“Although the Mother of God passes through death and is then taken up to heaven in body as well as in soul, she remains forever present in the world through her prayers

Patriarch Daniel ›

Patriarch

Direct quote

“The Mother of God remains present in the world through her prayers even after her Dormition and translation to heaven

Patriarch Daniel of Romania ›

Patriarch

Reported

“while death ordinarily brings sorrow, the Church celebrates the Dormition with joy because the Mother of God, having been translated to heaven, continues to intercede with her Son for all humanity

“Although the Mother of God was humble throughout her life, she was not absent. Just as the Ascension of the Lord did not mean, and did not remain, an absence from the midst of the Church, so too the passing of the Mother of God from this life into eternity did not result in an absence

“And through these words, she also tells us to do what the Saviour Jesus Christ teaches us in the Gospel. Thus, the entire life of the Mother of God is defined by humility and by great concern for everything taking place around her, but she is not absent. She is always present in the midst of Christians.

“The Mother of God shows us this preparation. She said yes to God at the Annunciation. She remained with Christ throughout her life. She stood beside Him at the Cross. She prayed together with the Apostles. And at the end, she passed over to Him

“As the Mother of the Lord and the Mother of all the faithful, through her love and intercessions she is always close to every human being

“Just as the Mother of God held her Son on her left arm, close to her heart, when He was a child and presented Him to the world, so now her Son in heaven holds her soul in His hands and presents it to the angels