An important church feast occurs on August 28, known as the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called Easter of the Mother of God. The day honors Mary, mother of Jesus, and her ascent of the soul to heaven. According to tradition, the apostles, who had preached Christ in various lands, gathered in Jerusalem on this day to bid farewell to Mary. In Western Christianity, the feast is celebrated on August 15, independent of Easter. The date of the Assumption remains fixed, and the day is preceded by a strict fast comparable in length and seriousness to the Great Lent.
Legend of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
The term Assumption reflects more than just death; it signifies a transition to eternal life. In modern Russian usage, the word is often translated as “death,” but the sense here is light and glorious, signaling Mary’s passage into heavenly life rather than ordinary death.
Accounts of Mary’s life after the ascension come from early writings and sermons attributed to figures such as Saint John the Theologian, Saint Andrew of Crete, Patriarch Hermon of Constantinople, and Saint John of Damascus.
It is said that shortly before the end of her earthly life, Jesus entrusted Mary to the care of John the Theologian, saying, “Here is your son,” and to Mary, “Here is your mother.” The Gospel of John notes that from that moment, the beloved disciple took Mary into his home.
According to tradition, Mary often prayed at the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Archangel Gabriel is said to have announced that her earthly life would end in three days. When the time came, the apostles gathered in Jerusalem to farewell Mary and commend her to heavenly life. It is described that a divine light filled the upper chamber as she departed, and Mary’s soul was received by Jesus, while the body was laid to rest. Icons often depict Jesus receiving Mary’s soul as a infant, symbolizing the continuity of life and the triumph over death.
Later, it is said that Jesus appeared with angels, took Mary’s soul, and gave it to the archangel Michael. The apostles then carried Mary’s body to the tomb the next morning. In some versions, the Lord reappears, lifts the body in a cloud, and brings it to heaven with the soul united to God. This story appears in various patristic and hagiographic sources such as the writings attributed to Gregory of Tours.
The funeral of Mary took place with the apostles bearing her bier to the Garden of Gethsemane. The resting place of Mary’s earthly body was in a tomb sealed with a stone. In some legends, the apostle Thomas, who did not arrive in time, saw the burial linens at the tomb, and the body and spirit are said to have been raised together. The Christian Church has observed the feast of Mary’s Dormition or Death since the early centuries, following the clarification of the Theotokos doctrine at the later Ecumenical Councils.
One version holds that the feast began by imperial order in gratitude for a military victory, with the date set for August 15 as a symbol of triumph over enemies. The historical accounts come from medieval church historians who recorded church practice and royal edicts related to the feast.
Church Ceremonies of the Assumption
In the Orthodox tradition, Dormition is celebrated with a sequence of liturgical observances. The feast day is preceded by a day of vigil and followed by an eight-day period marked by specific hymns and services. The service details Dormition events and includes hymns by notable church authors, reflecting the solemn character of the feast.
The creation of the Dormition canon is attributed to early saints and theologians who crafted a dialogue in which Mary petitions her Son, Christ, to receive her in heaven. The Savior’s response and the accompanying funeral laments by the apostles are expressed in the associated canons and troparia. The hymnography also invites the faithful to seek Mary’s intercession, praising her as ever-virgin and advocate for souls.
The Dormition hymns emphasize the unity of Mary’s motherhood with her perpetual virginity and honor her as the one who, after bearing the Son of God, continued to intercede for the world. The Orthodox tradition invites believers to trust in Mary’s care and to seek her prayers for mercy and protection.
What to Pray for on Dormition
Dormition marks the close of a fast period, after which believers may resume ordinary dietary practices. It is customary to share food with others, welcome guests, and practice acts of charity during this time.
For women, the feast is associated with prayers for marriage or the discovery of a suitable partner. The period after the Assumption is often viewed as a time to plan for lifelong commitments and family life, with a sense that divine care accompanies those who seek stable unions.
Traditionally, many traditions link Mary’s intercession with these prayers and with the blessing of homes and households. Some customs include preparing seasonal foods and exchanging well-wishes with neighbors and friends.
A number of folk signs are linked to the feast, such as weather patterns and seasonal expectations. For example, sunny days may foretell a gentle autumn, while a storm could hint at rain later in the season. Various signs have long guided agricultural and community life in many regions.
How to Read the Icons of the Assumption
The central image often shows Mary on her deathbed, sometimes with royal accents like purple shoes to signify her status as Theotokos. Mary is usually depicted with a halo, and Jesus appears in the composition to receive her soul, surrounded by the apostles and saints.
Around Mary are the apostles, with Peter holding a censer and John mourning beside her bed. Early figures such as Dionysius the Areopagite and James the Lord’s brother may appear nearby, reflecting traditional iconography. Above them, Jesus is shown larger than the others, holding Mary’s soul, while the earthly room is often portrayed in a heavenly light.
The famous icon of the Assumption, preserved in museums and church collections, reflects the late medieval Russian tradition of Theotokos iconography. It illustrates the apostles gathered above the bed and portrays the moment of Mary’s departure toward heavenly life, often linked to the broader history of icon painting in the region.