Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center Great Feast of the Entrance of The Theotokos into the Temple

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Great Feast of the Entrance of The Theotokos into the Temple (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 2)

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Feast of Feasts and Great Feasts
Feast	Event Commem- orated	Action of Event	Significance of Event	Celebrate	Apostolos	Gospel	Date	Class
Entrance of Theotokos into Temple	Future Theotokos' entrance into Temple.	Future Theotokos entering unaided into Temple's Holy of Holies.	Future Temple of Holy God enters into His Temple's Holy of Holies	Future Theotokos's union with Holy God.	Heb. 9:1-7	Lk. 10:38-42, 11:27-28	21 Nov.	Great Feast Class 2

21 November - Before Mary was born, her parents, The Ancester of Christ, Ann and The Ancester of Christ, Joachim were anxious to have a child because they were advanced in age. (It was a great shame to not have children.) The Ancesters of Christ, Ann and Joachim vowed to God that if He blessed them with a baby, they would dedicate their child to God's service in the Temple. Thus, when The future Theotokos, was three years old, her parents took her to the Temple to be consecrated to the service of God. When she entered the Temple, the young girls of the town, carrying lighted torches to illuminate her way preceded Mary. The future Theotokos alone and unhesitating entered into the Holy of Holies. In the temple, she was raised under God's protection, even being fed by the angels. Mary lived there until she was betrothed to Joseph.

Procession of Girls during the Great Entrance at the Divine Liturgy to Celebrate this Great Feast

To celebrate this feast, the custom is to do a re-enactment of the procession of Mary and the young girls. So, the young girls of the parish --and their mothers, too, if they wish-- are invited to walk in the Great Entrance procession in the Divine Liturgy, carrying lighted candles. During the Great Entrance procession, first is the acolyte (altar server) carrying the cross, then young girls carrying lighted candles, then the other acolytes (altar servers) and finally the priest(s).

Kontakion, Troparion, Exapostilarion, and Vespers Sticheron

KONTAKION (TONE 4)
The most pure Temple of the Savior, his most precious bridal chamber, the Virgin, sacred treasury of God's glory, enters today into the House of the Lord, bringing with her the grace of the Divine Spirit. Wherefore the angels of God are singing, "Behold the heavenly tabernacle!"

TROPARION (TONE 4)
Today is the prelude of the benevolence of God, and the announcement of the salvation of men. In the Temple of God the Virgin is seen openly, foretelling to all the coming of Christ. Wherefore let us cry to her in a loud voice, "Hail! O fulfillment of the Creator's plan!"

TROPARION (TONE 8)
The most pure Temple of our Holy Savior, and the most precious and bright bridal chamber, the Virgin, sacred treasury of the glory of God, openly appears today in the Temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace of the Most Holy Spirit. Wherefore the angels of God are singing: "This is the heavenly Tabernacle."

aterson, NJ

Hirmos (TONE 1)
All human generations bless you, O Mother of God. The laws of nature were overcome in you, O Pure Virgin: for your birth-giving left you a virgin, and your death became the herald of your life. O you who remained virgin after giving birth, and alive after having died, O Mother of God, deign always to save your inheritance.

Apostolos

Heb. 9:1-7

Gospel

Lk. 10:38-42 and 11:27-28

Antiphon

Palsm 131
Though the prayers of the Theotokos, O Saviour, save us.
Be shafa'ati Walidat il ilah, ya Mukhalles, Khallisna.
Tes bresvee-yes tees Theotokou, Soter, soson imas.

Meditation

The Entrance of The Theotokos into the Temple: November 21, A Meditation by Mary Grace Ritchey, Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton, Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States

Paper

Entrance of The Theotokos into the Temple Saint Ann Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Paterson, NJ

More Information

The Presentation of Our Lady to the Temple Saint Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Click on Feasts of Our Lady the Theotokos

Ikon

The Presentation of Our Lady to the Temple Saint Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Click on Feasts of Our Lady the Theotokos

Preparation
Day	Commemorate	Date	Apostolos	Gospel
Preparation	Our Fathers among the Saints Gregory the Decapolite and Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople	20

Celebration
Day	Commemorate	Date	Apostolos	Gospel
Entrance of Theotokos into Temple	Future Theotokos entering unaided into Temple's Holy of Holies.	20	Herb. 9:1-7	Lk. 10:38-42, 11:27-28
Second Day Celebration	Holy Apostles Philemon and of the Holy Apphia, Archippus and Onensiums; Holy Martyrs Cecilia, Valerian and Tiburtius	22
Third Day Celebration	Holy Fathers Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentium and Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium	23
Fourth Day Celebration	Hieromartyers Clement, Pope of Rome and Peter, Bishop of Alexandria	24
Leave-taking	Holy Great-Martyr of Christ and most wise Catherine of Alexandria and of the Holy Great-Martyr Mercury	25	Gal. 3:23-4:5	Mk. 24-34

All The Theotokos's Great Feasts are Class 2.

The Theotokos's Great Feasts
Feast	Event Commem- orated	Action of Event	Significance of Event	Celebrate	Apostolos	Gospel	Date	Class
Nativity of Theotokos	Future Theotokos' birth	Future Theotokos being born.	Beginning of work of salvation, because she was to be Theotokos.	Theotokos birthday.	Phil. 2:5-11	Lk. 10:38-42, 11:27-28	8 Sept.	Great Feast Class 2
Entrance of Theotokos into Temple	Future Theotokos' entrance into Temple.	Future Theotokos entering unaided into Temple's Holy of Holies.	Future Temple of Holy God enters into His Temple's Holy of Holies	Future Theotokos's union with Holy God.	Heb. 9:1-7	Lk. 10:38-42, 11:27-28	21 Nov.	Great Feast Class 2
ºHoly Hypapanty of Our Lord, God Savior, Jesus Christ ºPurifi- cation of Theotokos	ºJesus Christ's presen- tation at Temple. ºTheotokos' purification.	Theotokos bringing Jesus Christ to Temple at prescribed time for prescribed rituals.	Messiah's first meeting with His people.	A step in process of our redemption.	Heb. 7:7-17	Lk. 2:22-40	2 Feb.	Great Feast Class 2
Annun- ciation of Theotokos Ever Virgin Mary	Jesus Christ's conception in human form Incar- nation.	Future Theotokos' accepting Holy God's will saying yes to Holy God.	Holy God becomes human Incar- nation.	Beginning of process of our redemption.	Heb. 2:11-18	Lk. 1:24-38	25 March	Great Feast Class 2
Dormition of Theotokos	Theotokos' going to heaven.	Holy God's taking Theotokos' body and soul into heaven.	Preview of transfig- uration that awaits all of us in the Kingdom to come.	Possi- bility of our "eternal life".	Phil. 2:5-11	Lk. 10:38-42, 11:27-28	15 Aug.	Great Feast Class 2

Liturgical Cycle

Great Feast Days

Feasts Days - Specific

Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ
The Theotokos
The Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist

Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center
Martha Liles
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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