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‘Apostles gathered here from the ends of the earth…’ The assembly of the apostles from all parts of the earth, coming together in one place, as well as all the local Gethsemanes, that is wherever paraclitic canons are sung to the Mother of God at this time of year- that is everywhere- makes every country, each city, village, monastery, church, chapel and household into the whole world. With arms open to the world. Here, there and everywhere in this small, wide and infinite apse of the Mother of God Broader than the Heavens, the whole world is to be found. The Dormition of the Mother of God, by the Cretan iconographer priest, Victor. (detail) Benaki Museum (Though it’s never seen by the billionaire tourists/astronauts ...