On August 28, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos - the day of her transition from one life to another. This feast, dedicated to the Mother of God, ends with the August two-week Dormition Fast.
The Orthodox Church celebrates on 28 August 2017 one of the twelve major holidays of the year - the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. On this day, Christians remember the death of the Virgin Mary, and the word "dormition" here does not mean death, but ascension to God.
After Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, the Virgin Mary remained in the care of the Apostle John. The outbreak of the persecution of Christians by King Herod forced the Mother of God with John to settle in Ephesus. There, the holy Virgin knelt in prayers, asking God to take her to him, and then one day the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that her earthly life would end in three days.
Before her death, the Virgin Mary gathered all the apostles. They gathered near her bed, where she died. The coffin with the body of the Mother of God was buried in a cave, and the apostles remained at its foot for three more days and prayed. The apostle Thomas was late for the burial. He was allowed to go into the coffin and worship the body of the saint, but there was nothing inside, which marked the ascension of the spirit and body of the Mother of God.
The Slavic word "dormition" means sleep. As they say, perhaps the meaning of the feast of the Assumption is in the understanding that there is no final death, and, accordingly, there is no fear of it. There is life on Earth in a physical body, and life in another space and dimension. Each life has its own laws of existence. Every person on Earth has everything he needs to create his life the way he wants to see it. And each of us has a choice of how to fill our life, what to acquire, what to rejoice in and in which direction to move. The main thing is to be honest with yourself and your desires.
The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is a special holiday for all Christians, since it is dedicated to the Mother of God. Namely: her dormition. It is celebrated every year on 28 August. The people also call this holiday the First Pure.
Go to the temple for service
In the old days, these days, ears of wheat from the new harvest were brought to the church for consecration. This is not practiced now. But the service on this day is special - solemn and festive. It is also imperative to light a candle, remembering at the same time all relatives and friends.
Pray for the children
The Mother of God, as our ancestors believed, on this day, is especially sensitive to prayers for children. Therefore, you need to ask the Virgin Mary about the health of the kids, and about the happiness of the marriageable girls.
Giving alms and feeding the poor on this day is considered a rule. Because on a day like the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, all people should feel joy and protection, including those who do not have financial stability.
Making preparations for the winter is not only possible, but also necessary! It was believed that in the near future there would not be that variety of vegetables in the garden that could be prepared in reserve. Particular attention was paid to the pickling of cucumbers.
And, of course, you can get married on this day. Accepting matchmakers and discussing the details of the upcoming wedding is a very good omen that promises a happy married life.
The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is a very important and revered holiday. Therefore, it is not surprising that a huge number of different traditions, beliefs, and, of course, prohibitions are associated with it.
On this day, in no case should you walk with bare feet in the dew: it is believed that only ailments can be collected in this way.
You can not wear uncomfortable shoes: this can bring misfortune and misfortune.
Our ancestors believed that on this day nothing sharp should be stuck into the ground, because it must rest.
On this day, you also cannot cut food with a knife. Therefore, the hostesses even tried not to cook anything in the kitchen that day. They prepared festive dishes on the eve of the Dormition, and broke bread with their hands.
And especially on the Assumption, you cannot quarrel with anyone: otherwise, squabbles in the house will be all year round.
The feast of the Assumption of the Virgin coincides with the end of the Assumption Lent, which is considered strict.
Anyone who has fasted for two weeks can begin to eat a variety of foods. But, if the Assumption of the Virgin falls on Wednesday or Friday, then you need to wait one more day.
On this day, believers go to church to honor the memory of the Most Holy Theotokos. People will ask for help and protection from the Most Holy Theotokos.
“Oh, great Virgin Mary, we pray to you, please, hear us, deliver us from fears and horrors, from all evil spirits and evil. Save our house, our city and our country. All the righteous call on your name and pray to you. Save us from troubles, from ailments, a flood, from the invasion of our enemies, from fires and misfortunes. Have mercy on us and forgive all our sins. Let us glorify your name, and your Son Jesus Christ. Deliver us from torment, O Holy Virgin Mary. Let us rejoice at Thy reunification with Thy Son in Heaven! May there be peace on earth and may your name be glorified! In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From now on and forever. Amen!"
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2017: pictures, cards with congratulations
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2017: pictures, postcards... One of the greatest Orthodox holidays has come - the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. The holiday is celebrated annually on the same day - August 28. The holiday is dedicated to the glorification of the Mother of God.
The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is preceded by the strict Dormition Fast, which lasts for two weeks; on the eve of the feast, an all-night vigil is held in churches.
On this bright and most important day for the entire Orthodox world, believers congratulate each other on the holiday. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with a selection of congratulations on the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in the form of postcards and pictures in electronic form.
An important and solemn day in the Orthodox world is the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. For believers, this is truly a holiday, since the Mother of God was accepted into heaven.
For Orthodox people, death is not the end of life, but the liberation of the soul from sins, resurrection, cleansing, therefore the Dormition is really a holiday and every believer should know its date. The Virgin Mary prayed that she would quickly see her son and be with him all the time. Her prayers were answered and one day she was taken up to heaven.
We offer you to find out the history of the holiday, its traditions and find out the answer to the question: what date is the Assumption in 2017.
The holiday is celebrated annually on 28 August and this year there will be no exception. The day is preceded by the Dormition Fast and lasts 14 days.
Assumption Fast begins on August 14, 2017 and ends on August 27, 2017. This fast was established before the great feasts of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Dormition of the Mother of God.
This is the shortest multi-day fast of the year. o By its severity, the Dormition Fast is equated with Holy Week of Great Lent. But despite this, he is considered among the Orthodox and the lightest: both short and sweet.
The easiest one - because the Mother of God makes sure that the yoke of Christ is easy for us. And he cares about our body as well as about our soul.
The sweetest because this Fast begins with the consecration of honey, and then - the consecration of the fruits: so that through the sweetness that the Lord gives for the body, we taste and see how good the Lord is.
On August 14, the first day of the Dormition Lent, the Cross of Christ will be worn out for worship. As once in the Old Testament, a tree descended into the bitter waters of Marah at the word of the Lord, and they became sweet, so the bitterness of our life - from the touch of the Cross of Christ to it - may change into sweetness.
August 14 is the day of the Baptism of Rus. And baptism is just such an immersion in the water of the cross - the grace of Christ when the mystery of the Cross is revealed. And whoever recognizes her is ready to bring everything to the Lord - both his life and his death, in order to always be with Him. Therefore, the Holy Martyrs (on the Icons - they are always with the Cross in hand) go ahead of everyone in the assembly of the Saints. Our Russian Church, like no other, is glorified for the exploits of martyrdom. And in her there has always been a special veneration of the Mother of God, Her Holy Dormition, to which many Monasteries have been dedicated since ancient times. In the Dormition of the Mother of God, as in the Lord's Easter, death - what is considered the greatest sorrow - becomes the greatest joy.
There is a pious custom by the Dormition fasting daily to read the Akathist to the Dormition or to perform Paraclisis - the prayer singing of the Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos "Water has passed, as I dry ...".
On the Dormition Fast, we thank God that we are approaching the end of the summer, and we ask Him. to enable us to spend the autumn in peace and serenity. The Mother of God in the Assumption was saved from the destruction of the body and ascended with Her resurrected body into the Kingdom of God. Likewise, on the Feast of the Assumption, we tea the resurrection of the dead and our eternal stay with the Mother of God where the Risen Christ is.
Also on August 14, a small consecration of water is performed in churches, therefore often the Honey Savior is called the Savior on the Water. Believers on this day swam in rivers and lakes for the last time of the year, thus washing away all their sins. According to tradition, after the beginning of the Dormition Lent, they no longer bathed.
If you carefully study the history, you can understand that a lot was written and said words about the Virgin Mary in the period before the conception of Jesus Christ and before his crucifixion. When he was crucified on the cross, his mother did not leave him, held his hand and felt all his suffering. The Virgin Mary believed that only the body had died and that very soon she would meet her son.
Years passed, Mary lived in the cares of John's family, but Mary was not at rest. She often came to the place where her son was tormented, visited the cave where he ascended and asked for death in order to meet with her son. And the Lord heard Mary and in a moment all the disciples of Jesus Christ gathered around her from all over the world, they suffered, feeling that the Virgin Mary would soon leave. Mary promised to pray and protect everyone.
Instantly the room became too light, Christ appeared with the angels and symbolically took her soul to take to heaven. Maria died asleep. For her, it was a joyful event, she fell asleep, and from there and "dormition". Mary was taken to the tomb, and her husband also rested there. The apostles stayed near the tomb for three days and prayed. The apostle Thomas did not have time to be buried and was very saddened by this. Then the other apostles allowed the Mother of God to be worshiped and opened the entrance to the tomb. Opening the coffin, they saw that Mary's body was not there. She, like her son, ascended to heaven. It is believed that Mary did not die, but fell asleep and woke up to eternal life. The apostles raised their heads to heaven and saw Mary smiling there, who once again promised to pray for everyone. It was a miracle, just like the virgin birth.
It is worth noting that the holiday itself was not previously called the Dormition, but "Blessed Memory", later it was called as "The Feast of the Death of the Mother of God."
Feast of the Assumption - signs, customs, traditions:
In Orthodoxy, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin belongs to the twelve and has certain rules and traditions. On this day, as on other main church holidays, you cannot work, although there are some points that we will talk about later.
Before that day comes, it is necessary to fast, attend church, receive communion, and repent. On the day of the Assumption, they pray to the Mother of God, ask for health, prosperity, family happiness. The girls asked the Virgin Mary to send them a good groom, a child. If the Assumption falls on a Friday or Wednesday, then you can taste some fish. The conversation will be rescheduled for the next day. If the date of the holiday falls on some other days, that is, you can do whatever you want.
On this day, it is customary to gather with the whole family, spend time with mothers. It is not customary to grieve, swear, be offended at the Assumption, on the contrary, on this day they give each other happiness, goodness, smiles, and a good mood.
On this day, according to custom, the harvest ended, so the end of the successful harvest was celebrated on the Assumption. They thanked the Mother of God for a good harvest and prosperity in the house. Seeds and ears of wheat are brought to the Church for the Assumption to consecrate them. There was a tradition to dress up a sheaf in a dress and put it under the icon.
Previously, it was believed that it was with the Assumption that the Indian summer began, so they carefully watched the weather changes. If a rainbow appeared on August 28, then wait for a warm autumn. But if the weather is good on this day, then the Indian summer will not be very warm.
If you notice a lot of cobwebs in the house or shed, then this means that the winter will be free of snow and frosty.
We looked at the Dormition for water: if it is worried, then wait for the windy autumn, and the winter - snowy.
If you noticed frost already on August 28, then expect early frosts, the autumn will be short.
From the Assumption, they began harvesting various nuts and mushrooms for the winter. By the way, if it is foggy on the Assumption, then expect a good harvest of mushrooms.
Hostesses on the Assumption always salted cucumbers for the winter. It was believed that they would not grow moldy and survive well.
The girls had a sign that if you did not look after a groom on the Assumption, then all winter you could sit for a boyfriend. The guys tried to make an offer to the chosen girl as soon as possible in order to get married in time.
The church does not support all kinds of fortune-telling, but on this day, young women were fortune-telling in sand and wax to see their future.
On this day, women lay down on the ground and rolled on it, asking them to regain strength and good spirits.
After the Assumption - on August 29, the Nut Savior is celebrated. They also call it bread. It is to this day that the nuts ripen completely and they can be harvested. In addition, on this day, bread and pies from the new harvest were baked.
What they don't do for the Assumption:
As with many church holidays, there are certain prohibitions on the day of the Assumption.
Firstly, on this day, they do not quarrel with loved ones, especially with mothers.
It is believed that you cannot walk on the Assumption with bare feet. People have noticed that this can lead to disease. On this day, they put on comfortable shoes that could not rub or press on their feet.
According to different sources, there is also different information about whether it is possible to work on this day. Some sources say that it is categorically impossible, while others say that, on the contrary, they finish all important matters on this day. Especially, you can work if the activity is related to helping people.
They do not take piercing objects on this day - it was believed that this could lead to trouble. Thus, no knives, no scissors, no needles were used on the Assumption. And on this day, it was impossible to stick a knife into the ground.
It was considered a serious sin on this day to drop bread or crumbs of bread that was consecrated in the church.
It was believed that girls were not supposed to cut their hair on the Assumption, let alone throw it away. It was believed that such actions could cause the tears of the Mother of God.
In order not to attract various misfortunes and diseases to your home, you cannot kindle a fire on this day.
Interesting facts about the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin:
Many icons, paintings, poems, songs are dedicated to the Feast of the Assumption. In honor of this day, temples, settlements, streets are named. By the way, Asuncion - the capital of Paraguay - is named precisely in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin, because the word is translated from Spanish as "Assumption".
Michelangelo da Caravaggio painted the painting "The Death of Mary" commissioned by the papal lawyer Laerzo Cerubini. It was intended for the family church of Santa Maria della Scala. The priests rejected the picture because of the inappropriate posture of the Virgin Mary, as well as because she was depicted as dead, and not as a woman who was miraculously lifted up to heaven, beautiful and peaceful. But Rubens saw in the picture one of the best works of Michelangelo.
The largest altarpiece in Venice is the work of Titian - "The Assumption of the Virgin". The picture consists of several levels, has bright colors, unusual postures and actions of the apostles and the Virgin Mary. This work immediately attracted the attention of many people, and Titian became very popular.
The classic icon dedicated to the Assumption looks like this: in the center of the canvas is a bed covered with a purple veil, the body of the Mother of God lies on it, the apostles are around. Behind the couch is Jesus, who holds in his hands the holy soul of Mary. In addition, angels fly over the Virgin Mary and the Savior, witnessing this important event. It is believed that this is the simplest ancient depiction of the Assumption. Later, the creators of the icons began to expand the storyline.
Descriptions of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary are written in apocryphal form. In the Bible, however, such information is completely absent.
The Catholic Church tells about the Assumption with an emphasis on the ascension of the Mother of God to heaven and her coronation as Queen of Heaven.
At the burial site of the Virgin in Jerusalem, solemn events are held on the day of the Assumption.
What you can eat in the Assumption Lent:
According to the church charter, people who adhere to the Dormition Fast must follow the following food restrictions:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday during the Dormition Fast is dry eating.On dry eating days, you can eat the following foods: dry unleavened bread (rusks), raw vegetables, fruits and dried fruits, honey, nuts, water, salt is allowed from seasonings.
Fasting Tuesday and Thursday - hot food without oil.On these days, you can eat dishes cooked on fire and without the use of vegetable oil. Such dishes include vegetable and mushroom soups, tea, coffee, compotes, decoctions.
Saturday and Sunday during the Dormition Lent- it is allowed to eat vegetable oil and wine.
August 19, the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, it is allowed to eat Fish and seafood.
If the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on Wednesday or Friday, then the breaking of the fast is postponed to the next day, and on August 28 it is allowed to eat fish and seafood.
Is it possible to have a wedding during the Dormition Lent?
As you know, August is the most favorable time for weddings. This month accounts for almost half of all marriages performed throughout the year. However, if you have a wedding planned for August, be sure to play it either before the 14th or after the 28th.
Wedding at the Assumption Lent, and even more so a wedding is considered a great sin. After all, fasting is a time of prayer, repentance, abstinence not only from certain foods, but also from various pleasures, including marital intimacy. Old people say that young people who got married during fasting never live together for a long time.
The Dormition is celebrated at the end of summer on 28 August. It is important not only for the inhabitants of Russia and Ukraine, far abroad, believers arrange magnificent holidays in honor of the Mother.
After Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross and ascended to heaven, Mary was near the Holy Sepulcher almost constantly. She turned to God in her prayers, asking him to take Her to Heaven. And one day, when she was praying, the archangel Gabriel appeared to her and said that she would soon die.
Mary really wanted to say goodbye to the disciples of her son Jesus Christ. And on the day when she was dying and lying on her deathbed, the apostles came to her. The Holy Spirit heard Mary's request and gathered them near her bed. After she died, the apostles went to Gethsemane and in a cave near the garden she was buried, the entrance was covered by a huge stone. For another 3 days the apostles were near her grave and read prayers for her ascension to heaven. On the third day Thomas came. He was late and was very sorry that he could not say goodbye to the Most Holy Theotokos. The apostles decided to remove the stone and open the grave so that he could say goodbye, but her body was not there. On the same evening, the spirit of the Mother of God appeared to the apostles.
The holiday is called the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, because she did not die, but simply transported to heaven. Her body was not buried, but together with her spirit was taken up to heaven. On the site of the cave in which she was buried there is now a Greek Orthodox church going underground.
There are peoples who celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos along with the feast of the "Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos", which is celebrated the next day after Christmas - January 7 (in the Orthodox Church). But there are other data that are historical for the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On this holiday, it is customary to pray to the Mother of God, and she will definitely help you with your problems. Among Orthodox believers, it is customary to spend this day with their parents and especially with their mother. The family gathers at a lush table full of delicious dishes, where all relatives and friends are present.
Since the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 2017 will be celebrated on August 28, many people have already been harvested. In the evening on the eve of the holiday, a sheaf of hay was brought from the field, dressed up in a dress, and thus the successful completion of the harvest was also celebrated on the Assumption. Considering that it was the Mother of God who gave them such a rich harvest.
Bread was made from flour made from only harvested wheat, and everyone in the family broke off a piece from it - you can't cut bread. What remained was placed under the icon of the Mother of God. It is believed that it has healing power and can heal seriously ill patients.
The date of the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin is considered the beginning of Indian summer - hot days last until September 11. During this week it was possible to understand what the second Indian summer will be like. Which begins a few days after the first - September 14 and lasts almost until the end of the month - September 28.
According to the signs of nature, if the ground frosts begin a week after the feast of the Assumption, then the autumn will be long and the winter cold will not come soon.
If a rainbow appears in the sky after the rain, then the autumn will not be cold and will last a long time.
Among the housewives, it is customary to preserve cucumbers and salt cabbage on the Assumption.
As we have already said, you cannot cut bread with a knife, but other cutting tools also cannot be handled. Food cannot be boiled that day.
If you walk barefoot on this day, there is a chance that you could get sick. Nature is crying with dew that the Mother of God has left this world and can no longer be a helper for all people.
If you do not want to have difficulties in your life in the next year after the holiday, wear only comfortable shoes for time. Rubbed calluses will indicate future problems.
But on this day you can and even need to work. If you are asked for help, it is better to agree to help by all means.
The holiday is celebrated by Orthodox believers in countries such as Georgia, Serbia, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus. And before the onset of the holiday, in order to honor the Most Holy Theotokos, people observe. It lasts exactly two weeks before the holiday and ends on August 27, on the eve of the Assumption. Believers deny themselves entertainment, fatty foods, meat.
On the night of the coming of the holiday, a service is held in the churches, which lasts all night. In the morning, another service is held, where a variety of foods, wheat and bread are blessed. On the festive table on this day, there should be an abundance of various pies and other pastries. It is customary to drink wine from drinks. Before starting to eat, everyone reads the prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos.
- one of the twelve great (twelve) holidays of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is celebrated on August 28 (August 15, old style).
On this day, the Orthodox Church commemorates the death (Dormition) of the Mother of God - an event colored at the same time with sadness, because this is the day of the end of the life of the Mother of God, and the joy of uniting her with her son Jesus Christ.
Sacred Tradition tells about the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos after the Death on the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Most Pure Virgin was at that time in Jerusalem, later moved with the Apostle John the Theologian to Ephesus, where she visited the righteous Lazarus in Cyprus and Mount Athos, which she blessed as her inheritance. Shortly before her death, the Mother of God returned to Jerusalem, where she visited the places with which the most important events in the life of her divine Son are connected: Bethlehem, Golgotha, the Holy Sepulcher, Gethsemane, and the Olives. There she prayed fervently.
On one of these visits to Golgotha, the Archangel Gabriel appeared before her and announced her imminent migration from this life to the Heavenly life. As a pledge, the Archangel handed her a palm branch. With this message, the Mother of God returned to Bethlehem with three virgins serving her - Zipporah, Evigee and Zoila. Then she summoned the righteous Joseph of Arimathea and the disciples of Jesus Christ, to whom she announced her imminent death.
The Mother of God bequeathed her meager property to the widows who served her and commanded to bury herself in Gethsemane, next to the graves of her righteous parents and righteous Joseph the Betrothed.
On the day of the Dormition of the Theotokos, in a miraculous manner in Jerusalem, almost all the apostles, who had previously dispersed to different countries with the mission of preaching the Word of God, were gathered to say goodbye to her. The apostle Paul was the last to arrive. Only the apostle Thomas was absent.
Suddenly a light shone, obscuring the lamps, the roof of the upper room was opened, and Jesus Christ descended with many angels. The Most Holy Theotokos turned to him with a prayer of thanks and asked to bless all those who honor her memory. Then the Mother of God joyfully gave her soul into the hands of Christ, and immediately the angelic singing was heard.
With lighted lamps, with the singing of psalms, the apostles buried the Mother of God, as she commanded, in the Garden of Gethsemane, in the cave where the bodies of her parents were buried. After the funeral, the apostles remained at the cave for three more days and prayed.
On the third day, the apostle Thomas, who was late for the burial, reached Jerusalem. Wanting to say goodbye to the Blessed Virgin, he entered the cave and found it empty. The body of the Blessed Virgin was not there, only the burial shroud remained. The amazed apostles returned to the house and prayed to God to let them know what had become of the body of the Mother of God. In the evening of the same day, the Mother of God herself appeared to the apostles who had gathered for supper and said: "Rejoice! I am with you - all the days."
In honor of this event, on August 27, during the evening service in all churches, the Shroud with the image of the Mother of God is taken out of the altar and placed in the middle of the church. The shroud is in the middle of the church until the burial, when it is carried around the church in procession.
The Orthodox Church calls the demise of the Mother of God the Assumption, and not death, because death, as the return of her body to the earth, and the return of her spirit to God, did not touch her. She only fell asleep in order to awaken at the same moment for eternally blessed life and after three days with an incorruptible body to move into a heavenly incorruptible dwelling.
A temple was built on the site of the burial of the Mother of God in Gethsemane in the 5th century. There is a legend that a basilica was built here earlier by the holy queen Helena. In 614 the temple was destroyed, but the tomb of the Mother of God survived. Much of the modern building dates back to the time of the Crusaders. This is an underground temple, into which 50 steps lead, with the side-chapels of Saints Joachim and Anna, parents of the Mother of God, and Joseph the Betrothed, located on the sides of the stairs. The temple has a cruciform shape: in the center is the tomb of the Mother of God with two entrances. It is here, according to tradition, before the feast of the Dormition from Little Gethsemane near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, by the procession of the cross, the Orthodox carry the Shroud of the Most Holy Theotokos along the same path that the apostles once carried the body of the Mother of God to burial.
The veneration of the Virgin Mary in the early Christian era is evidenced by an inscription in one of the Nazareth churches of the 2nd century, as well as frescoes in the catacombs.
In the 5th century Anatoly of Constantinople, in the 8th century Saints John of Damascus and Cosmas of Maium, in the 9th Theophanes of Nicaea wrote the canons for the day of the Assumption, which the church now sings on this day. In the songs of the canon, the day of the Assumption is called a famous, solemn and divine holiday. Besides,
The Dormition of the Mother of God in the Orthodox Church is praised with a special akathist in honor of this event.
In Russia, the Assumption has long been one of the most beloved holidays: since the time of Saint Prince Vladimir, Assumption churches began to be built everywhere - the first cathedral church in Kiev, the Tithe Church, was dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, and by the XIV century the Assumption churches were the main ones in Suzdal, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Zvenigorod and in Moscow, where the Kremlin's Assumption Cathedral became the main temple of the Russian Orthodox Church, in which all Russian tsars and emperors were crowned tsars, and during the time of the patriarchate patriarchs were enthroned.
In honor of the Assumption of the Virgin, many villages in Russia. There is a settlement of Uspensky even near Karaganda in Kazakhstan.
Uspensky is one of the most common Russian surnames.
The holiday of the harvested harvest was timed to coincide with the day of the Assumption of the Virgin in Russia. On this day, the farewell to summer took place - the meeting of autumn - the first autumn. Since the Dormition was considered the last summer day, the holiday ended with the fact that that evening in the huts for the first time they "blew up the fire" - they lit a torch, lamp or candle and sat down to dine in the light. With the Assumption, the preparation of various supplies for the winter began. As a sign of the death of the Mother of God in some villages, elderly women dressed in black clothes, thus commemorating the Mother of God.
The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources
The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the main Christian holidays, which is popularly associated with many signs and rituals. The history of this holiday is rooted in biblical times and tells of a divine miracle that happened after the death of the Mother of God. Since ancient times, our ancestors have associated this holiday with the harvest and the beginning of the wedding season. It is not surprising that the lion's share will take on the Dormition of the Theotokos associated with the prediction of marriage and the birth of children. It is also customary for Christians to congratulate each other on the Dormition with the warmest and kindest wishes. From our article today you will find out what date the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated in 2017, what you can and cannot do on this day, and you will also find the best congratulations in poetry and prose, pictures for the holiday.
The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the church holidays that Christians celebrate annually on the same date. The only difference in dates, as is often the case in the Christian religion, is due to the difference in the chronology of the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Hence the difference of almost two weeks between the celebrations of the Assumption among Catholics and Orthodox. Therefore, there is no single answer on how many Christians celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin 2017.
If we talk specifically about Orthodox Christians, which are the majority of our fellow citizens, then for them the celebration of this good holiday falls at the end of August. To be more precise, the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos takes place every year on 28 August. In turn, Catholics celebrate this church holiday earlier, namely on August 15.
To understand why such a sad date as the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, in other words, the day of her death, is recognized as a holiday, you need to know a little about her history, signs and rituals. According to the biblical chroniclers, after the death of Christ, the Mother of God Mary prayed to the Lord day and night for her speedy death. She understood that only after leaving this world, she could be reunited forever with her son. Shortly before the day of her death, an angel appeared to Mary and warned of an imminent death. The last desire of the woman was to gather all the apostles of Christ together and bless them to glorify the Lord. The last will of the Most Holy Theotokos was fulfilled, and soon she departed into another world. After 3 days, the Apostle Thomas arrived, who did not participate in the burial. Especially so that he could say goodbye to the Mother of God, her grave was opened, after which it turned out that Mary's body had disappeared. Since from the moment of burial until the opening of the cave, the apostles were constantly near it, it became clear that the Mother of God lifted up to heaven along with her physical body. Consequently, her life did not end, but was transformed to a new higher level. Now that you know the story, let's talk about the signs and rituals associated with the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is preceded by a short but strict Dormition Fast. In addition, since ancient times, this holiday has been associated with the end of field work and the beginning of the wedding season. Therefore, most of the rituals and will take this holiday is inherently associated with these important events. For example, on the Dormition, they were sure to carry ears of wheat to the church in order to consecrate a new harvest. They also collected large feasts, which were especially relevant after the fast. And today Christians celebrate this holiday in a similar way: they make sure to bake bread and pies from the flour of the new harvest, gather relatives and friends together, rejoice and congratulate each other.
As for folk signs, the weather at the Assumption was judged on the coming autumn and winter. For example, if on this day a rainbow appeared in the sky, then the autumn was expected to be dry and warm. And if the first web of Indian summer has already appeared on the branches of the trees, then the winter will be snowy and frosty.
One of the main signs on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered to be a sign of marriage. This is not surprising, given the fact that the feast of the Dormition falls on the end of the harvest and the beginning of autumn - it was during this period that it was customary for the Slavs to have a wedding. In addition, on the Great Most Pure, as this holiday is also called by the people, they tried to have time to send matchmakers. Matchmaking on this day was believed to ensure a long and happy family life in the future. Below you will find a few more main signs for marriage on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, some of which are still relevant today.
One of the main signs associated with marriage was the following: if the matchmakers did not wait for the Assumption, then sit in girls all winter. This rule worked exactly, since the time for matchmaking and marriage among the Slavs was strictly defined. However, on the Assumption, unmarried girls not only looked out for grooms, but also wondered at the betrothed. Most of these fortune-telling were similar to those that were performed on Christmastide. These are rituals well known to modern girls with a mirror, comb, candles, etc.
In addition to rituals and traditions, there is a whole set of rules for what cannot be done at the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos according to signs and church rules. First of all, the prohibitions relate to hard physical work, with which they tried to end it just before the Great Most Pure. It was also impossible to walk barefoot in the dew, insert sharp objects into the ground. The first sign was related to health, since the first drops in temperature had already begun on the Assumption, and one could easily catch a cold while walking barefoot. The second sign is explained not only by the prohibition of physical labor on this day, but also by the deification of the mother earth.
If we talk more specifically about the fact that not only by signs, but also by church canons it is categorically impossible to do on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2017, then it is worth mentioning the rules of conduct. On this day, you cannot swear, argue and offend anyone. It is advisable to choose beautiful wishes and congratulate your relatives, friends and acquaintances with the holiday with good heart. Also, it is strictly forbidden to chop, scatter and throw away bread on this day, especially bread consecrated in the temple. In addition, it was forbidden on this day to use knives, scissors and other cutting objects that could hurt. It was believed that such wounds would take a long time to heal and could significantly undermine the health of their owner. The same rule applies to uncomfortable shoes on this day. Our ancestors were sure that calluses rubbed on the Assumption foreshadow problems and difficulties in life.
An obligatory part of the celebration was and remains beautiful congratulations on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2017 in verse and prose. On this day, the kindest and warmest words should sound not only to friends and relatives, but also to good friends and colleagues. In the next selection, you will find the most beautiful wishes that are ideal for this purpose.
On the day of the Assumption of the Virgin
We wish you blessings,
And also joy, luck
And a festive mood.
So that the Virgin Mary helps in everything,
To protect from all failures.
I would always look favorably from heaven.
And never let me get sick.
The bell chime is overflowing
The spirit of the Virgin descends
And the soul of people is cleansed!
Let doubts leave the soul
Disagreements and worries
Prayer will remain on the lips
And all will get humility.
Assumption of the Virgin
The church is celebrating.
On this day I love you
And I wish you well.
Let the virgin
Close it from trouble.
Belief in light, good
Let it calm you down.
Ask and Mary
For family health.
Put her bright face
You are at the head of the bed.
Of course, not only wishes in verse, but also congratulations in prose are relevant for this holiday. Such wishes can not only be said to each other when meeting, but also used as toasts and instructions at the festive table in the family circle. You will find the best congratulations on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2017 in prose in the following selection.
Today is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May this day become a bright broad road to faith. May the life of the Mother of God and holy prayers warm and fill souls with grace. Let them grant patience, understanding and kindness of thoughts to all people on the planet.
*** On the day of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, I sincerely wish to always appreciate everything that you have in your life, not waste time on offenses and stupid quarrels with loved ones, cherish every moment of happiness and joy, give your heart the opportunity to sincerely love and hope.
On August 28 we celebrate the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. After her death, She eternally reigns in the kingdom of heaven with our God Jesus Christ. Go to church or pray at home. May faith, repentance and love come to your house.
If you want not only to give warm words to your loved ones, but also to acquaint them with the history of the holiday, then pay attention to the Christian congratulations on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2017 in pictures with verses. Such a congratulation can be sent via a message on a social network or by email. In addition, such wishes are pleasantly distinguished by their beauty and originality.
The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos 2017 is one of the main holidays of Christians, the history of which inspires hope for spiritual life after death. Many rituals, traditions and signs are associated with the Great Most Pure, as this holiday is also called among the people, the main of which relate to marriage. There is also a list of things that absolutely must not be done on the Assumption. It is also worth remembering that on such a bright holiday, you must definitely choose beautiful congratulations in poetry, prose, pictures for your family and friends. And now, knowing exactly what date the Orthodox will celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos in 2017, you can arm yourself with the wishes from this article and congratulate the people dear to your heart on the great holiday.
