Assumption

Dormition icon in procession

The annual procession of the Dormition icon (Mary falling asleep / died) took place early on Friday morning at 5am. The Holy Sepulchre bells were ringing loudly and thousands of christians - orthodox and catholic were in procession down to the Tomb of Mary in the Kidron Valley. There were two long rows of Greek and Romanian and Russian nuns and monks holding candles while the bishop carried the heavy silver icon. The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches keep the Julian calendar and the feast of the Assumption (Dormition for the Eastern churches) falls on August 26th.

Geez rite catholics at Mass

On Saturday I had to celebrate the same feast day for our Ethiopic catholics. It was a nice crowd, with lots of Geez hymns and prayers chanted and sung. There were many children, which is a good sign for the future of the Geez Rite community.

Next week the school year begins for many primary schools. Some secondary schools will begin a little later. University begins even later. Summer holidays is over. Sunrise is later and autumn has set in. Soon another year will pass.

Monks and nuns in
procession

Thousands participating