On the Dormition of the Theotokos
Neither the tomb nor death had power over the Theotokos, who is ever watchful in her prayers and in whose intercession lies unfailing hope. For as the Mother of Life she has been transported into life by Him who dwelt within her ever-virgin womb.
The Kontakion of the Feast of the Dormition
On the 15th of August (August 28 on the secular calendar), we will celebrate the "Pascha of the Mother of God," Her sacred Dormition. The joy and exaltation we receive on this day is scarcely less than that which we experience on the day of the Resurrection of Christ itself. All those who truly love Christ, naturally and fervently love His most pure Mother as well, and all true Christian hearts rejoice and glorify Her divine Son on the day of her death, because it is also the day of her triumph over death.
In the present era of universal coldness and disloyalty to Christ, of widespread indifference to truth, to purity of life, and to Christian love, we need the prayers and the example of the Most Holy One (Panagia) very greatly, very desperately. When everything we are used to relying on is shaken, she supports us firmly and unshakably. When everyone is cold around us, she warms us with her motherly tenderness and love. When doubts and false teachings confuse our minds, she is our teacher. When our sins overwhelm us, she guides us to repentance and forgiveness. When the loss of a loved one strikes us with unbearable pain, she gives joy in our sorrow.
Dear Christian families, Christian parents - how do you honor the Most Pure One in your homes? Do you say the Salutations (the Hairetismoi/Akathistos) or Paraclesis daily or at least frequently with your children? Do you teach them constantly to rely on her in their own struggles and sorrows? Do you teach them about her life - her miraculous birth from Joachim and Anna, her early life in the Temple, her great "Yes" to God at the Annunciation, her seedless conception and virgin birth-giving to the God-man, her ever-virginity, her sorrows at the foot of the Cross, her witness to the resurrection of Christ, her own great "final mystery" of the awesome falling asleep (koimisis) followed by bodily resurrection and translation (metastasis) into heaven? If not, start today!
When young people have a strong attachment to the Mother of God, this takes care of two big problems that youth have today, anxiety and temptations to sexual impurity -
Anxiety - The weakening of family life, the constant bad news from the media, and the fears created by peer pressure and uncertainty about their future make young people anxious and worried, their young and tender souls burdened tragically and unnecessarily. They will be strong, however, and receive much joy and consolation, if they learn to call constantly on the Mother of God, to feel her close to them, to know that she will be the guide (Odigitria) of their lives, the comfort in their sorrows, and a sure hope and security for their future.
Impurity - If a child remains close to Panagia while growing older and facing sexual temptations, she will give that child mighty protection and help, and the young person, loyal to her, will not wish to displease her by acts of impurity. This cannot be overestimated. Love for Panagia, an active, living, daily closeness to her, will do more for a young person in temptation than all the discussions and lectures in the world.
Let us, then, glorify the All-Pure One, the All-Holy One, the Virgin Mother of God, by dedicating our own lives and those of our children to her, that she might lead us to her Divine Son. Her help is mighty, indeed all-powerful. We have only to call upon her with faith and love.
"Dormition" or "Assumption"?
When speaking of the Feast of the Mother of God on the 15th of August (28 August NS), Church tradition normally uses the Greek term Koimisis," which means, literally, "falling asleep," for which ecclesiastical translators usually substitute a more elevated English word, "Dormition." Frequently, however, we find churches in the United States which are named "Koimisis" in Greek that in English are called "Assumption" rather than "Dormition." Are these two terms interchangeable?
"Assumption" is from the Latin word assumptio, which means "taking up." It refers to the mystery of the Mother of God's body being resurrected and taken up bodily into heaven on the third day after her death. The Greek Fathers and the Orthodox service books prefer the word metastasis, which means "being moved from one place to another," or, in more literary English, "Translation," to refer to this mystery. In the Latin West, however, they preferred the term assumptio rather than translatio - thus Roman Catholics today call this feast "Assumption".
The Orthodox Church teaches that the Mother of God actually died - "fell asleep" - tike every other human being; that is, her soul left her body. We see this in the icon of the Feast depicted by Christ's holding what looks like a little baby in His hands - this "baby" represents the soul of the Holy Virgin, which has left her body, the body shown dead on the funeral bier. But on the third day, Christ resurrected her body, which He took - "assumed" - into heaven and reunited to her soul. Many icons of the Feast also depict this at the top, showing the Holy Virgin in glory ascending into heaven surrounded by angels.
"Assumption," then, does not translate Koimisis, but it does denote a real mystery taught by the Orthodox Church.