Dormition: An Excerpt of a Paper I Wrote for the Theology Faculty at the University of Joensuu

Icon of Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos (August 15)
Our Lord is the first resurrected from the dead(57). And his Mother is second. The Icon shows the death and burial, and the resurrection( and ascension of the Theotokos. In the death scene her body is laid out on a bier, surrounded by the Apostles, her soul is in the hands of her Son. Her resurrection and ascension are depicted by placing her in a Mandorla near the top edge of the Icon.
Aside from our love for, and awe of the Mother of our Lord (58), why does the Church remember this event with a Great Feast? Because, what happens to her is what happens to all faithful Orthodox Christians. Just as she participated in his resurrection by being resurrected(59), we will be resurrected in the same manner. Just as she ascended in to Heaven by participating in Christ, so too shall we ascend into Heaven by participating in Christ. For, like her, we become God-bearers, Arks, and like her we are carried up with the Lord. Indeed, Psalm 131:8 is repeated many times throughout the services for the Dormition: “Arise O Lord, into thy rest, thou, and the Ark of thy holiness”. Thus the end of the Church’s year is graced with the promise of our resurrection and the celebration of the resurrection of Mary.

(57) Acts 26:23, Rev.1:5
(58) Luke 1:43
(59) Kontokian of the feast (tone 2) - Mary's resurrection is linked to her carrying God in her womb and giving birth to Him: "For being the mother of Life she was translated to life by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb."

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This isn't part of the paper I wrote, but considering what was reported in New Scientist in November 2004, how could Mary have remained in the grave?