[sionnsar]

A vow was given by those who marvelously begot her to return her that was given to the Giver; so accordingly the Mother of God strangely changed her dwelling from the house of her father to the house of God while still an infant.

K, forgive me: I did not even arrive at home until 1 AM this morning from a week's trip away, spent the day at the office, and in minutes am about to crash for the night... but I don't understand this.

[Kolokotronis]

Holy Tradition as well as the Protoevangelion of James say that ++Joachim and Anna vowed, when +Anna became pregnant or when the Theotokos was born, I don't remember which,, that their daughter would be placed in the Temple and dedicated to the service of God, which she was at age three. Here's an icon of the event: