The Dormition of the Theotokos is a feast about death, but it is ultimately a celebration of life and resurrection. In this sermon, Rdr. Ron Somich explains why the Orthodox Church celebrates the falling asleep of the Virgin Mary with joy. Her death reminds us that she was fully human, while her entrance into heavenly glory points toward the destiny God intends for humanity. The Dormition teaches us to look beyond the grave toward the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come.

The feast also belongs to the larger story told throughout the Orthodox Christian year. Near the beginning of the Church year, we celebrate the birth of the Theotokos, through whom the Son of God received His humanity. Near the end of the Church year, we commemorate her Dormition. Between these feasts, the Church continually brings us back to the Incarn ...