28 August 2025
Dear brothers and sisters!
Today, the Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. We see a huge paradox in this event: the matter concerns death, but the Church calls it a 'dormition' — a peaceful sleep, a passover into eternal life. Since that day, the Mother of God has stood before the Throne of Her Son and has incessantly interceded for all of us.
Her Dormition is a response to the Resurrection of Christ. There, Christ tells the entire mankind, 'Fear not, I have overcome death!' — and here, the Most Holy Virgin answers Him, 'I fear not, I follow You.' After touching Christ, death ceased to be an abyss of horror and became a door to eternity. In His love, even it was transformed and received a new name: dormition.
We celebrate this day as a triumph of faith and love, as a day when human fear gave way to trust in God. Dormition is a step into the unknown, but now with faith that Christ will receive, meet, and will not forsake. And if this step has become glory and an ascension for the Most Pure Virgin, it will once become hope for each of us as well: just like the Resurrection of Christ is a promise of eternal life, the Dormition of the Theotokos is an image and guarantee of our future with God.
The Most Holy Virgin is not just a majestic image in numerous icons which shine with gold casings. The Gospel reveals Her to us as a young, humble, and meek Virgin, who said yes to God with simplicity and purity of heart. This consent of Hers contained an answer to the question: was the world ready to accept that the Pre-Eternal God would enter our lives and become one of us? And later, She lived among people for many years, grew up beside Her Son, shared sorrows and joys with Him, pondering in Her heart everything He did and taught. And in this humble simplicity is what the strength of Her holiness is.
The entire life of the Theotokos was a feat of trust and love. She was beside Christ even when the dreadful Cross stood in front of Her eyes. She did not back down when the sword of sufferings pierced through Her heart. She showed what it meant to be faithful till the end.
Today, in our anxious times, when the foundations of the usual world are crumbling, when darkness attacks everywhere and the forces of evil seem to be victorious, when innocent people again become victims of an insane war, it is especially important to remember: we have a Heavenly Mother and Intercessor. She hears every prayer, understands our sorrows, spreads Her Protecting Veil, and fortifies in faith. She is where there are sufferings and illnesses so as to console, wash away the tears, and avert trouble. And with Her love and infinite mercy, nobody should lose heart.
On Her feast day, marred by another tragedy, we pray the Most Pure Virgin Mary to receive in the abodes of Her Son the souls of all the innocently killed and spread Her Protecting Veil over all the victims of the nighttime bombardment of our capital. We pray the Most Holy Theotokos to bring to reason everyone who is able to stop this insanity.
Dear brothers and sisters!
The Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God has always been particularly revered by our God-loving people. It is traditionally the patronal feast of our main Ukrainian shrines — our three Holy Dormition Lavras and many churches. It is a constant reminder of the fact that light is always stronger than darkness, and the love of Christ is stronger than death itself. Let our hearts always respond to every call of God with humble consent, thus transforming all the aspects of our lives by the energy of His grace.
Happy Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos!
Happy Pascha of the Mother of God!
All related news Today, the Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. We see a huge paradox in this event: the matter concerns death, but the Church calls it a 'dormition' — a peaceful sleep, a passover into eternal life. Since that day, the Mother of God has stood before the Throne of Her Son and has incessantly interceded for all of us.
Her Dormition is a response to the Resurrection of Christ. There, Christ tells the entire mankind, 'Fear not, I have overcome death!' — and here, the Most Holy Virgin answers Him, 'I fear not, I follow You.' After touching Christ, death ceased to be an abyss of horror and became a door to eternity. In His love, even it was transformed and received a new name: dormition.
We celebrate this day as a triumph of faith and love, as a day when human fear gave way to trust in God. Dormition is a step into the unknown, but now with faith that Christ will receive, meet, and will not forsake. And if this step has become glory and an ascension for the Most Pure Virgin, it will once become hope for each of us as well: just like the Resurrection of Christ is a promise of eternal life, the Dormition of the Theotokos is an image and guarantee of our future with God.
The Most Holy Virgin is not just a majestic image in numerous icons which shine with gold casings. The Gospel reveals Her to us as a young, humble, and meek Virgin, who said yes to God with simplicity and purity of heart. This consent of Hers contained an answer to the question: was the world ready to accept that the Pre-Eternal God would enter our lives and become one of us? And later, She lived among people for many years, grew up beside Her Son, shared sorrows and joys with Him, pondering in Her heart everything He did and taught. And in this humble simplicity is what the strength of Her holiness is.
The entire life of the Theotokos was a feat of trust and love. She was beside Christ even when the dreadful Cross stood in front of Her eyes. She did not back down when the sword of sufferings pierced through Her heart. She showed what it meant to be faithful till the end.
Today, in our anxious times, when the foundations of the usual world are crumbling, when darkness attacks everywhere and the forces of evil seem to be victorious, when innocent people again become victims of an insane war, it is especially important to remember: we have a Heavenly Mother and Intercessor. She hears every prayer, understands our sorrows, spreads Her Protecting Veil, and fortifies in faith. She is where there are sufferings and illnesses so as to console, wash away the tears, and avert trouble. And with Her love and infinite mercy, nobody should lose heart.
On Her feast day, marred by another tragedy, we pray the Most Pure Virgin Mary to receive in the abodes of Her Son the souls of all the innocently killed and spread Her Protecting Veil over all the victims of the nighttime bombardment of our capital. We pray the Most Holy Theotokos to bring to reason everyone who is able to stop this insanity.
Dear brothers and sisters!
The Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God has always been particularly revered by our God-loving people. It is traditionally the patronal feast of our main Ukrainian shrines — our three Holy Dormition Lavras and many churches. It is a constant reminder of the fact that light is always stronger than darkness, and the love of Christ is stronger than death itself. Let our hearts always respond to every call of God with humble consent, thus transforming all the aspects of our lives by the energy of His grace.
Happy Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos!
Happy Pascha of the Mother of God!
