The feast commemorates her glorification and salvation in Jesus Christ. Fr. Thomas Hopko says that "the feast of the Dormition is the sign, the guarantee, and the celebration that Mary's fate is, the destiny of all those of "low estate" whose souls magnify the Lord, whose spirits rejoice in God the Saviour, whose lives are totally dedicated to hearing and keeping the Word of God which is given to men in Mary's child, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world". According to tradition, while in prayer, an angel appeared to the Theotokos telling her that she would leave this world. As a token and promise that her Son awaited, the angel gave her a branch with flowers from Eden. So on this day in honor of the greatest flower of womanhood, and the first to receive the promise of the awaiting kingdom, flowers are brought for blessing. We will celebrate this feast with Vespers and Lytia next Saturday evening (August 14th at 5:00 p.m.) and Divine Liturgy on Sunday (August 15th at 9:00 a.m.) as usual followed by the blessing of flowers and seed.
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This Week's Schedule
Sunday, April 28th
Palm Sunday
Bridegroom Matins
at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, April 29th
Holy Monday
9th Hour & Typika
at 8:45 a.m.
Presanctified Liturgy
at 9:00 a.m.
†††
Bridegroom Matins
with Archbishop MARK
at 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 30th
Holy Tuesday
9th Hour & Typika
at 8:45 a.m.
Presanctified Liturgy
with Archbishop MARK
at 9:00 a.m.
†††
Bridegroom Matins
at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 1st
Holy Wednesday
9th Hour & Typika
at 8:45 a.m.
Presanctified Liturgy
at 9:00 a.m.
†††
Holy Unction
at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 2nd
Holy Thursday
9th Hour & Typika
at 8:45 a.m.
Vesperal Divine Liturgy
of St. Basil
at 9:00 a.m.
†††
Matins with Reading of
the 12 Passion Gospels
at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, May 3rd
Holy Friday
Royal Hours
at 9:30 a.m.
†††
Burial Vespers
at 3:00 p.m.
†††
Lamentations and Procession
at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 4th
Holy Saturday
9th Hour & Typika
9:15 a.m.
Vesperal Divine Liturgy
The Harrowing of Hades
at 9:30 a.m.
†††
Reading from the
Acts of the Apostles
at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 4th
into Sunday, May 5th
Nocturnes, Procession, Matins,
Paschal Divine Liturgy
at 11:00 p.m.
followed by
Fellowship
Sunday, May 5th
† PASCHA †
Agape Vespers & Potluck
at 3:00 p.m.