August 28 — Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: what can and cannot be done

Every year on August 28, the church celebrates the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the main Christian holidays dedicated to the death of the Mother of God. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Thursday. What is the meaning of this holiday and what folk signs are associated with it, read the Izvestia article.

Assumption of the Virgin in 2025 — history

According to legend, after the death of Christ, the Virgin Mary lived in Jerusalem in the house of one of the closest disciples of her son John the Theologian. She spent her days in prayer, needlework, and communion with the faithful, who found joy and solace in talking with her.

The Virgin Mary often visited the Mount of Olives, the place where Jesus ascended. Once, at an advanced age, she climbed the mountain again, and during prayer, the archangel Gabriel descended to her. He informed her that in three days her earthly journey would end, and presented the Virgin Mary with a branch of paradise.

Upon learning of her impending death, the Mother of God did not grieve, but only asked the heavenly messenger to bring the apostles to her to say goodbye. At that time, the disciples of Christ had already gone around the world to preach, but Gabriel complied with the request, and shortly before the Dormition, the angels carried the apostles to the house of the Mother of God.

On the appointed day, the Virgin Mary, without pain or suffering, gave her soul into the hands of her son, who descended for her from heaven. She looked like she hadn't died, but had just fallen asleep. Hence the name of the holiday — Assumption, which in modern Russian means "sleep".

The funeral of the Virgin was also accompanied by miracles. The apostles carried her coffin to the Garden of Gethsemane, where the graves of the parents and husband of the Virgin Mary were located. When the Jerusalem high priests saw with what honors the Mother of God was being escorted to her last journey, they ordered their servants to disperse the procession. But they could not even get close to the believers — a cloud descended from heaven and hid the apostles from their detractors.

Only one disciple of Christ, Thomas, was not present at the ceremony. He arrived at Mount Gethsemane on the third day and asked to open the tomb in order to say goodbye to the Virgin. However, when the apostle entered, he did not see the body — the Virgin Mary had risen and ascended to heaven, leaving only a funeral veil.

Some time later, the Mother of God appeared to her son's disciples, surrounded by angels, and said: "Rejoice! For I am with you always."

What is the meaning of the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin

During the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, it is not the death of the Virgin Mary that is celebrated, but her transition to eternal life and the long-awaited reunion with her son. Therefore, the icons and frescoes dedicated to this event depict the Mother of God in two guises at once.: her body remains on earth, and her soul ascends to heaven in the form of a baby, ready to be reborn.

Dormition is also a celebration of victory over death. By resurrecting, Jesus proved that another life is possible beyond the human world. And the Mother of God became the first and only mortal to rise before the Second Coming and the Last Judgment.

At the same time, there is no mention of the death of the Virgin Mary in the Gospel, this story is described only in later apocrypha. Because of this, there has long been a debate among theologians about whether the Virgin Mary really ascended in the flesh. As a result, in the Catholic tradition, the bodily resurrection of the Mother of God was officially approved only in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The Orthodox Church has never denied the bodily ascension of the Virgin Mary, however, it has not tried to consolidate it in the form of a dogma.

Traditions of the Dormition of the Virgin in 2025

On the eve of the Dormition of the Virgin and on the day of the feast, solemn divine services are held. Believers bring flowers to the icon of the Mother of God and ask her for health and well-being for themselves and their loved ones. There is also a tradition to consecrate bread or small bunches of ears of corn in the temple.

In Russia, this holiday marked the end of field work. It was believed that the last sheaf in the winter field should be pressed on the Assumption. Put the squeeze on the last sheaf. At the same time, fellow villagers helped neighbors who, for one reason or another, could not complete the harvest on time.

After the Assumption of the Virgin, the time of matchmaking began. Young people were choosing brides to marry in the fall. It was believed that at this time the Virgin Mary herself blesses couples for a happy family life.

Another Assumption tradition is summer send—offs. It was believed that the sun falls asleep, which makes the nights longer and colder. Therefore, on a festive evening, a fire was lit in all houses for the first time and dinner was served by light. From that moment, the harvesting of pickles for the winter began.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin on August 28: what can and cannot be done

On the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin, believers should attend a divine service at least once or take time to pray at home. It is also customary on this day to help those in need, as the Mother of God did during her lifetime.

In addition, the two-week Dormition fast ends on the holiday. Therefore, feasts with meat and fish dishes are allowed on the Assumption. However, the church charter prescribes nevertheless to observe a measure in food and alcohol, as well as not to indulge in too much exuberant fun.

In addition, during the holiday it is forbidden to clean the house, do heavy physical work, sew, as well as swear, swear and enter into conflicts.

According to popular beliefs, you should not wear tight shoes on the Assumption, because those who rub their feet on the holiday will not see joy in life for a long time. Walking in the morning dew was also considered a bad omen. The cool drops falling on the grass were perceived as tears of the earth mourning the Virgin, so it was a great sin to trample them.

Assumption of the Virgin: signs of August 28

Weather signs are also associated with the Assumption of the Virgin. A rainbow in the sky on this day promises a warm and sunny autumn, and rain — bad weather until the end of September. If it is sunny and warm on the holiday, the coming Indian summer will not be hot. The abundance of cobwebs promises a snowless winter, and heavy fog promises a large harvest of mushrooms.