Dormition of the Theotokos

[JacktheCatholic]

Hello all.

I am trying to understand this doctrine of the Dormition of the Theotokos and am looking for what it teaches and more so the history behind it.


Thank you all.

 

[Coralie]

Hi Jack!

I'm not an expert but here's the wiki page for general information to get you started: Dormition of the Theotokos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An excerpt:

Dormition versus Assumption

The Dormition of the Theotokos is celebrated on August 15 (August 28, N.S. for those following the Julian Calendar), the same calendar day as the Roman Catholic Feast of the Assumption of Mary. The Dormition and the Assumption are different names for the same event, Mary's departure from the earth, although the beliefs are not entirely the same.

The Orthodox Church teaches that Mary died a natural death, like any human being; that her soul was received by Christ upon death; and that her body was resurrected on the third day after her repose, at which time she was taken up, bodily only, into heaven. Her tomb was found empty on the third day.

Roman Catholic teaching holds that Mary was "assumed" into heaven in bodily form. Some Catholics agree with the Orthodox that this happened after Mary's death, while some hold that she did not experience death. Pope Pius XII, in his Apostolic constitution, Munificentissimus Deus (1950), which dogmatically defined the Assumption, appears to have left open the question of whether or not Mary actually underwent death in connection with her departure, but alludes to the fact of her death at least five times.

Both churches agree that she was taken up into heaven bodily. The Orthodox belief regarding Mary's falling asleep are expressed in the liturgical texts used of the feast of the Dormition (August 15) which is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, and is held by all pious Orthodox Christians; however, this belief has never been formally defined as dogma by the Orthodox Church nor made a precondition of baptism.

The Eastern Catholic observance of the feast corresponds to that of their Orthodox counterparts, whether Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Orthodox.

The Dormition is known as the Death of the Virgin in Catholic art, where it is a reasonably common subject, mostly drawing on Byzantine models, until the end of the Middle Ages. The Death of the Virgin by Caravaggio, of 1606, is probably the last famous Western painting of the subject.

 

[Coralie]

It's worth noting that it's not a "teaching" in the EOC, whereas in the CC I think it's a defined dogma.

Generally as I understand it, the EOC agrees the Theotokos' remains are not on Earth. Whether she died or not before being assumed into Heaven is considered the realm of "pious opinion". I.e., you can believe either way and it's not seen to affect your salvation or your standing with the Church.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

Thank you Coralie.

I have read allot from some RCC sources. It mentions things like the Protoevangelium of James and/or other early writings and traditions. But I figured the EOC would have more information (or maybe hoped).

A couple things I wanted to learn from the Eastern Orthodox was about the earliest writings traditions regarding the Dormition.



Jack

 

[JacktheCatholic]

It's worth noting that it's not a "teaching" in the EOC, whereas in the CC I think it's a defined dogma.

Generally as I understand it, the EOC agrees the Theotokos' remains are not on Earth. Whether she died or not before being assumed into Heaven is considered the realm of "pious opinion". I.e., you can believe either way and it's not seen to affect your salvation or your standing with the Church.

Thanks again.

Do you know of any writings before the 5th century on this? Hopefully 2nd or 3rd century.



Much appreciated,

Jack

 

[Coralie]

I'm afraid I am no scholar You'd best wait for the smart people to turn up, they're usually pretty good with massive quotes and early sources.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

I'm afraid I am no scholar You'd best wait for the smart people to turn up, they're usually pretty good with massive quotes and early sources.

That makes two of us. Thank you so much for your help.

 

[icxn]

Hello all.

I am trying to understand this doctrine of the Dormition of the Theotokos and am looking for what it teaches and more so the history behind it.


Thank you all.

Here you go.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

Here you go.

I hope it is OK to have saved a copy to my desktop.

I did read through the first four pages and it uses ECFs like Chrysostom and looks very good. Although there are still 17 more pages to go over.

Thank you very much.

 

[buzuxi02]

The actual service for the Dormition of the Theotokos is the Orthodox belief. I'm sure it can be found somwhere online.

 

[buzuxi02]

It's worth noting that it's not a "teaching" in the EOC, whereas in the CC I think it's a defined dogma.

Generally as I understand it, the EOC agrees the Theotokos' remains are not on Earth. Whether she died or not before being assumed into Heaven is considered the realm of "pious opinion". I.e., you can believe either way and it's not seen to affect your salvation or your standing with the Church.

In the EO we definately affirm that she died, this is what the icon in the OP depicts, and is a common theme in the liturgical texts of the Dormition. Her bodily translation into heaven would be the pious opinion, but this too is eluded to in a more vague way in the service of the Dormition.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

The actual service for the Dormition of the Theotokos is the Orthodox belief. I'm sure it can be found somwhere online.

Unless it were a site put up with the guidance of your Patriarch I would be skeptical. It is enough to get help from those here.

Thanks again.

 

[Protoevangel]

Maybe these will be of some help (from Bishop JOSEPH, Bishop of Los Angeles and the West):

August 15: Dormition of the Theotokos
Great Vespers
Litia/Artoklasia
Lamentations of the Dormition
Orthros
Divine Liturgy Variables

 

[buzuxi02]

Unless it were a site put up with the guidance of your Patriarch I would be skeptical. It is enough to get help from those here.

Thanks again.

Since your roman catholic its the same exact service found in the byzantine catholic churches. If you can get a copy of it , or if theres a byzantine rite catholic resource on the net, it will have the text.