On February 15, the Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord. The word “meeting” means meeting, seeing something or someone significant. In this case, the meeting of humanity in the person of Saints Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess with the Lord Jesus Christ.
The meaning and events of the holiday
On the Day of the Presentation of the Lord, the righteous of the Old Testament, such as Simeon the God-Receiver or Anna the Prophetess, finally saw the Savior they were promised, who would reconcile the languishing fallen humanity with God. On this day, the Old Testament in the person of the law also meets the New Testament and its grace, which brings vitality to the law and makes it that “light yoke” about which the Lord will later speak.
According to the Old Testament regulations, on the fortieth day after the birth of a child, every woman had to come to the Jerusalem Temple (then the only one for the entire Jewish people) in order to offer a sacrifice of purification. If at the same time her first-born male child was born, he should also be brought to the temple for a rite of dedication to God (in memory of the liberation of the Jews from Egyptian captivity, where the Jewish first-borns survived the tenth plague of Egypt).
The sacrifice of purification was a dove, and the sacrifice of initiation was a lamb (lamb), but if the family was poor, then two doves were sacrificed. Since Mary and Joseph lived very modestly, they sacrificed two pigeon chicks.
Not only priests served in the Jerusalem Temple. They were also brought up under him of a certain age children dedicated to God (like the Most Holy Theotokos herself). Also, the righteous living nearby came there every day to pray. Among them were two special people - Simeon the God-Receiver and the righteous widow Anna.
From Tradition we know that Simeon was among the 72 translators of the Septuagint - a version of the Old Testament in Greek, which was created in the 3rd century BC at the request of the Egyptian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus to replenish the famous Library of Alexandria.
Ptolemy asked the Jewish elders to send the most literate and experienced scribes who knew Greek to translate. Everyone got a certain part of the work. Simeon had the task of translating the book of the prophet Isaiah. When he reached the place where it was said: “Behold, the Virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son,” he considered this a mistake by the previous copyist and decided to correct the word to: “wife” (woman).
At that moment an angel of the Lord appeared to Simeon. He held his hand and assured him of the correctness of the prophecy, which he could verify for himself, since by the will of God he would live to see the birth of the Savior. Considering that Simeon was already an experienced translator at the time of King Ptolemy’s invitation, by the time he met the Savior he could have been 300-350 years old.
We know about righteous Anna from the Gospel of Luke: “There was also Anna the prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher, who had reached a very old age, having lived with her husband for seven years from her virginity, a widow about eighty-four years old, who did not leave the temple, fasting and serving God in prayer day and night.”
These righteous people were the witnesses who represented humanity before God brought to the temple. Simeon the God-Receiver immediately recognized the Savior and pointed out his messianic status: “Now you are releasing Your servant, O Master, according to Your word, in peace, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all nations, a light for the enlightenment of the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel." Righteous Anna also preached about the appearance of the Messiah, telling the inhabitants of Jerusalem about Him.
Simeon accepted and blessed the baby and his parents, but also prophesied to the Virgin Mary about the sorrow that awaits her in the future with the death of her child on the cross and the disputes that will strike the Jewish people after his preaching: “Behold, this one lies for the fall and the rising of many in Israel and the subject of controversy, and a weapon will pierce your soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Formation and features of the holiday
The Presentation of the Lord is one of the twelve feasts - the 12 most important church holidays after the Resurrection of Christ (Easter). In the Russian Orthodox Church and a number of other Local Orthodox Churches, adhering to Julian calendar, celebrated on February 2 (February 15 according to the Gregorian calendar).
If Candlemas falls on the Monday of the first week of Lent (rarely), the festive service is moved to the previous day - February 1, the Week of Adam's Exile (Forgiveness Sunday).
The Feast of the Presentation arose in the Jerusalem Church and appeared in its liturgical calendar in the 4th century.
The oldest evidence of the celebration of the Presentation in the Christian East is the “Pilgrimage to Holy Places” of the Western pilgrim Etheria, dating back to the end of the 4th century. It does not give the Meeting an independent liturgical title and calls it “the fortieth day from the Epiphany,” and also briefly and emotionally describes the celebration itself, which takes place on this day in Jerusalem.
Second in time historical monument, already of a liturgical nature, also comes from Jerusalem. This is an Armenian Lectionary, which documents the liturgical and statutory practice of the early 5th century, where the Presentation is defined as: “The fortieth day from the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
As an independent holiday of the annual calendar, the Presentation was established in the Roman Church at the end of the 5th century, and in Constantinople in the first half of the 6th century, in contrast to Monophysitism, condemned at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, which asserted that Jesus Christ is only God in a human body, and not the God-man. .
The service of the Presentation combines the features of the Lord's and the Twelve Mother of God feasts. Festive stichera and canon, telling about the events of the holiday and its great significance, were written by famous church hymnographers - Anatoly, Patriarch of Constantinople (5th century); Venerable Andrew of Crete (VII century); the Venerable Cosmas of Maium and John of Damascus (VII-VIII centuries), Herman, Patriarch of Constantinople (VIII century) and the Venerable Joseph the Studite (IX century).
The iconography of the Presentation is profound symbolic meaning: The Infant Savior, sitting in the arms of the God-Receiver Simeon, who receives the Savior in his arms, represents, as it were, the old world, filled and revived by the Divine, and the Mother of God, giving her son, seems to release him on the way of the cross and the salvation of the world.
Interestingly, there is also an icon symbolizing the prophecy of Simeon the God-Receiver made to the Virgin Mary. It is called “Simeon’s Prophecy” or “Softening evil hearts».
In this icon, the Mother of God is depicted standing on a cloud with seven swords stuck in her heart: three on the right and left and one at the bottom. There are also half-length images of the Virgin Mary. The number seven denotes the fullness of grief, sadness and heartache experienced by the Mother of God in her earthly life.
Holiday traditions
On the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord at the end of the sixth hour it is customary to consecrate church candles and distribute to the believers.
The tradition of blessing church candles on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord came to the Russian Orthodox Church from Catholics through the breviary of Metropolitan Peter (Mogila) in 1646.
Catholics blessed candles and took them into religious processions, with which they tried to distract their flock from pagan holidays associated with the veneration of fire (Imbolc, Lupercalia, Gromnitsa, etc., depending on the area and nationality). In Orthodoxy, Sretensky candles were treated more simply and reverently - they were kept for a year, lit during home prayer.
Also, the Presentation of the Lord has been the Day of Orthodox Youth since 1953. The idea of the holiday belongs to the World Orthodox Youth Movement “Syndesmos”, which already unites more than 100 youth organizations from 40 countries.
On this day, all over the world, Orthodox youth hold meetings with clergy, visit hospitals, organize concerts with dances and live music, organize sport competitions, competitions, games and other interesting events.
In Russia, since 2002, youth activity has been supplemented by the tradition of holding the most beautiful Sretensky balls.
People say that on the day of the Presentation “winter meets spring,” that is, the main cold weather is already behind us, the days have noticeably lengthened and the spring season will come very soon. After the holiday, the peasants began to whitewash fruit trees, prepare seeds for sowing and plant seedlings (at home).
From the editors of the magazine "Orthodoxy.fm" we congratulate all our readers on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord! May your meeting with God be as joyful as it was for the righteous Simeon the God-Receiver!
Andrey Szegeda
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Meeting (Church Slavic “meeting”) - the twelfth, that is, one of the twelve the most important holidays Christian Church, celebrated.
The name Meeting of the Lord is associated with the significant gospel meeting of the Infant Jesus Christ with the righteous Simeon in the Jerusalem Temple. This event in gospel history marks the meeting of the Old and New Testaments. Celebrated on the fortieth day after the Nativity of Christ, all our churches celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ - the Feast of the Meeting.
Icon Image of the Presentation of the Lord
History of the holiday of the Presentation of the Lord.
The holiday of the Presentation of the Lord is based on the story of the Evangelist Luke about the bringing of the forty-day-old baby Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple, where the significant meeting of the Divine Infant with the Old Testament righteous Simeon took place, which gave the name to the holiday. The meeting of Simeon, who became a symbol of the Old Testament people of Israel, and the baby Jesus Christ in the Jerusalem Temple is not only a gospel event; its significance for Christianity is immeasurably greater than simply the fact of the earthly life of the God-man. The Meeting of the Lord in the history of Christianity symbolizes the meeting of the Old and New Testaments.
On the 40th day after his birth, the Infant God was brought to the Jerusalem Temple - Center religious life God's chosen people. According to the Law of Moses (Lev. 12), a woman who gave birth to a male child was forbidden to enter the temple of God for 40 days. After this period, the mother came to the temple with the baby to bring a thanksgiving and cleansing sacrifice to the Lord. The Most Holy Virgin, the Mother of God, had no need for purification, for she unknowingly gave birth to the Source of purity and holiness, but out of deep humility She submitted to the dictates of the law.
At that time, the righteous elder Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He had a revelation that he would not die until he saw Christ the Savior. By inspiration from above, the pious elder came to the temple at the time when the Most Holy Theotokos and Righteous Joseph brought the Infant Jesus there to perform the legal rite. The God-receiver Simeon took the Divine Infant in his arms, and, blessing God, uttered a prophecy about the Savior of the world: “Now you are releasing Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word in peace, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all nations, a light for the enlightenment of the pagans. and the glory of Your people Israel" (Luke 2:29 - 32). Holy Virgin Righteous Simeon said: “Behold, this One is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy, and a weapon will pierce Your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:35).
In the temple there was also the 84-year-old widow Anna the prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, “who did not leave the temple, serving God day and night with fasting and prayer. And at that time she approached, glorified the Lord and spoke about Him (the Infant of God) to everyone who was waiting deliverance in Jerusalem" (Luke 2:37 - 38).
Before the Nativity of Christ, all righteous men and wives lived by faith in the Coming Messiah, the Savior of the world and awaited His coming. The last righteous people of the outgoing Old Testament - righteous Simeon and Anna the prophetess - were honored to meet in the temple the Bearer of the New Testament, in Whose Person Divinity and humanity had already met.
The holiday of the Presentation of the Lord refers to ancient holidays Christian Church. It is known that on the day of this celebration, sermons were delivered by Saints Methodius of Patara (+ 312), Cyril of Jerusalem (+ 360), Gregory the Theologian (+ 389), Amphilochius of Iconium (+ 394), Gregory of Nyssa (+ 400), John Chrysostom (+ 407 ). But despite early origins, this holiday was not celebrated so solemnly until the 6th century. In 528, under Emperor Justinian (527 - 565), Antioch suffered a disaster - an earthquake, from which many people died. This misfortune was followed by another. In 544, a pestilence appeared, killing several thousand people every day. During these days of national calamity, it was revealed to one of the pious Christians that the celebration of the Presentation of the Lord should be celebrated more solemnly.
When on the day of the Presentation of the Lord it was performed all-night vigil and the religious procession, the disasters in Byzantium ceased. In gratitude to God, the Church in 544 established a more solemn celebration of the Presentation of the Lord.
An icon is associated with the event of the Presentation of the Lord Holy Mother of God, called “Softening Evil Hearts”, or “Simeon’s Prophecy”, which must be distinguished from the “Seven Arrow” icon.
The icon “Simeon’s Prophecy” symbolizes the fulfillment of the prophecy of the righteous elder Simeon: “A weapon will pierce your soul” (Luke 2:35).
The Orthodox holiday “The Presentation of the Lord” is celebrated on the 40th day after the birth of Jesus Christ in memory of the fact that the Holy Virgin Mary brought Jesus Christ to the Jerusalem Temple on the 40th day after His birth.
Ever since the liberation of the Jews from Egyptian captivity, the Law established that every first-born male child is dedicated to God and must be brought to the temple on the 40th day after birth. According to the same Law, a woman who gave birth to a boy was considered unclean for 40 days, and after the birth of a girl - 80 days. At the end of this period of time, for her purification, each mother had to bring to the sanctuary a burnt offering, a one-year-old lamb - as a sign of recognition of God’s supreme power over herself and gratitude, and a dove or turtle dove - as a sacrifice for cleansing from sins. If a woman was poor and could not buy a lamb, then she brought two turtle doves. And only after the sacrifice was the woman considered cleansed (Lev. 12:1-8). The Most Pure Virgin Mary was consecrated Merry Christmas and did not need a rite of purification, but in humility before God she fulfilled the commandment of the Law and brought two turtledoves for sacrifice (Luke II: 23-24).
When the Virgin Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, they were met there by gray-haired old Simeon; he had been waiting to meet the Lord for many years. As the Bible tells us, many years before this meeting, Simeon was translating the Holy Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek. And when he saw the words “behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son” (Isa., VII: 14), he decided that an error had crept into the text and instead of the word “virgin” there should be the word “wife”. However, as soon as he was about to correct this “mistake,” an angel of God appeared to him and told him that there was no mistake, and Simeon would personally be able to verify the truth of this prophecy. He waited a long time for the fulfillment of his promise - as much as 300 years. And finally, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he came to the temple, where Mary and Joseph brought the Baby Jesus. And it happened like this:
And he came by inspiration to the temple. And when the parents brought the Child Jesus to perform the legal rite over Him, he took Him in his arms, blessed God and said: Now you are releasing Your servant, Master, according to Your word, in peace, for mine eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared. before all nations, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel. (Luke II:27-32)
Before his death, Elder Simeon announced that the Baby, whom he was finally destined to see, would go out “to serve the salvation of people.”
Second, the prophetess Anna met Jesus in the temple, as evidenced by the Gospel of Luke:
There was also Anna the prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher, who had reached a very old age, having lived with her husband for seven years from her virginity, a widow of eighty-four years old, who did not leave the temple, serving God day and night with fasting and prayer. And at that time she came up, glorified the Lord and spoke about Him to everyone who was waiting for deliverance in Jerusalem. (Luke II:36-38)
Having completed everything according to the law of the Lord, Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth in Galilee (Luke II:39).
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord was founded in Jerusalem in the second half of the 4th century. The first mention of it is made by the pilgrim S. Eteria in his diary, where he calls it “40 days after the Epiphany.” His celebration is described as follows:
The fortieth day after Epiphany is truly celebrated with the greatest solemnity. On this day there is a procession to the Church of the Resurrection, where everyone gathers for the Liturgy. He rules according to the prescribed procedures with the greatest solemnity, as on Easter. All the priests preach and so does the bishop. They all explain the text of the Gospel, which says that on the 40th day Joseph and Mary brought the Lord to the temple (chapter 26).
From Jerusalem the holiday spread to the entire East, but only from the 6th century. during the time of Emperor Justinian (527-565), it acquired special significance. Emperor Justinian ordered that the Presentation of the Lord be considered a great holiday and solemnly celebrated throughout the entire empire. Therefore, in services on this day, the Church prays for the emperor several times.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord belongs to the twelve feasts. Initially in the West this holiday was the Lord's. Much later, it began to be considered the Theotokos with the title of the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Sacrifice of Jesus in the sanctuary. New regulations of the Latin Church from the Second Vatican Council again placed Candlemas among the Lord's feasts. In the Eastern Church, the Presentation refers to the feasts of the Theotokos and is sometimes also called the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Holiday traditions
On the day of the Presentation of the Lord, water and candles were blessed in churches in Ukraine. The candles dedicated to Candlemas were called “thunderous” because they were lit and placed in front of the images during a thunderstorm to protect people and livestock from thunder. These same candles were given into the hands of the deceased during the reading of departing prayers. On the day of the Presentation, when they came from church, they lit a thunderstorm, “so that the spring flood would not damage the crops, and so that the frost would not freeze the trees.” From the name “loud candle” the holiday itself, in addition to “Candlemas” or “Strichannya”, was once called “Gromnitsa”.
When they blessed water in the church, the peasants collected that water into a new, unused vessel, brought it home and carefully preserved it. This water was attributed Magic force. By folk legend- this is healing water. They rubbed it on sore spots and believed that it would “help.” Best of all, this water seemed to help against the “evil eye” - diseases that are caused by a “bad” eye.
According to popular beliefs, summer meets winter twice a year: February 15 - on the Day of the Presentation of the Lord and January 22 - on the Day of St. Anna. People believed that before spring, Winter is an old woman, and Summer is a young girl. On the Feast of the Presentation old grandfather Frost leads Winter by the arms, she is bent over, shaking and barely walking. Baba Winter’s coat is covered in patches, her boots are torn, and in the scarf on her head the mice have gnawed holes, and from those holes White hair stick out. In her hands, Winter carries a chipped basket of ice, and over her shoulder is an empty bag. And a cheerful and beautiful girl It’s summer, she has a wreath on her head, a shirt embroidered with flowers, a green skirt. Summer carries in her hands a sickle and a sheaf of rye and wheat.
When meeting old Winter and young summer arguing among themselves - who should go further and who should return? If it gets warmer in the evening, Summer will outdo Winter, and if it gets colder, it will be Winter. “...But no matter how it (winter) butts heads there, when summer smiles, the sun will shine, the wind will blow and the earth will wake up,” says Oleksa Voropai in the book “Customs of Our People” about the meeting of summer with winter.
Among the people, many signs are associated with the holiday of the Presentation, by which one can predict the course of the whole year.
The divine essence of the holiday
The name of the holiday “The Presentation of the Lord” comes from the very event of the meeting of the Son of God and the Most Holy Theotokos with the righteous Simeon. IN spiritual sense this meeting is symbolic of the meeting of the Old and New Testaments.
The name of the gray-haired old man who met the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus in the temple is “Simeon,” which translated means listening.
Simeon is an example of the Old Testament prophets who listened to the voice of God, understood and obeyed the will of God, prophesying and preaching the coming of the Messiah - the Son of God, who would bring the New Testament of Love and Mercy to fallen humanity.
The Old Testament Church carries within itself the essence of the Law through the fear of God: you may not understand the laws, but you must completely fulfill them, without stepping aside one step. It was faith in the One God, which was built on the fear of punishment, directing people with a slave mentality to the right life.
The New Testament Church in the image of the Most Holy Theotokos Virgin Mary gives humanity a saving faith in the image of Jesus Christ, which is above the Law, because it carries within itself the very essence of the understanding of Love, Forgiveness, Mercy. A person himself must want to be saved, understand why he lives, and he, of his own free will, must do everything in his life in order to receive God’s mercy. A person must accept God with his heart, and not just with a cold mind, get out of the state of slavery and regain the Image and Likeness in which the Creator created us, becoming real daughter or son of Light.
Features of celebration in the Orthodox Church
On the 40th day after the Nativity of Christ, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord ends the Christmas cycle of holidays.
The spirit of the service of the Presentation is the same as the spirit of the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany: to glorify the Epiphany on earth and to honor the Most Pure Virgin Mary as the Mother of God. The little child brought to the temple is the Eternal God, who gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai: “Today He,” we sing on the stichera of the lithium, “who once gave the law to Moses on Sinai, obeys for our sake the prescriptions of the law, because He was merciful.” above us... today Simeon takes into his arms the Lord of glory, whom Moses first saw in the dark when he gave him tables on Mount Sinai... The Creator of heaven and earth today is carried in the arms of Elder Simeon.”
There are Christian holidays that literally everyone knows about. And they can describe in a nutshell what, in fact, believers celebrate. Christmas - Christ was born. Easter - Christ is risen. What is the Presentation of the Lord? What does this unusual even mean? to modern man is the word “meeting”? We invite you to get acquainted with the chronology of the events of Candlemas and see what trace this day of New Testament history left in world culture.
What does the word "Candlemas" mean?
Most frequently asked question, which can be heard regarding the Presentation: “Okay, today is the Presentation. And what is it?"
The Presentation of the Lord is one of the Twelfth Feasts of the Christian Church, that is, the main holidays church year. This is a permanent holiday; in the Russian Orthodox Church it is celebrated on February 15.
Translated from Church Slavonic “sretenie” means “meeting”. Candlemas Day is the point in time where the Old and New Testaments met. Ancient world and Christianity. This happened thanks to a man who is given a very special place in the Gospel. But first things first.
On February 15, we remember the events described in the Gospel of Luke. The meeting took place 40 days after the Nativity of Christ.
The Jews of that time had two traditions associated with the birth of a child in the family.
Firstly, after giving birth, a woman could not appear in the Jerusalem Temple for forty days (and if a girl was born, then for all eighty). As soon as the period expired, the mother had to bring a cleansing sacrifice to the Temple. It included a burnt offering - a one-year-old lamb, and a sacrifice for the remission of sins - a dove. If the family was poor, instead of a lamb they also brought a dove, which resulted in “two turtle doves or two pigeon chicks.”
Secondly, if the first-born in the family was a boy, the parents came to the Temple with the newborn on the fortieth day - for a rite of dedication to God. This was not just a tradition, but the law of Moses: the Jews established it in memory of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt - liberation from four centuries of slavery.
And so, Mary and Joseph arrived from Bethlehem to the capital of Israel, Jerusalem. With the forty-day-old Infant of God in their arms, they stepped onto the threshold of the Temple. The family did not live richly, so two doves became the purifying sacrifice of the Mother of God. The Blessed Virgin decided to make a sacrifice out of humility and respect before Jewish law, despite the fact that Jesus was born as a result of the immaculate conception.
Meeting in the Jerusalem Temple
After the ceremony Holy Family were already heading towards the exit from the Temple, but then an ancient old man approached them, perhaps the most an old man in Jerusalem. His name was Simeon. Translated from Hebrew, “šim’on” means “hearing.” The righteous man took the Child in his arms and joyfully exclaimed: “ Now do You let Your servant go, O Master, according to Your word, in peace, for mine eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all nations, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel."(Luke 2:29-32).
According to legend, at the time of his meeting with Christ, Simeon was more than 300 years old. He was a respected man, one of seventy-two scholars tasked with translating the Holy Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek. The translation of the Septuagint was made at the request of the Egyptian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-247 BC).
It was no coincidence that the elder found himself in the Temple this Saturday - the Holy Spirit brought him. Many years ago, Simeon was translating the book of the prophet Isaiah and saw the mysterious words: “ Behold the Virgin in her womb will receive and give birth to a Son" How can a virgin, that is, a virgin, give birth? The scientist doubted and wanted to correct “Virgo” to “Wife” (woman). But an Angel appeared to him and not only forbade him to change the word, but said that Simeon would not die until he was personally convinced that the prophecy was true. Evangelist Luke writes about this: “ He was a righteous and pious man, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. He was predicted by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw Christ the Lord"(Luke 2:25-26).
And now, the day has come. What the scientist had been waiting for beyond his strength was fulfilled. long life. Simeon took into his arms the Child born of the Virgin, which means that the Angel’s prophecy was fulfilled. The old man could die peacefully. " Now You are releasing Your servant, O Master...“The Church named him Simeon the God-Receiver and glorified him as a saint.
Bishop Theophan the Recluse wrote: “In the person of Simeon, the entire Old Testament, unredeemed humanity, passes into eternity in peace, giving way to Christianity...” The memory of this gospel story is heard every day in Orthodox services. This is the Song of Simeon the God-Receiver, or in other words - “Now you let go.”
“A weapon will pierce your very soul”
Having received the Child from the hands of the Most Pure Virgin, Elder Simeon addressed her with the words: “Behold, because of Him the people will argue: some will be saved, while others will perish. And the weapon will pierce your very soul- may the thoughts of many hearts be revealed"(Luke 2:34-35).
Disputes among the people are the persecutions that were prepared for the Savior. Opening thoughts - God's judgment. What kind of weapon will pierce the heart of the Virgin Mary? This was a prophecy of the Crucifixion that awaited her Son. After all, the nails and spear from which the Savior died passed through her mother’s heart with unbearable pain. There is an icon of the Mother of God - a vivid illustration of this prophecy. It's called "Softening Evil Hearts." Icon painters depict the Mother of God standing on a cloud with seven swords stuck in her heart.
Anna the prophetess
On the day of the Presentation, another meeting took place in the Jerusalem Temple. An 84-year-old widow, “the daughter of Phanuel,” approached the Mother of God. The townspeople called her Anna the Prophetess for her inspired speeches about God. She lived and worked at the Temple for many years, as Evangelist Luke writes, “ serving God day and night with fasting and prayer"(Luke 2:37 – 38).
Anna the prophetess bowed to the newborn Christ and left the Temple, bringing the news to the townspeople about the coming of the Messiah, the deliverer of Israel. And the Holy Family returned to Nazareth, since they fulfilled everything prescribed by the law of Moses.
The meaning of the Feast of the Presentation
Archpriest Igor Fomin, rector of the Alexander Nevsky Church at MGIMO, cleric of the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon Mother of God on the Red Square.
Meeting is a meeting with the Lord. Elder Simeon and Prophetess Anna left their names in the Holy Scriptures because they gave us an example of how to accept the Lord with a pure and open heart.
After meeting Christ, Simeon went to the forefathers to await the Resurrection of Christ. And, imagine, death became a great happiness for him! The righteous old man lived a long life - according to legend, he was more than three hundred years old. Many will say “lucky” because they dream of living forever. But read the stories of centenarians who have exceeded the age allotted to man by God - one hundred and twenty years. I remember one TV story: an ancient old woman was brought out to the journalists by her great-great-great-granddaughter, who was also far from young. The bent grandmother was straightened up and asked: “Television has come to you here. What can you say?" And she answered: “Why was the Lord angry with me? Why doesn’t He take me?” So Simeon waited for deliverance from the burden of a long life. And, having received the Divine Infant from the hands of the Virgin Mary, he rejoiced.
“Now you are releasing your servant,” says Simeon. Now that he has seen the Savior with his own eyes, the Lord releases him from the corruptible world - to the Heavenly world. So we, once we have met God, must understand: the time of sin, weakness and self-will has passed. It's time for bliss!
It is no coincidence that the Presentation occurs with the forty-day-old Infant. He is small and defenseless, but at the same time he is great and full of triumphant joy. This is how a person who has come to know Christ should be—a newborn Christian. Full of jubilation.
Meeting is not just a day from distant New Testament history. At least once in his life, any person finds himself in the house of God - in the temple. And there each person experiences his personal Meeting - a meeting with Christ. How to understand whether a Meeting has occurred in your life? It’s very simple - ask yourself: am I joyful? have I changed? how much love is in my heart? Let's meet the Lord, let's see Him with our hearts!
Song of Simeon the God-Receiver
The Song of Simeon the God-Receiver, or “Now you let go...” are the words of Simeon the God-Receiver from the Gospel of Luke.
This prayer is mentioned for the first time in the Apostolic Constitutions. In the Russian Orthodox Church, the words of Simeon the God-Receiver are read rather than sung during services, unlike Catholics, for example. This happens at the end of Vespers. In addition, Orthodox Christians say “Now you let go...” during the Sacrament of Baptism - but only for infant boys.
Text:
Church Slavonic:
Now do You let Your servant go, O Master, according to Your word, in peace;
for my eyes have seen Your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all people,
light for the revelation of tongues, and the glory of Your people Israel.
Russian:
Now you are releasing Your servant, O Master, according to Your word, in peace,
for mine eyes have seen Your salvation,
which You have prepared before all nations,
light for the enlightenment of the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.
History of the celebration
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is one of the most ancient in the Christian Church. The first Sretensky sermons were delivered to the people still IV-V centuries - for example, Saints Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory the Theologian, Gregory of Nyssa and John Chrysostom.
The oldest and at the same time historically reliable evidence of the celebration of the Presentation in the Christian East is the “Pilgrimage to the Holy Places.” It was written by the pilgrim Etheria (Sylvia) at the end of the 4th century. She writes: “On this day there is a procession to Anastasis, and everyone marches, and everything is done in order with the greatest triumph, as if on Easter. All the presbyters preach, and then the bishop... After this, having sent everything in the usual order, they perform the Liturgy.”
The holiday became national for Byzantium in the 6th century. Following this, the tradition of the solemn celebration of the Presentation spread throughout the Christian world.
Divine service of the Presentation
The Presentation of the Lord has an invariable place in church calendar. February 15 (February 2, old style). If Candlemas falls on the Monday of the first week of Lent, which happens very rarely, the festive service is moved to the previous day - February 14.
Meeting is a feast of the Lord, that is, dedicated to Jesus Christ. But in the first centuries of Christianity, the Mother of God was honored on this day. Therefore, those who say that this is the feast of the Mother of God will be partly right.
Meeting is close to the holidays in honor of the Mother of God and according to the structure of the service. In the troparion of the holiday, in the prokeimnas at Matins and Liturgy and other hymns, appeals to the Mother of God occupy a central place.
Interestingly, the duality of the Presentation influenced the color of the vestments of the clergy at the festive service. They can be white - as on the Lord's holidays, and blue - as on the Mother of God. IN church tradition white color symbolizes Divine light. Blue - the purity and purity of the Virgin Mary.
The custom of blessing candles
The custom of blessing church candles on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord came to the Orthodox Church from Catholics. This happened in 1646, when Metropolitan of Kiev Saint Peter (Mogila) compiled and published his missal. In it, the author described in detail the Catholic rite of religious processions with lit lamps. With the help of such a torchlight procession, the Roman Church tried to distract its flock from pagan holidays associated with the veneration of fire. On these days, the pagan Celts celebrated Imbolc, the Romans celebrated Lupercalia (a festival associated with the shepherd cult), and the Slavs celebrated Gromnitsa. It is interesting that in Poland, after the adoption of Christianity, the Presentation began to be called the feast of the Gromnica Mother of God. This is an echo of the myths about the thunder god and his wife - people believed that Sretensky candles could protect a house from lightning and fire.
The Orthodox Church treated the Sretensky candles in a special way - not magically, but reverently. They were kept all year and lit during home prayer.
Folk traditions of Meeting
IN folk traditions The celebration of the Presentation mixed ecclesiastical and pagan. Some of these customs are completely unchristian, but even they say something important about this day - it was very joyful for people.
A simple calendar analogy was found for the meeting of the Holy Family with Elder Simeon. On this day, the common people began to celebrate the meeting of winter and spring. Hence many sayings: “at Candlemas, winter met spring,” “at Candlemas, the sun turned to summer, winter turned to frost.”
The last winter frosts and the first spring thaws were called Sretensky. After the holiday, the peasants began many “spring” activities. They drove the cattle out of the barn and into the corral, prepared the seeds for sowing, and whitewashed the fruit trees. And of course, in addition to housework, festivities were held in the villages.
1. Many are named in honor of the Presentation settlements in Russia and abroad. The largest is the city of Sretensk, district center Chita region.
2. In the USA and Canada, the famous national holiday - Groundhog Day - is dedicated to the holiday of Candlemas, which is celebrated there on February 2.
3. The Presentation of the Lord - in some countries it is also the Day of Orthodox Youth. The idea of this holiday belongs to the World Orthodox Youth Movement - “Syndesmos”. In 1992, with the blessing of all heads of local Orthodox Churches, Syndesmos approved February 15 as Orthodox Youth Day.
Icons of the Presentation
The iconography of the Presentation is an illustration of the narrative of the Evangelist Luke. The Virgin Mary hands the Divine Child into the arms of Elder Simeon - here main plot holiday icons and frescoes. Joseph the Betrothed is depicted behind the back of the Mother of God; he carries two pigeons in his hands or in a cage. Behind righteous Simeon they write Anna the prophetess.
The oldest image of the Presentation can be found in one of the mosaics triumphal arch in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The mosaic was created in the first half of the 5th century. On it we see the Mother of God walking with the Child in her arms towards Saint Simeon - accompanied by angels.
The most ancient images of the events of Candlemas in Rus' are two frescoes of the 12th century. The first is in the St. Cyril Church in Kyiv. The second is in the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa in Novgorod. It is interesting that in the fresco of the Cyril Church the Child does not sit, but lies in the arms of the Mother of God.
Introduction to the Temple of the Virgin Mary. Meeting of the Lord. Frescoes of the Savior on the Nereditsa Church near Novgorod. 1199
An unusual version of the iconography of the Presentation can be found in medieval Georgian art. On these icons there is no image of an altar; instead there is a burning candle, a symbol of sacrifice to God.
The icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Softening Evil Hearts” is associated with the event of the Presentation; it is also called “Simeon’s Prophecy.” The iconographic plot reminds us of the words of Simeon the God-Receiver addressed to the Virgin Mary: “And the weapon will pierce your very soul.”.
By the way, this image is very similar to the “Seven Arrow” icon of the Mother of God. But there is one difference. The arrows piercing the heart of the Mother of God are located on the icon “Softening Evil Hearts”, three on the right and left, one on the bottom. The “Seven Arrows” icon has four arrows on one side and three on the other.
Quotes:
Theophan the Recluse. Word for the Presentation of the Lord
“...We are all called not to only mentally imagine this bliss, but to actually taste it, because we are all called to have and carry the Lord within ourselves and to disappear in Him with all the strength of our spirit. And so, when we reach this state, then our bliss will not be lower than the bliss of those who participated in the Meeting of the Lord...”
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh on the Presentation
“...Together with Him, the Mother is, as it were, sacrificed. Simeon the God-Receiver says to Her: But a weapon will pass through your heart, and you will go through torment and suffering... And the years pass, and Christ hangs on the cross, dying, and the Mother of God stands at the cross silently, resignedly, with complete faith, complete hope, complete love giving Him to death, just as She brought Him to the temple as a living sacrifice to the living God.
Many mothers over the centuries have experienced the horror of their son dying; many mothers have had weapons pass through their hearts. She can understand everyone, She embraces everyone with Her love, She can reveal to everyone in the silent sacrament of communication the depths of this sacrifice.
Let those who are dying a terrible and painful death remember Christ crucified and give their lives as the Son of God, who became the son of man, gave it: without anger, resignedly, lovingly, for the salvation of not only those who were close to Him, but and those who were His enemies, last words extracting them from destruction: Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing!
And mothers whose sons, whose children die evil death- oh, their Mother of God can teach them how to give to deeds, suffering and death to those whom they love most on earth and in eternity...
Therefore, let us all reverently worship the Mother of God in Her suffering on the Cross, in Her crucified love, in Her endless sacrifice, and in Christ the Savior, Who is brought to the temple today, and whose sacrifice will be accomplished on Calvary. It ends, the Old Testament has ended, it has begun new life love for life and death, and we belong to this life.”
Archbishop Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky). Word on the Day of the Presentation of the Lord
« In the world, in the deep spiritual world, Saint Simeon the God-Receiver passed into eternity after a 300-year life in anticipation of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isain: “Behold, the Virgin will receive and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Emmanuel, as it is said, “God with us.”
Why do you constantly hear this prayer now? Why is it, like no other, repeated at every vespers?
Then, in order for them to remember the hour of death, so that they remember that you too must die in such deep world how Saint Simeon the God-Receiver died...
. ..If you want the words of the prayer of Simeon the God-Receiver to be fulfilled on you, if you want to have boldness in the hour of death, repeat his prayer and say: “Now you are releasing Your servant, Master, according to Your word in peace,” - if you want this, then go following Christ, taking His yoke upon yourself, learning from Him, for He is meek and lowly in heart.”
1953
Poetry
Candlemas. Joseph Brodsky
Anna Akhmatova
When She first brought into the church
Child, were inside from among
people who were there all the time
Saint Simeon and the prophetess Anna.
And the old man took the Child from his hands
Maria; and three people around
The babies stood like an unsteady frame,
that morning, lost in the darkness of the temple.
That temple surrounded them like a frozen forest.
From the eyes of people and from the eyes of heaven
the peaks were hidden, having managed to spread out,
that morning Mary, the prophetess, the elder.
And only on the crown of the head with a random ray
the light fell on the Baby; but He doesn't mean anything
I still didn’t know and was snoring sleepily,
resting in Simeon's strong arms.
And it was told to this old man,
that he will see mortal darkness
not before the Lord sees the Son.
It's finished. And the elder said: “Today,
keeping the word once spoken,
You are in peace, Lord, letting me go,
then my eyes saw it
Child: He is Your continuation and light
source for idols of honoring tribes,
and the glory of Israel is in Him.” - Simeon
fell silent. Silence surrounded them all.
Only the echo of those words, touching the rafters,
was spinning for a while later
above their heads, rustling slightly
under the arches of the temple, like some kind of bird,
that is able to fly up, but not able to come down.
And it was strange for them. There was silence
no less strange than speech. Confused
Maria was silent. "What words..."
And the elder said, turning to Mary:
"Lying now on Your shoulders
the fall of some, the rise of others,
a subject of controversy and a cause for discord.
And with the same weapon, Maria, with which
His flesh will be tormented, Yours
the soul will be wounded. This wound
will let you see what is hidden deeply
in the hearts of people, like a kind of eye.”
He finished and moved towards the exit. Following
Maria, stooping, and with the weight of years
the bent Anna looked on silently.
He walked, decreasing in importance and in body
for these two women under the shadow of the columns.
Almost urging them on with their glances, he
walked silently through this empty temple
to the vaguely white doorway.
And the gait was as firm as that of an old man.
Only the voice of the prophetess from behind when
rang out, he paused his step a little:
but there they were not calling out to him, but to God
The prophetess has already begun to praise.
And the door was approaching. Clothes and forehead
the wind has already touched, and stubbornly in the ears
the noise of life burst in outside the temple walls.
He was going to die. And not in the street noise
He opened the door with his hands and stepped out,
but into the deaf and dumb domains of death.
He walked through a space devoid of firmament,
he heard that time had lost its sound.
And the image of the Child with radiance around
fluffy crown of the death path
Simeon's soul carried before it
like some kind of lamp into that black darkness,
in which no one has hitherto
I didn’t have a chance to light my way.
The lamp shone and the path widened.
Orthodox magazine "Thomas"
In Orthodox, as well as in Catholic, Christian culture, there are many holidays that have great importance for believers. One of them is the Presentation of the Lord. On this day, a biblical event known to many people is remembered. Therefore, the question: “The Presentation of the Lord - what kind of holiday?” - definitely deserves attention.
Origins
In Russian-speaking Orthodox culture, the Presentation of the Lord has been celebrated on February 15 for many years. This holiday is rooted in the traditions of Western and eastern countries(IV-V centuries). It was then that the Presentation of the Lord became one of the twelve key dates that were included in orthodox calendar. On this special day, everyone who has faith in Christ remembers with reverence those events that were once described by the Evangelist Luke. It's about about the special meeting of the baby Jesus and the righteous Simeon.
What does the Presentation of the Lord mean?
In fact, the word “meeting” itself can be translated as “meeting.” As for the story that gave rise to the holiday, it began almost 2000 years ago, when the Virgin Mary came with little Jesus. The future Savior of the world at that time was only forty days old. According to the Law of Moses, a woman who gave birth to a male child had to come to the Temple and offer a cleansing and thanksgiving sacrifice there. This is exactly what Mary did. Although the fact that she conceived a child from the Holy Spirit freed her from the need to make a cleansing sacrifice.
It so happened that at that time Elder Simeon was living in Jerusalem, who received the following revelation from the Almighty: he will not leave this mortal earth until he sees the Savior of the world. Inspired by the Heavenly Father, Simeon came to the Temple precisely when Mary was there with the baby Jesus. Seeing little Christ, the righteous elder took Him in his arms and proclaimed that his eyes had seen salvation from God.
Therefore, answering the question: “The Presentation of the Lord - what is it?” - it is worth talking specifically about the meeting of the Infant God and the righteous Simeon in the temple of Jerusalem. Another meaning of the word “meeting” is “joy”, the cause of which is the salvation brought to our world by Christ.
The importance of the meeting
Those who are not experienced in Christianity may find it a little strange that such great importance is attached to the meeting of Simeon and the baby Jesus. In fact, such close attention given by believers to the feast of the Presentation of the Lord is more than logical.
The point is that almost all the Old Testament prophets were waiting for the coming of the Messiah - who would free his people. And therefore, the meeting of Simeon with the born Christ is nothing other than the fulfillment of the prophecy, which was believed by many men and women of God who lived in the times of
More information about Simeon the God-Receiver
Trying to understand the question of the Presentation of the Lord - what kind of holiday and what is its value, it is worth paying more attention to one of the key figures in biblical history associated with this date (February 15). If we turn to legend, we will find out that the elder Simeon, who met Mary in the Temple, was 360 years old. His name means nothing more than “hearing.” Moreover, he is considered one of the 72 scribes who received the command from the Egyptian king Ptolemy II to translate the Holy Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek.
It was while working on the translation that Simeon read a prophecy that said that a virgin would give birth to a son - the Savior of the world. The Israeli prophet wanted to change the word “virgin” (virgin) to “wife” (woman), but the angel who appeared to him prevented him from doing this. Having listened to the heavenly messenger, Simeon received a promise from him that he would personally be able to see the prophecy fulfilled.
The Day of the Presentation of the Lord became for the prophet the embodiment of what was promised by the angel.
Anna the prophetess
There is another character in the Bible who is related to the famous holiday. We are talking about Anna the prophetess. Understanding what the holiday of the Presentation of the Lord means, it is also important to pay attention to it. On the day when the baby Jesus was brought to the Temple, a widow, who at that time was already 84 years old, approached his mother, the Virgin Mary.
She often voiced wise speeches about God to the townspeople, for which they began to call her Anna the Prophetess. It was this woman who approached the little Christ, bowed to him and, leaving the temple, began to tell the residents of the city that the Messiah had come, who would deliver Israel.
Historical evidence of the veneration of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
If you study the manuscripts left over from past generations, you can find interesting fact. Its essence boils down to the fact that in the 4th century, the Western pilgrim Esteria wrote the work “Pilgrimage to Holy Places.” This is in fact the oldest historically reliable evidence that the Presentation of the Lord was celebrated in church and liturgical celebrations in the Christian East. At the same time, the Estheria manuscript does not give the holiday its own liturgical title, defining it as the fortieth day from Epiphany. But the very process of the celebration held in honor of the Presentation is described more than emotionally.
But the second monument, which gives the holiday a special liturgical character, has its roots in Jerusalem. We are talking about the Armenian Lectionary. It was there that the fact of the liturgical and statutory practice of the early 5th century was attested. Based on this information, one can draw an obvious conclusion: in the 4th-5th centuries, the Presentation of the Lord was defined in the Jerusalem church as a holiday revered in this particular area.
Current signs
If we consider the question: “The Presentation of the Lord - what is it?” - exclusively in a folk format, then you will notice an interesting fact: this holiday is a symbol of the meeting of winter and spring. In this regard, many signs have appeared.
The first thing that can be attributed to the signs that people pay attention to on February 15 is the weather. According to legends, if it is warm and sunny on this day, then it is worth waiting early spring. Even on a holiday like the Presentation of the Lord, signs regarding the weather may indicate persistent frosts if on the night of February 15 there is a clear sky in which no stars are visible. But in the case of the starry sky, there is every reason to expect a quick spring.
As for health, here you need to pay attention to the candle lit during the holiday: if the fire is even and hardly moves, then no problems with your physical condition are expected, but when the flame becomes Blue colour and sways, that is, it makes sense to prepare to fight the disease.
On a holiday like the Presentation of the Lord, signs also apply to the road. It is believed that if a person sets out on a journey on this day, he will not return home soon. This statement is explained by the fact that on February 15 the weather is unpredictable, everything can happen - from heavy rains to heavy snowfall. Such precipitation, of course, greatly complicates movement.
Presentation of the Lord: traditions
It is generally accepted that if you feed animals with all your heart on this holiday, they will grow quickly and produce good offspring. Also celebrated on February 15, the Presentation of the Lord helps predict the abundance of the harvest: morning snowfall on this day is a sign of a bountiful harvest of early bread, and afternoon snow prophesies the successful sowing of middle ones.
On this day, they usually prepared the seeds for sowing, drove the animals out of the barn into the pen and inspected the harness. There was also a widespread tradition among the people to use water from the snow that fell on Candlemas Day, since it was believed that it could heal various diseases.
The water flowing from the roofs during the holiday was also of great importance. It was used for baking cakes, which were then given to those who suffered from any illness.
Features of the celebration
For a full answer to the question: “The Presentation of the Lord - what is it?” - It is necessary to study the peculiarities of this holiday. An interesting fact is that most of the services in the church are focused on the person of the Virgin Mary. From the ancients religious traditions Several Orthodox rituals have survived to this day and have not lost their relevance.
First of all, the consecration of water and candles takes place directly in the church itself. Another belief is connected with this: if during a thunderstorm a consecrated candle is placed in front of an icon, it will protect the house from a lightning strike. Understanding what the Presentation of the Lord means, one cannot ignore the vibrant traditions of the celebration, during which very beautiful liturgical texts are read. They reveal the essence of the speech of the prophet Simeon, as well as glorify the honor given to him to see the baby Jesus. As for the duration of the celebration, the Presentation of the Lord lasts 8 days: from February 14 (pre-celebration) to February 22 (the celebration of the holiday).
Analyzing the question: “The Presentation of the Lord - what is it?” - in the format of the Catholic tradition, it is worth noting thorough approach for the holiday. On this day, in churches, priests put on robes white and, before commencing the solemn mass, a colorful procession with candles is carried out, and a rite of blessing is also performed. Everyone who came to the temple sings songs that convey the words of Simeon spoken to the Infant God, and the priests, conducting the ceremony, sprinkle those singing.
For many believers, this holiday is significant enough to prepare congratulations. The Meeting of the Lord is actually a veneration of the coming of the Savior, so many poems and scenes on this day talk about new life, joy and spring, which enlivens everything around.
Iconography of the Presentation
A significant holiday for Christians - the day of the meeting of Simeon and little Jesus - inspired artists to create many icons and frescoes. They all describe the moment when the Virgin Mary hands her son into the hands of the elder.
The icon “The Presentation of the Lord” depicts Joseph the Betrothed, who is behind the back of the Mother of God and carries either in a cage or in his hands two, and sometimes three, doves. Anna the prophetess is also depicted on the icon behind Simeon.
It is also interesting that the icon “The Presentation of the Lord” either has the foot of the temple as a background, or depicts the meeting of the elder and the Infant God near the throne. And on the images written in more late time, sometimes the torment of hell and future salvation are depicted (located in the lower part).
The meaning of the icon “Softening Evil Hearts”
There is another icon that is directly related to the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It is called “Simeon’s Prophecy” or “Softening Evil Hearts.” This icon depicts the moment when an Israeli husband prophesies to the Mother of God that a weapon will pierce Her own soul. The Virgin Mary stands on a cloud with seven swords that pierced her heart: three on the left side, three on the right and one below. The number of swords is explained by the fact that it characterizes completeness, in this case suffering, heartache and sadness.
In general, if we consider what the holiday of the Presentation of the Lord means, we can conclude that it has a significant influence on Orthodox and Catholic Christian culture. This day also brings tangible spiritual meaning, since it symbolizes the meeting of two covenants: the Old, whose prototype is Simeon, and the New, brought by the Savior.
