When the Virgin Mary was three years old, her parents walked with her from Nazareth to Jerusalem. At dawn on the third day, they approached the Holy City. A wonderful picture opened up to them. The temple on the ledge of the mountain looked like a ship with inflated sails, and it seemed ready to rise up and sail across the azure ocean of the sky. The rays of the rising sun surrounded the temple with an iridescent cloud of light, like a shining halo.
The high priest came out to meet the pilgrims. The Virgin Mary, leaving her parents, quickly ascended the high steps of the temple on her own, embraced the robe of the high priest. He took her by the hand and led her into the temple and, to the amazement of the priests, into the altar, which was called the Holy of Holies. Maria lived at the temple for ten years. Her soul became a living temple of the Divine.
Since then, the feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated solemnly in all churches built in honor of the Virgin.
The Russian poet N. Rubtsov, captivated by the beauty of the monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin in Ferapontovo, wrote:
In the darkened moons of the horizon
I looked at the surroundings
Where the soul of Ferapont saw
Something divine in earthly beauty.
Promotional video:
And one day arose out of a dream
From this praying soul
Like grass, like water, like birches, Wonderful wonder in the Russian wilderness!
This holiday coincides with the beginning of winter. In Russia, the beginning of winter was eagerly awaited. December was rich in holidays, and we were eager to find out what the weather would be like these days. Often, the Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Virgin was called simply "Introduction."
During the Introduction, frost - all holidays are frosty, warm - all holidays are warm.
Before the Introduction, if the snow falls, it will melt.
After the Introduction, if it snows, then winter will fall.
Test sleigh rides were made on Introduction. The right to start the winter festivities was given to the newlyweds, who solemnly went out first: the sledges were selected painted, decorated with multi-colored paths. Young people dressed up in their best clothes. The husband famously drove the horses, showing the young wife.
At this time, fairs were opened. The sale of sleds was traditionally arranged in Moscow. The Lubyanka was filled with a huge number of different sleds - single, double, triple; ordinary and festive. The sanitary seller, praising his goods, shouted:
“Here are sledges, scooters, decorated - rich, Decorated, gilded, trimmed with morocco!"
100 great holidays. Elena Olegovna Chekulaeva