August 15
Reading:
Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what
the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the
Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to
take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that
three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to
eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount
of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she
returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her
burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the
Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be
preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God,
who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother,
she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her
hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the
Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her
all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.
With reverence
and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that
God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels
from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the
Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his
hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the
wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible
blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were
restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried
there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was
the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they
were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as
was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice"
to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the
Theotokos into the Heavens.
These things has the Church received
from the traditions of the Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of
reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God (see Oct. 3 and 4).
Apolytikion of Dormition of the Theotokos in the First Tone
In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not
abandon the world, O Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the
source of life, delivering our souls from death by your intercessions.
Kontakion of Dormition of the Theotokos in the Second Tone
Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the
unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother
of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her to life.
SOURCE:
SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2015(with 2014's link here also and further: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and even 2007!):
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