The Dormition of the Theotokos

St. Maximus the Confessor draws many parallels between the Dormition of the Theotokos and other events in the life of the Ever-Virgin in his hagiographical The Life of the Virgin. It is first proclaimed to her by the Archangel Gabriel of her Dormition (ch.8, 103). As was too her Annnciation. This was so that she may be joined to our Lord in his death and resurrection. Our Lady commanded the Apostles, "Rejoice, O blessed children, and do not make my Dormition a cause of grief, but be full of the greatest joy, for I am going to my eternal joy, and may the grace and mercy of the Lord be with you always." (105) As with Christ's own death and resurrection, it is on the third day that the Apostle Thomas shows up and beseeches the other Apostles to open the tomb in order to receive one last blessing from the Theotokos (117). As the tomb was opened, there was found no body for the Ever-Virgin had been assumed. As it is with the Annunciation, so it was with the Dormition. The Archangel Gabriel proclaimed both. The Theotokos prepared the Apostles for her death as our Lord also prepared his Apostles for his own death and betrayal. It was on the third day that the tomb was pushed open for one last blessing. As it was with our own Lord. It was the Apostle Thomas who by his doubt confirmed the bodily resurrection of our Lord, who also confirmed the bodily assumption of our Lady by his tardiness (118).