The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary
The Assumption of the Virgin Mary will be celebrated again this year with brilliance and enthusiasm. This is the largest of the feasts instituted by the Church in honor of the Mother of Christ, the so-called Mother of God feasts…..
The first testimonies for the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin appear in the fifth century AD, around the time that G. was convened’ Ecumenical Council of Ephesus (451), which determined the doctrine of the Mother of God and caused the development of honor in the person of the Virgin Mary.
For the first time it seems to have been celebrated in Jerusalem on 13 August and a little later moved to 15 of the same month. It had a generally theomitary character, without special reference to the event of the Assumption and was called "day of the Virgin Mary".
Center of celebration refers to the beginning of a "Seat" (temple), located outside Jerusalem on the road to Bethlehem. The connection of this holiday with the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, took place in the church of Panagia, which was located in Gethsemane, the "Mauritius eunuch", where her grave was. 
Panagia Faneromeni in Trachilas, Sitia
According to the church tradition, The feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is preceded by fasting, which was established in the 7th century.
It was originally divided into two periods: before the feast of the Transfiguration of the Savior and before the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin.
In the 10th century, joined in a fast, that includes 14 days and starts on August 1st.
During this fast, fasting oil except on Saturdays and Sundays, while on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Savior it is catalyzed (be allowed) the fish.
On the day of the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, everything is catalyzed, unless the holiday falls on a Wednesday or Friday, so only the fish is catalyzed.
On the days of the fast of the 15th of August they are sung in the afternoon in the churches (except Sunday), alternately, the "Small and the Great Praying Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos", the so-called "Requests".
The mother of Jesus Christ, as mentioned in the ecclesiastical tradition, was informed of her impending death by an angel three days before it happened and began to prepare properly. Because on the day of her Assumption not all the Apostles were in Jerusalem, a cloud grabbed them and brought them close to her. The only absentee is the apostle Thomas.
The Assumption of the Virgin Mary took place in the house of the Evangelist John, where he lived, after the crucifixion of Christ. After they closed her eyes, the Apostles carried her coffin to the garden of Gethsemane, where she was buried.
When after three days the apostle Thomas went to her tomb, found only the burials. A majestic temple was built on the tomb of the Virgin Mary, attributed to St. Helen. After its destruction, the emperor of Byzantium Markianos (450-457) with his second wife Poulcheria built a new temple, which exists to this day.
There is a dogmatic difference between the Orthodox and the Catholic Church regarding the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The Catholic Church believes in the doctrine of the incarnate incarnation of the Virgin Mary (Assumption), which was finalized with the apostolic circular of Pope Pius IB’ "Munificentissimus God" (1 November 1950).
On the contrary, the Orthodox Church speaks first of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, that is, real death (separation of soul and body) and then for the metastasis of the Virgin, that is, resurrection (union of soul and body) and her ascension near her Son.
Panagia Tourliani in Mykonos
The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is celebrated in a less emphatic way in the other orthodox and catholic countries of the world, in most of which August 15 is a public holiday, as in Greece. Protestant denominations consider the Assumption of the Virgin Mary a minor holiday, because it is not based on biblical references.
Countless temples and monasteries have been built in honor of her Assumption, magnificent frescoes represent in every temple, behind the main entrance, in astonishing compositions her sacred funeral, Exquisite hymns have decorated her procession and glorious speeches and praises were uttered by the Fathers and younger clergymen on the day of her remembrance..
In GREECE, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is celebrated with special splendor, It is also called "Summer Easter"
In many Aegean islands, Τήνο, Paros, Patmos, they decorate and carry an epitaph in honor of the Virgin Mary.
In cities and villages throughout the territory, Traditional festivals are organized in churches dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, ending in a generalized feast.
In Tinos her feast was associated with the torpedoing of "Elli" and together with her Assumption the Greeks honor the memory of those who were lost.
Panagia Faneromeni in Trachilas, Sitia
In Crete the monastery of Panagia Faneromeni in Trachila of Sitia, is located on the edge of a steep area between the Cape of Trachilas and Babakia west of Sitia. It owes its name to the image of Mariam found in a small cave, in the "Cave of the Ascetic". In Crete are also Kaliviani and the Great Virgin of Naples.
In Imvros Panagia Imbriotissa and in Halkidiki Megali Panagia.
In Leros, the Queen Queen, in Astypalea Portaitissa, in Rhodes Kremasti and in Paros Ekatontapyliani, in Lesvos Agia Sion of Agiasos and in Nisyros the Spiliani Kyra.
The Mother of God Monastery in Goumenissa, in Epirus, Molyvdoskepasti, in Kefalonia, Ofiousa, in Andros, Faneromeni, in Karpathos the Virgin of Olympus and Hozoviotissa in Amorgos.
Vangelistra in Skiathos, in Leonidio, Kynouria, Panagia Elona and Episkopiotissa in Mantineia.
The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is not a mourning event for the Greek people, because the Virgin Mary "moved to life".
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