Dormition of the Theotokos

The last years of her life, the Mother of God often retired for prayer, and most of all on the Mount of Olives. She contemplated her death and her eternal union with the Divine Son. She was preparing herself for death!
This is an indication to us. It must be remembered that the Kingdom of Heaven, where only love, purity and holiness reign, is entered only by those whoearthly life washed his dirty conscience with tears, who approaches the inevitable boundary with the spiritual wealth of prayers and good deeds, with the fire of faith in the Lord, with ardent love for Him.
And if we don’t have all this, then what a stranger our soul will feel in this new world for it!
From the sermon of Archimandrite John (Krestyankin). Sermon on the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos