THE PRESENTATION TO THE TEMPLE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple is a special Holy Day in the Orthodox Church.

When Mary was three years old, Her parents, Joachim and Anna brought Her to the Temple in Jerusalem in dedication to God. In a solemn procession, Mary, though very small, passed over the 15 steps, leading to the Temple. When She entered the Temple, the High Priest allowed Her to enter the "Holy of Holies," the Sanctuary into which he himself was allowed to go only once a year. The Holy Spirit had informed the High Priest that Mary was to become the Mother of the Saviour.

The Blessed Virgin Mary was brought up at the Temple's school according to the strict observance of God's commandments. She lived there for about 14 years spending time in prayer, reading the Psalms and sewing. She consecrated Herself to the service of God and there She made a promise to Him to remain a virgin.

This Feast teaches us that although the Virgin was born by God's interces­sion and although She was given a special function to fulfill, the Theotokos had yet to actively participate in fulfilling Her role. She could not be passive. The Virgin was not perfect for She was not exempt from the law of original sin. She shared in the fallen condition of man and was subject to death like all men. But in the Virgin, sin was never actual, sin had no control over Her will.

The Feast of the Presentation to the Temple shows us that although the Old Testament produced the Virgin, the Old Temple is fulfilled and replaced by the Virgin, Who becomes the New Temple of God, the dwelling place of the Lord. The Presentation signals the beginning of Her active response to God, of Her preparation for the great events which were to follow.

This feast day is celebrated annually on the 21st of November (December 4th).