The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of GodThis religious holiday is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the memory of the death of the Mother of God and Her bodily ascension to heaven. The word "dormition" means "sleeping down", that is, the end of the earthly life. The Assumption of the Virgin is colored not by the sorrow of death, but by the joy of the ascent of the Virgin into Paradise. The text of the Gospel does not mention the Assumption, and therefore the holiday is surrounded by many legends.

The exact place of the death of the Mother of God - according to one legend - is the city of Ephesus, on the other - Gethsemane near Jerusalem. There is a legend according to which the deceased was raised by her son and entered Paradise with her whole being, both spiritual and bodily.

The feast of the Assumption dates back to the first centuries of Christianity and in the IV century is already celebrated everywhere. Since 595, the holiday began to be celebrated on August 15 in honor of the victory won on this day by the Byzantine emperor Mauritius over the Persians.

The cult of Our Lady is very strong in France. It is the second most important religious holiday after Christmas. On August 15, the French go to church and participate in Christian celebrations.