The Death of The Virgin Mary

After the Lord rose from the dead, it is not really known how long the Virgin Mary lived on earth. It is estimated that she lived between ten and twenty years after the Resurrection. St John the Theologos took her into his home and cared for her like his own mother, as per the instructions he received from the Lord on the Cross as he was dying. She constantly prayed with all the Apostles and many Christians came from far off lands to see her and hear her voice.

Panayia as we call her in Greek, loved to visit the places where her Son used to go and where he suffered and rose from the dead. She would spend her time praying and weeping at these places. One day as she was praying on the Mount of Olives,the Archangel Gabriel came to her.He told her the joyful news that in three days she would end her life on earth and go to Heaven with her beloved Son. She told St John of this, and began to prepare for the end. As all the Apostles were not together in Jerusalem, the Lord brought them all together by his Miraculous Power , so that His Mother could bid farewell to his friends.All that is, except St Thomas.

At the time of her death there was an bright light in the room where she lay. The Lord had come to take her soul, surrounded by his Angels.

The Apostles buried Our Lady in the Garden of Gethsemane by her parents and the Righteous Joseph. Many miracles happened at the funeral. The blind regained their sight,illnesses and sickness were cured, and demons were driven away. Many attended her funeral. The Pharises and other Jewish leaders tried to break up this procession,but they could do nothing. One Jewish Priest called Athonius tried to tip over the bier on which was laid the body of Our Lady. An Angel chopped off both his hands. Athonius repented and St Peter restored his hands.

Three days after the burial of Panayia, St Thomas came to Jerusalem. When he heard of her death he was very upset that he had not been there to see her. The Apostles felt so sorry for him that they decided to roll away the stone of her tomb so that St Thomas could pay his respects. When the Tomb was opened her body was gone. Only one piece of her burial shroud was there. The Apostles returned home and prayed to God to reveal where her body was. In the evening, they heard Angels singing, and,looking up, they saw the Mother of God in the air, surrounded by Angels in her Glory. She told them to rejoice and that she would pray for them before God. Thus the Lord raised his Mother higher than all his Angels.

The Death of the Virgin Mary is celebrated by Orthodox Christians on 15th August each year. A two week fast begins from 1st August called the Dormition or "falling asleep," as The Mother of God died quietly and it was as if she had fallen asleep.