Description

The celebrated event is not mentioned in the regular Bible. The first known reference to this is found in the First Gospel of James, an occult text from the end of the 2nd century. According to this, the Virgin Mary’s later parents, Joachim and Anna, were deeply distressed by the fact that they had no children. For this reason, they prayed and agreed to dedicate their child to God. Having Mary, they took her to the Temple in Jerusalem when she was still a child, in order to dedicate her to God. These are the Entrances of the Virgin. Later versions of the story (such as the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew and the Book of the Nativity of Mary) add that Mary was dedicated to the Temple at the age of about three, fulfilling an oath. According to tradition, she remained there for education to prepare for her role as Theomitor (Mother of God).