Mary brought to the Temple as a child and dedicated to God, one of the twelve great feasts.
Dates
| Year | Dates | Reckoning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | November 21, 2025 | Revised Julian | |
| 2025 | December 4, 2025 | Julian calendar churches | The Entry into the Temple on the Julian reckoning. |
| 2026 | November 21, 2026 | Revised Julian | |
| 2026 | December 4, 2026 | Julian calendar churches | The Entry into the Temple on the Julian reckoning. |
Recurrence: Fixed date: Nov 21 on the Revised Julian calendar; Dec 4 for Julian-calendar churches.
Significance
The Presentation of the Theotokos, on November 21, celebrates Mary being brought to the Temple in Jerusalem as a young child and dedicated to God. The account comes from the Protoevangelium of James rather than the canonical Gospels, and the feast is one of the twelve great feasts. Churches on the Julian calendar keep it on December 4 in civil reckoning, where it is also called the Entry into the Temple.
Observance
The Divine Liturgy is celebrated with the festal hymns, and the Nativity fast, already underway, is relaxed for fish, wine, and oil.
Also Known As
Entry into the Temple