The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the twelve great Christian feasts celebrated by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches on November 21. 

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks it especially solemnly as the Day of Christian Family and Youth, which is why it is one of the most revered winter family holidays in our country. On this day, families go to mass together to celebrate the entry of the three-year-old Mary, the future Mother of God, into the temple and to fulfil their spiritual obligations to their children.

According to the teachings of Christ, the family is compared to the Church, as its miniature, noted Father Bozhidar Marinov of the Metropolitan Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christ in an interview with Radio Bulgaria.

"This is life in its fullness," says Father Bozidar, "as soon as two young people get married, we tell them during the celebration of Holy Matrimony itself, to come to the temple the very next Sunday to receive communion together and to prepare themselves, to learn to live in the Church. 

It is not without reason that in ancient times both marriage and baptism were part of the Holy Mass, so that when two young people got married or when a child was born, it could be christened. In this way, the Christian Church recognises the child as its own, as part of its community, and the spouses and the child become acquainted with this ecclesial community. This is very important to us, and so when we baptise a child we always say - come, take the child to Mass at the first opportunity, First Communion, and then come every Sunday thereafter. And thank God, every Sunday our church is full of young people and children taking communion."