Dormition (Keemeesis) of the Theotokos
Celebrated August 15
The dominions and the thrones, the rulers, the principalities and the powers, the cherubim
and the fearful seraphim glorify thy Dominion (Vespers Sticheron, Tone 1).
The sacred Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos marks her repose, which was followed by
the translation of her sacred body three days later into heaven. This feast, therefore,
marks her soul being commended into her Son's hands and the short sojourn of her body in
the tomb. Unlike the Resurrection of Christ, the mysterious character of her death,
burial, resurrection and ascension were not the subject of apostolic teachings, yet they
were recorded by the tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church and writings of the Church
Fathers.
The Dormition of the Theotokos took place while Apostle Thomas was preaching the gospel in
India. The other Apostles had been caught up from various lands on the clouds of heaven,
and were transported to Gethsemane, to the bier of the all-blessed Virgin. This was
permitted by the will of God, so the faithful might be assured that the Mother of God was
bodily assumed into heaven. For just as they were more greatly assured of the Resurrection
of Christ, through the disbelief of Thomas, so did they learned of the bodily assumption
into heaven of the all-pure Virgin Mary through the delay of Thomas.
On the third day after the burial St. Thomas was suddenly caught up in a cloud in India
and transported to a place in the air above the tomb of the Virgin. From that vantage
point, he beheld the translation of her body into the heavens, and cried out to her,
"Whither goest thou, O all-holy one?" She removed her girdle and gave it to him
saying, "Receive this, my friend." And then she was gone.
He then descended to find the other disciples keeping watch over the sepulchre of the
Theotokos. He sat down beside them, with the girdle in his hand, greatly saddened that he
had not been there when she reposed, as had been the other Apostles. Hence, he said,
"We are all disciples of the Master; we all preach the same thing; we are all
servants of the one Lord, Jesus Christ. How, then, is it that ye were counted worthy to
behold the repose of His Mother, and I was not? Am I not an Apostle? Can it be that God is
not pleased with my preaching? I beseech you, my fellow disciples: open the tomb, that I
also may look upon her remains, and embrace them, and bid her farewell!"
The Apostles took pity on St. Thomas and opened the tomb. All were aghast when they found
it empty, not realizing that moments before she had been bodily transported to paradise to
be the mediatress of Christians. All that remained were her burial clothes, which emitted
a wonderful unearthly fragrance.
The Feast's kontakion speaks of her as an unfailing hope and mediation, reminding us of
her intercessory role in paradise. Neither the tomb nor death had power over the
Theotokos, who is ever watchful in her prayers and in whose intercessions lies unfailing
hope. For as the Mother of Life she has been translated unto life by Him Who dwelt in her
ever-virgin womb.
Reference: The Life of the Virgin Mary, The Theotokos published by Holy
Apostles Convent and Dormition Skete, Colorado USA, 1989, ISBN 0-944359-03-5
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