Feast of the Presentation of Mary

 


The story goes that Mary's parents (Anna and Joachim) "presented" the three year old Mary at the temple to be educated, carrying out a promise to God they made when they thought that they would remain childless. The only mention of this is in some "apocryphal" writings - that is, holy books (not the Bible).

Whether it happened or not is secondary to the emphasis it places on Mary's holiness from her conception.

The painting is by Vellio Tiziano (1539).