圣母蒙召升天节纪念于每年的8月15日，在厄弗所大公会议基于肯定耶稣是真天主又是真人，宣认玛利亚为天主（上帝）之母的信理。此后圣母敬礼便在各地蓬勃发展起来。至教宗本笃十四世，宣布玛利亚升天为可靠意见，1950年颁定：「童贞玛利亚灵魂肉身蒙召升到天国的荣耀」为罗马天主教信理。

罗马天主教、东正教及圣公会对这条信条的理解有不同之处，一般认为东正教宣认童贞圣母玛利亚的灵魂升天，而非天主教认为的灵魂肉身同时升天，所以在正教会一般使用圣母安息节的名称。在圣公会高派教会对这条信条的理解接近于天主教，而圣公会低派教会则基本不承认此信条。

The Dormition of the Mother of God (Greek:Κοίμησις Θεοτόκου, Koímēsis Theotokou often anglicized as Kimisis, Slavonic: Успение Пресвятыя Богородицы, Uspenie Presvetia Bogoroditsi) is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches which commemorates the "falling asleep" or death of Mary, the mother of Jesus (literally translated as God-bearer), and her bodily resurrection before being taken up into heaven. It is celebrated on August 15 (August 28, N.S. for those following the Julian Calendar) as the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Dormition not on a fixed date, but on the Sunday nearest August 15.