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The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (as it is known in the West), or The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (its name in the East), is a liturgical feast celebrated on November 21 by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.The Entrance of the Virgin Mary is a feast of the Mother of God, one of the 12 Great Feasts of our Church. Because this date falls during the Christmas Fasting, on this day the rules of fasting are lightened and the consumption of fish, wine and oil is allowed. Therefore, the traditional dish of the day here in Zakynthos is fried cod and aliatha (garlic dip made with potatoes).
New Testament.
The feast is associated with an event recounted not in the New Testament, but in the apocryphal Infancy Narrative of James. According to that text, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne, who had been childless, received a heavenly message that they would have a child. In thanksgiving for the gift of their daughter, they brought her, when still a child, to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God.
Happy name day!
In celebration, Zakynthos celebrates this important event, where most Orthodox celebrate the saints which were celebrated on the 8th of November, here it is clearly a feast dedicated to the female version on the Archangels (Angels)and those with the name derived from that Angela, Aggeliki etc.
Our Armed Forces across the country, also celebrates this day in honour. This year the Government has planned a barrage of celebrations starting with the raising of the flag at the “Holy Vracho” and flybys over the capital by our special forces.
The church dedicated to the Lady of Angles.
The impressive Temple of the Lady of the Angels is on Luke Carrer Street.
The Temple is dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary and was built in 1687 by the Notary Guild.
With the earthquakes of 1953 it collapsed but soon restored to its original form. On the outside we observe reliefs of the Virgin and Angels carved on the stone walls.
Inside, the Templos wood carved as well as the old icons, most of which are works by Doxaras, make an impression. The rhythm that follows is the Spanish “Platrescu.
