Forefeast of the Dormition

Today, we celebrate the Forefeast of our Lady's Dormition. At all the services we chanted the Apolytikion: In faith, O ye people, leap for joy while clapping your hands; and gather in gladness on this day with longing and shout in radiant jubilance. For the Theotokos cometh nigh to departing from the earth unto the heights; and we glorify her with glory as the Mother of God in our unceasing hymns.

And now, we wait for the glory of our Lord to manifest yet again in the celebration of our Lady's, and indeed even our, falling asleep. It was only by Christ's trampling down death by death that such a falling asleep is possible for it is no longer something to be feared, but to be embraced and expected with gladness. But for now, we wait...