Dormition Fast Begins on August 1st
The Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, was “blessed amongst women,” and she was chosen “to bear the Savior of our souls.” We, therefore, as Orthodox Christians, consider her to be the Queen of all the saints and the angels.
Knowing that she holds such a high place in the Kingdom of Heaven and that she is eternally present at the throne of God interceding for mankind, we, as good Orthodox Christians, must pray for her love, guidance, and protection. We must never forget to ask for her intercessions in times of sickness and danger, and we must constantly thank her for her care and her prayers in our behalf.
Every year the Orthodox Church sets aside the first fourteen days of August in honor of the Virgin Mary. This fast period is climaxed on August 15th, when the Church gathers to celebrate the Great Feast of the Dormition (Falling-Asleep) of the Theotokos.
More resources for the Dormition Fast:
- The Fast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos
- Why a Fast for Dormition?
- Tender Love and the Dormition: a podcast from Frederica Mathewes-Green
- Spiritual Benefits of the Dormition
- Dormition Music from the Department of Sacred Music (PDF)
Liturgical Resources from the DOWAMA Clergy Brotherhood:
- The Paraklesis Service
- Instructional Notes for the Paraklesis Service
- Lesser Sanctification of Water (Performed at Vespers on July 31)
- Lamentations for the Dormition (English)
- Lamentations for the Dormition (Arabic)
- Lamentations for the Dormition (Greek)
- Music for "Blessed is the Man" at Great Vespers for the Dormition
- Music for "Lord, I have cried unto Thee" at Great Vespers for the Dormition
- Music for the Artoklasia at Great Vespers for the Dormition
- Music for the Apolytikion of the Dormition
- Music for the Poetic Kathismata at Orthros for the Dormition
- Music for the Marian Polyeleos "A Good Word" at Orthros for the Dormition
- English language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"
- Arabic language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"
- Greek language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"
- Russian language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"
- Romanian language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"
- Spanish language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"