THE PRESENTATION OF THE THEOTOKOS (NOV. 21ST)

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West)

Today, we celebrate the Presentation of the Holy Theotokos, the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Temple, where she was raised in holiness and consecration to God. In the Protoevangelium of St. James, we hear the story of her dedication as a child. 

“And the child was two years old, and Joachim said: Let us take her up to the temple of the Lord, that we may pay the vow that we have vowed, lest perchance the Lord send to us, and our offering be not received. And Anna said: Let us wait for the third year, in order that the child may not seek for father or mother. And Joachim said: So let us wait. And the child was three years old, and Joachim said: Invite the daughters of the Hebrews that are undefiled, and let them take each a lamp, and let them stand with the lamps burning, that the child may not turn back, and her heart be captivated from the temple of the Lord. And they did so until they went up into the temple of the Lord. And the priest received her, and kissed her, and blessed her, saying: The Lord has magnified your name in all generations. In you, on the last of the days, the Lord will manifest His redemption to the sons of Israel. And he set her down upon the third step of the altar, and the Lord God sent grace upon her; and she danced with her feet, and all the house of Israel loved her.” (Protoevangelium 7)

COLLECT 

As we venerate the glorious memory of the most holy and blessed Virgin Mary’s Presentation in the Temple, Grant, we pray, O Lord, through her intercession, that we, too, may receive from Thee the fullness of Thy grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.