Presentation of Mary in Eastern Christianity Date in the current year: December 4, 2024

According to the Gospel of James, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne, were childless, but desperately wanted to have a child. One day the received a heavenly message that they would have a daughter. In thanksgiving for Mary's birth, they consecrated their daughter to god. They brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem at the age of three. She remained there until she was twelve.

The feast of Mary's presentation arose from this account. It originated in the 6th century, but achieved widespread recognition only in the 9th century. The Presentation of Mary is celebrated by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches on November 21.

As the Eastern Orthodox Church follows the old Julian calendar, the actual celebration occurs on December 4 of the modern Gregorian calendar. It always falls during the Nativity Fast, but on the occasion of the feast the fasting rules are relaxed. In Eastern Orthodoxy, the Presentation May is one of the so-called Great Feast – twelve most important feasts after Easter.