Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary (04/12)

Great Christian holiday The introduction (entrance) to the Church of the Blessed Lady of our Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary belongs to the twelfth intransitive holidays of the Orthodox Church and is celebrated on December 4 according to the new style.

The basis is a church legend about how, at the age of three, parents solemnly introduced Mary, the future Mother of God, into the Jerusalem Temple. This feast of the Introduction was established at the dawn of Christianity. In Orthodoxy it became widespread in the 9th century.

The parents of the Virgin Mary, the righteous Joachim and Anna, praying for permission for infertility, made a vow that if a child was born, he would be consecrated to serve God. When the Blessed Virgin was three years old, the holy parents decided to fulfill their promise. Having gathered relatives and friends, dressed Most Pure Mary in the best clothes, singing sacred songs and holding lit candles, they brought her to the Jerusalem Temple. There the high priest met the Mother of God with many priests.

A staircase of fifteen high steps led to the temple. The child Mary, as soon as She was placed on the first step, strengthened by the power of God, quickly overcame the remaining steps and ascended to the top. Then the high priest Zechariah, by suggestion from above, introduced the Blessed Virgin into the holy of holies, where, of all people, only once a year the high priest entered with cleansing sacrificial blood. Everyone present in the temple marveled at the extraordinary event. The righteous Joachim and Anna, having presented the Child to the will of the Heavenly Father, returned home.

Mary remained raised in the temple until adulthood, that is, until the age of 15, after which She was married to the elderly widower of the carpenter Joseph.

The earthly life of the Mother of God from infancy to ascension to Heaven is covered in deep mystery. Her life in the Jerusalem Temple was also secret. But in Church tradition there is information that during the stay of the Most Pure Virgin in the Jerusalem Church, she was brought up in the company of pious virgins, diligently read the Holy Scriptures, did needlework, constantly prayed and grew in love for God.

Today, in honor of the holiday, solemn services are held in all Orthodox churches.

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