Why is the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple considered a women's holiday and what is wished for girls on this day?

The Feast of the Entry of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple is traditionally called Women's Day, it is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a symbol of purity, humility and spiritual strength. Prayers for marriage, motherhood and family well-being are associated with this event, as well as special folk rituals and wishes for women. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

What is the essence of the great holiday?

In the Orthodox calendar, the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple occupies a special place — it is one of the twelve feasts celebrated annually on December 4 in the new style (November 21 in the old style).

The bringing of three-year-old Mary to the Jerusalem temple by her parents, Joachim and Anna, and her dedication to the service of God in the church tradition is interpreted not only as a historical act, but also as a symbol of the beginning of the spiritual path, a harbinger of the mission of the Virgin Mary as the Mother of the Savior. In this context, the image of the Virgin Mary appears to be the ideal of female holiness: purity, obedience to the church vocation and readiness to serve others, which later determined the formation of rituals and prayers associated with the holiday.

The church liturgy and the akathists of the Introduction emphasize that Mary was chosen for service from early childhood, and her purity and humility became a moral guideline for women believers.

How the Mother of God was worshipped on this day

The tradition of honoring the Virgin on the feast of the Introduction was formed in the early Christian environment under the influence of local rituals of girls' initiation into the temple. Already in the first centuries of Christianity, the memory of the sacrifice of Mary to the temple was recorded in the calendar and apocryphal narratives, then it was developed in the liturgical tradition of the Eastern Church.

Over time, the ritual layer was combined with folk practice: women and girls considered the Introduction a time when it was especially appropriate to ask for the blessing of the family, for purity of heart and a good marriage. The parish chronicles and the lives of the saints noted that on this day special divine services were held dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the reading of akathists and prayer services, as well as commemoration of family vows and requests for children and well-being.

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What is customary for women and girls to wish on a holiday?

Traditional wishes on this day are centered around several key values: purity of thought, family comfort, love and spiritual fortitude.

Turning to the Mother of God, believers ask not only for domestic happiness — a successful marriage and the birth of children — but also for inner qualities.: humility, patience, mercy and faith.

The public and ecclesiastical rhetoric of the holiday emphasizes that true well—being is the result of spiritual life: prayer, participation in the sacraments and good deeds. Women's wishes often include calls for the preservation of kindness and caring for others, which has historically been considered an inseparable part of women's ministry in the family and community.

What is prayed for before the icon of the Introduction

The prayer practice associated with the icon of the Introduction includes requests for the health and protection of the family, for the gift of children, for the preservation of virginal purity and for the blessing of a future marriage.

Church prayer books and akathists to the Mother of God, used on holidays, contain petitions for help in sorrows, for protection from troubles and for covering family needs. At the same time, theology emphasizes that prayer must be combined with personal moral responsibility — charity, observance of church commandments and participation in worship. The practice of confession and communion on holidays is considered an important spiritual step that enhances prayer for family and physical well-being.