The great feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple has arrived: what is strictly forbidden for believers to do

On December 4, Orthodox believers celebrate one of the most revered winter holidays — the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple. This day is associated with a deep spiritual meaning: it reminds of humility, purity and willingness to serve God. The holiday opens the winter cycle of church celebrations and falls during the Christmas Fast, when believers prepare to celebrate one of the main Christian events — the Nativity of Christ. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

The main winter holiday of December

The entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple is one of the important holidays of the Orthodox calendar, celebrated annually on December 4 in the new style (November 21 in the old style). The holiday is connected with the legend of how Joachim and Anna brought three-year-old Mary to the Jerusalem temple, where she was solemnly led into the "Holy of Holies."

In the church tradition, this event is considered not so much as an everyday scene, but rather as a symbol of God's choice and the beginning of the special spiritual vocation of the Virgin Mary, the harbinger of the coming of Christ and the model of female holiness.

The celebration itself has an ancient history: its mentions are fixed in the calendar of the 8th century, and theological interpretations developed in the writings of the church fathers.

What is allowed and not allowed on the Introduction

The traditional recommendations for the Introduction combine church and folk guidelines. In the church context, the day is called for prayer, inner silence and participation in worship, therefore believers are advised to refrain from hard work and fussy affairs, taking time to pray, visit the temple and reflect on spiritual values.

At the level of popular beliefs, more specific prohibitions have become entrenched: it is not recommended to conduct large household preparations, arrange noisy feasts and enter into conflicts. It was believed that quarrels and scandals on this day attract troubles and destroy family peace. In some traditions, there was a ban on weddings and important business ventures. Customs explained this by the desire to preserve the solemn and penitential character of the date, without mixing it with secular celebrations and social obligations.

Fasting and holiday indulgences

The feast of the Introduction coincides with the period of the Nativity fast in the Eastern Christian tradition, therefore, for believers, the question arises about the relationship between the liturgical holiday and the lenten rule. The Christmas fast presupposes certain dietary restrictions (exclusion of meat, dairy products, etc.), however, church practice allows for indulgences and individual pastoral instructions. For example, depending on local charters and the health status of parishioners.

It is important to emphasize that the celebration of the holiday does not cancel fasting, but shifts the focus from physical abstinence to spiritual preparation: prayer, repentance and works of mercy. Parish recommendations usually emphasize the need to follow the instructions of the local clergy regarding indulgences and fasting.

What can I do on this day?

The recommendations for lay people on the Introduction are simple and clear: participation in divine services, confession for those who wish to renew their spiritual life, communion and reading of akathists and prayers to the Mother of God.

In addition to the liturgy, tradition emphasizes the importance of charitable deeds: helping those in need, visiting the lonely, elderly, and sick, and providing financial support to shelters and parish projects. To this are added folk traditions — commemoration of ancestors, family prayers and blessings at home.

For unmarried girls and young women, this day has historically been considered suitable for prayer requests for future marital happiness and motherhood. However, the church emphasizes that prayer must be combined with moral self-development and active love for others.

The prohibitions and restrictions surrounding church holidays have not only a pragmatic, but also a symbolic explanation. First, temporary abstinence from ordinary work and household activities creates a culture of pause — social and internal, which helps a person get out of the rhythm of everyday life and return to questions of meaning and morality.

Secondly, the prohibitions functionally protected the community resource and family well-being. For example, giving up hard work helped to preserve strength and avoid misfortune. The ban on quarrels and lavish feasts strengthened the social stability of the community during a difficult season.

Symbolically, the restrictions were a way to express respect for the sacredness of time: the celebration was dedicated to God and the image of the Virgin, and any excessive mixing of the holy and the mundane risked detracting from the spiritual meaning of the event.