Meaning of the feast
The Presentation of the Mother of God, known in Bulgarian as Vavedenie Bogorodichno, is celebrated every year on 21 November. It is one of the twelve great feasts of the Orthodox Church and recalls Mary's entry into the Temple in Jerusalem.
According to tradition, Mary was three years old when her parents, Joachim and Anne, brought her to the Temple to dedicate her to God, as they had promised. She remained there, living and being brought up in the Temple, until she reached adulthood.
Christian Family Day
In Bulgaria, the feast is also observed as Christian Family Day. It highlights the role of parents in bringing up children and the importance of gratitude towards them. Churches hold services of prayer for families, and many parishes organise celebrations for children and parents.
The feast falls during the Nativity Fast, the period of fasting before Christmas. Fish is permitted on this day.
The feast in icons
The icon of the feast shows the young Mary climbing the Temple steps, accompanied by her parents and young women carrying lit candles. The high priest Zechariah welcomes her at the entrance.
According to tradition, he leads her into the Holy of Holies, the sacred space he enters only once a year, because he recognises that she has been chosen for a special mission.
Public holiday status
The Presentation of the Mother of God is not a public holiday: it is a normal working day in Bulgaria.