August occupies a special place in the calendar of the Orthodox Church, as it is during this month that we celebrate two of the Great Feasts of the Church as well as one of the four major fasting periods of the year.

The first major feast of the month is that of the Transfiguration of the Savior, which takes place on the 6th August and commemorates Christ’s revelation of his divinity to his disciples on Mt. Tabor.

The month is however dominated by the preparation for and celebration of its second major feast: that of the Dormition of the Theotokos (known among Western Christians as the Assumption) which takes place on the 15th August. This celebration, often called the “Summer Pascha” on account of its importance, commemorates the death (literally koimisis or “falling asleep”) of the Panagia as well as her subsequent resurrection and bodily entry to heaven bestowed on her by our Saviour and her son Jesus Christ. It is a reminder not only of the special role the Panagia plays in our lives, but also of the fact that the Christian story does not end with Jesus’ return to heaven at his Ascension. Christ continues to watch over and accompany us throughout our lives, and just like the Panagia we too can expect to be raised by him into new life if we believe in and follow him as she did.

The feast is traditionally preceded by two weeks of fasting (abstaining from meat) and regular compline services at the church in which we especially ask the Panagia for her prayers and assistance – check the August programme for when these are taking place. We wish all of you a blessed time of prayer and preparation, and hope to see many of you at Divine Liturgy on the 15th!

Weekday compline services during the first two weeks of August 2022 start at 18.00 and finish by 18.45. Our church will celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos feast at a morning service on Monday 15 August (09.15 start). Check the programme for further details.