Vicar Leads Celebration of the Dormition at Miami Cathedral

On August 28, the feast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos, Archimandrite Alexander Belya, the Vicar of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate of America, led the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Matrona in Miami.

Concelebrating were cathedral cleric Archpriest Maxim Pliskov and Vicariate cleric Hieromonk Pedro Medina Bazaar.

The service ended with glorification of the Theotokos in front of the Shroud of the Mother of God decorated with flowers. 

In Archimandrite Alexander’s sermon he spoke about the last days of the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos and her Dormition.  He wished everyone the maternal blessing of the Mother of God so that everyone would follow the path of life in righteousness and truth and inherit eternal life.

On the eve of the holiday, the Vicar led the All-Night Vigil, at which the Shroud of the Mother of God was brought out for the prayerful veneration of the believers.  For the Miami Cathedral, the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is very special.  The first service after the acquisition of the new building of the church was held on the day of the Dormition eight years ago.  It included a thanksgiving  prayer service to the Lord and His Most Pure Mother for all their blessings