The Entry into the Temple of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

The Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple. The parents of the Most Holy Mary, Joachim and Anna, reached old age without having had a child. They fervently besought the Lord for offspring, and made a vow that if their request were granted, they would dedicate the child to God. The King of heaven heard the prayer of the righteous couple and granted them a daughter.

When Mary was three years old, Joachim and Anna fulfilled the vow they had made to God: they called together their relatives and friends, dressed the Most Holy Virgin in the finest clothes, and with singing and lighted candles brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem. Here Mary was met by the high priest Zacharias, accompanied by a multitude of those who served in the Temple. The Temple had a stairway of fifteen steps. It seemed the child would not be able to climb it by herself, but when Mary was set on the first step, she, as if given wings by the grace of God, quickly ran up the other fourteen steps as well and went into the sanctuary. By inspiration from on high the high priest led the blessed maiden into the Holy of Holies, where only the high priest entered, and that once a year. The Most Holy Mary settled in the Temple. She prayed unceasingly, read Holy Scripture diligently, did handiwork and served the sick. The Most Holy Mary gave her portion of food to the poor, while she herself “received her food from the hand of an angel”. The Church glorifies this feast thus: “The all-pure temple of the Saviour is today brought into the house of the Lord, bringing with her the grace of the Divine Spirit; of her the angels of God sing: She is the heavenly tabernacle.”