Strong prayers for the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple: what is asked of the saint

On December 4, Orthodox Christians celebrate one of the most important twelve—day holidays - the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple. On this day, it is customary to address the Mother of God with prayers for health, family well-being, the birth of children and peace of mind. A special place is occupied by the petitions of women and mothers who ask the Heavenly Intercessor for help in childbirth, marriage and raising children. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

A special prayer day on December 4th

In the Orthodox tradition, the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple is celebrated on December 4 in a new style. This is not only a memory of the event when the righteous Joachim and Anna brought three-year-old Mary to the Jerusalem temple, but also a special day of prayer for the most important vital needs of a family and a woman.

On this holiday, believers turn to the Mother of God with requests for health, for children, for peace of mind and for the blessing of family relations; the liturgical text and the akathist emphasize the image of Mary as the patroness of the human race, to whom they turn in life's trials.

What is prayed for before the icon of the Introduction

On this day, before the icon of the Introduction and before the icons of the Mother of God, it is customary to offer prayers for the most pressing everyday and spiritual needs. In the first place are petitions for the preservation of the health of loved ones and for help in illnesses: believers ask the Mother of God for the healing of bodily ailments and for spiritual strengthening.

The second important block of prayers is related to family and children: they pray for harmony in the family, for a successful marriage for the young, and for the gift of children to those who ask for motherhood. The third direction is requests for peace of mind and protection from everyday troubles: akathists and prayer books contain requests for support in moments of doubt, sorrow and danger. This practice is widely documented in prayer books and parish recommendations, which provide specific texts for worshippers on the feast of the Introduction.

In church and folk practice, there are special prayer texts and prayer services addressed to the Mother of God as an Intercessor in childbirth and a helper in family matters.

Prayers for help and healing

When a person is faced with illness or life difficulties, church tradition recommends that they turn to the Most Holy Theotokos as an intercessor before God. On the day of the Introduction, readings of akathists, troparia and special prayers for help in sorrows are appropriate. In private prayer, believers can ask for relief, for the strength to endure trials, and for family support.

How to pray properly on the day of the Introduction

Orthodox practice distinguishes between church-wide and private prayer services. In the general Church dimension, the all-night vigil on the eve of the feast and the festive Divine Liturgy on the morning of December 4 occupy a central place. At the service, the troparion and kontakion of the Introduction, the akathist and petitions are read, where the conciliar prayer unites the parishioners.

In private, believers read akathists and kontakions in front of icons, troparia for the feast, as well as short prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary from prayer books.

The clergy emphasize that prayer is not a magical ritual, but an aspiration to God, and its power is associated with sincerity, repentance and good deeds. On the day of the Introduction, Pastors recommend not only to make verbal petitions, but also to show mercy: to help those in need, to visit the sick, to provide practical assistance to families in difficult situations.