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.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese