Celebrate our feast day with us on August 14, 2006:
Monday
Vespers 7:00pm
Tuesday
Matins 9:00am
Divine Liturgy 10:00am
Patron Saint: THEOTOKOS
Why do we call her "The Theotokos." "Theotokos" is a Greek word made up of two parts. The prefix "Theo"means God and the word "tokos" means carrier or bearer in the womb (birth mother). Then, The Theotokos is the carrier or bearer of God in her womb (birth mother). The Ever-Virgin Mary was the carrier or bearer (birth mother) of Holy God the Son within the Holy Tranity/Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, the son of God and the second person in the Holy Trinity. The Theotokos carried God from Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity/Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ's Incarnation (conception according to the Flesh) to His Nativity (birth according to the Flesh). Therefore, Mary can rightly be called "Theotokos" or "God-bearer."
The term "Theotokos" does not imply that Mary contributed anything to the divine nature of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity/Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. The term "Theotokos" merely affirms the belief that the person to whom she gave birth is without division both God and a human being.
Most of the story of the life and the death of Thoeotokos is not in the Bible, but in other very early Christian writings. Archbishop Joseph Raya tell is this way: "According to a very early Christian legend, while the apostles were scattered all over the then-known world, preaching the Gospel, Mary remained in Jerusalem in the house of John (the Beloved Disciple). Her love of God, like an ardent flame, burned steadily in her body. Finally it was revealed to her that her life was about to end. She wished to see the Twelve Apostles once more before she dies. Each one of them was maraculously carried away from where he happened to be and borne on a cloud to the house on Mount Sion in Jerusalem where Mary was approaching death; every one of them, except Thomas. They saw Christ Himself come down from heaven and recieve the soul of His Mother in His arms. They took her holy body and placed it in the tomb prepared for it in the vale of Cedron, near Gethsemani. Thomas arrived three days later, when all was over. He wished to see for the last time the face of the woman who had been the Temple of God. He went with the other apostles to the tomb, which they opened. They found it empty, but heard an angelic concert. (It is also said that the beautiful fragrance of flowers filled the empty tomb, and this is why we bless flowers on this day). Mary herself appeared to them and confirmed the fact of her assumption to heaven."
Our Transfiguration: Each one of us is called to be transfigured-changed by the power of Holy God so that we also may shine with divine love and grace.
The Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos: Reminds us of our need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in our own transfiguration toward the holiness and perfection that God created us to share with the Holy Trinity. We work toward this transfiguration by prayer, fasting, and sharing the many gifts God has given us.
Ikon: The ikon for The Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos shows The Theotokos lying on her deathbead, surrounded by eleven of the Apostles, and Holy God thw Son within the Holy Trinity/Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ receiving her soul in heaven.
Feast Day: The Great Feast of Dormition of the Theotokos is a feast day. The reason is that fasting is forbidden on all Great Feast days with the exception of The Great Feast of the Exalatation of the Precious and Lifegiving Holy Cross.
Feasting begins at the beginning of the Vespers of the Great Feast of the Dormition of The Theotokos (August 14 evening and August 15th). Feasting ends just before the Vespers of the Holy Hieromartyr Eutyches.
History: The Great Feast of the Dormition of The Theotokos became popular troughout the Byzantine Empire between 588 and 602. Theodore I, Pope from 642 to 649, who was a Byzantine Christian from Jerusalem, introduced this feast to the Church of Rome and the West.
The Great Feast of the Dormition of The Theotokos is the oldest feast of the Mother of God.
The Western Church calls this feast "The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary."
Dormition: Is a Latin word meaning "Falling Asleep".
St. Mary's Troparion
In giving birth, you preserved your Virginity! In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos!
You were translated to life, O Mother of life and by your prayers you delivered our souls from death.
