Revised Julian Calendar

The Presentation in the Temple of Our Most Holy Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary

Friday, 21 November 2008 - 23rd Week after Pentecost

Nativity Fast

Period of St Luke - 10th Week

Plagal of First Tone

Select reference to read text.

Saint(s) of the Day:
Venerable Columban of Ireland.

Celtic Saint(s) of the Day:
The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple. Columban of Ireland, Abbot and Founder of Luxeuil Abbey in France, Founder of Bobbio, and His Disciple, Columban. Digain of Cornwall, Son of King Constantine

Dismissal Hymn for the Feast in the Fourth tone.
Today is the prelude of God's pleasure and the proclamation of man's salvation. The Virgin is clearly made manifest in the temple of God and foretells Christ to all. Let us also cry out to her with mighty voice, "Hail, fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation."

Kontakion for the Feast in the Fourth tone.
Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.

About the Feast:
According to the tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was brought to the Temple at three years of age, where she was consecrated to God and spent her days until she was fourteen or fifteen years old; and then, as a mature maiden, by the common counsel of the priests (since her parents had reposed some three years before), she was betrothed to Joseph.

Notes:

1. The date is the liturgical date and it changes in the evening, which is the beginning of the Orthodox Church day.
2. The Scripture readings are in Byzantine Notation, where they are read up to but not including the final verse number. Also, not all readings end at the verse breaks of modern Bibles; this is reflected with verses cited as 5b or 8c to show the proportion of the verse to be read.