On 21 November, the Church celebrates a feast that highlights the holiness and dedication of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Latin-rite Catholic tradition, it is called the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, observed as a memorial, while in the Byzantine tradition, it is known as the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple. Both traditions honor the same profound mystery: Mary’s consecration to God from her earliest years, preparing her to become the Mother of the Incarnate Word.
According to the ancient tradition recorded in the Proto‑Evangelium of James, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne, brought their three-year-old daughter to the Temple in Jerusalem. There, the priest of the Temple received her and welcomed her into the sacred space where God’s presence dwelled. While the priest’s name is not preserved in the liturgical texts, this moment symbolizes Mary’s total dedication and her growth in purity and holiness within God’s house. Some devotional accounts imagine angels rejoicing at her entrance, a beautiful poetic image, even if it is not part of the official liturgy.
The Byzantine hymnography beautifully captures this event. The Troparion (Tone 4) proclaims:
“Today the holy Mother of God entered the holy Temple,
the holy place where the Almighty God dwells;
she is the most pure, ever‑virgin, the Mother of the Light of the world.”
Mary is honored in Catholic theology as the new Ark of the Covenant, the pure vessel through which the Incarnate Word entered the world. This imagery does not suggest that she is the source of salvation herself, but that she points the faithful to Christ, the sole Savior, and models a life of obedience, faith, and intercessory prayer. The Church invites all believers to imitate her dedication, offering their hearts and lives to God with humility and devotion.
Liturgical celebrations vary according to rite. In the Roman-rite, the feast is observed with a memorial Mass, including prayers proper to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Byzantine Church, the feast is celebrated with Matins, Vespers, and the Divine Liturgy, often accompanied by processions of children carrying lamps, reflecting the symbolic Light of Christ. Such customs, recognized by the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, foster the faithful’s spiritual participation and connection to the sacred story.
The feast also serves as a reminder that God often calls His servants to holiness from a young age, and that lives lived in faithful service can bear fruit for generations. Mary’s presentation in the Temple prefigures her unique role in salvation history as the Mother of God and highlights the spiritual ideal of consecration and readiness to respond to God’s will. Through her example, Christians are encouraged to dedicate themselves to prayer, virtuous living, and selfless service, always turning to Christ as the source of grace and salvation.
Mary was very young! According to tradition, she was just three years old when presented in the Temple. Imagine a toddler walking into the sacred Temple—already called to holiness!
The Ark connection: Mary is sometimes called the “living Ark of the Covenant” because she carried God’s Word, Jesus, in her womb many years later. Just like the Ark held the tablets of the Law, Mary bore the Living Word.
Lamps and light: In some Eastern Christian communities, children carry small lamps or candles in processions. This symbolizes Christ, the Light of the world, coming into the spiritual “Temple” of our hearts.
Iconography: Many icons of this feast show Mary climbing the Temple steps, sometimes assisted by two women, while priests stand to receive her—symbolizing her journey toward God.
Global celebration: While the feast is widely celebrated in Eastern Europe, it is also recognized in the West, showing the universal devotion to Mary’s holy life.
A feast of preparation: Just as Advent prepares us for Christ’s birth, the Presentation of Mary reminds us that preparation and dedication are key in our spiritual lives.
