Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This holiday is dedicated the memory of the Assumption (death) of the Mother of God. Church tradition says that the apostles,which preached in various countries, on this day miraculously gathered in Jerusalem to say goodbye to the Virgin Mary and make her burial. By the way, the very word "aspiration" does not mean death, but a brief dream before birth into a new life.

The Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated by most Christians of the world. Date of celebration, August 15, was established in 595 in honor of the victory that the Byzantine emperor Mauritius won over the Persians.

The Catholic Church, some Orthodoxchurches (for example, the Hellas), as well as Protestants celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15 in a new style. But the majority of Orthodox churches (including Russian, Georgian, Jerusalem and Serbian), as well as the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church celebrate this holiday on August 15th according to the Julian calendar, which corresponds to August 28 in a new style.

The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is preceded by Assumption fast, which is the most severe after the pre-Easter Great Lent. Fasting lasts two weeks, from August 1 to August 14, according to the old style, respectively, from August 14 to August 27 - in a new way.

The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin itself, like all the twelve Great Feasts, has a pre-holiday and a feast (the periods of preparation for the celebration and the continuation of the holiday memories). The pre-holiday lasts one day, the funeral is eight. This holiday is also called Holy Theotokos.

A special place is occupied in the Orthodox tradition temples of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, consecrated in honor of this holiday. They are in many Russian cities and usuallyare called the Assumption Church, the Church of the Assumption (the Blessed Virgin), the Church of the Assumption (the Blessed Virgin) or simply the Church of the Assumption. Also in honor of the Dormition of the Theotokos are monasteries and cathedrals.

In the people of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos are called dozhinki (spouses, mistresses). The national Orthodox holiday of the dewscommemorated the completion of the harvest of bread, hence the name. "Spend" and "dozhinat" are synonyms, meaning "to finish harvesting". The word "gay" was consonant with the word "mistress" (that's how the people called the Mother of God). As a result of the merging of these two words and the intertwining of the Christian and folk traditions (which, as we know, is not uncommon), another name for the holiday - mistress was formed.

This holiday includes certainrituals, as well as a festive meal. If the farm still has not cleaned the field, it was customary to reap it with a toloka (that is, with the help of voluntary assistants). The last sheaf was silenced in order not to disturb the spirit of the field moving into it. It was also customary to "curl a beard" - leave on the compressed field a few not cut ears and tie them with ribbon. This rite was also based on ideas about the spirit of the field, which is hidden in the last uncompressed sheaf.

On this day it was also customary to sanctify the life and allwhat grows on the field, as well as flowers, besides, in each region with the pre-war their rituals and customs were associated. Behind the daughters (the Dormition of the Mother of God) follows the national Orthodox holiday Hlebny Spas, which marks the end of summer and end of bread harvesting. It's time to sow winter bread, meet autumn and prepare for winter.