The priest told about the divine services on the Assumption of the Virgin

On the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, divine services have a general order and structure, however, they include special ranks and traditions associated with honoring the death of the Mother of God, for example, the removal of the shroud. Philip Ilyashenko, a priest and vice-rector of St. Tikhon's Orthodox University for the Humanities, told Izvestia about this.

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In 2026, the end of the Dormition Fast is postponed by one day due to Friday.

"The services themselves have a general order and structure inherent in other festive worship services. In the evening, a solemn service is performed: Vespers and Matins are combined into an all-night vigil. This name indicates that the service used to be performed at night, and the liturgy began in the morning. Nowadays, it is usually served in the evening, because it is difficult for a modern person living in the rhythm of urban life to stay up all night. This is possible in monasteries," the priest explained.

Bread, wheat, wine and oil are consecrated at the all-night vigil. Bread is then distributed to the faithful. In the second part of the service, the priest anoints with oil with a brush those who approach the icon of the feast in the center of the temple.

There is a confession after the service. The priest noted that it is possible to repent of your sins, ask God for forgiveness, promise to improve and receive a blessing so that you can come to the liturgy the next day and partake of the Mysteries of Christ.

"There is also the rite of the burial of the Mother of God, which commemorates the event of the Dormition — the falling asleep, death and burial of the Mother of God. Like all people, she died. At the same time, her body was also taken from the tomb by God. During this rite, the shroud, a large rectangular canvas depicting the reclining Mother of God, is solemnly carried out into the middle of the temple. A further divine service is performed near the shroud — the rite of the burial of the Mother of God. This is a rather late rank, more typical of the Western Christian tradition than of the Orthodox and Eastern Christian," Father Ilyashenko drew attention.

Read more in the Izvestia article:

The main prayers for the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary: words that believers pronounce with special hope