The Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos at the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Thursday, the 15th/28th of August 2025, the Patriarchate solemnly celebrated the Feast of the Dormition of our most-blessed and all-glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, in the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Gethsemane.

For this feast, Vespers was held in the afternoon of the eve, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Theophanes of Gerrash, with the participation of local faithful and a few pilgrims from abroad.

In the morning Matins and the Divine Liturgy were presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, concelebrating with the Hierarchs of the Patriarchate, their Eminences  Metropolitans Hesychios of Capitolias and Timotheos of Vostra, the Archbishops, Theophanes of Gerrash, Aristarchos of Constantina, Demetrios of Lydda, and Philoumenos of Pella; also the visiting Reverend Assistant Bishop Theophilos of Trotusanu of the Patriarchate of Romania, the Archimandrites representatives of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Vassianos, and of the Patriarchate of Romania, Ioan, together with many Hieromonks and Priests, Archdeacon Mark, and the Hierodeacons Eulogios and Prodromos. The chanting was delivered by the First Cantor, Deacon Eustathios, and an Arabic Choir, in the participation of a devout congregation of faithful, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr. Dimitrios Angelosopoulos.

Before the Holy Communion, His Beatitude delivered the following Sermon:

“The Theotokos, who never slumbereth in her intercessions and is our unwavering hope in her protection, neither the tomb nor death could hold; for as she was the Mother of Life, He that dwelt in her ever-virgin womb did translate her unto life,” the hymnographer of the Church exclaims.

Beloved brethren in Christ,
Pious Christians and pilgrims,

The grace of this God-bearing Tomb of the all-blessed Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary has gathered us all today in this holy place of Gethsemane, that we may festally celebrate her venerable translation from earth unto heaven.

The angelic powers, according to Saint John of Damascus, marvelling at this translation of the Theotokos, received her echoing the words the poet of the “Song of Songs”: “The powers, with sacred hymns and with gladness of festival, come forth to meet thee, well-nigh saying: Who is this that cometh up made white, leaning upon her beloved… fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?” (Song of Solomon 8:5; 6:10).

The hymnographer says: “For she that was of the seed of David, through whom we beheld the Lord, is with glory unspeakable translated into the hands of her own Son and Master, whom we do magnify as the Mother of God.”

We magnify the Ever-Virgin full of grace Mary, as the Mother of God, for of her pure blood and by the coming of the Holy Ghost the Word of God took upon Himself our human flesh and deified it, “Assuming in Himself the nature of man.” For this cause, the Holy Church of Christ calls us today with especial exhortation, saying: “Come, O ye people, let us hymn the pure and all-holy Virgin, from whom the ineffable Word of the Father did become incarnate; and with voices crying let us say, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the womb that bare Christ. Do thou, O undefiled one, who hast entrusted thy soul into His holy hands, intercede that our souls may be saved.”…

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This news was originally published on the website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, click here to read more.