By St. Justin Popovich
The apologist of the second century Melito, bishop of Sardis (second century), believes that the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos happened in the 69th year of her life, in the 55th year after the Nativity of Christ and in the 22nd year after the ascension of the Lord.
Hippolytus, the bishop of Rome (third century), considers the 43rd year from the Nativity of Christ, and the 57th year from her birth, as the year of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The "Father of Church History" Eusebius Pamphilus, bishop of Caesarea Palestine, writes that the Most Holy Theotokos passed away in the 63rd year of her life, in the 48th year after the Nativity of Christ and in the 15th year after the ascension of the Savior.
Saint Epiphanios, bishop of Cyprus (+ 403), maintains that the Most Holy Theotokos lived till her 72nd year, and that her Dormition took place in the 57th year after the Nativity of Christ.
George Kedrenos, a Byzantine writer at the end of the eleventh and the beginning of the twelfth century, says the same thing.
Church historian of the 14th century, Nikephoros Kallistos, cites the words of Saint Evodos, one of the Seventy Apostles, who considers the 59th year of life, the 44th from the Nativity of Christ, as the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Saint Andrew of Crete (+ 712) and Saint Symeon Metaphrastes (tenth century) do not precisely determine the number of years of the life of the Mother of God and say only that She delivered herself "at a sufficient age."
On the basis of all this, it can be considered that the Most Holy Theotokos was over 60 years old at the time of her Dormition.
- From the Lives of the Saints for August (15th). Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
