Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary Silent Prayer Retreat

In preparation for the Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (see below), we will gather during these days to devote ourselves to cultivating inner silence and prayer of the heart. All participants have an opportunity to receive individual spiritual direction during this program.

The Orthodox Church teaches that Mary is without personal sins, as well that Mary truly needed to be saved by Christ, as all human persons are saved, from the trials, sufferings, and death of this world. She truly died (“fell asleep,” hence “dormition”), and was raised up by her Son as the Mother of Life and participates already in the eternal life of paradise. This life of paradise is prepared and promised to all who "hear the word of God and keep it" (Luke 11:27-28) as Mary so perfectly did, saying, “be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). The feast of all Marian feasts, the Dormition in Orthodox tradition is preceded by fourteen days of fasting and abstinence.