As we’ve discussed so many times in the past, our Lord Himself obeys the commandments that He, as God, gave to His chosen people, the Jews. We watched in wonder as He came to the Temple to be named and circumcised. This week we stand again in wonder as He comes to the Temple to be offered. Offered? On the 40th day after birth it was custom in Judaism for the first-born to be dedicated to God. And in our wonder, here we find God dedicating Himself!
In this process, those bringing a child, if they were wealthy, offered a lamb and a pigeon as a sacrifice. Mary and Joseph were not wealthy. They are shown in our Iconography as bringing the alternate offering, two turtledoves.
Again, if we look at our icons, we see them arriving at the Temple. There they are met by an old man who reaches out to receive the Christ child. In humility, his hands are typically covered by his garment. This man is St. Simeon. Tradition holds that Simeon was one of the seventy scholars who were selected to translate Hebrew scripture into Greek (the Septuagint). This effort of translation produced what is used to this day in the Orthodox Church as Old Testament Scripture. Within the tradition, it fell to Simeon to translate the Book of Isaiah. As he translated Isaiah 7:14 (Behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb, and shall bring forth a Son…) his intellect spoke to him saying that the word ‘virgin’ could not be accurate in this context, and he wanted to change the text to read ‘young woman.’ At that moment, an angel appeared to him holding back his hand and saying, You will see these words fulfilled. You shall not die until you behold Christ the Lord born of a pure and spotless Virgin. From the time of this encounter with the angel, Simeon studied the Prophets, learning ever more of the coming Messiah. The Gospel of St. Luke says of him, the Holy Spirit was upon him. From this he spent his years praying for the Messiah’s arrival. One day as he prayed, St. Luke records he came by the Spirit into the Temple, where he encountered his Lord and Creator, as we see depicted in the icons. Again, St. Luke says he took Him up in his arms and blessed God saying...
With the greatest joy, St. Simeon spontaneously uttered the prayer by which we remember him most, the prayer which is sung at every Vespers service.
Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people. A Light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel!
The translation of the Septuagint happened long before the Lord’s Nativity. Tradition holds that St. Simeon died at the age of 360 years!
Also shown in the iconography is an old woman. This is the prophetess Anna. St. Luke records her to have been eighty-four years old, and she did not leave the Temple, but served God, fasting and praying day and night. Upon seeing the Lord, she began to preach to all present that this was the One Who came into the world to redeem God’s creation!
It’s a glorious Feast!
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