December 4 - Introduction to the Temple of the Blessed Virgin. What can not be done on this day?

In Orthodox Christianity, there are holidays that are attributed to the main events of the history of Christianity. There are twelve such days. December 4 - Introduction to the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary - from among them. You can find out more about the holiday and traditions on this day from this article.

What is a holiday, what can not be done on December 4 and what can you eat?

This day is the twentieth Christian holiday. What does "Twelve" mean? The so-called Christian holidays, directly associated with the Virgin (the Virgin) and life in the land of Jesus Christ (master). According to their number, the name is also Twelve ("Vunyat" is twelve). This is a great holiday for believers - December 4, Introduction to the Temple of the Blessed Virgin. What can not be done: doing hard work, washing, sewing, cleaning and other household chores. And it is better not to lend on that day. You can go to visit or call friends. Day 4 December falls on the post Christmas or Filippov, so you can eat fish.

Introduction to the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 4. What does this holiday mean?

Here are the events of this day. Maria was only three years old, her parents - Anna and Joachim - decided that it was time to fulfill what God had promised. After all, when the childless Joachim and Anna prayed to the Lord for the child, they promised to dedicate the child to serving the King of Heaven. On the appointed day, they dressed Maria in the most beautiful clothes, gathered all her relatives. With the singing of church songs, Mary's parents lighted the candles and went to Jerusalem with all their relatives . There, a little girl overcame them with amazing ease and vigorous steps (there were fifteen of them). At the door she was met by the high priest Zacharias, in the future the father of John, who baptized Jesus. He blessed Mary, as he did with all those who were consecrated to God.

How Mary was received in the temple

On the day when the introduction to the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary took place, on December 4, the high priest had a divine revelation. Zechariah led Mary to the most sacred place of the temple, where he was allowed to go only to himself once a year. This again surprised everyone. Since entering the temple, Mary, the only one of all the girls, Zechariah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, allowed not to pray between the church and the altar, but in the inner altar. The Virgin remained on the upbringing in the temple, and her parents returned to their homes. So there was an Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos on December 4 and a long, earthly, glorious path began.

What became of the Virgin after the age of majority?

Mary grew very pious, humble, hardworking and obedient to the Lord. The Mother of God spent time with the other maidens in the church reading the Bible, praying, fasting and needlework right up to adulthood. For those times it came at the age of fifteen. The Most Holy Theotokos decided to give all her life to the service of the Heavenly Father. The priests turned to Mary with advice to marry, since all Israelis and Israelis were to be married, so the rabbis taught. But the Mother of God reported that she gave the Lord a vow to remain a virgin forever. This was strange for the clergy. High Priest Zacharias found a way out of this situation. Maria was married to her relative, a widower at an advanced age, a righteous Joseph. Marriage was formal, since Joseph became the guardian of the young virgin Mary, so that she could fulfill her vow.

How and when did they begin to celebrate the Introduction to the Temple of the Blessed Virgin?

A significant church for all Christians solemnly celebrated from ancient times. Indeed, thanks to the introduction into the temple, the Virgin Mary set foot on the path of service to the Lord. It became possible, afterwards, to incarnate the son of the Lord God, Jesus Christ, and the salvation of all people who believed in him. Even in the first centuries after the birth of the Savior, a temple was built in honor of this holiday, under the leadership of Queen Helena (who lived from 250 to 330), who was canonized, that is, she became a saint. Celebration is accepted. Introduction to the Temple of the Blessed Virgin on December 4. The prayer that this day is given by all believers, gives praise to the Ever-Virgin Mary and asks for the intercession of the Mother of God before the Lord for every one praying.

Icons dedicated to the introduction

Of course, such a great event could not but find reflection in the iconography. On the icons depict the Virgin Mary in the center. On one side of her stand the parents of the Virgin, on the other hand the high priest Zacharias, who meets the girl, is depicted. Also on the icon you can see the image of the Jerusalem temple and fifteen steps, the ones that little Mary overcame without help from outside.

Folk traditions on this day

It is celebrated according to the old style on November 21, on the new - on December 4. The introduction into the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos was popularly called simply the Introduction, the Gate of Winter or the Feast of the Young Family, or the Entry. There are folk sayings related to the beginning of winter and freeze-up: "The introduction has come - winter has led"; "On the Introduction - a thick ice." On this day, everywhere held fun, noisy and crowded fairs, sleigh rides with hills and on triples of horses. After the festive worship in the churches, the godparents treated the godparents to sweets, gave gifts, sleigh-sleds. On the day of the introduction, the peasants switched from summer transport (carts) to winter (sledges). They made a test drive, laying the sledge way. Newlyweds who played on the eve, in the autumn, weddings, dressed the sleigh and went out to the people, so they were said to "show the young." It was on the introduction put in the water for the icon broken cherry branches and watched on the eve of the new year, they blossomed or withered. Sprigs with leaves promised good in the new year, and withered - bad.

December 4 - Introduction to the Temple of the Blessed Virgin. Signs

If snow fell before this day, then waited for it to melt. They listened to the bell ringing: clear - to frost, deaf - to the snow. It was noted that the snow cover, which harbored the earth after the Introduction, does not melt until the spring. We saw if the weather was frosty that day. It was considered in the case of frost, all winter holidays will be frosty, and vice versa - warm, then the triumphs in winter warm anticipated. If from this day a deep winter was set, they expected a good harvest of grain.

The earthly life of the Virgin from birth to death is shrouded in mystery and holiness. Its introduction into the temple to consecrate God became the starting point for the possibility of saving the souls of men through the birth of Jesus Christ by the Mother of God. That is why December 4 - The introduction to the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary - a great feast for the faithful, when there was a hope that at least a little closer to the Lord. The Virgin Mary bound the invisible thread of people and the abode of the Heavenly Father. She still helps with prayers to all who need it. The Theotokos is the intercessor of children and her mercy knows no bounds. It is impossible to imagine a more revered saint in Christianity. Pray, and she will certainly hear and help.