The Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most important and most revered holidays in the Orthodox tradition. And in Cyprus and Greece it is also a public holiday.
According to the new style, the holiday falls on August 15, hence its Greek name “Decapendaugustos”. The holiday is preceded by a period of strict fasting. The Assumption Fast is the shortest in the Orthodox Church, it lasts two weeks (from August 1 to August 14).
The history of the Feast of the Assumption is rooted in early Christian traditions. The Mother of God Mary, having lived a long and pious life, died in Jerusalem surrounded by the apostles. Shortly before her death, the apostles, who were then preaching in different parts of the world, were miraculously transported to Jerusalem to say goodbye to the mother of Jesus. Only the Apostle Thomas did not make it to the last meeting.
Three days after the death of Mary, he also wished to say goodbye to the Mother of God. But when her coffin was opened, it turned out that Mary's body had disappeared. That is, the Mother of God was ascended into heaven in her body, where Jesus crowned her as the Queen of Heaven.
The Feast of the Assumption has a deep spiritual meaning. First of all, this is the hope of resurrection. The Dormition of Mary and her subsequent ascension to heaven symbolize the transition from earthly life to heavenly life. It reminds believers that death is not considered the end of life, but only a transition to eternity with God. Mary's ascension to heaven without bodily decay reminds us that the history of our world will end with the second coming of Jesus Christ and the general resurrection of people in transformed bodies. The first person who received a new transformed body, not subject to the laws of the material world, was Mary.
The Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not so much a historical event as an important spiritual landmark that reminds believers of eternity and the ultimate goal of Christian life. It teaches humility, hope and faith in divine providence, strengthening the connection between the earthly and the heavenly.
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Cyprus has more holidays and weekends than the rest of the European Union. Of the 15 holidays, nine are religious celebrations. Cypriots as a whole are the most religious nation in the EU. Read more here.
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