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[[Image:Entrance.jpg|right|frame|The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple]]
The '''Presentation Entrance of the Theotokos''' into the Temple, also called '''The EntrancePresentation''', is one of the [[Great Feasts]] of the [[Orthodox Church]], celebrated on [[November 21]]. Among those Orthodox Christians who use the "Old" ([[Julian Calendar|Julian]]) calendar as their Church calendar, the date of this feast corresponds to December 4 in the secular calendar.
According to [[Tradition]], the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]] was taken &mdashndash;presented&mdashndash;by her parents [[Joachim and Anna]] into the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem as a young girl, where she lived and served as a Temple virgin until her betrothal to [[Joseph the Betrothed|St. Joseph]]. One of the earliest sources of this tradition is the non-canonical [[Protoevangelion of James]], also called the ''Infancy Gospel of James''.
Mary was solemnly received by the temple community which was headed by the priest [[Zacharias]], the father of [[John the Baptist]]. She was led to the holy place to become herself the "holy of holies" of God, the living sanctuary and temple of the Divine child who was to be born in her. The Church also sees this feast as a feast which marks the end of the physical temple in Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God.
Sometimes [[Matins]] is served on the morning of the feast. The Gospel reading is from [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 1:39-49, 56. It is read on all feasts of the Theotokos and includes the [[Magnificat|Theotokos' saying]]: "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed."
[[Divine Liturgy]] is served on the day on the feast. The [[Apostolos|epistle reading]] is from [[Book of Hebrews|Hebrews]] 9:1-7, and speaks of the [[Tabernacle (biblical)|tabernacle]] of the old covenant. The [[Gospels|gospel reading]] is taken from Luke 10:38-42 and 11:27-28 together; this reading is also read on all feasts of the Theotokos. In it, the Lord says, "blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
==Hymns==
:In anticipation proclaiming Christ to all.
:Let us rejoice and sing to her: Rejoice,
:0 O Divine Fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation.
[[Kontakion]] (Tone 4)
:"Truly this woman is the abode of heaven."
===Forefeast hymnshymn=== Troparion (Tone 4) :Today from the stem Anna bequeaths joy to all instead of Jesse and from sorrow by bringing forth her fruit, the loins of David,only ever-Virgin.:The handmaid In fulfillment of God Mary is being born for us.:Therefore all creation is renewed and rejoices!:Heaven and earth rejoice together.:Praise her, you families of nationsvow,:For Joachim rejoices and Anna celebrates crying out:Today with joy she brings to the temple of the Lord :"The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, true temple and pure Mother of God the Nourisher of our life!"Word.
Kontakion (Tone 34) :Today the Virgin Theotokos Maryuniverse is filled with joy:The bridal chamber At the glorious feast of the Heavenly Bridegroom:By the will Mother of God is born of a barren woman,and cries out:Being prepared as the chariot of God the Word.:"She was fore-ordained for this, since she is the divine gate and the true Mother of Lifeheavenly tabernacle."
==Externial External links==
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsLife.asp?FSID=103357 The Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple] - [[OCA]] web site
*[http://orthodoxchurchquotes.com/tag/entrance-of-the-theotokos-into-the-temple/ Quotes about the Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple] - [http://orthodoxchurchquotes.com Orthodox Church Quotes] web site
*[http://oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=86 Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple] - The Orthodox Faith by Fr. [[Thomas Hopko]]
*[http://www.goarch.org/en/special/listen_learn_share/vmpresentation/learn/ The Feast of the Entrance into the Temple of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos] - ([[GOARCH]] web site)
*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/festal/festal.htm#phf03 Icons of The Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos]
*[http://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/v2staff/FixedGreatFeasts.htm Fixed Great Feasts, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church Calendar]
*[http://www.canto.ru/calendar/day_en.php?date=4-12-2014 December 4, 2014: Orthodox Menologion Online, Orthodox Lithurgical Commonwealth]
[[Category:Great Feasts]]
[[Category:Feasts]]
[[fr:Entrée au Temple de la Mère de Dieu]]
[[ro:Intrarea Maicii Domnului în Biserică]]
[[pt:Entrada da Deípara no Templo]]