With a prayer service and a procession through the city streets, Orthodox believers in Vitebsk celebrated the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos
Its full name is the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. This is the last of the twelve great feasts of the Orthodox liturgical year, which ends on September 13th according to the new calendar. Christians are led to it by a two-week Dormition fast, comparable in strictness to Great Lent.
On the Dormition, people visit the church to offer prayers for health and help those in need. In Vitebsk, the celebrations began with a moleben at the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. After the service, believers proceeded in a religious procession through the city streets to the Holy Dormition Cathedral. The procession concluded with solemn prayerful singing at the walls of Vitebsk's main church.
– The first documentary evidence of the existence of the Orthodox Church of the Most Holy Theotokos on Prechistenskaya Hill, at the confluence of the Vitba and Western Dvina rivers, dates back to 1406. By the beginning of the 15th century, the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos appeared here, and the dominant height in the city was named Assumption Hill. The Holy Assumption Cathedral has gone through a complex historical path. It perished in flames and was destroyed by the hands of infidels, it was revived and rose again, it is protected by the Theotokos, – noted the press secretary of the Vitebsk diocese, Archpriest Andrei Smolsky.
After the service, Archbishop Dmitry of Vitebsk and Orsha addressed the faithful, congratulating everyone on the Dormition holiday and emphasizing that the Most Holy Theotokos is the heavenly intercessor, patroness, and comforter.
The Mother of God was associated with Mother Earth among the people. Therefore, our ancestors performed a ritual of consecrating the gifts of the earth on the Dormition. Holy water was sprinkled on ears of wheat, fruits, vegetables, and seeds. It was believed that prayers for healing on the day of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos would certainly be heard, and a person would regain health. After visiting the church, a festive table was set at home, which included gifts from the forest, such as mushrooms, berries, and nuts. By the way, tomorrow is the third Savior's Day – the Nut Savior.