My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

THE ENTRANCE OF THE THEOTOKOS INTO THE TEMPLE (Part II)

The Words of the Prophets are Fulfilled

The High Priest Zacharias, the husband of Anna's niece Elizabeth, was the future father of Saint John the Baptist and Forerunner. When he beheld the Virgin's approach, he rejoiced in the Spirit, and said, "Mary, the Lord God has magnified thy name to all generations and, by thee, to the very end of time, the Lord will show His redemption to the children of Israel." The High Priest Zacharias unites in his person two traditions--priestly and prophetic. Rejoice, Mary, preaching of the Prophets and the fulfillment of their words! The Prophets prophesied of thee and have thee as their boast.

Jacob foresaw thee as "the Ladder": "Behold a ladder fixed on the earth whose top reached to heaven, and the Angels of God ascended upon thee and become incarnate, and thereby men will be able to ascend to Heaven. The golden urn of manna, that Moses gave the command to be laid up so that future generations might see the bread with which the Hebrews were fed in the wilderness (Exodus 16:32-33), also prefigured thee. Thus thou will give flesh to the heavenly Bread that will nourish the race of the anointed ones. The dry rod of Aaron was a sign of thee, in that, without seed from man, viriginally, give birth to God, for this, is His Will. The fleece of Gedeon prefigured thee, for as rain came down upon the fleece, without anyone's knowledge (Judg. 6:37-38), thus does God desire to condescend to put on flesh of thee--and not even the Angels will understand how He would become Incarnate. Let us, therefore, magnify the radiant cloud (Isaiah 19:1).

The Prophet David wrote: "He shall come down like rain upon a fleece, and like rain-drops that fall upon the earth" (Psalm 71:6). The same Prophet and king called thee "Queen," and uttered: "At Thy right hand stood the Queen, arrayed in a vesture of inwoven gold, adorned in varied colors (Psalm 44:8). David the Prophet, who is of thine tribe, clearly foresaw and thine own people and thy father's house, and the King shall greatly desire thy beauty" (Psalm 44:9).

The high priest Zacharias then said, "Enter into the Holy of Holies, for thou art much purer than I. O Mistress, once a year I enter therein, but thou, sit and abide forever. For thou art the Temple of God, therefore, remain in the temple. Thou art the Vessel of the Holy Spirit, enter thou into the elect place. Wait therein until thou art vouchsafed to be the worthy vessel of the All-Holy Spirit. Rejoice and dance, for Angels, desire to minister unto thee!"

The Virgin is led up

Zacharias then set her down upon the third step of the altar, and the Lord God sent grace upon her, and she danced with her feet, and all the house of Israel loved her. The Virgin of the Lord then sent up all the steps one after another, without the help of any to lead or lift her. It was evident from henceforth that she was of perfect age because she walked with a step so mature and she spoke so perfectly. The Church chants, "Three years old in the flesh and many years old in spirit. Therefore, let us praise in hymns the child by nature who was shown forth as a mother beyond nature.

The parents then, after offering up their sacrifice (according to the custom of the law), left the Virgin with other maidens in the apartments of the temple to be brought up therein. Mary's parents then went down marveling and praising the Lord God, because the child did not turn back. They then returned to their home. And Mary was in the Temple of the Lord as if she were a dove that dwelt there.

For the next seven years, the parents of the little Virgin visited her often until they reposed, leaving her an orphan. Bishop and Saint Nikolai Velimirovic records that the Righteous Joachim was 80 years old and the venerable Anna was 79 years old when they reposed in peace. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

(To be continued)

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DIVINE SERVICES TOMORROW NOVEMBER 21st:

Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George