Orthodox Christians mark Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary

Orthodox Christians across the world are today marking the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, one of the most important dates in the church calendar.

The Dormition, known in Georgia as Mariamioba, is considered the greatest of the feasts dedicated to the Mother of God, alongside her Nativity and Presentation at the Temple. In Christian tradition, the Virgin Mary is venerated immediately after the Holy Trinity.

According to church teaching, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary while she prayed on the Mount of Olives and told her that in three days she would “fall asleep” in the Lord. To confirm his message, he gave her a palm branch shining with divine grace, which was later laid on her tomb.

The apostles, who had been preaching in different parts of the world, were miraculously gathered together on the day of her Dormition to bid farewell. Mary was buried in a tomb in Gethsemane, but on the third day, when the apostle Thomas came to venerate her, the tomb was found empty. The church teaches that Christ himself had taken her body and soul into heaven.

For this reason, the Orthodox Church refers to her passing not as death but as Dormition – a “falling asleep” before her assumption into heaven.