The Orthodox Christians on December 4 observe the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, which is one of the greatest liturgical feasts of the year, IPN reports.

Priest Petru Storoja, of the Chisinau Church “Saint Hierarch Nicolas”, said the name of the feast in the old Slavic language is “Ovedenie”, which translates as ‘the one who makes herself seen’ or ‘the day of light’.

Mary’s parents Joachim and Anne, 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. She was taken to the Temple at around the age of three in fulfillment of a vow. Tradition held that she was to remain there for 12 years to be educated in preparation for her role as Mother of God.

In the Temple, the child was taken to the most holy place called the Saint of Saints, which no woman and no priest can enter. Only the bishop enters that place once a year, when he makes sacrifice of blood for the people’s ignorance. They allowed her to pray there.

The fasting people on this day can eat fish and drink a glass of wine. During the Nativity Fast, fish may be also eaten on the feasts of Saint Andrew the Apostle and Saint Hierarch Nicholas.