On Thursday 12th of December ( the 3rd of Tahsas – Geez calendar 📅 ) commemorates the *entrance of the Virgin Mary into the Temple*, an important moment in Christian tradition, especially observed by the Eritrean Orthodox Church and our Sister church’s as *“Be’ata,* meaning “*her entry.*” Before Mary’s birth, her mother Hannah, who was barren, prayed to God for a child, promising to dedicate the child to the Church. God answered her prayers, and Mary was born. At *the age of three*, Mary was brought to the Temple by her parents to fulfil Hannah’s vow. Chief Priest Zacharias received her, and *Mary was miraculously sustained by heavenly means*, signifying her divine role. *Mary lived in the Temple for 12 years*, learning religious teachings, until she reached puberty. At that point, the priests sought divine guidance for her future, and through a sign involving a dove, *Joseph the carpenter was chosen as her guardian*. This event highlights Mary’s consecration and *divine selection as the Mother of Jesus*, emphasizing *her purity and dedication* to God’s service, and it holds significant religious importance within the Orthodox tradition.
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