Dormition of the Theotokos

Feast Day: August 15 (preceded by two week fast)
Liturgical color: dark blue
Liturgical offering: flowers
Themes: the death and resurrection of our mother the Theotokos, and of all the faithful in Christ

Special prayers: the Small Paraklesis

Around the web:
Festal Learning Basket from Charming the Birds from the Trees
On Ancient Faith Radio
Readings for the fast: 15 Days for Panagia

Quotes:
"Even if we can say that we don’t know much at all about what happened she died, there are several things that we can say for absolute certain. One is that she died. She definitely died. That is what we are celebrating. But she was raised and glorified with the risen Christ too, because she cannot be separated from her Son who is risen from the dead, as any saint cannot be separated from Him. As St. Paul says, 'Neither height, nor depth, nor breadth, nor width, nor angels, nor demons, nor life, nor death, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.'" - Fr. Hopko, AFR

"And this is what we celebrate on the 15th of August. It’s something about her. In a sense, it’s everything about her, but it is also everything about us. Because to quote Father Alexander Schmemann again, “Mary’s not the great exception. She’s the great example.” And what we celebrate in her, we expect for ourselves. And whatever we say that God has given to her, making her more honorable than Cherubim, beyond compare more glorious than Seraphim, we expect that will be for everyone, who by faith and grace dies with Christ, is co-crucified with Him, is co-raised with Him, is co-enthroned with Him, and co-glorified with Him." - Fr. Hopko, AFR