Uspenije Presvete Bogorodice -

Velika Gospojina (nedelja 28. avgust)

SPC i njeni vernici 28. avgusta (15. avgusta po starom kalendaru) slave praznik Uspenja presvete Bogorodice, koji je u narodu poznat kao Velika Gospojina. Za praznik Uspenja presvete Bogorodice ustanovljen je dvonedeljni post (od 14. do 27. avgusta, tj. od 1. do 14. avgusta po julijanskom-starom kalendaru). Posle Hristovog rođenja, presveta Bogorodica je proživela još 48 godina. Poslednjih 15 godina provela je kod svetog Jovana Bogoslova, Hristovog učenika, kome ju je Hristos poverio na čuvanje. Ona je često izlazila na Maslinovu goru, sa koje se njen sin vazneo u nebo i tu se molila Bogu, želeći da se i ona tamo preseli, kako bi mogla gledati lice svoga sina.

Dok se tako jedanput molila, javi joj se anđeo Gavrilo i reče da će se kroz tri dana pretstaviti (upokojiti) i dade joj jednu rajsku grančicu, koja će se nositi na njenom pogrebu. Ona pohita domu, kaza Svetom Jovanu Bogoslovu šta je čula i zažele da još jednom vidi sve apostole, koji su se bili razišli po svim krajevima sveta, a kada umre da je sahrane u Getsimaniji, gde su bili sahranjeni njeni roditelji Joakim i Ana. Kad se približio čas predstavljanja, odjednom napolju se začu neka tutnjava, a gusti oblaci okružiše kuću u kojoj je Presveta boravila. U tom času se, na čudesan način, okupiše apostoli pred kućom, izuzev Tome.

Oni uđoše u sobu i plačući pozdraviše Presvetu koja je ležala na samrtničkoj postelji, a ona ih blagoslovi, preporučujući im da istraju u svojim poslovima. Najednom zasja sva soba i Hristos, koji sa mnoštvom anđela siđe, nevidljivo priđe i pozva je k sebi. Ona smerno izgovori: "Neka mi bude po rečima tvojim!", i bez ikakvog bola predade svoj duh. U taj mah zaori se soba od prekrasnog anđelskog pevanja, a apostoli počeše celivati usnulo telo Bogorodice. Kad je sve bilo spremno za pogreb, Petar, Jakov i drugi apostoli ponesoše telo, a Jovan Bogoslov je pred njima nosio onu rajsku grančicu, dok je za njima išlo mnoštvo sveta. Sprovod je išao od Sionske gore, kroz Jerusalim ka Getsimaniji, a jedan svetao oblak kao venac okruživaše taj sprovod na čitavom putu. Jevrejski fanatici htedoše oružjem da jurnu, pobiju okupljene apostole i rasture sprovod, ali je ovaj sjajni oblak kao bedem zaklanjao povorku.

Na jednom mestu oblak se malo odiže od zemlje, a jedan se jevrejski sveštenik, po imenu Antonije, zalete ka kovčegu, zgrabi ga rukama i htede ga izvrnuti, ali mu nevidljivi anđeo Božji odseče obe šake, koje ostadoše zalepljene na sanduku. Antonije zaplaka i pred svima priznade da je Isus istiniti sin Božji. Petar reče Antoniju da patrljke svojih ruku prisloni na odsečene šake i kad ovaj to učini, u isti čas isceliše mu se obe ruke kao da nisu ni bile odsečene i mnogi Jevreji, videvši to čudo, primiše veru hrišćansku.

Presvetu Bogorodicu sahraniše u Getsimaniji, i apostoli tu ostadoše tri dana. Apostol Toma dođe tek treći dan. Kad je čuo tužnu vest, veoma se ražalosti, zaplaka i zamoli apostole da otvore grob, da vidi telo Majke Božije i da ga celiva. Kada su otvorili grob i pogledali, na njihovo veliko iznenađenje ne nađoše telo, već samo pokrove. Upitaše se sa čuđenjem: "Gde se delo telo Prečiste?!" Toga dana, dok su lomili hleb u slavu Svete Trojice, opaze Presvetu Bogorodicu na oblacima sa mnoštvom anđela i ona im reče: "Radujte se! Ja sam s vama do kraja veka!".

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Feast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady, The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary (Sunday 28 August)

Introduction

The Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 28 (15) each year. The Feast commemorates the repose (dormition and in the Greek kimisis) or "falling-asleep" of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord. The Feast also commemorates the translation or assumption into heaven of the body of the Theotokos.

Biblical Story

The Holy Scriptures tell us that when our Lord was dying on the Cross, He saw His mother and His disciple John and said to the Virgin Mary, "Woman, behold your son!" and to John, "Behold your mother!" (John 19:25-27). From that hour, the Apostle took care of the Theotokos in his own home.
Along with the biblical reference in Acts 1:14 that confirms that the Virgin Mary was with the Holy Apostles on the day of Pentecost, the tradition of the Church holds that she remained in the home of the Apostle John in Jerusalem, continuing a ministry in word and deed.

At the time of her death, the disciples of our Lord who were preaching throughout the world returned to Jerusalem to see the Theotokos. Except for the Apostle Thomas, all of them including the Apostle Paul were gathered together at her bedside. At the moment of her death, Jesus Christ himself descended and carried her soul into heaven.

Following her repose, the body of the Theotokos was taken in procession and laid in a tomb near the Garden of Gethsemane. When the Apostle Thomas arrived three days after her repose and desired to see her body, the tomb was found to be empty. The bodily assumption of the Theotokos was confirmed by the message of an angel and by her appearance to the Apostles.

Icon of the Feast

The Icon of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos shows her on her deathbed surrounded by the Apostles. Christ is standing in the center looking at His mother. He is holding a small child clothed in white representing the soul of the Virgin Mary. With His golden garments, the angels above His head, and the mandorla surrounding Him, Christ is depicted in His divine glory.

The posture of the Apostles direct attention toward the Theotokos. On the right Saint Peter censes the body of the Theotokos. On the left Saint Paul bows low in honor of her.

Together with the Apostles are several bishops and women. The bishops traditionally represented are James, the brother of the Lord, Timothy, Heirotheus, and Dionysius the Areopagite. They are shown wearing episcopal vestments. The women are members of the church in Jerusalem.

In front of the bed of the Theotokos is a candle that helps to form a central axis in the icon. Above the candle is the body of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Standing over His mother is Christ holding her most pure soul. Above Christ the gates of heaven stand open, ready to receive the Mother of God.

This great Feast of the Church and the icon celebrates a fundamental teaching of our faith—the Resurrection of the body. In the case of the Theotokos, this has been accomplished by the divine will of God. Thus, this Feast is a feast of hope, hope in Resurrection and life eternal. Like those who gathered around the body of the Virgin Mary, we gather around our departed loved ones and commend their souls into the hands of Christ. As we remember those who have reposed in the faith before us and have passed on into the communion of the Saints, we prepare ourselves to one day be received into the new life of the age to come.

We also affirm through this Feast as we journey toward our heavenly abode that the Mother of God intercedes for us. Through Christ she has become the mother of all of the children of God, embracing us with divine love. The commemoration of the Dormition of the Theotokos and the preparation for the Feast begin on August 1 with a period of fasting.

The Feast of the Dormition is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom which is conducted on the morning of the Feast and preceded by a Matins (Orthros) service. A Great Vespers is conducted on the evening before the day of the Feast. Scripture readings for the Feast of the Dormition are the following: At Vespers: Genesis 28:10-17; Ezekiel 43:27-44:4; Proverbs 9:1-11. At the Matins: Luke 1:39-49, 56. At the Divine Liturgy: Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28.

Hymns of the Feast

Apolytikion (First Tone)
In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not abandon the world, O Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from death by your intercessions.

Kontakion (Second Tone)
Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her to life.