The Entrance of the Virgin Mary to the Temple

The Entrance of the Virgin Mary to the Temple, also known as the Presentation of Mary, is a significant event in the Orthodox and Catholic traditions. According to tradition, Mary was presented to the Temple in Jerusalem at a very early age, around three years old, by her parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne. This event is not mentioned in the Gospels but is mentioned in most Greek menologies and apocryphal literature, including the Protoevangelium of James.The Entrance of the Virgin Mary to the Temple signifies her total dedication to God and her readiness for her future vocation as the Mother of the Incarnate God1. It is seen as a prelude to God’s plan for salvation, namely the Incarnation. The story of the feast is not found in the Gospels, but it is based on the popular belief that the pious parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, SS. Joachim and Anne, were childless, and then Anne’s sterility was remedied by a special intervention of God, just as in the case of Sarah, who conceived Isaac in her old age.