"The abode of heaven."

The Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple, also called The Entrance, is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on November 21.

According to Tradition, the Virgin Mary was taken —presented—by her parents Joachim and Anna into the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem as a young girl, where she lived and served as a Temple virgin until her betrothal to St. Joseph. One of the earliest sources of this tradition is the non-canonical Protoevangelion of James, also called the Infancy Gospel of James.
Mary was solemnly received by the temple community which was headed by the priest Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. She was led to the holy place to become herself the "holy of holies" of God, the living sanctuary and temple of the Divine child who was to be born in her. The Church also sees this feast as a feast which marks the end of the physical temple in Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God.

Troparion

Today is the preview of the good will of God,
Of the preaching of the salvation of mankind.
The Virgin appears in the temple of God,
In anticipation proclaiming Christ to all.
Let us rejoice and sing to her: Rejoice,
0 Divine Fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation.

Kontakion

The most pure Temple of the Savior;
The precious Chamber and Virgin;
The sacred Treasure of the glory of God,
Is presented today to the house of the Lord,
She brings with her the grace of the Spirit,
Therefore, the angels of God praise her:
"Truly this woman is the abode of heaven."


Read about the meaning of the feast here.

Please take a moment to listen to this wonderful hymn to the Theotokos. It was composed by St.Nektarios of Aegina (1846-1920)




Download in mp3 form here,

	The Monks Of Simonopetra Monastery - Agni Parthene .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

then sit back and allow yourself to listen.

Follow along:

(A, B, and C refer to the three distinct melodies within the hymn.)

(A) O pure and virgin Lady,/ O spotless Theotokos: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
O Virgin Queen and Mother/ O dewey fleece most sacred:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
(B) O height transcending heaven above/ O beam of light most radiant:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
O joy of chaste and virgin maids/ surpassing all the angels:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
(C) O brilliant light of heaven above/ most clear and most radiant: / Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
Commanding chief of heaven above/ O holiest of holies/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
(A) O ever-virgin Mary/ O Mistress of creation:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
O Bride all-pure and spotless/ O Lady all-holy:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
(B) O holy Mary, Bride and Queen/ O cause of our rejoicing/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
O Maiden Queen most hon'rable/ O Mother most holy/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
(C) More precious than the cherubim/ more glorious than the seraphim:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
Surpassing principalities/ dominions, thrones and powers:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
(A) Rejoice, song of the cherubim/ Rejoice, hymn of the angels:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
Rejoice, ode of the seraphim/ and joy of the archangels:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
(B) Rejoice, o peace; Rejoice, o joy/ and haven of salvation: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
O bridal chamber of the Word/ unfading, fragrant blossom:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
(C) Rejoice, delight of paradise/ Rejoice, life everlasting: / Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
Rejoice, o holy tree of life/ and fount of immortality:/ Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!


May God bless you and guide you always.