Among all the holidays celebrated by the Orthodox Church, the Mother of God is probably the most touching. Believers call the Mother of God holidays those when some event concerning the Mother of God is remembered. This is the Introduction to the Temple of the Mother of God, the Annunciation, the Assumption and the rite of burial, the Nativity of the Mother of God, the Intercession. This list is the main milestones in the life of the Virgin Mary. True, she took part in some other events that are now celebrated as holidays: Christmas, Candlemas, but these days are considered the Lord's holidays.
Assumption
The Gospel describes only one event that corresponds to the Annunciation. The Mother of God was very modest and, although it is reliably known that the Gospel of Luke was practically written from her words, she never mentioned other events that concerned her. All other events were preserved not in Holy Scripture, but in the Holy Tradition of the Church. The Russian Orthodox Church reveres Tradition as a reliable and important source. It is from him that the story of the Assumption of the Mother of God is taken.
History of the holiday
Shortly before her death, the Virgin Mary wished to see all the apostles. They were delivered to her on a cloud so that the Mother of God could say goodbye to the disciples of Christ on earth with the hope of meeting in the Upper cloisters.
Only one apostle didn't show up for the meeting, that was the apostle Thomas. But, as it will become clear later, this was a special providence of God.
The Mother of God was very afraid of air ordeals, and the Son Himself came to take her pure soul to heaven, the next day the rite of burial of the Most Holy Theotokos was appointed. A lot of people gathered for the funeral, Jews and persecutors of Christians even wanted to make a riot. But the wicked, who stretched out his hand to the bed of the Most Holy Theotokos and wanted to overturn it, immediately lost them. The angel cut off the hands that touched the coffin.
After such a mutilation, the Jewish priest believed in Christ, repented, was healed and began to continue the rite of burial of the Most Holy Theotokos with all the disciples. Many miracles and healings took place while the coffin was being carried to the Garden of Gethsemane…
The Apostle Thomas arrived in Jerusalem three days later. He was very upset that he was not present at the death of the Mother of God and missed the rite of the burial of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Thomas went to Gethsemane and, wanting to bow to the remains of the Mother of God, opened the burial cave. The body of the Virgin Mary was not there. The Lord took Mother to heaven, only the sheets remained in the cave.
Modern holiday
Now the Assumption of the Mother of Godpreceded by a two-week post. The holiday itself is celebrated on August 28 according to the new style, and on August 29 or 30 the rite of the burial of the Most Holy Theotokos is appointed.
On this day, a solemn and touching Vigil is served. All prayers and the canon are dedicated to the Mother of God. The believers, as it were, remind her that, despite the Dormition, she promised to help Christians. At the end of the service, the rite of burial of the Most Holy Theotokos takes place.
From the day of the Assumption, the shroud of the Mother of God has been standing in the temple, and now the priests take it and with singing, prayers, solemnly carry it around the church to the sound of bells.
The rite of the burial of the Virgin is one of the most impressive services, a lot of people always flock to it.
