Traditions of the Feast of the Dormition

[Ilian]

As we are approaching the Feast of the Dormition, I thought it would be interesting to hear about the various traditions surrounding its celebration. Do you have a Moleben or Paraklesis beforehand? Do you process or present an epitaphion? Anything else?



Please post what your church does.

[Greg the byzantine]

Everyday from August 1st the 13th there is paraklesis to the Theotokos (Some days Great Paraklesis is done).

On August 14th we have an epitaphios for the Panagia and they sing the engomia to the Panagia (Kind of Like the Engomia of Good Friday but pertaining to the Theotokos.) Here's a picture of our Epitaphios from a few years ago, the icon was placed on a stand in front for people to venerate as the picture was taken before the service (when Vespers began that icon was removed), the shroud of the Theotokos is behind it on the actual Epitaphios.

http://www1.christianforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=82344&d=1156260262

Then on August 15th there is a Divine Liturgy celebrating the Feast.

[MariaRegina]

Don't some jurisdictions also pass out blessed herbs on August 15?

I remember visiting one church and this lady had a bunch of dried herbs which made a horrible mess all over the Narthex.

[Ilian]

Everyday from August 1st the 13th there is paraklesis to the Theotokos (Some days Great Paraklesis is done).

On Sundays as well?

On August 14th we have an epitaphios for the Panagia and they sing the engomia to the Panagia (Kind of Like the Engomia of Good Friday but pertaining to the Theotokos.) Here's a picture of our Epitaphios from a few years ago, the icon was placed on a stand in front for people to venerate as the picture was taken before the service (when Vespers began that icon was removed), the shroud of the Theotokos is behind it on the actual Epitaphios.

So the Engomia is part of great vespers on the forefeast. Correct?

The picture is beautiful.

[Greg the byzantine]

On Sundays as well?



So the Engomia is part of great vespers on the forefeast. Correct?

The picture is beautiful.
Whoops I should have specified Every Weekday, so there is no Paraklisis on Saturdays and Sundays during that period. And yes Engomia are on the night of the 14th.

[Ilian]

Greg, is there a procession when the epitaphios is brought in?

Also, will people in your church bring Kollyva?

[Elizabethcynthia32]

At our church, we had a moleben for the Theotokos on the Wednesday evening before the Feast because we have a moleben and Bible Study every Wednesday anyway, then the Feast day we had people bring in flowers (we all ended up bringing in many different colors of roses in glass vases) and I brought some rosemary from my backyard (my plant is almost taller than I am and HUGE!!!) and these were blessed. Our priest then gave everyone a white carnation as a gift from the Church and I took my flowers and herbs home and dried them to put in my icon corners with the palms and willows from Lenten time. BTW, Greg, that is a gorgeous picture!!!!

Cynthia:crosseo:

[Greg the byzantine]

Greg, is there a procession when the epitaphios is brought in?

Also, will people in your church bring Kollyva?
No Kolyva, but yes there is a procession around the block with the Epitaphios. We are very lucky because one of our parishioners is an amazing florist, and he decks the church out every feast day and the flowers are always donated so the church pays nothing for them.

Next year I will have to take pictures during Holy Week, The Epitaphios is always completely covered in White Carnations and Purple Orchids, The Cross is Covered in flowers, There are flower arrangments by the Royal Doors, Over the Arch there is an arrangment that uses flowers tospell out the Holy Day.