looked into the church calendar on August 28, you will notice that the highlighted date.Looking description, it is easy to know what is the day of the Assumption, but what does the word "Assumption"?What is the death and resurrection of the soul?Perhaps many do not know the answer to this, as well as the very history of the holiday.Let's try to understand this together.
church tradition
From the words of Holy Scripture can be found that, after the ascension of the Virgin of her son Jesus Christ into heaven has remained the care of St. John the Divine.
Many church traditions are different explanations of the Assumption, which is the resurrection of the soul, the emergence of the celebration of death.Customs and rules of the celebration of the Assumption of the few highlights in the scriptures, as well as all the main points of the end of the earth the way the Mother of God.
also from the whole of the sacred history of the New Testament everyone knows how highly revered Mother of God among the apostles, when stayed with them in Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, we came very few manuscripts of the time.Most of these creations were gathered in the Holy Gospel and the New Testament.
With new archeological devices after numerous excavations in Jerusalem were eventually found the works of St. John the Divine.
in these documents mention is made of the life of the Mother of God, showing its very Assumption, what kind of an event for the people and the whole history of that period.
This Apocrypha (secret written story, which was not included in the canon of the Bible) says that after the mass persecution of Herod Agrippa in the Church, the Virgin with John the Evangelist moved for a while in the city of Ephesus.
When the persecution ceased Virgin with John returned to Jerusalem, where he settled in his home on Mount Zion.
history of the holiday
As the story goes, one day when the Mother of God went to the Mount of Olives to pray, where she met the angel Gabriel, in whose hands was a branch of paradise palm.He preached to the Virgin Mary that three days later, she passed away to heaven, the Lord exalt her, his own mother, the Kingdom of Heaven, in which she will stay with him forever.
Upon returning to the house of Virgin Mary St. John told about the meeting with the Archangel Gabriel and the future of his death.
In his will, she asked to bury her in Gethsemane, near her parents and obrochnikom, righteous Joseph.
In addition, it was stated in the will to give her two garments to the poor girls who waited on her with great devotion and hard work.
Presentation of the Virgin Mary Lord
very idea of the Blessed Virgin was to occur on the 15th day of August in the third hour of the day.At this time in the church lit candles, and Mary lying on bed decorated beautiful.In an instant, the Temple was flooded with a sea of light, which came by Jesus Christ with the angels, archangels and all the heavenly hosts, and he went to the Virgin Mary.
see the Son, the Holy Virgin happily rumor he and the Lord with awe and pride took her to him, and she heard his approval, he gave the most pure soul to his only son.
According to the beliefs of the church after the death of the Mother of God the apostles put her body into the tomb, and the entrance to the flooded her with a large stone.Three days after the death, they were joined by the Apostle Thomas, who tearfully begged and begged to give a chance to say goodbye to the Blessed Virgin Mary.At his request, the apostles rolled back the stone and went with him to the cave, but what was their surprise when they found only garment of the Virgin and her most was not there, but from the cave came a pleasant smell of fresh herbs.
celebration in churches
For a long time it was opened to celebrate this holiday with a morning service at which the faithful brought the seeds of cereals on the lighting and blessing.It happened after a night service at sunrise.
Blessed Virgin Mary popularly called the lady and this Feast of the Assumption is another name Gospozhina day Gospozhinok.Among the people taken feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Most Pure second call, and Assumption of the Blessed - First Pure.
celebrate this great holiday feast with home brewed beer, pies and sweet dishes.
So, one of the greatest and the last of the great feasts of the Church calendar in August, is the Assumption.
spiritual significance of the celebration
The phenomenon of death has always been a fear, hesitation, wonder and awe in the soul of each person.
On the way to the eternal Life of everyone is required to pass the way of training, experience and joy in the ordinary life of the world.That the righteousness of today's life, our deeds and actions have an impact on the future of eternal life in peace and happiness.This concept is the basis of the death of the Christian faith.
If you recall the Scriptures, death is not something noble, but on the contrary, the process of the Fall, the soul of human disobedience to God's will.
According to the teachings of the Church, the concept of death is the Assumption.What is death and why is it necessary?It's safe to say that the Creator does not want man's death, but the people themselves it predicted a fall from grace, and constant disobedience.
But even in this situation before we open the gates to Paradise, where they will be close to the Creator of those who to this day does not violate the laws of God, who are constantly striving to do good and bring joy and help others.
Celebrating the death of the Virgin Mary
The icons, which shows the Assumption of the Virgin, next to her bed always stands Christ, in whose hands the small figure of the baby, symbolizing the soul of the dead Virgin.This children's figure and is the prototype of the degeneration of the soul after death, which came to accept her son.
Historical information
in writing, which refers to the liturgical practices of the Greek Church, the first reference to the Assumption of the Virgin appeared in the end of VI century.
law in those days, the Emperor Mauritius has made this day the general church.In most churches, this day is celebrated on January 18, but according to some experts who study the written language of the period, namely Mauritius postponed its celebration in August, on the day of the victory over the Persians.
It falls just at the end of the Dormition Fast, which lasted from 1 to 15 August in the old style, and from 14 to 28 in the new style, and just 28 - the Assumption.
preparatory period and the very celebration
As mentioned earlier, the Feast of the Assumption begins with two weeks of very severe fasting.This is one of the four posts per annum and it is considered one of the most ancient and rigorous.Even the fish are allowed to eat once in the post and on a certain day.
priests carried a celebration in blue robes.Church liturgy begins in the evening and lasts all night and in the morning she had already served the liturgy of the Assumption.On the third day imposed shroud symbolizing robe of the Virgin Mary, like the shroud of Christ.The only difference here is the image of Our Lady of her lying in the coffin.
According to the custom of the Church at the morning liturgy before burial shroud read commendable prayers, sung Troparion and Kontakion, followed by a solemn procession with the shroud around the temple.
As can be seen from all told very great value holiday.Because of its history, it can be concluded that the righteous way of life is always rewarded by our Creator.All the incredible wonders ascension give hope to every believer eternal life after death.
All prescribed canons and hymns festival emphasizes the greatness and joy of the Assumption.There is no place of grief and sorrow of death, but there is great happiness over her victory.
All Day August 28 (Assumption) people spend in prayer and joy, eating cooked meals at the family table after a long night liturgy
