THE GREAT FEAST OF THE KOIMISIS (DORMITION) OF THE THEOTOKOS, AUGUST 1st-15th according to the Orthodox Church

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

THE GREAT FEAST OF THE KOIMISIS (DORMITION) OF THE THEOTOKOS,
AUGUST 1st – 15th According to the Orthodox Church.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. First Tone

IN giving birth, thou didst preserve thy virginity; in thy dormition,
thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos. Thou wast translated
unto life, since thou art the Mother of Life; and by thine intercessions
dost thou redeem our souls from death.

Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone

THE grave and death could not hold the Theotokos, who is unsleeping
in her intercessions and an unfailing hope in her mediation. For as the
Mother of Life she was translated to life by Him Who dwelt in her
Ever-virgin womb.

In Our Holy Orthodox Church and Tradition the Feast of the Koimisis ("falling asleep") and bodily translation into heaven of the Theotokos (Mother of God). Preceded by a strict two-week fast (August 1-14), it is joyfully celebrated as the "SUMMER PASCHA" because it honors the promise of Eternal Life. Our Holy Orthodox Tradition holds that Panagia (All-Holy) died a real human death before her sacred body was raised and taken into Heaven. Known as the "Summer Pascha" because its tone is triumphant and full of resurrection hope, not sorrow. Orthodoxy teaches that Ever-Virgin Mary experienced true physical death prior to her bodily assumption unlike the Roman Catholic dogma of the Assumption of the Mother of God with her body into heaven.