In Orthodox Christianity there are holidays that relate to the main events in the history of Christianity. There are twelve such days. December 4 - Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary - from among them. You can learn more about the holiday and traditions on this day from this article.
What holiday is this, what should not be done on December 4 and what can be eaten?
This day is a twentieth Christian holiday. What does "twentieth" mean? This is the name of the Christian holidays that are directly related to the Virgin (theotokos) and life on earth Jesus Christ (the masters). According to their number, the name is also twelve ("hench" is twelve). This is a great celebration for believers - December 4, Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What can not be done: do heavy work, washing, sewing, cleaning and other household chores. And it’s better not to lend this day. You can go on a visit or call friends. The day of December 4 falls on the post of Rozhdestvensky or Filippov, so you can eat fish.
Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 4. What does this holiday mean?
Here are the events of this day. Mary was only three years old, her parents - Anna and Joachim - decided that it was time to fulfill the promise to God. After all, when the childless Joachim and Anna prayed to the Lord for a child, they promised to devote the child to the service of the King of Heaven. On the appointed day, they dressed Mary in the most beautiful clothes, gathered all the relatives. With the singing of church songs, Mary's parents lit candles and went with all the relatives to the Jerusalem temple. There, the tall and steep steps (there were fifteen), the little girl overcame with surprising ease. At the door she was met by the high priest Zacharias, the future father of John, who baptized Jesus. He blessed Mary, as he did with all who were consecrated to God.
How Mary was received in the temple
On the day when the Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary took place on December 4, the high priest had Divine revelation. Zachariah led Mary to the most sacred place of the temple, where only he himself was allowed to go once a year. It surprised everyone again. From the moment of entering the temple, Mary, the only one of all the girls, Zachariah, according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, allowed to pray not between the church and the altar, but in the inner altar. The virgin was left in the church, and her parents returned to their home. Thus, the Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary took place on December 4, and her long, earthly, glorious path began.
What happened to the Virgin after adulthood?
Mary grew up very pious, humble, hardworking, and obedient to the Lord. Mother of God spent time in the temple with other virgins in reading the Bible, prayer, fasting and needlework until adulthood. In those days it came at the age of fifteen. The Blessed Virgin Mary decided to give all her life to serving the Heavenly Father. Priests appealed to Mary with advice to marry, since all Israelis and Israelis were to be married, as the rabbis taught. But the Mother of God said that she had vowed to the Lord to remain a virgin forever. It was strange for the clergy. The high priest Zacharias found a way out of this situation. Maria was married to her relative, a widowed in old age, the righteous Joseph. The marriage was formal, as Joseph became the guardian of the young virgin Mary, so that she would fulfill her vow.
How and when did they begin to celebrate the Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary?
A significant day for all Christians, the church has solemnly celebrated since ancient times. Indeed, thanks to the introduction of the Virgin Mary into the temple, she stepped on the path of service to the Lord. Later it became possible to humanize the son of the Lord God, Jesus Christ, and save all those 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 direction of Queen Elena (who lived from 250 to 330), who was canonized, that is, she became a saint. Celebrate adopted Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 4. The prayer delivered on this day by all believers praises the Virgin Mary and asks for the intercession of the Mother of God before the Lord for every person praying.
Introduction Icons
Of course, such a great event could not but be reflected in the icon painting. The icons depict the Virgin Mary in the center. On one side of her are the parents of the Virgin, on the other hand, the high priest Zacharias meets the girl. Also on the icon you can see the image of the Jerusalem temple and fifteen steps, the very ones that little Mary overcame without outside help.
Folk traditions on this day.
Celebrated in the old style on November 21, in the new - December 4. The introduction to the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary was simply called by the people - Introduction, Winter's Gate, or Holiday of a young family, or Importation. There are popular sayings related to the beginning of winter and ice-freezing: "Introduction has come - winter has led"; "Intro - thick candy." On this day everywhere they held funny, noisy and crowded fairs, sleigh rides on hills and on three horses. After the festive service in the temples, the godparents treated the godchildren with sweets, gave gifts, sledges. On the day of the introduction, the peasants switched from summer transport (carts) to winter (sleigh). They made a test drive, paving a toboggan run. The newlyweds, who played the wedding the day before, in the fall, dressed up the sled and drove out to people, as they said, "show the young one." It was on the Introduction that the broken branches of cherries were put into the water for the icon and looked on the eve of the new year, they blossomed or withered. Twigs with leaflets promised good in the new year, and dried - bad.
December 4 - Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Signs
If snow fell before this day, then they expected it to melt. They listened to the ringing of the bell: clear to frost, deaf to snow. It was noted that the snow cover that covered the ground after the Introduction no longer melts until spring. They watched if the weather was frosty that day. It was believed in case of frost, all winter holidays will be frosty, and vice versa - warm, so winter celebrations are foreseen warm. If a deep winter was established from that day, they expected a good grain harvest.
The earthly life of the Virgin from birth to death is shrouded in mystery and holiness. Her introduction to the temple to devote to God was the starting point for the possibility of saving the souls of men through Jesus born of the Mother of God. That is why December 4 - Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary - a great holiday for believers, when there was hope that at least a little closer to the Lord. The Blessed Virgin Mary tied the invisible thread of people and the abode of the Heavenly Father. She now helps prayers to all those in need. The Virgin is the patroness 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.