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Reading of Icons – Icon of Assumption of Mother Mary – August 15

On August 15, many Christians around the world celebrate the Feast of the Dormition of the blessed Theotokos, Mother of God, Mother Mary. The word dormition comes from the Latin roots of dormitio(n-) which means ‘falling asleep’ and from dormire which means ‘to sleep’. The feast commemorates the passing away of Mother Mary from her earthly life. But the Orthodox Christians believe not just in the Dormition of the blessed Mother, but in her Assumption. We believe that after the Mother of our God was laid to rest in the tomb, she was bodily taken up into heaven, where she now stands interceding for all who ask of her intercessions.

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