On December 4, the Holy Church celebrates the twelveth feast - the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Lady of our Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary!
WITH Vatatel Dimitri of Rostov wrote a legend about this great and joyful holiday: The Legend of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, which we place below:
TO When the Most Pure Mother of God, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary the Theotokos, turned three years old, Her holy righteous parents, Joachim and Anna, decided to fulfill their vow - to give up the child they had born to God. They summoned to Nazareth, where they lived, all their relatives from the royal and hierarchical family, - for the righteous Joachim himself was from the royal family, but his wife, Saint Anna, was from the hierarchical family, - as well as a chorus of virgins; prepared many candles and surrounded the Blessed Virgin Mary with royal splendor, as all this is testified by the holy fathers.
Saint James, Archbishop of Jerusalem, on behalf of Joachim, says:
- Call the immaculate daughters of the Jews to take the burning candles.
On behalf of the righteous Anna, Saint Herman, Patriarch of Constantinople, says:
- I am fulfilling the vow before the Lord that I made in a state of grief, and for this I gathered a chorus of virgins with candles, called priests, invited relatives, saying to everyone: all rejoice with me, for now I am a mother and a parent, bringing my Daughter not to the king of the earth, but to God, the King of Heaven.
As for the royal adornment of the Divine Lady, Saint Theophylact, Archbishop of Bulgaria, says:
- It was necessary that the introduction of the Most Divine Lady was worthy of Her, so that such a brilliant and valuable Pearl would not be touched by wretched clothing; it was necessary to dress Her with the royal garment, for the greatest glory and decoration.
Thus arranging all that was to be an honest and glorious introduction, they set out on the journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem in three days.
Having reached the city of Jerusalem, they solemnly entered the temple and led there the animate temple of God, a three-year-old girl, the Most Pure Virgin Mary. Ahead of Her was a chorus of maidens, with lighted candles, as St. Tarasius, Archbishop of Constantinople testifies, who puts the following words into the mouth of St. Anna:
- Begin (procession), virgins carrying candles, and precede me and the Divine Lady.
The holy parents, one on the one hand, the other on the other, taking their God-given Daughter by the hand, with tenderness and honor led her among themselves. All the multitude of relatives, neighbors and acquaintances happily followed them, holding candles in their hands and surrounding the Most Pure Virgin, like the stars of the bright moon, to the surprise of all Jerusalem. Saint Theophylact describes it this way:
- The Daughter forgets her father's house and is brought to the Tsar, who longed for Her beauty, - is brought not without honor and not without glory, but with solemn farewells. Here She is brought out of the fatherly house with glory, with the general applause of Her departure; her parents were followed by relatives, neighbors and all who loved them; fathers rejoiced at father, mothers rejoiced at mother; young women and virgins, with candles in their hands, preceded the Divine Mother. All Jerusalem, like a starry circle shining with the moon, gathered to watch these unprecedented farewells and see the three-year-old Lady, surrounded by such glory and honored by the presentation of candles. And not only the citizens of earthly Jerusalem, but also of heavenly - holy Angels - flocked to see the glorious introduction of the Most Pure Virgin Mary and, seeing, were amazed how the Church sings this: "The angels of the entry of the Most Pure See, wondering how the Virgin will enter the Holy of Holies."
Uniting with the visible choir of the virgins, the invisible choir of incorporeal ranks walked, leading the Most Pure Virgin Mary into the Holy of Holies and, at the command of the Lord, surrounding Her as the chosen vessel of God. Saint George, Archbishop of Nicomedia, says about this:
- The parents already led the Virgin, surrounded by Angels, to the door of the temple, with the joint rejoicing of all the heavenly forces. For the Angels, although they did not know the power of the secret, nevertheless, at the command of the Lord, served at Her entrance into the temple. So, firstly, they were amazed, seeing that She would be a precious vessel of virtues, that She bears the signs of eternal purity and has such flesh that no sinful defilement will ever touch, and secondly, fulfilling the will of the Lord, they performed the ministry that was to them. commanded.
So, with honor and glory, not only by people, but also by the Angels, the Most Immaculate Lady was introduced into the temple of the Lord. And worthy: for if the Old Testament ark, which carried manna in itself, which served only as a type of the Most Holy Virgin, was brought into the temple with great honor, with the gathering of all Israel, then with greater honor, with the gathering of angels and men, the introduction into the temple of that very animated kivot, which had manna in itself - Christ, - the Blessed Virgin, destined for Mother to God.
When the Old Testament cod was brought into the temple of the Lord, the king of the earth, then reigning over Israel, the Godfather David, walked in front of him; and when this animate kivot, the Most Pure Virgin, was introduced into the temple of God, it was not the earthly king that preceded, but the heavenly one, to whom we pray every day: “the king of heaven, comforter, soul of truth”. That this particular Tsar was leading this Royal Daughter, the Holy Church testifies to this in the present hymns: “Into the saints, the holy, holy and immaculate is introduced by the Holy Spirit”. When the ark was brought in, there was music and singing, for David ordered the leaders of the Levites to appoint singers to play organs, psalms, cymbals and harp, and sing joyful songs; at the introduction of the Blessed Virgin, it was not earthly music and singing that contributed to the joy, but the singing of the Angels, who were invisibly present. For they, at Her entrance into the Holy of Holies to serve the Lord, sang with heavenly voices, which is now remembered by the Church, which sings in the kontakion: "Grace is leading, even in Divine Dus, even the Angels of God are singing: this is the heavenly village." However, the introduction of the Most Pure Theotokos into the temple is not without human chants. For the righteous Anna (in the word of Saint Tarasius) says to the virgins walking in front:
- Sing this song of praise, sing to Her to the sound of the gusli, exclaim to Her a spiritual song, glorify Her in the ten-stringed psalter.
The Church recalls this, saying: "Joachim and Anna rejoice in the Spirit, and the virgins of the Lord are singing, singing psalm-like songs, and honoring His Mother."
From this it is revealed that the choir of the virgins, who then preceded the Most Pure Virgin, sang some of the songs from the psalms of David.
In accordance with this, the compiler of the present canon says to the aforementioned virgins: "Begin, virgins, and sing songs, holding candles with your hands."
The holy righteous parents themselves, Joachim and Anna, according to the testimony of Saint Tarasius, had on their lips the following song of the forefather David: “Hear, daughter, and behold, and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father's house. And the King will long for your beauty ”(Ps. 44: 11-12).
To meet this glorious introduction of the Divine Lady, according to Theophylact's story, the priests who served in the church came out, and with hymns they met the Most Holy Virgin, who had to be the Matter of the Great Bishop who passed through heaven. Bringing Her to the door of the temple, Saint Anna (as Saint Tarasius writes), spoke as follows:
- Go, my Daughter, to the One who gave you to me; go, Sacred Kivot, to the merciful Lord; go, Door of Life, to the merciful Giver; go, Ark of the Word, to the temple of the Lord; enter the Church of the Lord, Joy and Joy of the world.
To Zacharias, as to her prophet, bishop and relative, she said with Joachim:
- Take, Zachariah, a clean canopy; accept, priest, the immaculate Ark; Receive, prophet, the Censer of immaterial coal; accept, righteous, the Spiritual Censer.
And also the righteous Anna, as St. Herman narrates, said to the high priest:
- Receive, prophet, my daughter, given by God; receive and, having brought in, sit Her on the mountain of shrine, in the dwelling prepared by God, without asking anything, until God, who called Her here, finally reveals His will for Her.
There, - writes Blessed Jerome, - there were fifteen steps at the church entrance, according to the number of fifteen degree psalms, for at each of these steps, priests and Levites ascended to serve as a separate psalm. So the righteous parents put the most blameless young woman on the first step. She immediately very quickly walked by herself along the other steps, not guided or supported by anyone; ascending to the highest level, She became, strengthened by the invisible power of God. Everyone was surprised to see a three-year-old girl ascending these steps so quickly, and the great high priest Zechariah was especially amazed at this and, as a prophet, according to the revelation of God, envisioned the future of this Virgin, for he, according to Theophylact, was enveloped in the Spirit. Likewise, Saint Tarasius says about this that Zechariah, being filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed:
- Oh, pure Youth! O Virgo who knows no temptation! Oh, beautiful maiden! Oh, adornment of wives! O beauty of daughters! You are blessed between wives! You are supremely glorified by purity, You are sealed by virginity, You are the permission of Adam's oath!
Holding the Lady, Zechariah, says Saint Herman, with a joyful spirit led Her into the Holy of Holies, saying to Her this way:
- Go, fulfillment of my prophecy, go fulfillment of the Lord's promises, go, seal His covenant, go, discovering His counsel, go, fulfillment of His secrets, go, mirror all the prophets, go, renewal of the decrepit sins, go, Light lying in darkness, go , the newest Divine Gift. Enter now into the lower part of the temple of your Lord, accessible to men, and after a little time - into the upper and inaccessible for them.
The young woman, rejoicing and greatly rejoicing, went into the house of the Lord, as into the palace, for although she was small in age, only three years old, she was perfect by the grace of God, as she was recognized before and before God chosen before the creation of the world.
Thus, the Most Pure and Most Blessed Virgin Mary was introduced into the temple of the Lord. At the same time, the high priest Zechariah did an extraordinary and amazing thing for everyone: he brought the young woman into the most built tabernacle, called the "holy of holies", which was behind the second veil and where there was the ark of the covenant, overlaid with gold on all sides, and the cherubim of glory overshadowing the purification place ( Hebrews 9: 3-5), where not only women but even priests could not enter, but only the high priest could enter, once a year. There, the high priest Zechariah gave the Blessed Virgin a place for prayer. All the other virgins living in the temple, according to the testimony of St. Cyril of Alexandria and St. Gregory of Nyssa, there was a place for prayer between the church and the altar. None of these virgins could in any way approach the altar, for this was strictly forbidden to them by the high priests; But the Blessed Virgin, from the time of Her introduction, was not forbidden to enter the inner altar, behind the second veil, and pray there every hour. This was done by the high priest: according to the mysterious admonition of God, about which Saint Theophylact says:
- The high priest, being then outside himself, embraced by the Spirit of God, understood that this young woman is a repository of Divine grace and that She is more worthy than him to always stand before the Face of God. Remembering what was said in the law about the ark that he was assigned to be in the Holy of Holies, he immediately realized that this was prescribed for this Young Woman, not in the least doubting or stopping, he dared, contrary to the law, to lead Her into the Holy of Holies.
As Blessed Jerome says, the righteous parents Joachim and Anna, having entrusted their child to the will of the Heavenly Father, brought gifts to God, sacrifices and burnt offerings, and, having received a blessing from the high priest and the entire assembly of priests, returned home with all their relatives and made a feast there. having fun and giving thanks to God. The Blessed Virgin, from the beginning of her life in the house of the Lord, was given into a room for maidens, for the Temple of Jerusalem, built by Solomon and then destroyed and rebuilt again by Zerubbabel, had many living quarters, as Joseph, the ancient Jewish historian writes. Outside, to the walls of the temple were attached stone buildings, thirty in number, separate from one another, spacious and very beautiful, on them there were other buildings, on others there were third ones, so that the total number of them was ninety, and they had all the amenities for living in them. ... Their height was equal to the height of the temple; they were like pillars supporting its walls from the outside. These buildings contained premises for various persons; Separately lived virgins, consecrated to serve God for a time; separately lived widows who made a vow to God to keep their purity until death, like the prophetess Anna, daughter of Fanuil; separately lived men who were called Nazirites, like the monks, who lived celibate. All these persons served the Lord at the temple and received food from the income of the temple. The rest of the buildings were set aside for the stay of strangers and strangers who came from afar to worship in Jerusalem.
The three-year-old girl, the Most Pure Virgin Mary, as it is said, was given to a room for maidens, and maidens were assigned to Her, older in years and more skilled in writing and needlework, so that the Theotokos from infancy would learn both writing and needlework together. The holy parents, Joachim and Anna, often visited Her; Anna, as a mother, especially often came to look at her Daughter and to teach Her. According to the testimony of Saint Ambrose and the historian George, the Virgin soon learned the Hebrew Old Testament Scripture perfectly, and she learned not only Scripture, but also handicraft well, as Saint Epiphanius says:
- She was distinguished by the strength of mind and love of learning; not only studied the Holy Scriptures, but also practiced spinning wool and flax and sewing with silk. With her prudence She amazed everyone; she was mainly engaged in such works that might be needed by priests in the ministry at the temple; She so learned by needlework that she could subsequently, with her Son, earn her own food; She made a tunic for the Lord Jesus with her own hands, not sewn, but all woven.
To the Blessed Virgin (says the same Epiphanius), like other girls, the usual food was served from the temple; but the poor and strangers ate her, for she, as the Church sings, ate the bread of heaven. Saint Herman says of Her that She usually dwelt in the Holy of Holies, receiving sweet food from the Angel; and Saint Andrew of Crete says:
- In the Most Holy Place, as in the palace, She ate extraordinary and incorruptible food.
At the same time, the legend adds that the Most Pure Virgin often stayed in the inner tabernacle, which was behind the second curtain and called the "Most Holy Place", and not in the usual room for virgins at the temple - because although her place of residence was prepared in this room, but it was not forbidden to go to prayer in the Holy of Holies. Having come to a perfect age, She, from a young age, having learned the Holy Scriptures and diligently doing handicrafts, practiced prayer even more, and she used to spend whole nights and most of the day in prayer. For prayer, she entered the Holy of Holies, but for needlework she returned to her dwelling, for, according to the law, it was impossible to do anything in the Holy of Holies or bring something there. And she spent most of her life in the temple, behind the second veil, in the inner tabernacle, at prayer, and not in the dwelling allotted to Her, for needlework. That is why all the teachers of the Church agree that the Most Pure Virgin, until the twelfth year, spent her whole life in the Holy of Holies, since she rarely went out to her room from there.
What was her life at a young age, Jerome described it as follows:
- The Blessed Virgin, even in her childhood and infancy, when she was at the church with other, one-year-old girls, she spent her life in a strict order, from early morning to 3 pm she stood in prayer; from the third to the ninth she practiced needlework or reading books; from the ninth hour she began her prayer again, and did not stop it until the Angel appeared to Her, from whose hands She usually took food. Thus, She grew more and more in love for God.20).
Such was Her life in childhood, when She was still living with virgins of the same age. While day by day She grew and was strengthened in spirit, She also improved in exploits and strengthened in prayer and diligence, rising from strength to strength, until the power of the Most High overshadowed Her. And that the Angel appeared to Her and brought food, this was seen with his own eyes by the high priest Zacharias, about which Saint Gregory of Nicomedia tells, saying:
- While She, day by day, grew, with the years the gifts of the Holy Spirit grew in Her, and She was in communion with the Angels. Zachariah learned this too; for when, according to the priestly custom, he was in the altar, he saw that someone of an extraordinary appearance was talking with the Virgin and was serving Her food. It was the Angel who appeared; and Zechariah wondered, thinking in himself: what is this new and extraordinary phenomenon? He looks like an Angel, and speaks to the Holy Maiden; the disembodied in image brings food that nourishes the flesh, the incorporeal by nature gives the Virgin a material basket. The angelic apparition here only happens to the priests, and even then not often; to the female sex, and even to such a young Maid, the coming of the Angel, now visible, is absolutely extraordinary. If She was one of the married, and, possessed by the ailment of infertility, prayed for the gift of fruit to Her, as Anna once prayed, I would not be surprised at what I see, but the Maid does not ask for it; But the Angel always, as I see now, appears to Her, why do I come to even greater surprise, horror and bewilderment, what will come of this? What is the coming angel to preach the gospel? And what is the quality of the food they bring? Where does it come from? And who cooked it? Which hand made this bread? For it is unusual for Angels to care for the demands of the flesh; if many were fed by them, yet this food was prepared by a human hand. The angel who served Daniel, although he could, by the power of the Most High, not through someone else, but by himself, fulfill what he was commanded, but sent Habakkuk for this with vessels, so that the extraordinary vision of the Angel and unusual food would not frighten the one fed. Here the Angel himself comes to the Lady, - a matter full of mystery, about which I am perplexed; In infancy, she was honored with such gifts that incorporeal ones serve Her. What it is? Is it not on Her that the predictions of the prophets will come true? Isn't she the goal of our expectation? Will not he who wants to come to save our race take nature from Her? For this mystery has been predicted even before, and the Word is looking for One that could serve as a mystery. And surely not another was chosen before to serve this secret, but this Maid, at whom I am looking. How happy you are the house of Israel, from which such a seed has grown! How happy you are, the root of Jesse, from which this branch originated, which has to produce the flower of salvation for the world! How happy I am, enjoying such a vision and preparing this Virgin to be the bride of the Word.
On December 4, a large church holiday is celebrated. The Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos. It was installed in memory of events from the childhood of the Virgin Mary. Her parents - righteous Joachim and Anna - could not have children for a long time. At that time, sterility was considered God's punishment. Therefore, the absence of children was very upsetting for the spouses. Saint Anna was already in old age, when an angel appeared to her and said that soon she would have a daughter. Then the woman promised that she would give the child as a gift to the Lord, whom he would serve all his life.
When the Virgin Mary was three years old, her pious parents decided to fulfill the promise made before the birth of their daughter: to give her to be raised in the temple so that she would serve the Lord. Mary was dressed in her finest clothes and taken to the steps of the Jerusalem temple. Next to the girl were her parents and relatives. The priests who served at the temple embroidered to meet her.
Saint Zechariah took the Child-Virgin by the hand and led her into the temple. First, they visited the sanctuary of the temple, and then, by inspiration from above, he led Mary into the innermost compartment - the Holy of Holies, where only the high priest had the right to enter once a year with a cleansing sacrificial blood. This event surprised everyone present. Having received the blessing from the bishop, and having transferred the gifts to the church, Anna and Joachim returned home, while Mary remained at the church.
The introduction is the last of the twelve holidays of the year, which the Orthodox Church considers as the eve of the great feast of the Nativity of Christ. The concept of Introduction contains a deep meaning of the preparation of the future Mother of God to become the purest vessel of the Son of God. After the Entry into the Temple, the life of the Blessed Virgin changed dramatically, therefore this event can be called Her second birth for a new life dedicated to serving the Lord.
The Orthodox Church began to celebrate the holiday back in the 8th century. But since it is described briefly in the words of that time, it was most likely performed without any solemnity. Only from the 9th century did the holiday become widespread, but until the 14th century it did not belong to the twelve. Today, the Introduction is celebrated as solemnly as other Twelve Feasts.
In honor of this holiday, Christian churches are consecrated, which are then called Vvedensky.
Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos: Traditions and SignsIn Russia, a special role was given to the first word in the name of the holiday - "Introduction". It was given an expanded meaning. It referred not only to the Mother of God, but also meant "input" or "beginning." The fact is that the holiday coincided with the onset of winter. Therefore, the people said: “ The introduction has come - winter has come», « Introduction opens the gates of winter», « Introduction to the mind of winter instructs».
According to popular legend, on this day, Winter itself rides across the earth in a snow-white fur coat. With her icy breath, she casts snow patterns on the window panes.
Real winter is not immediately established. She is gradually gaining strength, she walks with an uneven step: it will freeze very much, then it will retreat and please with warm days. There are also popular sayings about this:
The introduction does not put winter.
Vvedensky frosts do not set the winter.
It was believed that the snow that fell before the holiday would soon melt. But if after the introduction it snows, then the real winter will begin.
Since before the holiday and immediately after it there is often a thaw or a cold, people say, referring to water bodies covered or covered with ice:
The introduction makes ice cold.
The introduction put thick ice on the water, paved the rivers.
Even if there was a good toboggan run on the Introduction, rarely any of the peasants set out on the road. People believed that the road was still unreliable and that one should wait a bit for winter to fully take over.
With the onset of winter, people lived in anticipation of the holidays, which are rich in December and the first half of January. People wanted to know what weather to expect during the holidays:
If it is frosty in Doing, then all the holidays ( I mean the weather on ) will be frosty. If it is warm on December 4, then the weather will be warm on holidays.
On this holiday, we made test sleigh rides. The winter festivities of the newlyweds began, who decorated their first exit solemnly: they picked up light, painted sleighs, decorated with multi-colored paths. The young woman wore the best clothes, and the young husband, belted with a red sash, famously ruled the horses. At the departure of the newlyweds, their friends and relatives came to watch. The people called this ceremony " show young».
Winter auctions were held everywhere for the Introduction, which in some places grew into large fairs. Sold at such fairs, triple, twin and single sleds. The most beautiful were the Galician painted sleighs. Sanniki who sold them shouted jokes-jokes:
Many went home from the fair in new sleighs.
There was a belief that a special spirit comes to careless spinners on this day - a message: “ If you don’t strain the mot by this day, then a bead will come, wind her hair in a reel and drag it into the chimney».
It is curious how in the popular consciousness different phenomena combine, and something new is obtained. Vedenitsa got its name from the holiday to which its appearance was timed. However, in her name and behavior, ideas about a witch, a witch, a snake-spindle - a sorceress, a woman-witch or evil spirits have merged. A common feature of these representatives is witchcraft - inhuman, supernatural knowledge and the ability to conjure, remove and send damage and disease, transform into different creatures and objects, dominate the weather, spoil the harvest and steal the moon.
It is typical for witches, having turned into whirlwind smoke or a bird, to fly out into a chimney or enter a house through chimneys. They often move on stove utensils (poker, bread shovel, broomstick, etc.). Often they are related to women's handicraft - spinning or weaving. They help the needlewomen, and harm the bad and lazy housewives, punishing them cruelly.
On the eve of the holiday, girls of marriageable age were advised to read a prayer for marriage before going to bed:
"Introduction of the Most Holy Theotokos, take me to the house in which to live forever."
In the morning we remembered the dreams we had that night. They were believed to be prophetic.
On the day of the holiday, the girls prayed for the wedding:
"Introduction Most Holy Theotokos, bring into the temple of God as soon as possible!"
On this day, pancakes were baked everywhere. A coin was certainly baked into one pancake: whoever gets it will be happy.
Signs of the day:
People born on December 4 are patronized byNSholyMother of God. Their stone is diamond.
The Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, which belongs to the category of the twelve in the Orthodox Church, was established in honor of the event of the bringing of the Most Holy Theotokos by Her parents to the Jerusalem Temple for consecration to God.
There is an ancient tradition of the Church about how the parents of the Most Holy Theotokos Joachim and Anna brought the little girl Mary to the temple of God. They did not have children for a long time. And with their prayers, tears of hope in the Lord, and hopes, they receive the blessed gift - the desired child. Joachim and Anna promised God to dedicate this child to Him, to give Him the most valuable thing they had - their own child.
When the Blessed Virgin was three years old, the holy parents decided to fulfill their promise. Gathering relatives and friends, dressing the Most Pure Mary in the best clothes, singing sacred songs, with lighted candles in their hands, they brought her to the Jerusalem temple, which is three days' journey from Nazareth.
After entering the city and seven days of cleansing by fasting and prayer, the righteous Joachim and Anna, with all those who accompanied them, approached the temple, leading their three-year-old daughter. The priests came out of the temple to meet them, led by the high priest Zechariah.
The porch leading to the temple consisted of 15 high steps, according to the number of power psalms that the priests and Levites sang at each step at the entrance to the temple. Infant Mary, it seemed, could not have climbed these stairs by Herself.
Joachim and Anna put their daughter on the first step, strengthened by the power of God, She quickly overcame the rest of the steps and ascended to the upper one. Then the high priest, by inspiration from above, led the Blessed Virgin into the Holy of Holies, where of all people, only once a year did the high priest enter with a cleansing sacrificial blood. All those present in the temple were amazed at the extraordinary event.
Righteous Joachim and Anna, having entrusted the Child to the will of the Heavenly Father, returned home. The Blessed Mary remained in the room for virgins, which was located at the temple. Around the temple, according to the testimony of Holy Scripture and the historian Josephus Flavius, there were many living quarters in which those dedicated to the service of God stayed.
The earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos from infancy to ascension to heaven is covered with a deep mystery. Her life in the Jerusalem temple was also sacred. “If someone asked me,” said Blessed Jerome, “how the Most Holy Virgin spent the time of her youth,“ I would answer: this is known to God Himself and Archangel Gabriel, Her persistent guardian. ”
But in the Church tradition, information has been preserved that during the stay of the Most Pure Virgin in the Jerusalem temple, she was brought up in the company of pious virgins, diligently read the Holy Scriptures, was engaged in needlework, 
I constantly prayed and grew in love for God. In memory of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Jerusalem Temple, the Holy Church has established a solemn feast since ancient times. Indications for the celebration of the holiday in the first centuries of Christianity are found in the legends of Palestinian Christians, where it is said that the holy empress Helen built a temple in honor of the Entry into the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos.
In the 4th century, Saint Gregory of Nyssa mentions this holiday. In the 8th century, the sermons on the day of the Entry were preached by Saints Herman and Tarasius, the Patriarchs of Constantinople.
The Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos is a portent of God's grace to the human race, the preaching of salvation, the promise of Christ's coming.
Located at the very beginning of the Nativity Lent, the Introduction reveals a Christmas theme: at the festive matins, the irmos of the first canon of the Nativity of Christ are used as katavasia, and from that time on, features of the prefeast of Christmas appear in the divine services of some days of Nativity Lent.
Mary entered the house of God
Light in soul, like an angel.
Creator unlimited power
She led her up the steps.
Leaving the earthly abode,
His tender parents,
Came so that the Lord Almighty
There was Her Son and Eternal Bridegroom!
I came to erect from the fall
A kind of sinful, unhappy people.
I came to give them salvation
Covering them with His love.
“Come, my dear Daughter,
To the One who sent you to me.
Come, drag the Dove,
To the One who gave you belly! "
The Priest of the Most Pure Introduces
The Holy of Holies and the Creator
It descends by its grace,
Putting a crown on her head!
PRAYER TO THE MOTHER OF GOD
Mira Intercessor, All-chanted Mother!
I am before You with a prayer:
Poor sinner, dressed in darkness,
Cover with grace! If trials come to me
Sorrows, losses, enemies -
In a difficult hour of life, in a moment of suffering,
I pray you help me!
Y. Zhadovskaya
Prayer before the icon Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos
Oh, Most Holy Virgin, Queen of Heaven and Earth, the previously chosen Bride of God, who at the last time came to the lawful temple for betrothal to the Heavenly Bridegroom! Thou art forsaken Thy people and Thy father's house, in a hedgehog to sacrifice to Thyself a pure and immaculate God, and you were the first to take a vow of everlasting virginity. Grant us also to observe ourselves in chastity and purity and in the fear of God throughout all the days of our life, may we be temples of the Holy Spirit, especially help everyone to imitate Your inhabiting those who live and who have betrothed themselves to the service of God in the purity of virginity to spend their lives and from youth to bear the yoke of Christ, good and light, keeping his vows holy. Thou art spent, O All-Pure, all the days of Thy youth in the temple of the Lord, far from the temptations of this world, in an everlasting prayerful vigil and in all mental and bodily abstinence, help us also to repel all the temptations of the enemy from the flesh, the world and the devil that come upon us from youth ours, and conquer them by prayer and fasting. You are abiding in the temple of the Lord with the Angels, you have adorned yourself with all the virtues, especially with humility, purity and love and you have been worthily brought up, so that you will be ready to contain the Incompatible Word of God in the flesh. Grant us, too, who are possessed by pride, intemperance and laziness, clothed in all spiritual perfection, so that with the help of Thy Thy we can prepare a wedding dress for our souls and the oil of good deeds, so do not name and do not prepare we will appear to meet our Immortal Bridegroom and Thy Son. , Christ the Savior and our God, but may we be welcomed with the wise virgins in the abode of Paradise, where, with all the saints, let us take out to glorify and glorify the all-holy name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and Your merciful intercession is always, now and ever, and forever and ever ... Amen.
Prayer on the Feast Day Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos
To whom shall I cry, Lady, to whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to You, Queen of Heaven? Who will hear my cry and receive my sighing, if not You, Most Immaculate, the Hope of Christians and Refuge for us sinners? Who more will protect you in adversity? Hear my groaning and incline Your ear to me, the Lady and Mother of my God! Do not despise the one who seeks Your help and do not reject me a sinner, Queen of Heaven! Teach me to do the will of Thy Son and grant me the desire to always follow His holy commandments. For my murmurings in sickness, labors and misfortunes, do not depart from me, but abide as Matter and Patroness to me less faint-hearted. My Abiding Queen, Diligent Intercessor! By your intercession of transgression, my cover, from visible and invisible enemies, soften the hearts of warring against me and warm them with Christ's love. To me, to the weak, grant your all-powerful help to overcome my sinful habits, so that, purified by repentance and the subsequent virtuous life, in communion with the Holy Church, spend the rest of the days of my earthly journey. Present yourself to me, the Hope of all Christians, at the hour of my death and reinforce my faith in this difficult hour of death. Lift up for me, many transgressors in this life, Your omnipotent prayers after my departure, may the Lord justify me and make me a partaker of His endless joys. Amen.
Orthodox churches, consecrated in honor of the Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, are called Vvedensky.
The material was prepared by Vladlena Dementieva
Introduction to the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos. Holiday eventAbout the events of earthly life Holy Mother of God we learn primarily from Church Tradition. The canonical Gospels do not say anything about the birth, childhood and youth of the Most Holy Theotokos, so we can learn about the events of the holiday from later texts - the Greek "Proto-Gospel of James" (second half of the 2nd century) and the Latin "Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew" (9th century) in which oral traditions are recorded.
It is known that the parents of the Mother of God, Joachim and Anna, were childless for a long time. Praying that the Lord would resolve their infertility, they made a vow - to dedicate a born child to God. When the Blessed Virgin was three years old, in fulfillment of the promise, the parents, accompanied by their relatives and friends, with lighted lamps, solemnly led Her to the Temple of Jerosalim. The Blessed Virgin was met by the high priest Zechariah and by the inspiration of God brought her into the Holy of Holies. It was such a room of the temple, where the high priest himself could enter only once a year, after making a special sacrifice. This is how it is said in the festive divine service about this extraordinary, exceptional event: “ Angels introduction The most pure seeing, wondering: how the Virgin enters the Holy of Holies”(The angels, seeing the introduction of the Most Pure Theotokos, were surprised: how the Virgin enters the Holy of Holies).
It must be said that at that time the Jerosalim temple was rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity. The Ark of the Covenant was no longer in it - it had disappeared. The Holy of Holies was empty, there was only a stone slab on the site of the main shrine.
A mysterious, symbolic event took place: instead of the lost Ark of the Covenant, the high priest introduces the Virgin Mary - the one who became the Mother of God, the new Kyot, the Ark. The time of the New Testament came, the Nativity of Christ was approaching. The divine service of the Church speaks of this: the feast of the Entry of the Mother of God is preceded. It's still a long way before Christmas, fasting has just begun, but they are already beginning to sing during the evening service: "Christ is rejoicing, glorify! .."
The most complete theological interpretation of the introduction of the Mother of God into the Temple is given by the saint Gregory Palamas in his Word " On the Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos". In it, the saint tells the history of the holiday, gives his opinion about the reasons for God's choice of Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ, and in the conclusion explains the reason for her introduction into the Holy of Holies of the Jerusalem Temple:
... why the Chosen One from the beginning of the century among the elect turned out to be the Holy of Holies. Having her body purer than the spirits cleansed by virtue themselves, so that it could accept the very Hypostatic Word of the Primordial Father, the Ever-Virgin Mary, as the Treasure of God, has now been placed in the Holy of Holies in her possession, so that in due time, as it was, she will serve to enrich and to premium decoration.
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After giving their only child to God, Joachim and Anna returned home. The Mother of God remained to live at the temple. Godly women who dedicated themselves to God raised Her along with other godly girls. Mary prayed, diligently read the Holy Scriptures and did needlework. Church tradition says that the Angel of God often appeared to her and brought food. This is also stated in the festive divine service: “ Raised in heaven, Virgin, with bread, in the Church of the Lord, faithfully, give birth to the Word of the world for the life of the world ...”(Raised, nourished with heavenly bread in the Church of the Lord, the Virgin gave birth to the world the bread of life - the Word, that is, the Lord). However saint Jerome of Stridonsky indicates: " If someone asked me: how the Most Holy Virgin spent the time of her youth, I would answer him: it is known to God Himself and the Archangel Gabriel, the persistent guardian of Her».
Celebration start Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos refers to the 4th century, when mentions of the holiday appeared in the writings Saint Gregory of Nyssa... Preserved sermons on the feast of the Entry of the Virgin of Constantinople Patriarchs Herman and Tarasius(VIII century). Holiday instructions are found in some of the months' words of the same time. Although the Feast of the Introduction has been known since the early centuries of Christianity, at first it was not celebrated as solemnly as it is now. Church historians say that it entered the twelve centuries only after the XIV century.
The stichera for the Feast of the Introduction, written by George of Nicomedia, depict this event (marching with lamps, meeting the high priest in the temple, etc.) and the inner meaning of the holiday. Then the purpose of "introducing the Holy Virgin into the temple" is clarified. She is brought to the temple to be brought up into God's dwelling place and to prepare the Throne of God with Herself and then to reconcile us with God, to “deify” our nature, corrupted by sin.
Two canons for the holiday, repeating the thoughts of the sticher, were compiled by George Nicomedius and Vasily Pagariot, Archbishop of Caesarea. The Gospel (Luke X, 38-42. XI, 27-28) speaks of the stay of Christ in the house of Martha and Mary. The Apostle (Heb. IX, 1-7) contains the idea that the Most Holy Theotokos was represented in the Old Testament by the tabernacle.
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The first pair (Ex. XL, 1-5, 9-10, 16, 34-35) tells of the building of the tabernacle by Moses and how a cloud shone on it. The second pair (1 Kings VII, 51; VIII, 1, 3, 7, 9-11) tells about the solemn transfer of the Ark of the Covenant to the temple built by Solomon and how the glory of the Lord filled the temple (both the tabernacle and the temple served as a prototype of the Virgin Mary, who was the abode of the Glory of the Fathers - the Son of God). The third paremia is the same as for the feast (Ezek. XLIII, 47; XLIV, 1-4).
Troparion to the holiday. Church Slavonic text:
We are happy with the education, and 3 hours for the salvation of the sermon, in the center of the b9іi ћснw dv7az kvlsetsz, and 3 hours for the whole process. t0y and3 we2 will cry out, happy to watch the creator and3 fulfillment.
Russian text:
Today there is a pre-image of the grace of God and a premonition of the salvation of people. The Virgin appears openly in the temple of God and foretells Christ to everyone. To her, we will loudly exclaim: Rejoice, the fulfillment of the Creator's providence for us.
Kontakion to the holiday. Church Slavonic text:
P speech 1st zRkvi sp7sova, many honorable devil 0g, dv7tsa, the abbreviation of the word b9iz, today it is introduced into d0m gDn, to be grateful to the co-workers in the house of blessing. yu4zhe sing1t 'ѓngli b9ii, tA є4 is sion nbcnaz.
Russian text:
The Most Holy Virgin - the most pure Savior temple and a valuable palace, the sacred repository of the glory of God, today is introduced into the house of the Lord and brings with it the grace of the Divine Spirit. She is sung by the Angels of God: She is a heavenly village.
The day of the Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos is marked in the folk month by a number of special beliefs and related customs. A number of common folk song legends have survived, which are at the same time the laudatory glories of the Blessed Virgin who first entered the temple of the Lord. " You are brought to church, you will be rewarded as a bishop, and you prefer from an angel sya, ”one of them begins. This beginning, "zapevka", is followed by a repeated chorus at the very end of the verse: " The virgins, her neighbor, will be brought in her footsteps into the Holy of Holies!"The legend, interrupted by this quatrain, continues:" Zechariah glee, prophetically speaks, triumphs with joy. The elder stretches out his ruce. He calls the queen, sings sweet voices. Today the elder will raise the Virgin, may he erect Eve, may he destroy the ancient oath. Eve, now rejoice: behold the Virgin Appear this day, settle down on the throne. The Holy Spirit overshadows, and Virgo receives, she is three years old to everyone. Cherubs arrive, surround with seraphim, sing the voices of the trisagions. The angel brings food, and Virgo accepts, stretches out her hand upward"... Another verse celebrating this holiday begins with the words about the mountains of Zion, on which God" he put a covenant, from above, from heaven, the light of God opened up to us, water the heart with streams of words l ". In third - "patriarsi" are invited to triumph, "all virgins" - to be awake and "to rejoice from the prophets"... In the fourth - great mother Eve is having fun... And in all of them one can clearly hear the reverent feeling of the people-song-maker, giving honor-praise to the Mother of God.
This holiday in Russia belonged to women's, "women 's" holidays, as well as the day of the Protection of the Theotokos, Martyrs Catherine and Barbara, as well as Paraskeva Friday.
On the feast of the Introduction, according to folk traditions (if there was enough snow), tobogganing began. "Business time, fun - an hour!" - says today a Russian person, alternating his work and worries with rest. Our ancestors treated the first luge festivities as a special celebration. The "season" was opened by newlyweds, married by the church.
In the old days, the Feast of the Introduction was the day of the first winter bargaining. The Vvedensky fairs began immediately after the end of the morning divine liturgy and were often located on the squares adjacent to the Vvedensky churches. At the fairs one could buy a variety of goods, have fun from the heart and enjoy the offered treats. It was at the Vvedensky fairs that sledges were sold - single, double, triple; everyday and festive, decorated with skillful carving or painting, as well as horse harness for winter. In addition, at the Vvedensky fairs, they always sold frozen fish, as well as preparations of the autumn season brought from the surrounding villages - dried mushrooms and berries to the lean table of the townspeople. At festive fairs in winter, hawkers sold pies "hot, hot" and treated everyone to hot sbitnem - herbal infusion with honey.
Winter fair. Boris Kustodiev
The Feast of the Introduction has always been associated with the natural cycle of nature's transition from autumn to winter. According to the weather for this holiday, conclusions were drawn about the state of nature on the days of all subsequent winter holidays: “ In Vvedenie frost - all holidays are frosty, and warm - all holidays are warm". In Russia, many proverbs have been formed, with which the signs of this time of year are associated. In some Russian regions, a thaw often happened during the Introduction, then they said:
If frosts had already been established by this time, then they said:
The earliest images of the holiday Entry into the Temple of the Virgin on the icons - these are fragments of the 12th century epistylees from the Vatopedi monastery and the monastery of the great martyr Catherine on Sinai. The center of the composition is a small, fragile figure of the Virgin Mary in the Jerusalem temple. The high priest, the righteous Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, bows to Her. The Mother of God as an animate temple that contains the incompatible Deity.
Introduction to the Temple. Epistille of templona (fragment). End of the XII century. Monastery of St. Catherine, Sinai, Egypt In the late Byzantine period, a change took place in the iconographic scheme: right behind the Mother of God are the Jewish virgins and the parents of the Mother of God, the righteous Joachim and Anna. In the upper part of the composition, there is a scene of the feeding of the Mother of God by an angel. The Blessed Virgin is represented inside the temple, standing on the steps of the Holy of Holies.
Introduction to the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos with scenes from her life. XVI century State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow 
Icon of the Introduction of the Virgin. XV century. Novgorod 
Icon of the Introduction of the Virgin. XIV century. State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg 
Introduction to the Temple. From the festive rank. OK. 1497 Kirillo-Belozersky Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve
It is believed that the first temple in honor of this holiday was built in Palestine in the 4th century by the Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Elena. The holiday became widespread only from the 9th century. Perhaps this is related to the small number of temples consecrated in honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos.
In honor of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Church of the Luzhetsky Ferapontov Monastery in the city of Mozhaisk, Moscow Region, was consecrated. The Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple in the refectory was erected in the 16th century and was originally a tent-roofed one. In the 17th century, the church burned, then after the restoration it was rebuilt. In Soviet times, the church was used for economic and production purposes. Partially restored in the 1960s. Currently, the buildings of the monastery have been returned to the local diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Vvedenskaya Church of the Luzhetsky Ferapontov Monastery in Mozhaisk, Moscow Region In honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, a church was consecrated in the Shknyatino tract of the Soletsky district of the Novgorod region. A stone church made of thick limestone slabs was built in Sknyatino at the turn of the 11th-12th centuries. Along the entire perimeter, the territory of the churchyard, and this is all the current vast in size Shknyatinskoe cemetery, was surrounded by a stone wall. In 1938, construction of a military airfield began in Soltsy, and the church was demolished. The stone fence was destroyed by hand with crowbars, and explosives were also used. The bells were lowered on hoists. Following the bell tower, the extension was quickly dismantled and the first, ancient building of the church was taken up. It was not possible to smash the walls and the roof made of thick and firmly bonded lime slabs. The walls of the ancient church were smashed by the Germans during the years of occupation, and the church was finally destroyed after the Great Patriotic War by the inhabitants of Zamoć and Kamenka.
Vvedenskaya church in the Shknyatino tract of the Soletsky district of the Novgorod region In honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, a church was consecrated in the village. Surah of the Arkhangelsk region. The church was wooden, in the form of a four-pointed cross, built by the dependents of the parishioners and consecrated in 1587. The church has been restored several times. It was lost in 1935.
Left Vvedenskaya church in the village. Surah of the Arkhangelsk region In honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Church of the Trinity Monastery in Astrakhan was consecrated. By 1573, Abbot Kirill had built: the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, to which was "chopped down a meal of six fathoms, and a kelar meal of three fathoms, 12 cells, two cellars with dryers, bread and a cookery." All buildings were wooden. By the time of the death of Hegumen Kirill in 1576, he had built two more wooden churches in the monastery: in honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos and Saint Nicholas. The monastery itself, originally named Nikolsky, later received the name Trinity, in honor of the cathedral church of the Life-Giving Trinity, consecrated in 1576. In 1603, the new stone Trinity Cathedral was consecrated. A little later, a chapel was added to it in honor of the holy martyrs, princes Boris and Gleb. In 1606, already under the new abbot Ion, the construction of a stone Vvedenskaya church with refectory chambers in one connection began, and under it a bread and warm cellar. All this building was adjacent to the Trinity Cathedral on the west side and in its basic outlines already began to resemble the complex of buildings of the monastery that has come down to our times. But the completion of the construction of the Vvedenskaya church with a meal slowed down due to the events of the Time of Troubles in 1606-1614, and only in 1620 this church was consecrated. In 1920, the Trinity Cathedral was captured by the Renovationists. Divine services were rarely performed there due to the small size of the renovationist conciliar community. In 1928, the Soviet authorities finally took away the temple. It was plundered, the iconostasis was broken and burned. In the 1970s, restoration work began on the territory of the Trinity Monastery.
Vvedenskaya and Sretenskaya churches of the Trinity Monastery in Astrakhan In honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Church of the Savior-Prilutsky Monastery in Vologda was consecrated. Vvedenskaya church - two-story, one-domed, with a large meal. The shape of the church is peculiar in the form of a slender cubic volume, devoid of altar apses. Its straight eastern façade, like the others, has ledges with profiled plinths at the basement level, shoulder blades in the middle of the walls and kokoshniks at the end of the spade. Under the kokoshniks, between the shoulder blades, there is a wide patterned belt consisting of a curb, brick balusters and rectangular depressions. The exact time of the construction of the church is not known: according to the monastery inventory of 1623, it is listed as stone. A covered stone gallery connects this church with the cathedral. In 1918, the church was closed, in 1927-28, after the dome was dismantled, there was a club in it, where films were shown and performances were played, a buffet worked. Disabled people lived in residential and utility buildings at that time. The original appearance of the church was returned during the restoration begun in the Spaso-Prilutsky monastery in 1954. The Vvedensky Church is currently not used for regular services.
Vvedenskaya Church of the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery in Vologda In honor of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Church of the Trinity Gerasimo-Boldinsky Monastery in the village of. Boldino of the Smolensk region. The stone two-story refectory Vvedensky temple with the Kelar chamber was built in the 1590s. The quadruple of the one-apse church was crowned with an octagon under a high stone tent, from the west to the church was adjoined by an extensive refectory chamber, from the south - by the cellar. In November 1929 the monastery was closed. A granary was housed in the Trinity Cathedral, and a collective farm cheese factory in the Vvedensky Church. From the 1970s to the 1990s, the monastery was restored.
Trinity Gerasimo-Boldin Monastery in the Smolensk Region In honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, the church of the Novinsky Monastery in Moscow was consecrated. The church was built in 1565. Initially it was hipped, but in 1675 it was converted into a five-domed one and a bell tower was added. Updated in 1754. In 1764 the Novinsky monastery was abolished. In the 1920s. The Vvedensky church was closed, and in 1933 it was demolished. Until the early 1960s. in the vicinity, buildings that once belonged to the Novinsky monastery were preserved.
Vvedenskaya church of the former Novinsky monastery in Moscow In honor of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, the side-altar of the Cathedral of the Great Martyr Nikita Nikitsky Monastery in Moscow was consecrated. The cathedral was first mentioned in 1534. The one-domed four-pillar church was rebuilt several times. The side-altar of the Introduction has existed since ancient times, the second side-altar in the refectory - St. Nicholas was built in 1833. The cathedral was closed in 1929, and in 1933 it was demolished.
Church of the Great Martyr Dmitry Solunsky and the Church of Great Martyr Nikita of the former Nikitsky Monastery in Moscow In honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, a church was consecrated on Bolshaya Lubyanka in Moscow. In 1514, Vasily III issued a decree on the construction of eleven stone churches in Moscow. One of them was the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple, which was built in 1514-1519. In the future, the temple has undergone changes in the external and internal decoration. In 1924, the Church of the Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Temple was demolished under the far-fetched pretext of interfering with car traffic. Now the place on Lubyanka, where the Vvedensky Church stood, is located on Vorovsky Square, at the corner of Bolshaya Lubyanka and Kuznetsky Most Streets.
Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple on Bolshaya Lubyanka in Moscow In honor of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Church of the Borisoglebsk Monastery in the town of Torzhok, Tver Region, was consecrated. The stone Vvedenskaya church with a bell tower was built in 1620. It is known that the built church was built on the site of a wooden one. The eponymous wooden church was built in the monastery during the reign of Archimandrite Misail in 1552-1586, burned by the Poles in 1609. The architectural appearance of the Vvedenskaya Church is a combination of simple forms and elegant decor. Cuboid, one-domed, pillarless, with one apse, at first, apparently, it was not plastered and had an open red brick color combined with carved white-stone decorative details. In 1833, the church was rebuilt: the former altar was turned into a ponomar room, part of the church - into an altar, and the other, with a refectory, into a church. At the same time, the building was plastered, the white-stone decor was replaced with plaster. In 1930, the Vvedenskaya church was closed. Its decoration and icons were lost. In 1997 the temple was returned to the monastery. Restoration work began immediately. In 1998, church services were resumed in the monastery.
Vvedenskaya Church of the Borisoglebsk Monastery in Torzhok, Tver Region In honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Church of the Assumption Monastery in Staritsa, Tver Region, was consecrated. The Vvedenskaya church with an extensive refectory was built in 1570. The vaults of the refectory rest on a powerful square pillar; a tent rises above the warm church adjoining the refectory hall. And below are the premises that were used for household needs. The Vvedenskaya church was later completed: on the north side, a porch was added to it, and on the south, a chamber where the monastery sacristy was located. During the German occupation, the church burned and until 1950 stood without a roof, which led to the emergency state of the vaults. The church has now been restored.
Vvedenskaya Church of the Assumption Monastery in Staritsa, Tver Region In honor of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, the side-altar of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ from the Stadishche in Pskov was consecrated. The Maiden Resurrection Monastery stood on Zapskovye. The temple dates back to 1532. Later, the church was also rebuilt several times. The ancient quadrangle of the temple has four pillars, three apses, and is covered with merged vaults. The porch with pillars, the narthex, the belfry, the south aisle and the northern part of the church date back to the 17th-18th centuries. In 1924 the temple was closed. Today, the church has been transferred to the local community of the Russian Orthodox Church and restored.
Church of the Resurrection of Christ from the Stage in Pskov In honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, the side-altar of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity was consecrated, which is beyond the Darkness in Tver. The church was consecrated in 1564. An inscription on the western side of the temple has survived: "In the summer of 7072 this temple was completed in the name of the Life-giving Trinity in the month of August 15 under the noble Tsar Grand Duke Ivan Vasilievich and All Russia and under Bishop Akaki Tferskiy with the design and construction of the servant of God Gabriel Andreev Touszynski." The church is built of bricks with white stone, plastered and whitewashed. It consists of a low apse, the temple itself, close in plan to a square, a refectory with two aisles, a three-tiered bell tower. The temple was originally three-domed. over time, the number of chapters reached seven. five of them are light and two are deaf. The building has been rebuilt several times. Since ancient times, the temple has been popularly known under the name "White Trinity". It is believed that the name came from the fact that the temple was always painted with white paint and in the old days had a roof of whitish tiles. Trinity Church is the only one in Tver in which services did not stop even during the Soviet period.
Trinity Church in Tver In the ensemble of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, the pre-split Church of the Introduction, built in 1519 on the site of the old wooden monastery refectory, has been preserved. In the first half of the 19th century, the appearance of the church underwent several changes.
Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple in the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery In 1547, in Sergiev Posad, a stone one-domed church of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos in Podil was built at the expense of boyar I. Khabarov. The church was rebuilt several times, the modern vaults with the head were erected in 1740. The temple was closed in 1928, in 1968 it was partially restored. Returned to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in 1991.
Church of the Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Temple in Podil. Sergiev Posad The two-pillar five-domed cathedral of the Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple in the Vladychny Monastery in Serpukhov was built not earlier than 1597 with the contribution of Boris Godunov instead of the stone building in 1362. The porches surrounding the cathedral were completely rebuilt in the 19th century. The cathedral was closed in 1927 and served as a warehouse. In the beginning. In the 2000s, the temple was restored in the forms of the 16th century. Braila (Romania), in (Kyrgyzstan). Initially, the village's Holy Trinity Church was also consecrated in honor of the Introduction, but after a fire in the 1980s it was rededicated in the name of the Holy Trinity. Since then, two patronal holidays have been celebrated here - the Introduction and the Trinity.
Vvedensky Church of the Russian Orthodox Church-General in Borovsk, Kaluga Region 
Temple of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Church of the village of Pristan, Sverdlovsk region. Originally consecrated in the name of the Introduction
The introduction of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple is a patronal feast for the convents of Nikolo-Uleyminsky in Russia and the village of Russkaya Slava in Romania.
Nikolo-Uleyminsky monastery Pomor churches in Nizhny Novgorod, the village of Belaya Kalitva in the Rostov region, the Ulyanovsk community (Latvia) and the (Pushcha) community in Lithuania are dedicated to the introduction of the Mother of God.
Temple of the Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos. Bobrishki December 4 - the great twelveth feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Jerusalem Temple.
Introduction of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple
When the Virgin Mary was three years old, her parents Joachim and Anna decided to fulfill their vow to consecrate their daughter to God and went to the Jerusalem temple. Near its entrance stood young virgins summoned by the father of the Ladies with lighted lamps, so that Mary could love the temple with all her fiery cordiality.
The Blessed Virgin, despite Her age, easily overcame the steep steps of the temple. She was met and blessed by the high priest - according to legend it was Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.
By a special revelation of God, Zechariah introduced Mary into the Holy of Holies, where only the high priest had the right to enter once a year. It was a prophecy that the Lady herself would become an animated temple of God.
About the Feast of the Introduction
Saint Philaret of Moscow
How does such a private, apparently, incident - the introduction into the temple and dedication to God of a three-year-old virgin - become the subject of universal triumph in the Church?
This adventure of the infant Bride of God is a certain beginning of Her betrothal to the Holy Spirit. And therefore, in a way, the first pledge of the betrothal of all mankind to the Divine.
Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt
What did the blessed Virgin spend her time in the temple? Taught by the Holy Spirit Himself through the intermediary of the virgins in Hebrew letters and prayer, She spent time in prayer, reading the word of God, as you see on the icon of the Annunciation, in divine thought and handicraft.
Her love for talking with God and for reading the word of God was so great that she forgot about food and drink, and the archangel, at the command of God, brought her heavenly food as the Church sings in her stichera on this holiday.
Angel brings food to the Virgin Mary
Since the Blessed Virgin was introduced into the temple to educate the Lord, then let us now remember the benefits and necessity of visiting the temple of God as the house of God, and the place of our upbringing for the Heavenly Fatherland.
We are called Christians and all are called by Jesus Christ to the Heavenly Fatherland to be heavenly citizens, heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ. Our title is very high, our duties are also very important; spirit we must be exalted, holy, meek, humble.
Hieromartyr Seraphim (Chichagov)
Today, the Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the day of the Entry of the Blessed Virgin into the Temple of Jerusalem by Her parents, as they vowed to consecrate Her to God.
What could have been Her service? First, in the glorification of God, who always receives praise from the lips of a baby. Then the Blessed Virgin acquired grace from the Lord by obedience and her humility, which she proved by taking upon herself the great and terrible duties of the Mother of God.
All her life She served God as a true servant of the Lord, sometimes raising a Divine Child, fearing for His life, protecting Him from enemies; then tormented in anticipation of His glorification on earth, when the people did not recognize Him as the Messiah, and then the apostles did not yet have firm faith; then invisibly to all She bore her cross - poverty and took care of the needs of those tested by Christ Himself.
She shuddered at the sight of the increasing enmity against Jesus every day, and, finally, a weapon pierced Her mother's heart during the trial of Christ, when She saw Her Son, tortured, bloody and crucified on the Cross, given to mankind for salvation.
Then She was tormented by the inconsolable sorrow of loneliness, remaining on earth, after the ascension of the Savior. Then She served the Lord, fulfilling the apostolic appointment and establishing the Christian Church in pagan lands.
Then, finally, languishing until old age on earth, awaiting his resettlement to the Heavenly Kingdom of Her Son and Savior, She serves now to God and people as a Mediator, Intercessor, Prayer for the sins of mankind, as the Deliverer from troubles and well-deserved punishments, as the Comforter of the mourners. This greatest service will be performed and continue until the Second Coming of Christ.
Archimandrite John (Krestyankin)
Why did the holiday become twelve? Because, my dears, the introduction of the Blessed Virgin into the temple has become a necessary link in God's salvific providence for peace.
This event put an end to the centuries-old alienation of man from God and his dwelling under the bondage of sin.
The sanctuary of the Jerusalem temple, where God dwelt and where He manifested His presence, inaccessible to anyone except one high priest, and then once a year, by God's grace, is revealed to the God-chosen Child - the Daughter of man. And the Most Holy Virgin is led into the Holy of Holies, invisibly to the world carrying in herself a great sacrifice, a new living sacrifice - Christ - God and Man.
Titian, "Introduction to the Temple" (1538)
The Old Testament Temple of God received the seed of new life - the Divine Lady, in which the New, saving Covenant of mankind with God will grow spiritually and grow. With the entry into the temple of the Chosen Girl of God, the time has come when the grace of God returns to people, and they draw closer to God as to their Heavenly Father.
Mary, nourished by the grace of God, having lost in the last years of her life at the church her only attachment to the earth - her righteous parents, made a vow to God - to the end of her life to preserve her virginity and remain the work of the Lord, serving Him alone and surrendering in everything and always to His Holy will.
Archpriest Valerian Krechetov
The aged spouses Joachim and Anna received a gift from God - the long-awaited Child, the future Mother of God. And this child, begged with many tears, triplet youth, that is, a three-year-old little girl, they take to the temple of God and, according to their earlier vow, consecrate to God. It was a feat of complete self-sacrifice and devotion to the will of God.
Joachim and Anna
Who has children knows how difficult it is- especially in that old age, into which Joachim and Anna then entered - parents will lose the consolation of seeing, raising, raising their only child.
In life, however, it often happens that parents have to be separated from their children. Parents die, sometimes a child dies. And if a person is not into God, but becomes richer for himself, that is, if he thinks only of himself, of his joys, then this is a tragedy for him.
And Saints Joachim and Anna voluntarily gave up the Child, they themselves deprived themselves of parental consolation for God's sake. And the Lord rewarded them a hundredfold for this, because then they perceived their Daughter as the Queen of Heaven, as the Mother of God. It is even impossible to imagine what kind of award they received.
