August 15th
On the Greek Cypriot Orthodox calendar, the 15th of August is one of the most important feast days of the year … it’s known as the Dormition of the Theotokos, also called the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and naturally the churches will be very busy … do try and catch a service, to experience it the Cypriot way …
Heaven
In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, followed by most Greek Cypriots, this feast commemorates the ‘Falling asleep’, or the death of the Virgin Mary and her being taken up into heaven.
In the Churches
Many people attend special Divine Liturgy services in churches all over Cyprus, often followed by local village festivals. Many women named Maria, Panayiota, Despina, and men named Panayiotis will also be celebrating their name day on this date. The date marks the end of the two-week Dormition Fast from 1st to 14th August, during which many Orthodox Christians abstain from meat, dairy, and sometimes fish, soooo,
BBQ Time
In Cyprus, as it’s also a public holiday, and many businesses and government offices are closed, and this year it falls on a Friday, so many are making it a long weekend and of course it’s any excuse to light a BBQ, and its summer, it’s really hot, so many families will aim for the sea, and the coastal resorts will be overflowing!
Enjoy the Holiday!
More …
Image: Compliments of susan-lu4esm
https://pixabay.com/users/susan-lu4esm-7009216/
