Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God
15 August (28 August O.S.)
Tropar’, Tone 1.
In giving birth thou didst preserve thy virginity, and in thy Dormition thou didst not forsake the world, O Mother of God. Thou wast translated unto life, since thou art the Mother of Life; and by thine intercessions thou dost deliver our souls from death.
Glory. Now and ever.
Kondak, Tone 2.
The grave and death could not hold the Mother of God, 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 within her ever-virgin womb.
Prokimen, Tone 3. Saint Luke 1:46-48.
My soul doth magnify our Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Verse: Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Philippians.
Philippians §240 (2:5-11).
Brethren: This think in yourselves, which also in Christ Jesus, Who when He was in the form of God, thought it no robbery, Himself to be equal to God, but He exinanited himself, taking the form of a servant, made into the similitude of men, and in shape found as man. He humbled Himself, made obedient unto death: even the death of the cross. For the which thing God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all names: That in the name of Jesus every knee bow of the celestials, terrestrials, and infernals: and every tongue confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
Alleluia, Tone 8. Psalm 131:8, 11a.
Verse 1: Arise Lord into Thy rest: Thou, and the ark of Thy sanctification.
Verse 2: Our Lord hath sworn truth to David: and He will not disappoint it.
The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke.
Saint Luke §54 (10:38-42; 11:27-28).
At that time: Jesus entered into a certain town: and a woman named Martha, received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sitting also at the Lord’s feet, heard His word. But Martha was busy about much service. Who stood and said: “Lord, hast Thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? Speak to her therefore, that she help me.” And our Lord answering, said to her: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things. But one thing is necessary, Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her.” And it came to pass, when He said these things, a certain woman lifting up her voice out of the multitude said to Him: “Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the paps that Thou didst suck.” But He said: “Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
Zadostoinik
The angels were struck with wonder, beholding the Dormition of the Most Pure, seeing how the Virgin was taken up from earth to heaven.
Irmos: The limits of nature are overcome in thee, O pure Virgin, for birth-giving remains virginal, and death is the prelude to life: a virgin after childbearing and alive after death, dost thou ever save thine inheritance, O Theotokos.
Communion. Psalm 115:4.
I will take the chalice of salvation: and I will invocate the name of our Lord.
24 August 2026