Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ — is a Christian holiday celebrated in Orthodoxy, Catholicism and some Protestant denominations, including Lutheranism. The Russian Orthodox Church is revered as one of the twelfth holidays. It was erected in memory of the significant event for Christians — meeting (Slavic meeting) in the Jerusalem Temple of the Child Jesus with the righteous Elder Simeon.
When the time came for the incarnate Word of God to appear on earth, then the Providence of God was destined for some of the chosen people — to meet His miraculous, all-saving appearance and proclaim it to the world. One of them was Elder Simeon, filled with the Holy Spirit, who was promised by God that he would not leave this world until he saw Christ the Lord. This meeting is celebrated by Simeon and is celebrated by the Holy Orthodox Church annually on February 15, new style.
What does the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord teach us?
First of all, the truth that God is faithful in all his words and promises. He promised Adam and Eve, our ancestors who fell in paradise, that He would send a Savior to them and the entire human race to the land, which was fulfilled.
Secondly, the Feast of Candlemas teaches us that the Lord Himself only goes towards those who do truth or are hungry and thirsty for truth, — as Elder Simeon, because he came to earth in order to fulfill all truth« (Matt. 3, 15) To teach God and us to do righteousness and to deliver us from all unrighteousness, from all iniquity, and to grant us repentance with the fruits of salvation.
Elder Simeon, according to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures, was a righteous and pious man, enlightened by the Spirit, he desired the pleasures of Israel according to the following revelation.
When Ptolemy, king of Egypt, founder of the glorious Library of Alexandria, ordered the Moses and prophetic books to be translated from Hebrew into Greek, then seventy wise men were chosen among the Israelites, both in one language and another, skilled husbands — «70 interpreters», as they are usually called. Among them was the righteous Simeon.
While translating the books of Isaiah, Simeon achieved a prophecy: «Behold the Virgin in the womb will conceive and give birth to a Son» (Is. 7:14), and doubted, and, stopping, reasoned with himself: how can a girl give birth to a boy? Then he took a knife and in his manuscript he wanted to erase this prophecy... Suddenly the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and, holding his hand, said: «Believe what is written; you yourself will see the event of the greatest sacrament; for you will not see death until you see Christ the Lord being born from the Most Pure Virgin». From that time on, Simeon awaited the coming of Christ with fiery desire: he lived righteously and blamelessly and, without leaving the temple, prayed to God.
When the Savior, who was born after forty days, was brought to the temple by the Graceful Mary, then the saint, having learned from above that this Child is the promised Messiah and that this Mother is the Holy Virgin, on whom the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled, accepted the Lord into his arms with reverence and joy and exclaimed: «Today you let go of Your servant, Master, according to Your voice, in peace, as you see my salvation, Yours» (Luke 2:29), and having thanked God, who gave comfort to Israel, he gave up his spirit, being a deep old man.
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