Ancient feast being marked

Today marks the eve of the Falling Asleep of the Virgin Mary, the most Holy Mother of God.

It is called “Dormition of the Theotokos” in Orthodox churches and “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary” in Catholic churches.

It is an ancient Christian feast day celebrated by all of Christendom for a thousand years before the tragic split occurred between Eastern and Western Christendom in 1054 A.D.

The tradition of remembering the life, the repose, and the “translation” of the soul – and then the body – of the Theotokos into heaven is celebrated every year on Aug. 15.

The story is taken from the apocryphal books of the New Testament; that is, manuscripts that were not included in the New Testament collection, as determined by the Apostolic Tradition of the church fathers and later ratified at church councils in the second millennium. The exact source of the story of the Virgin Mary’s repose is found in Philip Schaff’s monumental work, “Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Church,” (Ante-Nicene Fathers, volume 8, pp. 587-591) first published in 1885.

It is now accessible to any computer connected to the Internet. Read the account by visiting www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf08.vii.xlii.html. The account is given by St. John the theologian, evangelist and beloved disciple of the Lord.

The canonical Gospel of St. John (19:26-27) records Jesus, while dying on the cross, entrusting his mother Mary to the care of his disciple John.

The Virgin Mary, also called the mother of God, thereafter stayed with John in his home in Jerusalem on Mount Zion.

The Apostle John regarded her as his own mother, serving her with much respect. Many of the church fathers have written about how the apostles all had the highest regard for the Theotokos, and how they regarded her as their spiritual mother.

It was our Lord’s intention that she remain on the earth in Jerusalem to give much strength and encouragement to Christ’s disciples and, in general, to the young Church of Christ. Theologically, she is the human portal through whom the invisible God became visible, by “taking flesh from Mary.”

And that’s why the church gives her the name “Theotokos” – literally, “bearer of God,” and more commonly, “Mother of God.” She is the first actualized Christian. She is also an icon of the Church.

And since the Apostles themselves regarded her as their mother, so too the Christians in the first millennium, and after, feel the same. Mary fell asleep peacefully on Aug. 15, a Sunday morning about 9 a.m. on Mount Zion, as she had been informed by an angel three days prior.

The Apostles were brought by the Holy Spirit to Jerusalem just prior to her repose, as this had been her fervent wish to be surrounded by her family.

Her body was prepared for burial, her funeral was chanted and a procession took place led by the Apostles, and her body was buried with great reverence in the Garden of Gethsemane just east of Jerusalem.

According to tradition, the Apostle Thomas was late in coming to the funeral and arrived three days afterwards.

Desiring to venerate the body of the Virgin, the tomb was opened for him to enter, but the body was not there.

Instead, the burial shroud remained as if still wrapped around her body.

Why is this feast day so important to both Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics alike? Because it reveals that those keeping the tradition (outlook) of the Apostles are necessarily connected to the first Family of God, namely the Virgin Mary Theotokos, the Apostles themselves and also all the righteous of the Old Testament, especially the Prophets.

The Dormition of the Virgin Mary becomes a window though which we may perceive the love and respect the Apostles and Christians down through the ages had, and continue to have, for her. Tonight, the Great Vespers of the Dormition will be celebrated at 6 p.m. in Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Campbell with an outdoor procession around the block taking place at about 7.

Sunday afternoon services and a procession will take place at St. Lucy’s Roman Catholic Church in Campbell.

The Rev. Steve Denas is pastor of Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Campbell and member of Eastern Orthodox Clergy Association of the Mahoning Valley.