Dormition

Christianity

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July 23, 2026

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In Christianity, the Dormition refers to the "falling asleep" of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. This event is celebrated as a feast day on August 15th, corresponding to the Western feast of the Assumption.12

The doctrine of the Assumption, particularly in Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic theology, holds that Mary was taken into heaven, body and soul, after her earthly life concluded. While not mentioned in the New Testament, this belief developed over time, with the feast initially commemorating Mary's dormition before evolving to emphasize her bodily and spiritual glorification. The doctrine was formally declared dogma for Roman Catholics by Pope Pius XII in 1950.2

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Assumption
…on August 15 commemorating her dormition, or falling asleep. The feast, which originated in the Byzantine Empire, was brought to the West, where the term Assumption replaced the earlier title to reflect increased emphasis on the glorification of Mary’s body as well as her soul. Although the dormition of Mary…
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…on August 15 commemorating her dormition, or falling asleep. The feast, which originated in the Byzantine Empire, was brought to the West, where the term Assumption replaced the earlier title to reflect increased emphasis on the glorification of Mary’s body as well as her soul. Although the dormition of Mary…
Read More