August 15th; The Celebration of Panagia
In Medieval and Modern Greek, Panagia refers to Mary, mother of Jesus, in Eastern Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity.
August 15, aka ‘Dekapentavgoustos,’ is one of the biggest dates on the Greek Orthodox calendar. It’s all about the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos— a national and religious holiday that commemorates the “falling asleep” or repose (kimisis) of Panagia, the mother of Jesus Christ. This day also honors the Assumption of the Theotokos’s body into heaven.
According to the Holy Scriptures, Christ was dying on the cross and saw His Mother and His disciple John. He said, “Woman, behold your son,” to John. From that moment Apostle John took care of Panagia at his home in Jerusalem.
Panagia was there with the Holy Apostles on the day of Pentecost—a feast that goes down 50 days after Pascha (Easter) to celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit and the fulfillment of the Holy Trinity. When Panagia “fell asleep,” all the Apostles, except Thomas, were by her side, and it’s said that Jesus Christ descended to carry her soul to heaven.
They laid her body in a tomb near the Garden of Gethsemane, but when Apostle Thomas visited three days later, the tomb was empty. The Assumption of the Theotokos was later confirmed by an angel and by an appearance she made to the Apostles.
Every year, devout Greek Orthodox folks make their way to the island of Tinos, where they believe Panagia showed up to a nun and dropped the location of an icon with healing powers. If you want to send good vibes on this holy day, hit someone with “Kalo Dekapendavgousto!”
*All images & copyright belong to the original owner unless otherwise stated*
August 15, aka ‘Dekapentavgoustos,’ is one of the biggest dates on the Greek Orthodox calendar. It’s all about the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos— a national and religious holiday that commemorates the “falling asleep” or repose (kimisis) of Panagia, the mother of Jesus Christ. This day also honors the Assumption of the Theotokos’s body into heaven.
According to the Holy Scriptures, Christ was dying on the cross and saw His Mother and His disciple John. He said, “Woman, behold your son,” to John. From that moment Apostle John took care of Panagia at his home in Jerusalem.
Panagia was there with the Holy Apostles on the day of Pentecost—a feast that goes down 50 days after Pascha (Easter) to celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit and the fulfillment of the Holy Trinity. When Panagia “fell asleep,” all the Apostles, except Thomas, were by her side, and it’s said that Jesus Christ descended to carry her soul to heaven.
They laid her body in a tomb near the Garden of Gethsemane, but when Apostle Thomas visited three days later, the tomb was empty. The Assumption of the Theotokos was later confirmed by an angel and by an appearance she made to the Apostles.
Every year, devout Greek Orthodox folks make their way to the island of Tinos, where they believe Panagia showed up to a nun and dropped the location of an icon with healing powers. If you want to send good vibes on this holy day, hit someone with “Kalo Dekapendavgousto!”
*All images & copyright belong to the original owner unless otherwise stated*