Mother of God

(†) The Dormition of the Mother of God

Orthodox Calendar, August 15 The Dormition of the Mother of God The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary: After the Ascension of the Lord, the Mother of God remained in the care of the Apostle John the Theologian, and during his journeys She lived at the home of his parents, near…

Aug 15, 2026basilica.ro

Orthodox Christians following unrevised Julian calendar begin Dormition Fast

Orthodox Christians who follow the unrevised calendar begin the Dormition Fast on Friday, 14 August, a two-week period that ends in late August. It is one of the year’s strictest fasting periods, comparable to the Great Lent before Easter. During this period, meat, eggs and dairy products are not consumed, while fish is permitted only…

Aug 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Macarie urges faithful to entrust families to the Mother of God during Dormition Fast

“Let us entrust our families, our children and young people, our parents and the elderly, the sick and the lonely, our homes, our journeys, our worries, our trials, and all our needs to the Mother of God,” Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe said in a message marking the beginning of the Dormition Fast. The bishop…

Aug 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Dormition Fast begins with prayer, fasting and spiritual renewal

The Dormition Fast begins on Friday for Orthodox Christians observing the revised calendar and concludes on 14 August, the eve of the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. During these two weeks, the faithful are called to fasting, prayer and spiritual purification. Typically, the fasting period starts on 1 August. However, according…

Jul 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Trust in God and the Mother of God brings true freedom, says patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești said on Friday evening at the Patriarchal Cathedral that true freedom is found through trust in God, the Mother of God and the saints. “Only with the help of God, of the Mother of God and of the saints can we feel truly free, entrusting our lives into the…

Mar 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Virgin Mary honoured as ‘living icon of the Church, obedient to God in humility’, Patriarch Daniel says

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said on Wednesday that the Mother of God holds a central place in the history of humanity’s salvation, describing her as “a living icon of the Church, obedient to God in humility”. He underlined that the Feast of the Annunciation marks “the beginning of our salvation…

Mar 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Jubilee Year for the Akathist Hymn marks 1,400 years since first chanting

This year marks 14 centuries since the city of Constantinople was saved from a siege by a coalition of Avars and Persians, an event commemorated by the first chanting of the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God. The Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos, traditionally attributed to Saint Romanos the Melodist, was first chanted in…

Mar 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

(†) The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary

Orthodox Calendar, September 8 The Most Holy Virgin Mary was born at a time when people had reached such a degree of moral decay that it seemed altogether impossible to restore them. People often said that God must come into the world to restore faith and not permit the ruin of mankind. The Son of…

Sep 8, 2025basilica.ro

Dormition Fast begins on Old Calendar: Traditions from Romania’s border communities to Orthodox faithful worldwide

Most Romanian communities around Romania’s borders, as well as Orthodox faithful in other parts of the world, follow the unrevised calendar and are preparing for the Dormition Fast, which begins on Thursday, August 14. Popularly known as “Saint Mary’s Fast,” it is meant to be quite strict, as it culminates with the Dormition of the…

Aug 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Dormition Fast begins August 1: brief guidelines

The Dormition Fast begins this Friday and lasts for two weeks for Orthodox Christians observing the revised calendar. This year, the fast will also conclude on a Friday, which means it will be extended by one day, in accordance with the General Liturgics. “The fast is prolonged to include the feast day itself if it…

Jul 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch highlights Mother of God as Protectress of families ahead of national March for Life

On Tuesday, the Mother of God is the Protectress of all mothers, parents, and children, emphasized His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania. Especially on the Feast of the Annunciation, “we deeply value God’s blessing upon all families, and especially upon those who give birth to children or foster or adopt them,” said the Patriarch of…

Mar 26, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu