“The introduction of the Holy Mother of God into the temple is one of the twelve great Christian holidays, which is celebrated annually. It has a deep meaning for believers, as it symbolizes Mary’s first step on the way to serving God. In this article, we will consider when exactly the Introduction in Ukraine 2024 is celebrated, what is its history and what traditions accompany this day.”, — write on: ua.news
The introduction of the Holy Mother of God into the temple is one of the twelve great Christian holidays, which is celebrated annually. It has a deep meaning for believers, as it symbolizes Mary’s first step on the way to serving God.
In this article, we will consider when exactly the Introduction to Ukraine 2024 is celebrated, what its history is and what traditions accompany this day.
The date of the celebration of the Introduction to the Church of the Holy Mother of God
Previously, the feast of the Introduction of the Holy Mother of God into the temple was traditionally celebrated on December 4. However, with the transition to the new OCU calendar, this date is now celebrated November 21. In Ukraine, most Christians celebrate this event exactly on November 21, according to the New Julian calendar, as well as other major Orthodox holidays.
History of the holiday
The Feast of the Introduction has its roots in the Sacred Tradition and concerns the childhood of the Virgin Mary, the future mother of Jesus Christ. According to the apocryphal Gospels, Mary’s parents – Joachim and Anna – could not have children for a long time, but after numerous prayers, the Lord gave them a daughter. As a sign of gratitude to God for this gift, they promised to devote Mary to His service.
When Maria was three years old, her parents brought her to the Jerusalem temple, where she was to grow up in purity and prayer. According to legend, little Mary climbed the steps of the temple on her own, which symbolized her devotion to God and readiness for spiritual life.
Celebration traditions in Ukraine
The introduction of the Holy Mother of God into the temple is an important family holiday for believers. On this day, the Orthodox visit churches where solemn liturgies are held. Among the main traditions:
- Prayers and services in temples. On this day, festive services are held in churches, where believers pray for the health of relatives and happiness in families. Prayers are especially offered to mothers and children, because the holiday symbolizes the sanctity of family life.
- The beginning of the winter cycle of holidays. The introduction of the Most Holy Theotokos symbolically opens a series of winter holidays that approach Christmas. The people even say: The introduction has come – it has brought winter. After the Introduction, it is believed that winter comes into its own and people prepare for the Christmas holidays.
- Traditions of hospitality. Introduction is also a celebration of hospitality. Usually, on this day, Ukrainians invite their friends and relatives to spend time together over a festive meal. The tradition of hospitality is especially observed, because it is believed that good hospitality on this day will bring happiness to the home.
- Ban on hard work. In the folk tradition, it was believed that one should not work on the Introduction, especially heavy household chores. This day is intended for prayer, rest and communication with loved ones.
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