On Thursday, August 28, 2025, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Feast of the Dormition of our most-blessed and all-glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, in the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Gethsemane.
For this feast, Vespers was held in the afternoon of the eve, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Theophanes of Gerrash, with the participation of local faithful and a few pilgrims from abroad.
In the morning Matins and the Divine Liturgy were presided over by Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos, concelebrating with the Hierarchs of the Patriarchate, Metropolitans Hesychios of Capitolias and Timotheos of Vostra, the Archbishops, Theophanes of Gerrash, Aristarchos of Constantina, Demetrios of Lydda, and Philoumenos of Pella; also the visiting Reverend Assistant Bishop Theophilos of Trotusanu of the Patriarchate of Romania, the Archimandrites representatives of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Vassianos, and of the Patriarchate of Romania, Ioan, together with many Hieromonks and Priests, Archdeacon Mark, and the Hierodeacons Eulogios and Prodromos. The chanting was delivered by the First Cantor, Deacon Eustathios, and an Arabic Choir, in the participation of a devout congregation of faithful, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr. Dimitrios Angelosopoulos.
Before the Holy Communion, His Beatitude delivered the following Sermon:
“The Theotokos, who never slumbereth in her intercessions and is our unwavering hope in her protection, neither the tomb nor death could hold; for as she was the Mother of Life, He that dwelt in her ever-virgin womb did translate her unto life,” the hymnographer of the Church exclaims.
Beloved brethren in Christ,
Pious Christians and pilgrims,The grace of this God-bearing Tomb of the all-blessed Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary has gathered us all today in this holy place of Gethsemane, that we may festally celebrate her venerable translation from earth unto heaven.
The angelic powers, according to Saint John of Damascus, marvelling at this translation of the Theotokos, received her echoing the words the poet of the “Song of Songs”: “The powers, with sacred hymns and with gladness of festival, come forth to meet thee, well-nigh saying: Who is this that cometh up made white, leaning upon her beloved… fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?” (Song of Solomon 8:5; 6:10).
The hymnographer says: “For she that was of the seed of David, through whom we beheld the Lord, is with glory unspeakable translated into the hands of her own Son and Master, whom we do magnify as the Mother of God.”
We magnify the Ever-Virgin full of grace Mary, as the Mother of God, for of her pure blood and by the coming of the Holy Ghost the Word of God took upon Himself our human flesh and deified it, “Assuming in Himself the nature of man.” For this cause, the Holy Church of Christ calls us today with especial exhortation, saying: “Come, O ye people, let us hymn the pure and all-holy Virgin, from whom the ineffable Word of the Father did become incarnate; and with voices crying let us say, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the womb that bare Christ. Do thou, O undefiled one, who hast entrusted thy soul into His holy hands, intercede that our souls may be saved.”
It is noteworthy that the Theotokos and Mother of God underwent death, even as the Word of God and her Son Jesus Christ willingly received death as a mortal man.
But, as Saint John of Damascus says, “her soul descended not into Hades, neither did her flesh see corruption.” For, according to the Psalmist, “The Most High Himself hath sanctified His habitation” (Psalm 67:16-17).
Saint Gregory Palamas, extolling the ineffable majesty of the Theotokos and her incomparably higher place among the angelic powers in heaven, references the Prophets Isaiah and David, saying: “And concerning the highest Order of these (the angels), Isaiah writes, ‘And above it stood the seraphims’ (Isaiah 6:2); but concerning her, again, David says, ‘Upon thy right hand did stand the queen’ (Psalm 44:9). Seest thou the difference of standing? And again, Gregory says: ‘Therefore she alone is the boundary between created and uncreated nature; and no man can come unto God save through her and through Him that was born of her, the Mediator Christ; and nothing of the gifts of God can come to angels or to men save through her.’”
And we, dearly beloved brethren, who have been counted worthy to draw nigh unto this empty Tomb of the Theotokos, where the Holy Apostles gathered together mystically to perform her burial, crying aloud the voice of the Archangel Gabriel: “Hail, thou that art full of grace, the Lord is with thee, O unwedded Virgin Mother,” let us entreat her to intercede with her Son and God for our souls and for the peace of our region. Many happy returns, blessed and peaceful!
After the Dismissal, the renovator of the Holy Pilgrimage, His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, offered a festive reception at the Hegoumeneion.
In honour of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, celebrations were likewise held in the Patriarchal Churches at Aboud, Salt, Ermemin, Mafraq, and Ain Arik.
