Dormition
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La Dormition de la Théotokos (Mère de Dieu) est une des grandes fêtes de l'Église orthodoxe, qu'on célèbre le 15 août. This feast, which is also sometimes called the Assumption, commemorates the death, resurrection and glorification of Christ's mother. It proclaims that Mary has been "assumed" by God into the heavenly kingdom of Christ in the fullness of her spiritual and bodily existence.
Sommaire
About the feast
The Orthodox feast of the Dormition is very similar to what Roman Catholicism calls the Assumption of Mary. According to Orthodox Tradition, Mary died like all humanity, "falling asleep," so to speak, as the name of the feast indicates. She died as all people die, not "voluntarily" as her Son, but by the necessity of her mortal human nature which is indivisibly bound up with the corruption of this world.
The Apostles were miraculously summoned to this event, and all were present except Thomas when Mary passed from this life. She was then buried.
Thomas arrived a few days later, and desiring to see her one more time, convinced the others to open her tomb. Upon doing so, the Apostles discovered that her body was no longer present. This event is seen as a firstfruits of the resurrection of the faithful that will occur at the Second Coming of Christ. The event is normally called the Dormition, though there are many Orthodox parishes in English-speaking countries with the name Assumption. In Greek, Dormition is Koimisis—falling asleep in death—from which the word cemetery derives.
As with the nativity of the Virgin and the feast of her entrance to the temple, there are no biblical or historical sources for this feast. The Orthodox Church teaches that Mary is without personal sinsModèle:Fact, as well that Mary truly needed to be saved by Christ as all human persons are saved from the trials, sufferings, and death of this world. She truly died and was raised up by her Son as the Mother of Life and participates already in the eternal life of paradise. This life of paradise is prepared and promised to all who "hear the word of God and keep it." (Luke 11:27-28)
The dormition of the mother of the Theotokos, the Righteous Anna, is celebrated on 25 juillet.
Celebration of the feast
The feast is preceded by 14 days of strict fasting, with the exceptions that fish is eaten on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6). On weekdays before the feast, either the Great Paraklesis (service of supplication) or the Small Paraklesis is celebrated.
On the eve of the feast, Vespers is served and contains three Old Testament readings that have New Testament meaning. In Genesis 28:10-17, Jacob's Ladder which unites heaven and earth points to the union of God with men which is realized most fully and perfectly in Mary the bearer of God. "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" In Ezekiel 43:27-44:4, the vision of the temple with the door to the East perpetually closed and filled with the glory of the Lord, symbolizes Mary. And in Proverbs 9:1-11, Mary is also identified with the "house" which the Divine Wisdom has built for herself.
Sometimes Matins is served on the morning of the feast. The Gospel reading is from Luke 1:39-49, 56. It is read on all feasts of the Theotokos and includes the Theotokos' saying: "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed."
Divine Liturgy is served on the day on the feast. In some churches, it is the custom to bless flowers on this feast before the Liturgy. The epistle reading is from Philippians 2:5-11, and speaks of "Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men." The gospel reading is taken from Luke 10:38-42 and 11:27-28 together; this reading is also always read on all feasts of the Theotokos. In it, the Lord says, "blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
Hymns
Tropaire (Ton 1)
- Dans ton enfantement tu as gardé la virginité,
- dans ta Dormition tu n'as pas quitté le monde, ô Mère de Dieu:
- tu as rejoint la Source de la vie,
- toi qui conçus le Dieu vivant
- et qui de la mort délivres nos âmes par tes prières.
Kontakion (Ton 2)
- La Mère de Dieu qui jamais ne se lasse d'intercéder pour nous
- et dont la protection ne pouvait cesser d'être notre espérance
- ne se laissa vaincre par la mort ni le tombeau,
- puisqu'elle est la Mère de la Vie et qu'elle a rejoint la Source de la vie:
- celui qui demeura dans son sein virginal.
Ikos
- Sauveur, entoure mon cœur, pour que j'ose célébrer
- ce rempart du monde, ta Mère immaculée;
- puissent mes paroles avoir la force d'une tour
- et mes pensées acquérir puissance et gravité;
- de ceux qui les présentent avec foi
- tu exauces les demandes en tout temps;
- donne-moi donc une langue, des expressions,
- des pensées dont je n'aie pas à rougir;
- car tout don qui nous éclaire vient de toi,
- illuminateur de nos âmes, Seigneur
- qui demeuras dans le sein virginal.
Hymns de l'avant-fête
Tropaire (Ton 4)
- Peuples, d'avance exultez,
- fidèlement battez des mains,
- avec amour rassemblez-vous
- dans l'allégresse de ce jour,
- tous ensemble criant de joie,
- car de terre va s'élever jusqu'en la gloire des cieux
- la Mère de Dieu qu'en nos hymnes nous glorifions.
Kontakion (Ton 4)
- En ta mémoire glorieuse l'univers,
- sous l'ornement de grâces brodé par l'Esprit,
- s'écrie dans l'allégresse:
- Vierge sainte, réjouis-toi,
- car tu es la fierté des chrétiens.
Voir aussi
- The icon of Panagia Ierosolymitissa located inside the Sepulcher of the Theotokos.
Source
- Dormition of the Theotokos The Orthodox Faith by the V. Rev. Thomas Hopko
Liens externes
- The Dormition of the Theotokos from Orthodox Family Life
- The Assumption (Dormition) of the Virgin, a descriptive commentary of festal icons
- Icons of the Dormition of Mary
- The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary (OCA)
- August 15: Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary (GOARCH)
