The Feast of the Assumption is the principal feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Holy Day of Obligation celebrates the bodily assumption, or taking up, of the body and soul of Mary into heaven.

The significance of this day is that it represents the culmination of Mary's special position as the Mother of God and her blessed life on earth lived in complete obedience to God's will. Because Mary was born without sin, as stated in the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, she was not subject to the corruption and death that sin causes. Therefore, at the end of her earthly life, not only was her soul preserved, but her unstained body as well. Mary's assumption occurred so that she might be more fully conformed to her Son. It is a singular participation in Christ's resurrection, and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.

The actual sources documenting the assumption are lost to us, but through the prayer and contemplation of the Church, historical accounts, and scripture references to the assumption of Elijah, Moses and Enoch, the Church has determined the truth of the assumption. Pope Pius XII proclaimed in 1959 the bodily assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven a dogma of the Catholic faith, something that is to be accepted by the Catholic faithful as part of their belief. Additionally, though the early Christians zealously sought the relics of martyrs and saints to keep and venerate, no one ever claimed to possess the bones of Mary. St. John Damascene says in Migne's Partologia Graeca Cursus Completus 96:1, "Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened, upon the request of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven."

It seems the Feast of the Assumption developed from early festivals celebrating Mary in the fifth century. The feast came to focus on the Dormition, or "falling asleep," of Mary and was made universal by Emperor Maurice at the end of the sixth century. This title was accepted in Rome during the seventh century, and it became known as the "Assumption" in the eighth century.

It should be noted that Mary's "assumption" is different from Christ's "ascension." Mary was brought to heaven by God through no effort of her own, while Jesus ascended under his own power.

Both Jerusalem and Ephesus claim to be the site of Mary's death and assumption, though there are more records of the location of Mary's tomb in Jerusalem. Many pilgrims visit the site of Mary's tomb in the Church of the Assumption in the Kidron Valley near Jerusalem.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin on the Assumption:

"In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life.
You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death."
-ByzantineLiturgy, Troparion, Feast of the Dormition, August 15th