“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
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“Today, the Church does not mourn a death, but celebrates a translation from death to life; the Church does not lament a separation, but rejoices in the passage from the temporal to the eternal, from earth to heaven, from corruption to incorruption, and from the vanity of this world to the true life. For this reason, the Dormition of the Theotokos is for all of us a feast of hope, consolation and joy, since we feel that, through her translation from death to life, Panagia is even closer to us and remains beside us. As the Apolytikion of the feast proclaims: ‘In your Dormition, O Theotokos, you did not abandon the world.'
“the Dormition is a celebration of hope, consolation, and joy
“the Dormition of the Mother of God is not simply a translation to heaven, but above all, a transition from earthly life, which is subject to decay or corruption, to an incorruptible existence. It is her grace-filled translation to the right hand of her Son in heaven, in the light and peace of the Holy Trinity.
“The Holy Fathers who spoke about the Dormition of the Mother of God did not try to conceal the reality of death. On the contrary, it was precisely in her death that they saw the power of Christ’s Resurrection revealed.
“The Mother of God remains present in the world through her prayers even after her Dormition and translation to heaven
“The Dormition of the Mother of God is also the feast of our hope
“Most Honourable Brother Bishops and my beloved children, The great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos gathers us once again around the venerable person of our Panagia, the Mother of the Lord and the Mother of all Christians. Today, the Church does not mourn a death, but celebrates a translation from death to life; the Church does not lament a separation, but rejoices in the passage from the temporal to the eternal, from earth to heaven, from corruption to incorruption, and from the vanity of this world to the true life. For this reason, the Dormition of the Theotokos is for all of us a feast of hope, consolation and joy, since we feel that, through her translation from death to life, Panagia is even closer to us and remains beside us. As the Apolytikion of the feast proclaims: “In your Dormition, O Theotokos, you did not abandon the world.” On the occasion, therefore, of this great Feast of the Mother of God, I encourage you all to turn your gaze towards her with trust amid the difficulties, trials and concerns of your lives. Panagia knows human suffering. She experienced exile, anguish, silence, contempt, injustice and slander, and, above all, the sorrow of beholding her Son upon the Cross. For this reason, she can understand every tear, every fear and every wound of the human heart. Panagia can hear the silent scream of every suffering soul. Let us beseech her today to shelter our families, our children and young people, the sick, the lonely and all those undergoing trials. Let us ask her to protect the whole world and always guide us towards her Son and God. May you all be granted many blessed years.
“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