Dormition of the Mother of God, Afterfeast of

[1]Commemorated on August 16

In today's hymns at Vespers, the Mother of God is praised as "only created being to pass from earth to heaven in the flesh."

Troparion (Tone 1) –

In giving birth you preserved your virginity,
In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos.
You were translated to life, O Mother of Life,
And by your prayers, you deliver our souls from death.

Kontakion (Tone 2) –

Neither the tomb, nor death could hold the Theotokos,
Who is constant in prayer and our firm hope in her intercessions.
For being the Mother of Life,
She was translated to life by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb.

By permission of the Orthodox Church in America (www.oca.org [2])