The Dormition of the Theotokos, one of the most significant feasts in the Orthodox calendar, was marked on Friday, August 15, by Orthodox Christians across Australia and Greece.
In Australia, faithful attended Divine Liturgy at Greek Orthodox churches nationwide, lighting candles, venerating icons of the Virgin Mary, and offering prayers of thanksgiving and petition.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australis was in Melbourne for the Feast and presided over a Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in North Altona.
The day, often referred to as the “Summer Easter” in Greece, is equally revered among the Greek diaspora.
In Greece, worshippers also filled churches, before many joined paniyiria – village festivals featuring music, dance, and shared meals – to celebrate the religious and cultural significance of the day.
The feast coincides with the peak of the Greek holiday season, with ferries from Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio operating at near full capacity to the islands.
From the Holy Monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos in Korakies, Chania, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered a message of unity and optimism, dedicating the day to those “who fight every day to keep us safe” — including armed forces personnel, firefighters, and volunteers battling the climate crisis.
“We face great difficulties,” he said, “but with self-confidence and the strength we draw from our devotion to the Virgin Mary, we can overcome them and move forward.”
