - on Mount Zion: from the very time when the Lord spoke from the cross to His Mother, pointing to the beloved disciple: "Wife! Behold, your son", and to the student: "behold your mother" (), John took the Blessed Virgin to himself and really served Her as his mother. - After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the holy Apostles did not immediately disperse throughout the universe with the preaching of the Gospel, but remained for a long time in Jerusalem, as is evident from the Acts of the Apostles. Here it is narrated that, after the murder of the holy First Martyr Stephen (7: 59-60), there came "a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem; and all, except the Apostles, were scattered throughout different parts of Judea and Samaria" (); the disciples of Christ, protected by the power of God, stayed in Jerusalem for about ten years, counting from the time of the ascension of the Lord to the day when "King Herod raised his hands against some of the church members to harm them" (). True, during the described period of time, the holy Apostles left for a while to other countries, like Peter and John together to Samaria (), or Peter alone - to Lydda, where he healed Aeneas, who suffered for eight years (), and - Joppa, where he resurrected the deceased Tabitha (), Caesarea, where he baptized Cornelius the centurion (ch. 10), and Antioch, where he founded the first throne of his bishopric; or, like James, John's brother, went to Spain, but then they returned to Jerusalem again. At the beginning of their sermon, the holy Apostles wished to serve mainly the salvation of the Israelite people, at the same time establishing the first church in Jerusalem, which is the mother of all churches, as St. John of Damascus sings: "Hail, Holy Zion, mother of churches, God's dwelling place: you for you were the first to receive the remission of sins "; at the same time, they wished, as often as possible, to see the Mother of God and learn from Her. Honoring Her, as if the viceroy of Christ, the holy Apostles looked at the most honorable and glorious face of the Mother of God, as the face of Christ Himself, and listening to the words of the Ever-Virgin filled with goodness, they were imbued with unspeakable spiritual joy, behind the sweetness of Her words forgetting the bitterness of troubles and misfortunes. Therefore, many of those who believed in Christ from distant lands came to Jerusalem to see the Mother of God and to hear Her conversation filled with holy wisdom; that the glory of Christ and His Most Pure Mother, spreading to all ends of the universe, attracted many to Jerusalem to the Most Holy Virgin, this is clearly seen from the message of Saint Ignatius the God-bearer to Saint John the Theologian from Antioch:

We, he writes, have many wives who want to see the Mother of Jesus; they constantly strive to find an opportunity to come to you and visit Her, to fall to the breast that nourished the Lord Jesus, and to learn some secrets from Her. Here She is glorified as the Mother of God and the Virgin, full of grace and virtue; They say about Her that She is joyful in troubles and persecutions, does not grieve in poverty and shortcomings, not only does she not get angry at those who hurt Her, but also benefits them; during joyful events She is meek, merciful to the poor, helping them as much as she can; She opposes those who are hostile to our faith with firmness: She is the Teacher of our new piety and to all the faithful a Tutor for every good deed; especially loves the humble, and she herself is humble to all; all who have seen her exalt. And how humble She is when the Jewish lawyers and Pharisees laugh at Her! We were told by people worthy of complete confidence that in Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the human nature appears, because of Her holiness, united with the angelic nature. All this awakens in us, who hear, an immeasurable desire to see the heavenly - I will say this - a wondrous and holy miracle.

In another epistle, the same Saint Ignatius the God-bearer writes again to Saint John the Theologian:

If the opportunity arises, I think to come to you to see the faithful gathered in Jerusalem, and especially the Mother of Jesus: they say about her that she is honest, friendly and excites surprise in everyone, and everyone wants to see her; and who does not want to see the Virgin and talk with the one who gave birth to the true God?

From these letters of Saint Ignatius to John the Theologian, one can easily understand with what a strong desire the saints strove to see the animated shrine of God, Mary the Most Pure Virgin, and those who were honored to see considered themselves the happiest. Truly blessed are the eyes of those who have seen Her according to Christ the Savior, and blessed are the ears of those who were honored to hear from Her most honorable lips the words that revive to spiritual life! What joy and grace they received!

For this, the Lord left His Most Pure Mother on earth, so that by Her presence, guidance, teachings and warm prayers to the Son and God, the warring church multiplied and strengthened, and grew to daring to lay down her life for the Lord. The Mother of God strengthened everyone, consoled everyone with the joy of the Holy Spirit and prayed for everyone. When the holy Apostles were locked up in prison, the Mother of God prayed for them with a tender heart - and an angel was sent to them by the Lord, who at night opened the doors of the prison and brought them out (). When the holy First Martyr Stephen was led to death, the Mother of God followed him from afar, and when they began to stone Saint Stephen () in the valley of Jehoshaphat, by the stream of Kidron, She stood with John the Theologian in the distance on the same hill, from there she looked at his death and I prayed fervently to God that the Lord would strengthen the sufferer and take the soul into His hands. When "Saul tormented the church" (), chasing the believers, the Mother of God prayed to the Lord for him with such warm tears that she turned him from a ravenous wolf into a meek lamb, from an enemy to an Apostle, from a persecutor to a disciple and teacher of the universe. And what blessings did the primitive church not receive from the Most Pure Mother of God, as a nursing child from her mother? What grace have they not drawn from this inexhaustible source? Not without Her cares and grace-filled influence, the church was brought up and brought to a courageous age - it became so strong that even the gates of hell cannot overcome it (); to which the Mother of God herself rejoiced, according to the word of David, like a mother rejoicing about children (). She saw that the church children are constantly multiplying: so already at the beginning, through the sermon of the holy Apostle Peter, 3000 () were converted, then 5000 (), and then more and more. The Holy Apostles, returning from the preaching of the Gospel to Jerusalem, also told the Most Holy Theotokos about the expansion of the Church of Christ throughout the entire universe. The success of the Christian preaching filled Her spiritual joy and prompted her to praise her Son and God.

But the Church was persecuted by Herod: he killed with the sword James, John's brother, who had returned from Spain, and then detained Peter and put him in prison with the intention of giving him up to a similar death (), then, after the miraculous liberation of Saint Peter from prison through an angel, it came the need for the Apostles themselves to leave Jerusalem in order to avoid the fierce persecution of the Jews; they dispersed throughout the universe, casting lots, to whom and which of them falls for the sermon country. But before dispersed, the holy Apostles compiled a symbol of faith in order to preach and plant holy faith in Christ everywhere in agreement. Each withdrew to his own lot; in Jerusalem there was only one brother of God, Saint James, appointed by the Lord himself to the bishops of Jerusalem. Avoiding persecution, Saint John the Theologian also withdrew together with the Mother of God, whom he was adopted: they left Jerusalem, yielding to fierce persecution and torment, until the anger of the Jews subsided: but, in order not to waste time in vain, the Mother of God and the holy Evangelist John went into Ephesus, where the lot fell to the Theologian. This stay of the Most Pure Mother of God with Saint John in Ephesus is clearly confirmed by the following: there is a letter to the clergy of Constantinople from the fathers of the third ecumenical council, which met in Ephesus against Nestorius; this epistle contains the following passage: "The founder of the evil heresy Nestorius, who was called (for judgment) by the holy fathers and bishops of the cathedral in Ephesus, where Saint John the Theologian and the holy Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, did not dare to come to them, being denounced by his evil conscience and excommunicating himself; therefore, after being called three times, he was condemned by the righteous judgment of the holy council and deposed from the priesthood. " From these words about the stay of the Mother of God with the Evangelist John in Ephesus, it can be seen that the Most Holy Virgin, together with the beloved disciple of Christ, really, having left Jerusalem, spent some time in Ephesus. And not only Ephesus, but also other cities and countries, enlightened by the light of Christ's teachings, visited the Mother of God: tradition says that She was in Antioch with Saint Ignatius the God-bearer, to whom she sent before Her visit a notice of Her journey: “I will come with John, so that to see you and your flock. " They also say that the Most Holy Theotokos was on the island of Cyprus with the four-day Lazarus, who served there as bishop, and on Mount Athos. Stefan, a monk of Svyatogorsk, writes about this.

After the ascension to heaven of our Lord Jesus Christ, the holy Apostles, together with the Mother of God, dwelt inseparably in Zion; here they were waiting for the Comforter, as the Lord commanded them, having commanded not to leave Jerusalem until they received the promised Holy Spirit (). The disciples of Christ cast lots as to which of them and which particular country would be given for the preaching of the Gospel of God; The Most Holy Theotokos said:

And I want to take part in the preaching of the gospel and wish to cast my lot with you in order to receive the country that God will indicate.

At the word of the Mother of God, the holy Apostles cast lots with reverence and fear, and the Iberian land fell to her. The Most Pure Mother of God gladly accepted Her lot and immediately, after the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire, she wanted to go to the Iberian country, but the angel of God told Her:

Now do not leave Jerusalem, but stay here until the time - the country that fell to You will be enlightened in last days and Thy dominion will be established there; after some time, you will have a work of evangelism in the land where God will direct you.

And the Most Pure Mother of God stayed in Jerusalem for quite a long time.

The four-day Lazarus lived on the island of Cyprus; here he was ordained bishop by the holy Apostle Barnabas. He longed to see the Most Pure Mother of our Lord, Whom he had not seen for a long time, but did not dare to come to Jerusalem for fear of the Jews. Learning this, the Mother of God wrote a letter to Lazarus: here She consoled him and ordered him to send a ship for Her so that She could visit him in Cyprus; The Most Holy Virgin herself did not order to come to Jerusalem for her sake. Having read the message, Lazarus was extremely delighted, marveling at the same time at the humility of the Mother of God; without hesitation, he sent a ship for her with a return message. The Most Blessed Mother of God entered the ship together with the beloved disciple of Christ John and with the others who accompanied them with reverence, and all sailed to Cyprus. But a suddenly rising opposite wind drove the ship into the harbor, which was near Mount Athos; this was that short-term work of evangelism that the angel spoke of to the Mother of God. The whole Mount Athos was overflowing with idols: there was a large temple and the sanctuary of Apollo, and at this place fortune-telling, magic and other demonic acts were performed. All the pagans revered this place very much as the chosen of the gods; here they flocked to worship from all over the universe, and here they received an answer from fortune-tellers to their questions. And when the ship entered the pier, on which was the Most Holy Theotokos, all the idols immediately cried out:

All, seduced by Apollo, descend from the mountain at Clement's pier to meet Mary, Mother of the great God Jesus (so the demons who were in idols against their will, urged by the power of God, proclaimed the truth, like those who once cried to the Lord in the country of Gergesina: "What have you got to do with us, Jesus, Son of God? You came here before the time to torment us"().

Hearing all this, the people marveled, and hastened to the seashore to the mentioned pier; Seeing the ship and the Mother of God, they met Her with honor and asked in their congregation:

Which (You) gave birth to God? And what is His name?

The Most Holy Theotokos, opening Her divine lips, announced to the people everything in detail about Christ Jesus. All, having fallen to the earth, bowed down to God who was born of Her and showed great respect to the One who gave birth to Him; believing, they were baptized, for the Mother of God performed many miracles here. After her baptism, She appointed as the newly enlightened leader and teacher one of those who accompanied Her on the ship and, rejoicing in spirit, said:

Let this place be my inheritance, given to me by my Son and my God.

After these words, the Most Holy Theotokos blessed the people, saying again:

May the grace of God abide in this place and on those who live here, keeping the commandments of My Son and God with faith and reverence - they will have everything they need for life in abundance without hard work; Heavenly life will be given to them, and until the end of the age the mercy of My Son will not depart from this place; I will be the Intercessor for this place and a warm Intercessor for it before God.

Having said this, the Mother of God again blessed the people and, entering with John and those accompanying Her into the ship, sailed to Cyprus. She found Lazarus in great sorrow, since the journey of the Most Holy Theotokos was too long, and he was afraid if there might be a slowdown from the storm: he did not know the events that, according to God's eyes, took place on Mount Athos. By her arrival, the Mother of God transformed his sorrow into joy; as a gift to him, she brought an omophorion and commissions that she herself made for him; She told him everything that happened in Jerusalem and on Mount Athos. And they sent thanks to God for everything. Having stayed in Cyprus for a short time, having consoled the Christians of the Cypriot Church and blessed them, the Mother of God got on a ship and sailed to Jerusalem. (Stephen, monk of Svyatogorsk).

Having visited the mentioned countries, the Most Pure Virgin Mary settled again in Jerusalem in the house of the holy Evangelist John; the omnipotent right hand of God saved Her from the envious intrigues of the God-destructive synagogue, which did not cease to be at enmity against the Son of God and those who believed in Him. Of course, the embittered Jews would not have left the Mother of Jesus alive and would have destroyed Her in any way: but the special gaze of God overshadowed the animated Kivot of God so that the hand of the infidels would not touch it. Once Her Son, Christ our God, after a sermon in the Nazareth synagogue, when the Jews full of fury led Him to the top of the mountain, in order to throw him down from there, walked unharmed among them: although the Jews saw Him, they could not lay their hands on and even touch Him because the power of God threw them back and kept them in this position, since the time of the suffering of the Son of God had not yet come (); The Lord manifested the same over His Most Pure Matter, restraining the intrigues plotted by the Jews and ruining their advice against Her: very often the Jews tried to seize the Mother of God and, having given them over to torture, kill, but could not do anything. Amidst such intense hatred and enmity, the Most Pure Virgin lived in Jerusalem like a sheep among wolves and like a krin among thorns, often repeating the words of His forefather David that really came true over Her: "The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom should I fear? The Lord is the strength of life. mine: who should I fear? If evil-doers, my adversaries and my enemies come on me to devour my flesh, they themselves will stumble and fall. If a regiment takes up arms against me, my heart will not fear; if war rises against me, then I will hope "(), for You, the Son and My God, are with Me. - The Most Holy Theotokos was visited by Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, who was converted to Christ by the holy Apostle Paul in Athens to worship Her, and who accompanied him relentlessly for three years. He longed to see the Mother of God and, therefore, three years after his conversion, with the blessing of his teacher, the holy Apostle Paul, he came to Jerusalem: seeing the Most Pure Theotokos, he was filled with great spiritual joy. In his epistle to the holy Apostle Paul, Saint Dionysius the Areopagite describes his visit to the Mother of God in this way.

For me, our great leader, it was undoubtedly - I speak as before God - that apart from the Most High God there can be nothing so full of divine power and wondrous grace, and yet it is impossible for the human mind to comprehend that I saw a noble and superior holiness of all heavenly angels the most holy Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ; this was given to me by the grace of God and the honor of the apostolic countenance, as well as the inscrutable goodness and mercy of the Most Merciful Virgin. I again confess before the omnipotence of God, before the grace of the Savior and before the great glory of the Virgin, His Mother, that when I was with John, the first among the evangelists and prophets, who, living according to the flesh, shines like the sun in heaven, was introduced to the good-looking and Most Pure Virgin then a great divine radiance shone outside me, enlightening my soul; at the same time I felt such a wondrous fragrance that my spirit and body were hardly able to bear this manifestation of glory and the beginning of eternal bliss; from the glory and her divine grace my heart and my spirit faint. I testify by God, who lived in the most honorable maiden womb, that I would recognize Her as the true God and would honor Her with the worship befitting God alone, if my newly enlightened soul did not preserve in itself your divine instructions and laws: no honor and glory of people glorified God, can not be compared with the bliss that I experienced unworthy, at that time rewarded; this time was for me the time of the greatest bliss. I thank the supreme and most gracious God of mine, the divine Virgin, great among the Apostles of John, and also you, the adornment of the church and the leader of the invincible, who graciously showed me such a great blessing.

From this epistle of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite we clearly see with what divine grace the face of our Most Pure Lady was shone during Her life on earth and how souls were enlightened and what spiritual joy the hearts of those who saw Her in the flesh were filled with. Newly enlightened of both sexes flocked to her in great numbers and from everywhere; As a true Mother, She accepted everyone equally without partiality, pouring out the bounty of Her grace to everyone - giving healing to the sick, weak health, sad consolation, and to everyone, without exception, an affirmation in faith, steadfastness in hope and divine joy in love, while sinners are corrected.

During her life in the house of St. John, the Most Holy Virgin often visited the places that her beloved Son and God sanctified with the feet of His feet and the shedding of His blood. So She visited Bethlehem, where indescribably keeping Her virginity, Christ God was born from Her, but especially often the Mother of God came to places where our Lord suffered by the will. Mother's love prompted Her to shed abundant tears here, and She said:

Here my beloved Son was scourged, here he was crowned with a crown of thorns, here he walked carrying the cross, here he was crucified.

At the grave, the Mother of God was filled with inexpressible joy and exclaimed with joyful tears:

And here He was buried and on the third day was resurrected with glory.

In addition to this, the following is reported. Some Jewish haters reported to the bishops and scribes that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, goes to Golgotha \u200b\u200bevery day and at the tomb where Her Son Jesus was laid, kneels down, weeps and burns incense; then they set up guards that would not allow any Christian to pass through this place. From this we see that already at that time a pious custom began to visit holy places by faithful Christians and here to worship Christ God, who suffered for us by will: the first example in this regard was given by the Mother of God herself, who was followed by other holy wives and men. So, from the bishops and scribes, full of malice and murder, a guard was set up, which were ordered not to allow anyone to the tomb of Jesus, and His Mother to kill. But God blinded the guards, so that they could not see the coming of Christ Jesus His Mother to the tomb. And when the blessed Virgin, faithful to her custom, came to the sepulcher, the guards could not see both Her and those who were with Her. After a long time, they left the tomb and with an oath assured the bishops and scribes that they did not see anyone who would come to the tomb of Jesus. The Most Holy Theotokos often went to the Mount of Olives, from where our Lord ascended to heaven: kneeling down, She kissed the feet imprinted on the stone from the feet of Christ. At the same time, the Mother of God prayed with strong tears that the Lord would take Her to Himself: of course, She was incomparably more than the holy Apostle Paul had "desire to be resolved and be with Christ" (), and often repeated the words of David: "When I come and appear before the face of God! My tears were bread for me day and night"() when will I see my beloved Son? When will I come to Him who is sitting at the right hand of God the Father? () when will I appear before the throne of His glory? When will I be satisfied with His sight? Oh, sweet Son and My God! Time protect Zion (cf.) - the time to have mercy on Me, Your Mother, who is still grieving, not seeing Your face, in the sad vale of this world; take my soul out of the body, as out of prison; as a deer strives for a water source, so my soul strives for you, God, in order to enjoy when your glory appears to me (). The Most Pure Virgin sometimes remained on the Mount of Olives for quite a long time: at the foot of the mountain there was a Garden of Gethsemane and a small possession of Zebedee, inherited by St. John the Theologian. In the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord, before His free passion, until bloody sweat prayed, falling on His knees and His face before the Heavenly Father (). Here, in this very place, His Most Pure Mother offered up Her warm prayers, also falling on her knees and face and pouring tears on the earth; here She was comforted by the Lord through His angel, who informed Her about Her imminent retirement to heaven. According to the testimony of George Kedrin, the Greek historian, the Most Holy Theotokos before Her death appeared two times: the first time fifteen days before Assumption, and the second three days; from the angel the Mother of God received a paradise date branch, which was carried before Her bed by the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian. Some, such as Bishop Melito of Sarda, report that the beloved disciple of Christ, before the Assumption of the Mother of God, withdrew to Ephesus and from there, like the other Apostles, but only before them, was caught up by a cloud and brought to the burial of the Mother of God. However, others, for example Metaphrast and Sophronius, affirm without any hesitation that Saint John the Theologian never separated from the grace-filled Mother, Who was adopted, but, like a true son, served Her, giving shelter in his home until Her death. Only occasionally, for a very short time, did he visit the surrounding areas (as we saw above from the Acts of the Apostles: this is how Saint John the Theologian was in Samaria with the Apostle Peter), but he did it with the consent and with the blessing of the Mother of God Herself and immediately returned to Her to Jerusalem; and before his return to the Most Pure Theotokos, Saint James, the brother of God, who never left his bishopric - Jerusalem, served. If we agree with those who say that John the Theologian, like the other holy Apostles, was caught up by a cloud, then, no doubt, from the area closest to Jerusalem.

The solemn celebration of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos on August 15 was established during the reign of the pious king of the Greek Mauritius. - Joyfully celebrating the all-glorious repose of the Mother of God from earth to heaven, let us give glory to Him who was born of Her and to heaven with glory who received Her - Christ our God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit glorified forever. Amen.

Canons and Akathists

Song 1

Irmos: Decorated with Divine glory, sacred and glorious, Virgin, Thy memory is all gathered for the joy of the faithful, beginning Mariam, with the face and tympana, Thy singing to the Only Begotten: gloriously as if glorified.

May Thy Divine body be escorted to the immaterial rank of heaven in Zion, suddenly the apostle is multitudes from the end, the Mother of God, You are presented abie with them, Pure, Your honest, Virgin, we glorify memory.

Thou didst take victorious honors on nature, Pure, having given birth to God, and moreover, obeying Thy Creator and Son, more than nature obeying natural law. Having died the same, with the Son you will remain, eternal.

Song 3

Irmos: Constructive and meaningful of all of God Wisdom and Strength, adamant, immovable, confirm the Church, Christ, God alone is Holy, rest in the saints.

My wife is deathly, but more than nature, I saw the Mother of God, All-Immaculate, the glory of the apostle terribly touching my hands with glory shining, as if the God-pleasing Settlement sees.

Comprehend the hand of the annoying boldness, by truncating the judgment, I will preserve the honor of the animated Kivot, with the glory of the Divine, in Nemzha the Word became flesh.

Sedalen

Song 4

Irmos: The speeches of the prophets and fortune telling, the incarnation manifested from Thy Virgin, Christ: the radiance of Thy splendor will go out into the light of tongues, and the abyss will proclaim to Thee with joy: Glory to Thy power, Human-loving.

You see, people, and wonder: the mountain is more holy and apparent to God in the Heavenly abode, it will take over, the Earthly Heaven into the Heavenly and incorruptible village is infused.

Intrinsic life and the best death Thy passing, Pure, from temporary to Divine truly and impenetrable presenting Thee, Pure, in the joy of Thy Son and the Lord.

Taking the doors of Heaven, and praising the Angels, and Christ pleasing His virginity to His Mother is a vessel; Cherubs lift thee with joy, Seraphims praise, rejoicing.

Song 5

Irmos: Let us confess God and the ineffable goodness of Thy virtues, Christ: from the Eternal Glory, the Eternal and Hypostatic Radiant Radiance, incarnate from the virgin womb in darkness and shadow, Thou art the Sun.

As if on a cloud, Virgin, we wear the apostolic face, to Zion from the end to serve You, a light Cloud, going: from Neyazhe Highest God to those in darkness and shadow Righteous ascent of the Sun.

Trumpets of the auspiciousness of the pagans of theological men most graciously to the Theotokos crying out, the original proclaiming song by the Spirit: Rejoice, incorruptible Source of God, life-giving and saving incarnation for all.

Song 6

Irmos: The inner fire of the deep-sea whale is an imitation of your three-day burial, and his prophet Jonah appeared. Bo is saved, as it was, it was presupposed, unharmed, crying: I will devour Ti with a voice of praise, Lord.

God gives you, even above nature, the King of all: in Christmas, keep the Virgin, as well, keep the body incorruptible in the grave and glorify the Divine repose, honor You, like the Son of the Mother, giving.

Truly, Ty, as if the candlestick of the immaterial Light shone, the golden censer of Divine Coal, put in the Holy of Holies, a pen and a rod, the divine tablet, the holy ark, the meal of the Word of life, Virgin, Your Christmas.

Kontakion, voice 2

Ikos

Canto 7

Irmos: Resisting the cold fury and fire, the Divine desire resisting, the fire is watered, the fury is laughing, with the divinely inspired words of the monks, with the trinitized forehead, prohibiting the Musikian organ in the midst of the flame: the glorified fathers and our God, blessed are you.

God-made tablets Moses, written by the Divine Spirit, crush with rage, but this Lord Who gave birth unharmed into Heaven, keep the houses now inside. Playing with Her, crying out to Christ: Who was glorified by the fathers and our God, blessed art thou.

In the cymbaleh - clean lips, in the Musiki - with a bright heart, with a kind trumpet - with a lofty thought, Virgin and Clean on the deliberately chosen day of repose, splashing with splashing hands, crying: glorified by the fathers and our God, blessed are you.

God-wisdom, get together, people: for God's glory The settlement from Zion is presented to the Heavenly dwelling, where the voice of the pure celebrating, the voice of unspeakable joy, and in joy crying to Christ: the glorified fathers and our God, blessed are you.

Song 8

Irmos: The flame that irrigates the saint, the evil one scorching, the Angel of God is all-powerful showing as a youth, the life-giving source made the Mother of God, the aphid of death and the belly of the singing: We will drink the one co-worker, deliverance, and exalt for all ages.

The verbs to follow the sacred Divine Ark all the multitude of theologians in Zion: kamo go now, Tabernacle, - calling, - the Living God? Do not abide by those who look upon those who sing by faith: We sing of the One Baker, deliverance, and we exalt for ever.

As if, having lifted up your hand, go forth, All-blameless, hand, you wore the image of God in the flesh, with boldness, like Mati, advertise you to the Born: you also gave me, preserve forever, crying out to You: We sing the One Coder, deliverance, and exalt in all eyelids.

Canto 9

Irmos: The natural laws in Thee are defeated, O Pure Virgin: for Christmas is virginal and the belly is a prelude to death; after birth the Virgin and after death alive, save ever, Mother of God, your inheritance.

Marveling at the Angelic power, in Zion looking at its Master, the woman's soul with the hands of the one who bears the most purely Son-born One, proclaiming: come, Pure, glorified with the Son and God.

The apostolic face of Thy godly body is worn, seeing with fear and a great voice broadcasting: ascend to the Heavenly houses to the Son, save Thy inheritance ever, Mother of God.

Svetilen

(Three times)

Song 1

Irmos: I will open my mouth, and the Spirit will be filled, and I will vomit the word to the Queen Mother, and I will appear, triumphantly, and I will sing, rejoicing, Thy Assumption.

Virgin adolescents, with Miriamia the prophetess, exclaim the original song now: The Virgin is more and one Bogomati to the acceptance of Heaven.

Worthy, like an animated Sky, The Heavenly Priyasha, Most Pure, Divine of the village, and it appears, lightly decorated, like the Bride, the Most Immaculate, to the King and God.

Song 3

Irmos: Thy song-makers, the Mother of God, living and unenviable Source, the face of copulation, spiritually affirm, in the Divine memory of Thy crowns of glory vouchsafe.

Produced from the dead loins, is similar in nature, Pure, allow the procession, giving birth to the existing Life, reigning more Divine and Hypostasis to Life.

The face of the Theologians is from the end, from above, the Angel of the multitude to Zion goes to Zion with an all-powerful beck, due to the Lady, Serving Your burial.

Sedalen

We are blessed to Thee, give birth to all, the Virgin the Virgin, in Thee, the Incompatible Christ, our God, will be well pleased. Blessed are we, the intercession of Thy property: day and night pray for us and give birth to Christianity are affirmed by Thy prayers. To those, chantingly, cry Ti: Rejoice, Blessed One, the Lord is with You.

Song 4

Irmos: Invisible Council of God, hedgehog from the Virgin of the incarnation to You, the Most High, the prophet Habakkuk, discerning, calling: glory to Your strength, Lord.

A miracle byashe behold The heaven of all the King is animated, a transitory earthly feces, as your deeds are wonderful! Glory to Thy strength, Lord.

Even the incomprehensible Sow Fruit, To whom heaven was, the burial is pleasant by the will, as if it is dead; What kind of burial will be rejected by the unskilfully born one?

In Thy repose, Mother of God, Thy vast body and the godly angelic host of sacred krillas with trembling and joy of the veil.

Song 5

Irmos: All sorts of horror about Thy honorable dormition: Thou, Unmarried Virgin, Thou passed away from earth to the eternal abode and to the endless life, to all who glorify Thee, giving salvation.

Let the trumpets of theologians shout today, let the much-proclaimed human language now praise and announce the air, shining with immeasurable light, the Angels and singing the Most Pure Virgin Assumption.

The chosen vessel is similar, we are all amazed by the singing of Ti, the Maid, the original, all sanctified by the God, is pleasing to everyone, and this one is truly revealed to the All-Singing Theotokos.

Song 6

Irmos: This divine and all-honorable celebration of the Divine Wisdom, Mother of God, come, we clap our hands, from Her we glorify the born God.

Life is lifted out of Thee, the keys of virginity are not destroyed; How very pure and life-giving Your body of the temptation of death was involved?

The life of the former temple, the everlasting life you have improved: you have fallen asleep in death to your belly, Yazhe You have given birth to the hypostatic life.

Kontakion, voice 2

In the prayers of the Unsleeping Mother of God and in intercessions, the immutable hope of the coffin and mortification will not hold back: as if the Mother of the Belly to the belly, put the ever-virgin All-in-One into the womb.

Ikos

Protect my thoughts, my Christ, for I dare to glorify the Wall of Peace, Thy Pure Mother, strengthen me on the pillar, strengthen me in heavy thoughts, and intercede with me in heavy thoughts, Thou dost fill those who cry and pray by faith. You give me a tongue and a thought is not shameful: every gift of radiance is sent from You, to the Light-Giver, who has infused the ever-virgin womb.

Canto 7

Irmos: Not having served the creature of God-wisdom, more than the One who created, but, the fiery rebuking manly trampled, rejoicing, singing: God and God, God and God, the holy father, blessed art.

Young men and virgins, the Virgin and the Mother of God honor the memory, elders and monks, king and judges, sing: our father, Lord and God, blessed be you.

Let the Heavenly Mountains trumpet the spiritual trumpet, let the hills rejoice, and let the Divine Apostles play: the Queen reposed to the Son, reigning with Him.

The all-sacred repose of Your Divine and Imperishable to the Mother of the Highest Powers of the joint rank, have fun with those on earth who sing to You: God, blessed art.

Song 8

Irmos: The pious children in the cave of the Nativity of the Theotokos saved there, then the created, now active, the whole universe will revive thee to you: sing the Lord, works, and exalt Him for all eternity.

Thy memory, Pure Virgin, Beginnings, and Authorities, and Forces, Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dominance, Cherubim glorify and fear Seraphim; the human race - we sing and exalt for all ages.

Alone strangely dwelling, the Mother of God, in Thy pure womb, we incarnate, Thy, all-sacred spirit Thy welcome, rest in Thyself, like a debtor Son. We sing the same Thee, Devo, and exalt for all eternity.

Oh, above the mind of the miracles of the Ever-Virgin and the Mother of God! In the coffin bo move, showing paradise. To Him, coming this day, rejoicing, we sing: Sing to the Lord, deeds, and exalt Him forever.

Canto 9

Irmos: Everyone who is earthly born, let him leap up, be enlightened by the Spirit, let nature triumph over the Fleshless minds, honoring the sacred repose to the Mother of God, and let him cry: Rejoice, All-blessed Mother of God, Pure Ever-ever.

Come to Zion, to the Divine and fat Mountain of the living God, let us rejoice, the Theotokos in sight: to a better and more divine canopy, like Mother, this is Christ in the Holy of Holies.

Come, faithful, let us approach the Mother of God to the grave and embrace, hearts and mouths, stripes and with a face that is purely touching and receiving healing, unenviable gifts from the source of the ever-present.

Receive from us the original song, Mother of the living God, and with Thy luminous and Divine autumn grace, the army - victorious, Christ-loving people - peace, abandonment - to singers and salvation to souls.

Svetilen

Apostles, from the end you copulated here, in Gethsemane, bury my body, and you, my Son and My God, receive my spirit. (Three times)

Kontakion 1

Chosen from all ro-dov God-ma-te-ri and Tsar-ritse, ascending from earth-li to Not-be-si, blessed honor-not-thy-success; we-we-bring thy-r-bi-thy, God-dear-tse. But you, as if I’m wary over death, are free from all of us deadly troubles, yes, Zo-vem Ti:

Ikos 1

The angel presenter was sent quickly to the pre-worldly Her ascension and coming-and-ti presentation to Her Son Her and God, the light of Her close-standing and standing , zo-vy so-co-vaya:

Rejoice, pre-glado-van-naya Matti Tsa-roar;

Rejoice, Not-impudent Tsa-ritse, Mother of God and Gospo-da Not-be-se and earth-li.

Rejoice, pre-honored by the greatness of the coming to Te-be of Thy-e-ho's Son and God;

Rejoice, the pleasure of the message of Thy to the Son of the journey.

Rejoice, from all ro-dov God has been chosen;

Rejoice, holy together with the Word of God.

Rejoice, pro-roches-ka-th pro-speech is-full-nenie;

Rejoice, Aposto-lom, great-honorable evening.

Rejoice, a saint, decoration and a saint, good-roo;

Rejoice, with great comfort and comfort.

Rejoice, God-wise monks ascent to the Lord's Kingdom;

Rejoice, from-believing the paradise door to the Christian-styan-like kind, it is good to you.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 2

Seeing the Apostle's face, with all-powerful ma-but-we-ve-from the end of the earth-li to the obla-shop of those who came to the Pre-honest-nome Thy-e-mu, Pre-not-so dear, to the Dormition, sacred-but-chanted: Di-o-nisy - not-infinite mystery, Hiero-fey the divine and Ty-mo-fey from God-gracious sacredness: to the Divine Al-li-luia.

Ikos 2

Reasonable all creature, the earliest chi-no-na-chalia angelic pri-i-dosha with their Tsa-rem, Izhe in His life-na-chan-shia ruce dushu Mate-re His-her welcome; Peter, warm by faith, with many tears to Her from-re-che, call:

Rejoice, to the pre-worldly, Mother of the Creator of the world, delightful;

Rejoice, to the most-not-insane, the-most-early-shaya not-without, I will take-cha-I-sya.

Rejoice, four-ve-ro-partly sty-chiy sanctifying Thy ascending day;

Rejoice, Who-not-infinite-sowing Thy pre-wandering days.

Rejoice, in Jeru-sa-lim Gorniy pre-to-racial prized;

Rejoice, in the un-ru-ko-your-rénny temples you have been delighted to enter.

Rejoice, He-ru-vimov and Se-ra-fimov Tsar-rice;

Rejoice, Ar-hange-lov Vla-dychi-tse.

Rejoice, come-run-away of the faithful and from-bav-leni;

Rejoice, up to Thy-e-mu's help and protection.

Rejoice, about the whole world of christianstem to God Ho-data-i-tse;

Rejoice, all the blessings All b-laga Giver-no-tse.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 3

The power of Vyshnya to rise from Ying-dii Fo-mu, for some reason of God I will not receive him in the most honorable success of God, and before put the life-in-the-receiving-her coffin, like, Pre-stavl-shu-yu-sya pri-nik see-ti, ura-zu-me who-not-sown on Not-be-sa'with the body and, vero -wav, about this vozo-pi: Al-li-luia.

Ikos 3

Having a disciple in his mind, as God-im see-it-we cannot help him to lead the work of God-mate-re with others, together, ob-rado-van was about the deathlessness of Her Success, and this is the beating to Her:

Rejoice, receive-may from the earth-li'l'm'm of Thy Son;

Rejoice, you who ascended to the highest to wait for His glory.

Rejoice, guided from all the chi-no-na-chai angels in Gornaya;

Rejoice, ascend May He-ru-vim in Not-without-and-above-without.

Rejoice, in the Non-infinite gates from the hundred-strongest Powers we-le-lepno song-mi is possible;

Rejoice, you are surrounded and blessed from all the Non-dumb citizens.

Rejoice, Heaven is earthly, to the Horn-th se-lenniy the highest;

Rejoice, Pre-table Lord-day, from the earth-whether-not-sown to the Kingdom of the Un-infinite.

Rejoice, our representative and strong for-stup-lee;

Rejoice, sinner Spor-ruchny-tse in the spa session.

Rejoice, by Christ the Tsar-ritsa and according to Boza Na-dezhdo of the Non-Impossible Kingdom;

Rejoice, Mati Zhi-vo-ta and, according to the Gospo-de us, the revelation of eternal life.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 4

I am storming inside having Af-phonii in the minds of the unfaithful and in vain the God-noble Apostles of God-mater Pre-honest-but-no Body all-fair to the grave not-sown, to question -the belief of the desire; out-of-zapu, when with a blind-legged eye his hand take off to one-ru''with-lep-lene hanging-ste, by faith the Mother of God is-in-veda-she, in-pia'Bogu: Al-li-luya ...

Ikos 4

Hearing the mysteries and the self-seen of the Word of the Angels, singing the most superior songs at the time of the beating of the God-pleasant body of God Mate-re, and honor according to good-for-God-pleasing, sweat-chasha-syog-las peti, glorious:

Rejoice, having received the blessing of Thy journey into the Kingdom of God;

Rejoice, from the blissfulness of Gav-riil you have received joy in heaven.

Rejoice, great-honest-no, he-ru-vim, a multitude of enlightened;

Rejoice, pres-lavno se-ra-fimskoe nature of age-glad-vav-shaya.

Rejoice, from the patriarchs pro-ob-ra-zo-vannaya;

Rejoice, from the pro-rooks pre-carriage.

Rejoice, evil wickedness Af-foni-e-woo soon from-revenge-shaya;

Rejoice, you gave healing to your husband.

Rejoice, converting to faith Af-foni-e-in non-faith;

Rejoice, faithful that you have accepted the knowledge.

Rejoice, who-wins to Not-not-si-love and faith to Those-who-haves;

Rejoice, spa-giving by faith Thy name-calling.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 5

God-of-the-kind stars, Apostles of saints, in under-not-madly-sowing for Evangelia's sake, as-hi-sheni went to the obla-shop, by the shi-ro-teh air , according to the sin of Ma'te-re Gos-day, Yuzhe pen-mi and sang-mi guiding, with Not-real-vz-vahu: Al-li-luia.

Ikos 5

Seeing God, seeing his own Vla-dyku, in the hands of the Mother, His-her-soul received, and God-da To-go-ra-zu-mevshe, sweat-so-chasha-saint- nose-lovia sesn-mi bla-gos-lovne vos-peti Yu:

Rejoice, Tsar-ritse, over all the Kingdom-yu-shcha-go but-siv'vaya;

Rejoice, and Sa-maru-kama is His Sy-novni-ma no-simaya.

Rejoice, the king's scepter in Christ's des-nitz;

Rejoice, in Noah's hand there is a branch of go-lu-biza.

Rejoice, the rod of Aarons, for the chilled non-corruption;

Rejoice, krine not-wither-yes-e-my, blooming without death.

Rejoice, Bo-go-from-tsa Da-vida tsev-nice Bo-go-doh-no-vene;

Rejoice, the prophecy of his prophecy has grown in word, the psalm-dash and the gusli pre-rasnya.

Rejoice, spirit-chev-lonely saint-you Gos-podni ki-vote;

Rejoice, in which the Lord has risen our life-in-the-day.

Rejoice, tabernacle, from He-ru-vimov sown;

Rejoice, Holy-tai saints, from Se-ra-fim gla-gole-may.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 6

About the words of God the Apostles, on the way to the pre-worldly Mother of God, in the general week, the usual meal was past and the pre-meal of the portion of bread and bread every day it is possible, out-of-order above God-kind-tsu-tsaritsu, who came with light-hearted Angels, in vain and, peace to those from the Son and God, who had heard -she, voz-gla-sisha about this: Al-li-luya.

Ikos 6

Explain to us the Sol-tse of righteousness, Chri-stoos God from Thy most pure falsehoods, by will and blessing-mind-with-the-knowledge through the Apostles the world about-light and Ty, God-mother, from birth and to the kind of pros-lavi. The same, we will all please thee, like thee:

Rejoice, Pris-noble-wife from all ro-dov forever;

Rejoice, bla-go-u-t-robnaya and Milo-sty-vaya for people.

Rejoice, learning-to-face-to-face the promise of full-fledged;

Rejoice, we will come to Thy sowing from Thy Son and God who gave this peace.

Rejoice, all the same holy you sweet eyesight;

Rejoice, pre-like ma-te-rey and virgins of saints all-sowing joy.

Rejoice, pre-ho-dyaschaya paradise seed-day of the righteous;

Rejoice, sowing everyone in the glory of those who are not inferior.

Rejoice, at the time of the day of the spa season;

Rejoice, the use of all the blessings of desire.

Rejoice, according to Boza, Tsa-re-kingdom-yu-shih, God-kind-tse Tsa-ritsa;

Rejoice, according to the Gospo-de state-of-the-y-u, Vla-dyce our, Gos-in-zhe and Vla-dych-tse.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 7

Those who want everyone with faith to enter Thy holy temple, God-of-God, always have spa saeshi and praise Thee from all sorts of pastes and misfortunes of their God-daesh; the same and good-faith people, who-nobla-zhazhim Tya, give us all for the spa season of petition to us by-da-wai, about this praying Te -be and singing to God: Al-li-luia.

Ikos 7

I’m new for a creature, it has appeared to us, all Thy-rets the Lord is To-Boo, God-kind. You are kindly thinking about us to the Not-have-haves, who honestly read Your Success, when-and-mi si-tse-vai Te-be-s-singing:

Rejoice, Mati Bogu, taken from the earth;

Rejoice, who is superior to the earthly and the Not-infinite.

Rejoice, He-ru-vimov and Se-ra-fimov go-re-ascended;

Rejoice, the face of a scholar is obla-lump to the sin of Tie dole so-in-kupl-shay.

Rejoice, Fo-mu, according to Thy beating, by the power of God, she preceded-by-putting-from-the-row;

Rejoice, through not believing Thy in Heaven with the plane of pre-eminence.

Rejoice, the beauty of all good-ro-children is decorated;

Rejoice, red-neyshe-mu more sy-nov man-veche-kih Son-vi His-e-mu so-read.

Rejoice, like a phoenix, resurrected fertile bloom;

Rejoice, as the cedar in Li-van is not-without-mind, mind-living-sha-i-Xia.

Rejoice, tree living-in-ta, on-soot-dean in-sred-de-paradise pre-vyshnya;

Rejoice, a thoughtful carriage raised in Gornaya from the po-topo of death.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 8

Strangely, in the highest things Ty, Selected, like a soln-tse, Vla-dych-tse, inside the most-not-infinite not-imaginable beauties and not-of-spoken extras -mouth, sweet to the Son and God, the hand-ma to His Lord, who ascended and is very joyous-but very good-lon-shu-yu-sya life-in-the-head of His des-nitz, about this not -Al-li-luia.

Ikos 8

All that was go-re, was taken to the Not-insane and did not leave the earth, Bo-go-mati, ru-kama Sy-novni-ma no-sima, in not-for-want-in-nide, in one city all-luminous and pre-racial, Jeru-sa-lim the highest, He-ru-vim is with all the Not-infinite powers, where he hears the singing of these:

Rejoice, Eyazhe pre-holy-taya spirit-sha in the highest all-light Zion is all-over;

Rejoice, Eyazhe and the non-corruptible body of the tamogs with the soul of the kupno pro-glorify.

Rejoice, who entered the pre-capital city of Sa-ma-go All-dweller;

Rejoice, you-nessha-I-Xia in the pre-to-racial paradise of Vyshnya-go Na-sa-dite-la.

Rejoice, pre-not-sown in the hail-but-wan from the chamber of all the lights;

Rejoice, introduced into the fence, worthy of the forces of the highest.

Rejoice, above-above Not-without-for-the-goodness of God taking;

Rejoice, more than all non-material minds, honored.

Rejoice, bringing the prayers of the faithful to His Son and God;

Rejoice, and Sa-man is not pre-stanned at the Pre-table of Thy Son and God praying for everyone.

Rejoice, Pre-senior-ni-tse to God, the world of spa-salting;

Rejoice, For-stepn-tse, kind of christian-mu from God da-ro-vannaya.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 9

Every natural angelic pre-conception bears Thee, God-mother-of-god, man-of-the-mother, all the Mother of Thee to God we glorify and in-chi-thate admirable but Thy Success, Tsa-ritse: Te-be-bo for the sake of earth-nii Not-infinite co-buy-lyut-sya, according to God: Al-li-luia.

Ikos 9

The news of God-of-the-message pro-rosical speeches is now visible about Te-be-you-I-Xia, God-god-mother-of-tse, as to fight against God the plane of ro-di-la esi us. The same sacrament in the word-ve-se of God, faith-yu-shche, in-drink:

Rejoice, for the horse and the pro-rokov head-visually so-supreme;

Rejoice, stars-up to Jacob-la, Va-laam pro-ro-ko-vannaya.

Rejoice, od-re-Tsa-rya Ve-lika-go, the great So-lo-monom;

Rejoice, ru-no, sprinkled with Jesus, formed by Ge-deon.

Rejoice, Not-opa-lima Ku-pi-no, for-ko-but-in-false-pre-perceived;

Rejoice, beloved, holy, beloved by the husband.

Rejoice, the forest-tse not-without-heart, Jako-vom pre-move-may;

Rejoice, the door is not pro-ho-dimaya, Ie-ze-kiilem pre-perceived.

Rejoice, soln-tse-lenia of Christ, the psalm-mo-singer presented-revealed;

Rejoice, mystery, a lot of pro-roki pro-na-re-chenny.

Rejoice, the pro-roshe-voices of all those who were pre-rehearted about Te-be, the end brought;

Rejoice, Vyshnya-th look-up all over the spa season of the world co-superior.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 10

Spas-stikho-tya world, Like all the Lords from earth-nago Tya kind from-bra to Mater Se-be and, for the sake of us, man-age, out, from nyudu-same from below, to He- be-si from earth-li, and Te-be with So-boi car-ve-de to pre-vaniya in glory of the everlasting and co-kingdom-va-nii with So-bo, end-tsa do not have , Themzhe, like God, hears from everyone: Al-li-luia.

Ikos 10

Step-for-the-faithful, God-of-kind-tse Devo, and for-step-down to all, to Te-be-come-to-go, for Not-be-se and earth-whether Thy-rez, from Te- blessing of pro-shed, Most-pure, spirit and body in the Not-infinite Thy pre-se-li, to the closest representative of all, and also when-to-say-shati na-teach:

Rejoice, in the city of Tsa-rya Be-face-of-the-hoo of the mountain Not-infinite;

Rejoice, ste-no and in-to-the-rove, not covering from our admission.

Rejoice, faithful to the enemy-gi-gi-yu-ya;

Rejoice, the Agaryan procession is running-giving.

Rejoice, good-faith faith is not-move-my-keeping;

Rejoice, heretofore, the half-coves of the age.

Rejoice, joy and dying to the world;

Rejoice, you are all right in hell.

Rejoice, the warriors of the flesh are whole-wise, from a row of wreaths;

Rejoice, martyrs in-́dvig-gov all-honest-but-no-glorious.

Rejoice, pre-in-good labor-house Ho-data-i-tse blah-zhenna-th reopening;

Rejoice, in a different kind of blessing Giver of never-ending joy.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 11

The singing of all God-spirit-fresh songs does not reach from us to praise-le-all-honest-nago Success Thy-e-hoo, All-praiseworthy Vla-dych-tse, Tsar-ritse Bo- go-rody-tse, but sure-no Te-be pri-nosim, as Ma-te-ri Tsa-rya of all, my heart-reigning youth is ours, with Not-mad-mi chinmi I sing One-mu-worthy pro-glorifying to Thy Bogu: Al-li-luia.

Ikos 11

The light of the reception of the light of the truth of the Light to us on earth, whether it is revealed, the souls of the light and the honor of Your all-honest-but-but-becoming-a-year-to-be-mu-Bo -zhen-no-mu na-stav-lyeshi, so let us sing Ti si-tse-vaya:

Rejoice, luminous non-uga-blue fire-nya non-material;

Rejoice, for-re-not-for-ho-dimaya Light not-ve-chernya-go.

Rejoice, lu-no, from the Sol-ts of the truth about-li-sta-vah;

Rejoice, light-st, light-pulling in the darkness.

Rejoice, light-hearted, on the candle-tse, above-it was placed;

Rejoice, the source of life, from the sepulcher into the light from the divine.

Rejoice, Mother of Light is clever, good-hearted souls pro-illuminating;

Rejoice, Mother of all God, embittered by the soul of consolation.

Rejoice in those who trust in Thy-in-so-not-shameless gift-giving;

Rejoice, the standing of God for them and for His work on the Su-de of Thy Son's Odes-nue that makes him.

Rejoice, Preb-la-woman, as To-God is the blessing of Esma and we, who are like In-power-tsu Ty ima-we;

Rejoice, Blessedly-wedded to the clan and clan, as the Lord is with To-Bo, and To-Bo is with us.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 12

Thank you to give you the glory of God, to not be-so-good-to-be of Bo-go-mother-ri, according to se-day odes-nu to the Son of Her and God seeing the fires of the minds, podyasha Yu Pre-stoli and Sila, the surroundings of Na-chal and Power, with-pa-dosha of fear Heru-vimi, Se-ra-fimi and the State, with Ar-hange- ly and Ange-ly in-piyushche: Al-li-luia.

Ikos 12

All-honest-but Thy Success is singing, we praise all Thy procession, the Tsar-ritse of God-mother. You sanctify, pros-lavi and spa-si all who sing Te-be with love:

Rejoice, having cleansed the earth with the purest of Thy feet in a hundred-pam;

Rejoice, sanctifying the air, ascending to Thy days to Not-be-si.

Rejoice, you have grown-up-drinking on the Non-infinite circle;

Rejoice, all goodness is not-of-spoken-sighted.

Rejoice, in glory you are seated at the table of Thy Son and God;

Rejoice, with the Son and God forever the kingdom.

Rejoice, beauty-so-that in the des-nitsa of the Lord, adorning the blessed You of all the Not-infinite;

Rejoice, glad-van-naya in-deed on thee of all earthly.

Rejoice, treated in the sun, shining with blessing and glory to all all;

Rejoice, promising to keep-nyati and spa-sati inviting everyone in the under-not-madness.

Rejoice, from the Christian ro-dov of the Mother of God in-chi-taiya and God-ro-dy-tsa named;

Rejoice, from the east to the sun to the west, freshly and rightly from all the blessed glories.

Rejoice, O-glad-van-naya, in Thy Success, she does not leave us.

Kontakion 13

Oh All-Fifth Mother of Deathless Tsa-rya Not-be-se and earth-li, Hri-sta God of ours, living and dead, presently bringing about everything Thy honor received Thy success from us, in this life and in our dead success from every pasture, troubles and torment from the bawi and the Not-infinite Kingdom of us, Tsa-ritse, how-to Those-who-who-drunk: Al-li-luya.

(This kontakion chi-ta-et-sya three-waited, for-tem ikos 1 and kontakion 1)

Prayer for the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God

O Pre-holy God-mother-of-God Devo, Vla-dychi-tse, the higher Angel and Ar-hangel and all the creatures Honest, the angelic great wonder-day, about the rocking you -sokaya pro-in fact, apostolic pres-lavnaya praise-lo, saints from a number of adornments, martyrs strong statement, other-cov spa-siitel-noe becoming-years-old, guests-not-from-not-dying-out-of-life, virginity purely and gloriously, ma-te-rei quiet veil, babes wisdom and na-ka-zanie, vod-vits and sir kor-mitel-ni-tse, on-his clothes, sick of health, captives from bav-lennie, by the sea float -but, those who are-taught a non-stormy arrival, wandering-giving non-laboring At-the-school, going along easy-going things, working-giving good for a dear, in the misery of the fast For-stepn-tse, offended By-to-the-rove and at-the-run, not-doing-deed, demanding In the wickedness of the sadness, a great consolation, not-in-see-to-see any confession, sinners kov spa-sessing and to God the attribution, right-in-faithful of all, a solid fence, not-in-a-dim-wishing and for-step-down! That-I am afraid of us, Vla-dych-tse, We cannot-see-we see byst, and Te-be'mol-bu' pri-nosim, Gos-in-the-same, your sinners: O Pre-sweet-vai and the Wonderful Light of the clever Tsa-ritse, born of Tsa-rya Hri-sta, our God, the Life-giving of all, from the not-infinite glories and from the earthly praises, Angelic mind, light-hearted star-do, holy you Pre-holy, Vla-dychi-tse of all creatures, God-wicked De-vice, Not-a-good Un-vesto, pa-lato Spirit Pre-saint-tago, fiery Pre-table Not-vidi-ma-go Tsa-rya, not-infinite ki-vote, but-the power of the Word of God, fire-not-like-different wheel-forest-nice, in the form of Zhiv-vago God, not-of-the-real composition of the plane of Christ, nest-do Or-la Not-mad, Gorlitse God-lasnaya, Go-lu- bice short, quiet and not-evil-va, Mati cha-do-l-bivaya, sweet-no-bezd-but, dissipating the cloud of God's wrath, not-of-me-rim, deep-bi-no , not-of-re-en-taino, not-of-my-miracle, un-handed-in-the-wren of the Church of the One Tsa-rya of all ages, blah-ukhannoe ka-dilo , honest bug-ry-nice, God-goth-cannabis por-firo, spiritual paradise, life-in-the-nose garden o'tras-le, the color is very good, blooming to us not the veil, the thunder of our spa-seeding, more than Tsa-rya Not-mad-go, in her, too, grows from the Holy Spirit, vi-but not-is-de-cher-pamyah blah dachi, Ho-data-i-tse za-kona, for-part of the true faith of Christ's not-to-be-bimonly stolpe, me-chu-chu-tse of God on the God-kind, be-sov is intimidation, in braneh in bezh-den, christian of all not-false Temple-ni-tse and the world is all because of the true spa season! O All-sweet Gos-in-the-same, Devo Vla-dychi-tse, God-mother-of-god, hear us praying Te-be, and the manifestation of Thy mercy on all Thy , mo-li His Son from-ba-vi-ti-sia to us from all evil and so-ch-ni our abode and every abode, and city, and the land of the faithful, and people, blah - honorably arriving and calling-calling Thy name is holy, from every kind of pastry, g-beetle, glad, coward, po-topa, fire-nya, me-cha, on -the trials of other-tribes-men and between-before-domestic warfare, from every illness and every condition, but neither wounds, nor pre-punishment, nor by any means, nor by any righteousness. with the wrath of God, they will diminish your ra-bi. But with-blyu-dai and spa-sai for Thy grace, Lord, for us, pray for us, and the beneficial blessings of the air-spirits in time are not bad Grant us the first gift. About-light-chi, growing-up and sweet-hearted, Pre-sweet-vaya Vla-dych-tse, God-kind-tse pre-sung, in all be-de's and need-de's. For me-nor-for-your-yours and do not disdain our tears and air-chania, and about-but-us with the blessing of His-her-sweetness, but with the blessing-yes-rene- we comfort-sha'm-Xia, about-reteshe Thee In-power-tsu. Umi-lo-serd-sya, Lord-in-the-same, Most-pure, for Thy non-powerful people, For our dezhdo. Dis-sowed so-be-ri, for-for-blundering on the right path on-step, from the fall from the goodness of the fatherly faith, the packets of return, the old hold, young vra-zu-mi, young people vos-pi-tai and pros-lavi glorifying Thee, from the common - the Church of the Son of Thy-e-goo-people and so-huh-ni in long that day. O Sweetheart and Pre-sweetheart Tsa-ritsa Not-be-se and earth-li, Bo-go-rod-tse Pris-no-virgin! Thy ho-dai-in-kindness in Thy mercy to our country, and her warrior and all the pra-glorious christians, keeping them under the blood of Thy grace, with Thy garment honestly -shi-ti and mo-li from Te-be-incarnate-go-Xia without seme-not Hri-sta, God ours, let us pre-declare us with more power on all sight-we and not-see-we gi nasha. Spa-si and sweetheart, Gos-in-the-same, Ve-lika-go Gos-in-din and Father of our (name), Holy patriarch of Moscow and all Rus-si, preo-holy mit-ro-po-litas, ar-chi-episko-py and episko-py pra-vos-lavnaya, and- rhei and diaons and all the priestly church, and all my-our-rank, and all right-to-faith people, who obey and pray in front of your honorable icon. Behold at all of us with-z-re-n-e-m-melo-stetiv-na-th Thy-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-e-th-e-th-e-e-e-e-e-e-r-e-e-e-r-e-h-sin-h -dead to the sight of spa-sénia, merciful-sti-va we will be here and on the Terrible Su-de of Thy-e-goy thought about us, pre-st-shi-I-sya in the blessing of your life in everlasting life with Angela and Ar-hangelya and with all the saints, honor, so that the right hand of Thy-e-God's Son will be presented, and my -with your lithium, how-to-do all the righteous-holy Christians with Christ's life and the joy of angels in the non-infinite se-leni-them to-wait-for. You are the God, the Lord, the glory of the Non-dumb and the revelation of the earth, You are our Na-dezhda and For-stepnitsa of all who come to Te-be and Thy-her saint-you help the beggars. Thou art our Mo-lebni-tsa warm to Thy Son and our God. Your Mater-nya prayer can do a lot for the thought of Vla-dyka, and by Your representation to the Pre-table, bless you and the Life-dwellers of His Tain Stu-pati der-borrow, even if it is not worth it. The same all-honest image of Thy and the ru-ko of Thy detainee All-the-dweller is looking at the icon, I rejoice, sins, with tenderness when-pada -you, and love this tse-lum, adorably, Gos-in-the-same, Your saints God-pleasant-mi-lithva-mi doy-ti Not-mad without-endless life and it is not shameful to become in the day of judgment at the right hand of Thy Son and our God, glorifying Him in a kupno with the Beginning Father and the Most Holy One, Blah, Living and One-Substantial Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

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The feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, following the feast of the radiant Resurrection of Christ, was the most revered by the Russian people.

"Theotokos Easter" - so it was called in Russia. And this is no coincidence. Through Her Assumption, the Mother of God became even closer and more dear to Christians, for she became a diligent Intercessor for them before the throne of God.

During His execution, Jesus Christ, seeing the Mother of God and the Apostle John, whom he especially loved, standing nearby, said to His Mother: “Wife! behold, Thy son ", and to John:" Behold, Thy mother "(John 19: 25-27). From that time on, the Apostle John took care of the Mother of God until the end of her life. Since then, we know about the earthly life of the Virgin only from the apocrypha. She lived in the house of the Apostle John the Theologian in Jerusalem, becoming a common Mother for all of Christ's disciples, and on the day of Pentecost, like them, received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Mother of God led a closed, secret life, but many knew about Her great wisdom and came to talk with Her from distant countries. Like the apostles, She planted and established the Christian Church with Her presence, word and prayer.

So about ten years passed, and when the Jewish king Herod began persecuting the Church, the Mother of God, together with the Apostle John the Theologian, moved to Ephesus, which fell to him by lot for the evangelical preaching. While living here, She visited the righteous Lazarus in Cyprus and Mount Athos, blessing her as Her destiny.

The reverence of the ancient Christians for the Mother of God was so great that they preserved everything about Her life that they could only notice from Her words and deeds, and even conveyed to us about Her appearance. "She was a Virgin not only in body, but also in soul, humble in heart, prudent in words, prudent, taciturn, lover of reading, hardworking, chaste in speech. Her rule was not to offend anyone, to have good will, to honor elders, not to envy equals, avoiding boasting, being sane, loving virtue. When did she even offend her parents by the expression on her face, when she was in disagreement with her relatives? When did she take pride in front of a modest man, laughed at the weak, shied away from the poor? She had nothing harsh in her eyes, nothing careless in words, nothing obscene in actions: her body movements are modest, her step is quiet, her voice is even; so her bodily appearance was the expression of her soul, the personification of purity.All Her days She turned into fasting: she indulged in sleep only at the request of need, but also then, as a body She was at rest, in spirit She was awake, repeating in a dream what she had read, or thinking about carrying out the assumed intentions, or prescribing new ones. ma went only to church, and then in the company of relatives. However, although She appeared outside Her house, accompanied by others, She Herself was the best guard for Herself; others guarded only Her body, and She guarded Her own morals. "

According to the legend preserved by the church historian Nikifor Callistos (XIV century), the Mother of God "was of average height or, as others say, somewhat more average; golden hair; quick eyes, with pupils, as it were, the color of an olive tree; arched eyebrows and moderate black, oblong nose, blooming lips, full of sweet speeches; the face is not round and not sharp, but somewhat oblong; hands and fingers are long ... She maintained decorum in conversation with others, did not laugh, did not indignant, especially did not get angry; completely artless , simple, She did not think about Herself at all and, far from being effeminate, was distinguished by complete humility. Regarding the clothes She wore, She was content with their natural color, which even now proves Her sacred head covering. In short, in all Her actions a special grace".

Struck by Her beauty even in his advanced years, the Greek Dionysius the Areopagite, a disciple of the Apostle Paul, testified that if he had not confessed the One God, he would have decided that before him was a "beautiful goddess."

Not long before Her death, the Mother of God returned to Jerusalem. She often visited those places that were closely associated with Her Son: Bethlehem, Golgotha, the Holy Sepulcher, Gethsemane, the Olives. There She prayed fervently, and over time more and more often for the Son to take Her to Heaven as soon as possible. According to legend, the Jews attempted to kill Her, for which, by order of the high priests, a guard was placed at the Holy Sepulcher, but at the right moment the soldiers lost their sight, and they could not see the Mother of God.

The Most Holy Virgin awaited the end of earthly days calmly and even with joy - after all, She knew that there, in Heaven, she would meet Her Son and Her God. Once the Mother of God was in deep prayer on the Mount of Olives. Suddenly the Archangel Gabriel appeared before Her and informed Her that in three days Her earthly life would end, that the Lord pleased to take Her to Himself. To commemorate his words, the archangel handed the Mother of God a luminous paradise branch - a symbol of victory over death and decay - (Dimitri Rostovsky specifies that it was a branch from a date palm), and ordered to carry it in front of the coffin during burial. With the Heavenly message, the Mother of God returned to Bethlehem with three virgins serving Her (Zipporah, Evigee and Zoila). The Mother of God, having come home, happily informed her baptized son John about this, and he informed the Apostle James and through him the entire Church of Jerusalem. The Mother of God commanded to bury Herself in Gethsemane, next to the graves of Her righteous parents and righteous Joseph the Betrothed.

On the day of the Dormition of the Theotokos, in a miraculous way, almost all the apostles, who had previously dispersed to different countries to preach the Word of God, were gathered together to say goodbye to Her. Later, the Apostle Paul arrived with his disciples: Dionysius the Areopagite, Hierotheos, Timothy and others from among the 70 apostles. She called each of them by name and blessed them. Only the apostle Thomas was absent.

The third hour came when the Dormition of the Mother of God was to be performed. Many candles were burning. The holy apostles surrounded the splendidly decorated bed with hymns, on which the Most Pure Virgin Mary was reclining. Suddenly an unspeakable light shone, darkening the lamps; the roof of the upper room was opened, and Christ Himself came down with many angels. The Most Holy Theotokos turned to the Lord with a prayer of thanks and asked to bless all those who honor Her memory. She also prayed to Her Son to protect Her from the dark satanic power, from air ordeals. Then the Mother of God joyfully gave Her soul into the hands of the Lord, and immediately the angelic singing was heard.

There are many versions regarding the age of the Virgin at the time of her dormition, but it is most likely that she lived for about 72 years and died about A.D. 57

From Her fragrant body, the sick immediately began to receive healing. The solemn transfer of the Most Pure Body from Jerusalem to Gethsemane began. Peter, Paul, and James, along with the other apostles, carried the beds of the Mother of God on their shoulders, and Saint John the Theologian walked in front with a paradisiacal radiant branch. The Apostle Peter began to sing the psalm "In the Exodus of Israel from Egypt", solemn hymns sounded. A cloudy circle in the form of a crown, illuminated by radiance, appeared over the bed. This crown floated over the procession to the very place of burial. The procession was followed by the Jews who did not believe in Christ.

The high priests sent their servants to disperse the procession, kill the apostles and burn the body of the Mother of God, but the angels struck the blasphemers with blindness. The Jewish priest Athos (according to other legends, Iphonius or Zephanius), who tried to overturn the bed of the Virgin, was punished by an angel who cut off his hands. Seeing such a miracle, Affonia repented and with faith confessed the greatness of the Mother of God. He received healing and joined the host of those who accompanied the body of the Mother of God, becoming a zealous follower of Christ. Those who have repented from the blind have also become clear.

For three days the apostles stayed at the tomb of the Mother of God, chanting psalms. On the fourth day, the absent Apostle Thomas returned to Jerusalem and was very saddened that he could not say goodbye and worship the Mother of God. The apostles, taking pity on him, decided to go and roll the stone away from the grave cave in order to give him the opportunity to say goodbye to the Mother of God. But, to their amazement, the body of the Mother of God was not in the cave, only the burial clothes remained. Returning home, the astonished apostles fervently prayed to God that He would reveal to them what had become of the body of the Virgin. And through their prayers a miracle happened.

On the evening of the same day, the Mother of God herself appeared to them and said: “Rejoice! I am with you all the days; and I will always be your prayer book before God. " This made the apostles and all those with them so happy that they lifted up a portion of the bread set aside for the meal in memory of the Savior ("part of the Lord") and exclaimed: "Most Holy Theotokos, help us." This marked the beginning of the rite of offering panagia - the custom of offering part of the bread in honor of the Mother of God, which is still preserved in monasteries. That is why the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is not a cause for sorrow, but a holiday. After all, “with you” means that She and with all of us, too, “all the days” ...

The Lord, according to His special watch, delayed the arrival of Saint Thomas to the day of the repose of the Most Pure Theotokos, so that the tomb was opened for him, and the church, thus, was convinced of the resurrection of the Mother of God, just as earlier, through the unbelief of the same Apostle, she was convinced of the resurrection of Christ. There is an Orthodox tradition that on the third day after the burial, the Mother of God appeared to the Apostle Thomas and threw her belt from Heaven to him for consolation.

Since then, the Church has been celebrating this event. Everything in it is a memory of the earthly life of the Mother of God, sadness and joy, because this is also the day of Her birth for eternal life, where She is placed above the angelic ranks, the day of testimony that the promises of the Lord are immutable, about the life and the miracle of the Resurrection ...

The feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God has been established by the Church since ancient times. In the 4th century, it was already widely celebrated in Byzantium. At the request of the Byzantine emperor Mauritius, who defeated the Persians on August 15, on the day of the Assumption of the Mother of God (since 595), the holiday became a general church. The main purpose of the establishment of the holiday was the glorification of the Mother of God and Her Assumption. To this main goal in the IV-V centuries. joins another - denouncing the errors of heretics who encroached on the dignity of the Mother of God, in particular, the errors of the Collyridians, heretics of the 4th century who denied human nature Blessed virgin (as a result of which they denied Her bodily death).

The demise of the Blessed Virgin Mary is called dormition because She “seemed to fall asleep for a short time, and, as if from a dream, rose to eternal life,” because death, as the return of her dust to the earth, and the return of her spirit to God, did not touch Her. She only fell asleep in order to awaken at the same moment for eternal blessed life and after three days with an incorruptible body move into a heavenly incorruptible dwelling.

Place of the Assumption of the Virgin in Jerusalem

According to legend, before her death, the Most Holy Theotokos lived in the house of the Apostle John the Theologian. Here she died.

In 1910, on this place, on the top of Mount Zion, a German Benedictine abbey was built - the monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin (Dormition).

In the crypt of the temple, in the center of the hall, there is a sculpture of the Virgin, reclining on a stone.

Tomb of the virgin

The Most Pure Body of the Mother of God was buried, as She requested, in the tomb where her parents Joachim and Anna, as well as Joseph the Betrothed, were previously buried. The tomb of the Virgin is located in Gethsemane, at the foot of the western slope of the Mount of Olives, in the Kidron Valley, in Jerusalem (East Jerusalem). In the 5th century, a temple was erected at the burial site. There is a legend that earlier St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Helen built a basilica here. In 614 the temple was destroyed, but the tomb of the Mother of God survived.

In 681, the tomb of the Virgin was opened by the decision of the Sixth Ecumenical Council. According to legend, a belt and burial shroud were found in it.

Now over the tomb there is a cave church of the Assumption of the Virgin.

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin in Gethsemane, 12th century facade

Much of the modern building dates back to the time of the Crusaders. This is an underground temple, into which 50 steps lead, with the side-chapels of Sts. Godfathers Joachim and Anna and Joseph the Betrothed, located on the sides of the stairs.

Staircase, view from the entrance to the church

The temple has a cruciform shape: in the center is the tomb of the Mother of God with two entrances, at the end of the cave there is an altar. In a stone nod there is a miraculous icon of the Jerusalem Mother of God in Russian writing.

Tomb of the Virgin (kuvukliya), view from the west. To the left of the entrance is the Armenian throne

The temple belongs to the Greeks and Armenians. It is here, according to tradition, before the feast of the Dormition from Little Gethsemane near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, by the procession of the cross, the Orthodox carry the Shroud of the Most Holy Theotokos along the same path as the apostles once carried the body of the Mother of God to burial.

Veneration of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos in Russia

The Holy Patriarch Juvenalius of Jerusalem (420-458) affirmed before the emperor Marcian (450-457) the authenticity of the legend of the miraculous ascent of the Mother of God to Heaven and sent him to his wife, Saint Pulcheria (+ 453; Comm. 10 September), the burial shroud of the Mother of God, which he took from Her coffin. Saint Pulcheria laid these shrouds in the Blachernae church. In 866 the Russian fleet approached Constantinople, and the city was besieged by the pagans. The Emperor and Patriarch of Constantinople prayed all night in the Blachernae Church, and then immersed the funeral robe of the Mother of God into the sea. Suddenly a storm arose and scattered the Russian ships in different directions. Russia suffered a defeat, which marked the victory of Christianity.

It was this event that contributed to the special veneration of the Mother of God, her Assumption and vestments by the Russians. The Mother of God became the patroness of the Russian army, and the Feast of the Intercession, dedicated to the vestments of the Mother of God, was a holiday that until the 19th century. was celebrated only in Russia.

The Blachernae Monastery itself, the Intercession and the Assumption acquired a special "military", "protective" significance for Russia. That is why, since the time of Saint Prince Vladimir, the main churches of the main cities of Russia have been dedicated to the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos: the cathedral church in Kiev, the Church of the Tithes.

Likewise, the construction of the Sophia cathedrals, taken from Byzantium, gradually passed into the tradition of building cathedrals in honor of the Assumption. Among the famous Assumption temples and monasteries today can be called Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk and Pochaev Lavra, Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, Pyukhtitsky Dormition Convent, Dormition Cathedrals in Vladimir, at Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, Dormition Church of Novodevichy Monastery .

Built in the 15th century by the outstanding architect Aristotle Fioravanti, the majestic Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin became the main cathedral Russian land. Here, in front of the miraculous icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, most revered by Russians, there were weddings for the great reign and for the kingdom, coronations of emperors. The rite of "ordination" of metropolitans and patriarchs was performed right there.

Celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin in Greece

In Greece, the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated almost as widely as Easter. In the center of celebrations tinos islandand his miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Tinos" : miraculous healings, salvos from ship cannons, flowers and flags, military bands and religious processions.

A solemn procession leaves the church, the icon is placed on a stretcher carried by sailors

Everyone passing under the icon tries to touch it with his hand or to attach an object to the icon.

Under the numerous gifts that the believers have adorned the icon with in gratitude for miracles, it is difficult to discern the plot of the icon - the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary with the good news. Nevertheless, every year for the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, thousands of people flock to greek island Tinos to make a kneeling journey from the port to the temple and touch the miraculous icon.

There is a straight road from the port to the temple on the hill. Along the side of the road, specially for pilgrims, there is a path made of material like a carpet. Sometimes parents take sick children on their backs to get them healed.

In Greece on the island of Kefalonia , or "island of miracles", as it is called, every year on August 15 to the temple of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the village of Markopulo, where miraculous icon of Panagius Fedus (translated as "Theotokos of the Serpent"), poisonous snakes are crawling. Believers call them "the serpents of the Virgin Mary" because on this very day they are harmless. They do not exceed one meter in length; they have a cross on their heads, as well as on the tip of their tongue. According to tradition, if snakes do not appear, this is a bad sign. This happened twice - in 1940 before the outbreak of World War II in Greece and in 1953 - before the devastating earthquake.

The villagers notice the snakes on the eve of the holiday, often get together with the priest in advance, read prayers and wait for the snakes to appear. Small snakes crawl here, and they are brought to the temple for worship. They are collected, put on the neck and stroked. Orthodox Greeks believe that this touch brings happiness. During the festive service, snakes are placed on the icon of the Mother of God, and they lie quietly there throughout the not-so-short service. According to ancient tradition, snakes are left in the church overnight.

Snakes are mentioned in Christian books, mostly with a negative connotation, but Kefalonia is practically the only place in the world where these reptiles are, as it were, rehabilitated in the eyes of believing Christians.

Troparion, voice 1
Thou hast kept virginity at birth, Thou didst not leave the world to the Mother of God; Thou hast reposed to the belly, Mother of the Essence of the Belly, and with Thy prayers save our souls from death.

Kontakion, voice 2
In the prayers of the relentless Mother of God and in intercessions, the immutable Hope of the coffin and mortification will not hold back: as if the Mother of the Belly to the belly, put the ever-virgin All-in-One into the womb.