August 30, 2009
The
Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos celebrated across the
Eastern American Diocese
"In
the Mother of God, as it is sung in another hymn, the laws of nature
are defeated. In Her, virginity led to birth, and death to life. After
giving birth, she remained a virgin, and after her death, remained
alive. Thereby this feast is the fulfillment of the Paschal feast,
when we 'celebrate the annihilation of death and the beginning of
eternal life.' In yet another holy hymn, the Church calls out on this
day, 'O come, let us learn the ways of the Lord and be saved with an
eternal salvation.' Yes, truly, here we enter into contact with a
higher world and a higher life, separated from our minds and
feelings by an impenetrable wall, but attainable through the higher
faculties of our spirit - faith and love. There, entirely different
laws of creation are at work, incomprehensible to our minds; the
mystery of this life is opened only through our communication with God
through the Church."
Archbishop
Nikon (Rklitsky)
Sermon on Dormition, Jordanville, 1951
On
August 28 (15), the Orthodox Church celebrates the Dormition of Our
Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. His Eminence Hilarion,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, led the All-Night Vigil
in the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Brooklyn,
and celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Dormition Convent at
Novo-Diveevo.
His Grace George, Bishop of Mayfield, officiated at the All-Night
Vigil with the Burial Rite of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Divine
Liturgy at Holy Cross Monastery. His Grace Jerome, Bishop of
Manhattan, led the divine services in the Synodal Cathedral.
In
Holy Trinity Monastery, two Liturgies were performed on the feast of
the Dormition. The rector of the monastery, Archimandrite Luke,
celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, co-served
by monastery clergy, while another Liturgy was served in the Church of
the Dormition. After the Liturgy, the brethren and faithful took part
in a procession from Trinity Cathedral to the Church of the Dormition
for a general moleben. The priests carried the miraculous Pochaevsk
icon of the Mother of God into the altar of the church, where she will
remain until the feast of the Venerable St. Job of Pochaev. On
Saturday, September 5, the clergy and pilgrims will partake in a
procession to the icon, so as to triumphantly transfer her to Trinity
Cathedral for a festive akathist to St. Job.
We
offer visitors of the diocesan website photos of the Dormition in the
monasteries of the Eastern American Diocese.
Dormition
at Novo-Diveevo Monastery
Dormition
at Holy Cross Monastery
Dormition
at Holy Trinity Monastery
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
