And her parents went down marvelling, and praising the Lord God, because the child had not turned back.
2And Mary was in the temple of the Lord as if she were a dove that dwelt there, and she received food from the hand of an angel.
3And when she was twelve years old there was held a council of the priests, saying: Behold, Mary has reached the age of twelve years in the temple of the Lord.
4What then shall we do with her, lest perchance she defile the sanctuary of the Lord?
5And they said to the high priest: Thou standest by the altar of the Lord; go in, and pray concerning her; and whatever the Lord shall manifest unto thee, that also will we do.
6And the high priest went in, taking the robe with the twelve bells into the holy of holies; and he prayed concerning her.
7And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, saying unto him: Zacharias, Zacharias, go out and assemble the widowers of the people, and let them bring each his rod; and to whomsoever the Lord shall show a sign, his wife shall she be.
8And the heralds went out through all the circuit of Judæa, and the trumpet of the Lord sounded, and all ran.