Most of the details of the Theotokos' passing are garnished from the hymnography of the feast. Three days before her departure, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Theotokos in a vision near the Mount of Olives. Miracles attended her passage: the apostles -- all except St. Thomas -- were gathered from their ministries throughout the world and carried on clouds to Jerusalem. She ordered her earthly possessions -- mostly handmade by herself -- to be distributed to the widows and virgins with whom she lived; that her body be buried in Gethsemane beside her parents and Joseph the Betrothed. As the time approached, she cheered and comforted those who had gathered around her and were now siezed with sorrow -- promising each individually never to leave them alone, but to pray for all. Lying on her couch, she was suddenly surrounded by angels, and gave up her soul into the hands of her waiting Son. The Apostles carried the couch bearing her remains to the appointed burial site with feelings of joy at the blessedness of her passing. Jewish attempts at disrupting the procession were miraculously thwarted. The priest Athonius lost his hands in a vain attempt to sieze and defile the body -- but his wounds were healed by the Theotokos' prayers, and he was later converted and baptized.

When the Theotokos' body had been laid in the burial cave, the entrance was sealed with a large stone. For three days the believers led by the Apostles remained constantly vigilant at the site. St. Thomas, then arrived on the third day, grief-striken at not having had the opportunity to say his good-byes. He asked tearfully to see the remains, but when the stone was removed, there was no body -- just a beautiful fragrance.

The Feast of the Dormition, which has been universally celebrated in the Church since the fourth century teaches believers not only that death is a passage to eternal life which ought not to be feared, but also that Jesus Christ the Son of God indeed became fully human. This latter aspect became important in conjunction with the Christological controversies of the sixth century. The hymnography comes from the hands of SS. Anatolius, Patriarch of Constantinople (fifth century), and Cosmas of Jerusalem and John of Damascus (eighth century). It was originally celebrated on 18 August, but was moved to its present date in A.D. 582 by the Emperor Maurikios.

The icon on the left was commissioned by St. Peter and St. Paul Albanian Orthodox Church, Philadelphia

The center icon was done through the St. John of Damascus Icon Studio, and is part of a festal tier in the iconostasis of the Chapel at Camp Nazareth.