The Virtual Oratory

The first icon anyone who paints is this face of Christ. The second is Virgin and Child. There is a reason for this!!!

Pope John Paul II, ever mindful of the eastern Church, promoted as Benedict XVI did as theologian Joseph Ratzinger, the older tradition found in Greek of translating HAIL MARY (the Latin version) as Rejoice Mary. This proclmation of joy will be the central theme of these Mary pages. 

PS In 2008 the Italian lectionary will have this translation in Luke: REJOICE MARY, full of grace.... 

August 15...The Feast of the Dormition of Mary...

 Mary falls asleep and here is carried to heaven by Jesus. Very ambiguous by western standards but there are no relics of the body of Mary claimed by either western or eastern Church. Mary is the disciple, the model of all of us. What happens to her happens to us. 

The following is taken from the Orthodox Church website:

The commemoration of the Dormition of the Theotokos and the preparation for the Feast begin on August 1 with a period of fasting. A strict fast is followed on most of the days (no meat, dairy, oil, or wine), with the exceptions of fish on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6) and the day of the Dormition. Oil and Wine are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.

On the weekdays before the Feast, Paraklesis services are held in most parishes. These consist of the Great Paraklesis and the Small Paraklesis, both services of supplication and prayer for the intercessions of the Theotokos.

The Feast of the Dormition is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom which is conducted on the morning of the Feast and preceded by a Matins (Orthros) service. A Great Vespers is conducted on the evening before the day of the Feast. Scripture readings for the Feast of the Dormition are the following: At Vespers: Genesis 28:10-17; Ezekiel 43:27-44:4; Proverbs 9:1-11. At the Matins: Luke 1:39-49, 56. At the Divine Liturgy: Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28.