Introduction of Mary into the Temple

An iconographic image that we have already encountered in the mosaics of the Basilica of St. Savior in Chora, the icon of the presentation, or introduction, of Mary as a child in the temple.

Christian tradition tells us that the Virgin Mary at the age of 3 was offered to the temple of Jerusalem by her parents Anna and Joachim, through the delivery to the priest of the time, Zechariah, Elizabeth's husband. And it also tells us that, despite her very tender age, she was already not only aware but also consenting to such a radical choice. This is signified by the proportions of Mary, who, although small, is represented as already a woman, already wearing the clothes of the Mother of God. Mary is offered to the Lord, and becomes for this time in her life a model of souls consecrated to the Lord. Mary is offered to the temple, and will live in it for about 12 years, that is, until the priests decide, by divine inspiration, to marry her to a righteous man, chosen by lot from among several, according to the custom of that time. This man will be Joseph. But Mary, now, does not yet know the rest of the story.

The meaning of this episode is as precious and mysterious as the life of Mary, who remains wrapped in a great silence of humility. The temple is the place chosen by God himself to dwell among men. It is therefore a holy place, which preserves the presence of God. Mary, the Mother predestined before the centuries, the "virgin who will give birth to a son, Emmanuel", is made to enter the temple, has access to the holy of holies, because the priest Zechariah sees in her the new living Ark. The time that Mary will live in the temple corresponds to the secret preparation of Christ's humanity. In the preparation of the one who will become his mother, who will become, herself, the temple of the Lord, the incarnation of the Word, of the Son of God, is prepared.

There is another detail in the icon: sitting on the highest step – which also represents the highest level that the soul can reach before union with God – she, while she “weaves the veil of the temple”, that is, prepares her body to receive God, is nourished by the angel Gabriel with the bread of heaven, a prefiguration of the Eucharist and of the full spiritual maturity that Mary receives in contemplation, prayer and in the life of secret intimacy with God in these years.

Looking at this icon then we can stop to contemplate the life of Mary, the soul of a beautiful mother, so abandoned to the will of her Lord, so totally, docilely, lovingly his, that she allowed herself to be led, prepared and formed directly by Him to say that wonderful yes that will change the history of the world and of man. That yes that she was able to say because of the great love, the immense trust, the deep knowledge that she had of God since she was a child, a God in love, ready to become a defenseless child to come among us, to come and look for us, to be seen, listened to, to love us, to heal us, to bear even our disbelief, offenses and ingratitude, just to meet us face to face.


Chiara Dal Corso
NP June / July 2024