In August, one of the main Christian holidays, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is celebrated. In Western Europe, as well as Bulgaria and Armenia, it is celebrated according to the old style - August 15. On this day, according to church tradition, Mary ascended to heaven.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Western Christians
On August 15, Western Christians celebrate one of their main church holidays - the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day, they recall the demise of the Mother of God Mary and her bodily ascension. In the West and East, the holiday has different names: the well-known Latin name Assumption literally means “capture”, “acceptance”, Russian “assumption” was taken from Church Slavonic and is translated as “sleep absorption”.
Eastern Christians celebrate the Assumption in a new style - August 28.
Until now, there is no reliable information about the life of the Mother of God after the death of Jesus Christ, nor about her death and burial. Early Christian monuments contain conflicting information. However, in most texts there is approximately the same plot about how, after the ascension of Jesus, the Mother of God passed into the care of John the Theologian and lived in Jerusalem, spending time in prayers waiting for a meeting with the Son.
Three days before his death, the archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary - he announced the speedy transition to assumption. Then the Mother of God called the apostles to herself in order to say goodbye to them. She bequeathed to bury her in Gethsemane between the graves of Joseph the Betrothed and her parents. Three days after the funeral, the apostle Thomas came to the grave and found that in the coffin there were roses instead of a body.
Along with the immaculate conception, the bodily ascension of Mary is a dogma in the Catholic dogma, however, it was officially formalized only in 1950. August 15 is an official holiday in many countries of Western Europe. On this day, believers make prayers and go to Mass.
Assumption of the Virgin in Bulgaria and Armenia
Bulgaria and Armenia are the only countries in Eastern Europe where the Assumption is celebrated in the old style. In Bulgaria, this holiday has special traditions. On the eve of the woman they bake ceremonial breads, which are then taken to the temple for their consecration. A special ritual of kurban is also performed at the Assumption: men cut a lamb and fry it on a spit. A special chorba kurban soup is prepared from meat: after the liturgy, they treat them to everyone who comes to the temple.
The name Mary is extremely popular in Bulgaria, and the Assumption is also considered a holiday for all mothers.
Armenians celebrate the Assumption since the 5th century. This holiday is one of the key in the Armenian Church. It is interesting that, as a rule, grapes ripen here at the Assumption, so there is a tradition to consecrate the harvest at the end of the festive liturgy. Grapes are brought to the temple, the clergyman reads a prayer and blesses the vine three times. Then the fruits are distributed to the congregation.
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