One of the Great Feast Days of Mary, the Mother of God

Some Orthodox churches use in their title "Assumption," which means, according to Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary, "A taking for granted; supposition."

Today, we are enlightened, by the Icon of the Dormition of Mary, (dormir-sleep), as we enter the church, and find it on the Icon Stand. It depicts her lying in a state of rest, (having fallen-asleep), while the apostles circled around her body. All but Thomas, the doubter.

Since the beginning of the month, we have been preparing for this feast day with fasting and the service of the Small Paraklesis. The hymn which comes from the "Monastery of the Caves" the Exapostilarion for the Dormition, tells us that the Apostles came from the ends of the earth, gathered in the village of Gethsemane to lay her body in burial. God the Son of Mary, received her spirit.

The rest of the story is that Thomas, arriving later, and upon entering the burial spot, where Mary lay, found it empty. we find an answer in Tone one of today's Troparion of the Dormition, "You were translated to life O Mother of Life, and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death."

Without Mary, there would not have been Life, who gave life to Mary and all of us.

(Psalm 45:17 ) "I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever."
(Luke 1:48 )"For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed".

Today, in this generation, we recall the young maiden who initiated the salvation of all human kind by a simple "yes" to the invitation given to her by the angel Gabriel, to be the Mother of God. (Salvation, or healing, is a process which begins with one word).

It is a simple yes or no.

Rejoice O Virgin Theotokos, Mary full of Grace the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have born the Savior of our souls.

gospel references have been taken from the Orthodox Study Bible