Armenian Church marks Presentation of Virgin Mary
The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on November 21.
According to tradition, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, who had been childless, received a heavenly message that they would have a child. In thanksgiving for the gift of their daughter, they brought her, when still a child, to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God.
Later versions of the story (such as the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew and the Gospel of the Nativity of Mary) indicate that Mary was taken to the Temple at around the age of three in fulfillment of a vow.
Virgin Mary remained there for a time and was given over to the care of pious widows and maidens who lived at the temple. After seven years, she became betrothed to Joseph the carpenter.