“May the joy of the Incarnation of the Word of God spread everywhere, so that peoples may advance in harmony and brotherhood and walk together toward enduring love, true justice, and the longed-for peace. Only these bring lasting and inalienable joy to humanity and to the nations of the earth—this is the message proclaimed by the Church: ‘Rejoice, O earth, with great joy; praise, O heavens, the glory of God!’

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew ›

His All-Holiness

Direct quote

“the Dormition is a celebration of hope, consolation, and joy

Archbishop Makarios ›

Archbishop of Australia

Reported

“the Virgin Mary is our help before God and only her name gladdens the soul. But also all heaven and all earth rejoice with her love. Wondrous and incomprehensible miracle. She lives in the heavens and sees unceasingly the glory of God, but she does not forget us poor, and embraces with her mercy all the earth and all the peoples

“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

“the Archbishop reflected on the message of the Dormition of the Theotokos, emphasizing that, through pain and trial, the Panagia teaches us to place greater trust in God and to face fear with faith and hope

“the Church’s embrace of the Virgin Mary’s passage into the eternal Kingdom of God also represents an acknowledgement of humanity’s own destiny

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America ›

Archbishop

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

“It also establishes prayer as a source of courage and points to the coming Kingdom of God