Today is the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary: what women should definitely do
15 August 2024 00:19
After a two-week Dormition fast, today, 15 August, according to the new church calendar, Orthodox Christians and Greek Catholics celebrate one of the twelve major feasts of the church year – the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. About what prohibitions, traditions and omens should know, tells "Komersant Ukrainian"
In the people the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also called the first Most Holy. During the autumn period there are three Most Pure: 15 August, 8 September and 1 October.
People say about them: “The First Most Pure One sows the rye, the second one waters it with rain, and the third one covers it with snow”. After the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary comes the wedding season.
History of the feast:
The Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the day of the end of the earthly life of the holy Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, her departure to heaven. It is the Dormition, and not death, it is customary to call the departure from life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After all, she immediately ascended to heaven to her son Jesus Christ.
The Dormition is considered one of the most important feasts of the Virgin Mary.
The Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary was first celebrated in Jerusalem, immediately after the Council of the Holy Apostles, which took place in 431 in the Greek city of Ephesus. The original celebrations centred not so much on the repose of the Virgin Mary as on her pre-eminence as the Mother of God, which is why the day was called the Feast of Mary the Mother of God.
In the Gospel there is no information where and how long Mary was after Christ’s Ascension. There is also no exact date of her death. There is information about these events in apocryphal sources. This led to the fact that in different countries and religions this day is celebrated on different dates.
Traditions and peculiarities of the holiday:
- After the Dormition, girls in the villages are no longer engaged in heavy work
- After the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary comes the time of weddings
- On this holiday it is customary to attend a church service, put a candle at the icon and pray for the health of all loved ones.
- At home on the Dormition set a festive table with seasonal fruits and vegetables, pork, potatoes, mead.
What you need to do woman 15 August
On the holiday it is good to go to church or pray to the Virgin Mary at home – ask her for health and well-being for yourself and relatives. It is believed that on the Dormition women are forgiven all sins for the year – you just need to pray sincerely and repent.
On the big holiday they ask for the birth of children, health and happy fate for them. They also pray to the Mother of God for health and well-being for themselves and their loved ones.
To the holy image of the Dormition of the Theotokos people address with any requests, often asking for healing from physical and mental illnesses. The icon helps to strengthen faith, get rid of sinful thoughts and harmful passions.
Traditionally, on this feast, churches consecrate the grain of the new harvest, as well as fresh bread baked from freshly milled flour. In the people on the Dormition there was a custom to give generously to the poor. Also from this day begins the time of weddings.
What should not be done on this day:
- play a wedding
- wear old and dirty shoes
- work hard
- quarrel and take offence
- walk barefoot on the grass.
- to take in your hands stabbing and cutting objects
- it is not desirable to make fire in the house
- young girls should not cut their hair on 28 August
However, light labour on this day is not forbidden. Housewives can bake bread and prepare canned food for the winter.
Folk omens for 15 August:
- What will be the weather on the first Prechistya, so wait and autumn
- A lot of cobwebs on the first Dormition portends a frosty and snowy winter
- If on the Dormition the sky is decorated with rainbows, then autumn will be happy with warmth
- If you see frost on the Dormition, it promises a cold autumn and early frosts.
