Presentation of Mary facts for kids
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a special religious day celebrated on November 21. It is observed by Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and some Anglo-Catholic churches. In the East, it's known as The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.
This feast day is not found in the New Testament of the Bible. Instead, its story comes from an old text called the Protoevangelium of James. This text says that Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne, could not have children for a long time. They received a message from heaven that they would have a child. To thank God for their daughter, Mary, they brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem when she was very young. They dedicated her to God there. Later stories say Mary was about three years old when she went to the Temple. She was meant to stay there to be educated and prepared for her important role as the Mother of God.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, this is a day when women named Mary (Μαρία) and Despoina (Δέσποινα) celebrate their name day.
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The Story of Mary's Presentation
The main story of Mary's Presentation in the Temple comes from the Protoevangelium of James. Historians believe this text was written before 200 AD. The story tells us that Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne, were very thankful for her birth. They decided to dedicate her to God. So, when Mary was three years old, they took her to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Mary's presentation at the Temple is similar to the story of the prophet Samuel in the Bible. Samuel's mother, Hannah, also had trouble having children, like Anne. Hannah offered her son Samuel to God at a place called Shiloh.
The story says Mary stayed in the Temple until she was twelve years old. After that, Joseph became her guardian. Some traditions, like the Coptic one, say Mary's father, Joachim, died when she was six. Her mother died when Mary was eight. This story is why the feast of Mary's Presentation began.
When the Feast Day Began
The celebration of this feast day started because of a church built in 543 AD. This church was called the Basilica of Saint Mary the New. The Byzantines, led by Emperor Justinian I, built it near where the old Temple in Jerusalem used to be.
Sadly, this church was destroyed in 614 by the Persians during the Siege of Jerusalem. The first time this feast was officially mentioned in a calendar was in the 11th century. It was called the Εἴσοδος τῆς Παναγίας Θεοτόκου, which means "Entry of the All-Holy Theotokos (Mary) into the Temple." This was in a book called the Menologion of Basil II, from the time of the Byzantine emperor Basil II.
The feast continued to be celebrated in the East. By the 9th century, it was also celebrated in monasteries in Southern Italy. In 1372, Pope Gregory XI brought the feast to the Papal Chapel in Avignon. It was added to the Roman Missal in 1472. However, Pope Pius V removed it in 1568. Later, Pope Sixtus V brought it back to the Roman Calendar in 1585. Pope Clement VIII made it a more important feast in 1597. It is still celebrated today.
How it is Celebrated
The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates the Presentation of Mary on November 21. It is one of their twelve Great Feasts. For churches that use the old Julian calendar, November 21 falls on December 4 of our modern Gregorian calendar. In the Orthodox Church, this feast always happens during the Nativity Fast. On this day, the rules for fasting are relaxed a little. People are allowed to eat fish, wine, and oil.
For the Roman Catholic Church, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates "that dedication of herself which Mary made to God from her very childhood." This means Mary gave herself to God from a very young age, guided by the Holy Spirit. In 1974, Pope Paul VI wrote that even though the story comes from an unofficial text, it shows "lofty and exemplary values." It also continues important traditions from the Eastern churches.
November 21 is also a special day called "Pro Orantibus" Day. This is a day of prayer for cloistered religious people. These are people who dedicate their lives to God through prayer, silence, and living away from the world.
Legacy and Influence
During World Youth Day in July 2016, Pope Francis visited the Convent of the Sisters of the Presentation in Kraków. This group of nuns was founded in 1627 and was the first active religious group in Poland.
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome has a special chapel called the Cappella della Presentazione (Presentation Chapel). Its altar is dedicated to St. Pius X.
Several religious groups are named after the Presentation of Mary:
- The Presentation Sisters, also known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM), were founded in Cork, Ireland, in 1775 by Honora (Nano) Nagle.
- The congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary was founded on November 21, 1796, in Thueyts, France, by Anne-Marie Rivier. They focus on educating young people.
- The Sisters of Mary of the Presentation is a Catholic religious group founded in 1828 in Broons, France. They are known for running schools and hospitals in Europe, Africa, and North America.
The Presentation in Art
In Western art, paintings of the Presentation of Mary usually show the young Mary alone. She is often seen climbing the tall steps of the Temple. Her parents are at the bottom, watching her. At the top, the High Priest and other Temple officials are waiting to welcome her.
The Presentation was a common scene in larger art series about the Life of the Virgin. However, it was not usually shown in smaller prayer books called Books of Hours. One famous painting of this event is by Pietro Testa.
Images for kids
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Fresco from the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in Kučevište near Skopje
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Detail from The Presentation of the Virgin Mary by Titian (1534-38, Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice).
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Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple, by Pietro Testa
See also
In Spanish: Presentación de María para niños
