The holy Virgin ran toward the Temple, overtaking her attendant maidens and threw herself into the arms of the High Priest Zacharias, who was waiting for her at the gate of the Temple with the elders. Zacharias blessed her saying, “It is in you that He has glorified your name in every generation. It is in you that He will reveal the Redemption that He has prepared for His people in the last days.”
Then, Zacharias brought the child into the Holy of Holies – a place where only the High Priest was permitted to enter once a year on the Day of Atonement. He placed her on the steps of the altar, and the grace of the Lord descended upon her. She arose and expressed her joy in a dance as wonder seized all who saw this happen.
The Virgin Mary dwelt in the Temple for nine years until, reaching an age for marriage, she was taken from the Temple by the priests and elders and entrusted to Joseph as the guardian of her virginity.
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple signifies her total dedication to God and her readiness for her future vocation as the Mother of the Incarnate Lord. This is a feast of anticipation. As honor is shown to Mary, the faithful are called to look forward to the Incarnation of Christ, celebrated in a little more than a month on the Feast of the Nativity, December 25.
(From Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America)
The Eparchy of Stamford is sponsoring an Eparchial Family Day retreat on the theme “Parents as the First Teachers of Faith for Their Children, who Proclaim the Gospel to Them.” The retreat will be held today at St. Basil Seminary, Stamford. More information, as well as registration forms are available in the vestibule.
The National Symphony of Ukraine, Volodymyr Sirenko, conductor, will be touring the United States and performing at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m. Pre-concert lecture (included in the ticket price) by Dr. Glenn Stanley at 6:15 p.m., 2132 Hillside Rd., Unit 3104, University of Connecticut, Storrs. Ticket prices $15.00-$45.00.
Department of Music (DOMUS) at the University of New Haven invites everyone to commemorate Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity (2014) —5 Year Anniversary, and Holodomor (1932-1933). Remembrance Event on November 21, at 4:30 p.m., Bucknall Theatre at the University of New Haven, 300 Boston Post Rd., West Haven. Admission is Free. For more information please call (203) 932-7101.