Orthodox calendar of the meeting of the Lord. Candlemas
There are Christian holidays that literally everyone knows about. And they can briefly describe what, in fact, the believers note. Christmas - Christ is born. Easter - Christ is risen. And what is the Presentation of the Lord? What does this unusual word for modern man mean - "candlemas"? We invite you to get acquainted with the chronology of the events of the Candlemas and see what trace this day of New Testament history left in world culture.
What does the word "Revelation" mean?
Most frequently asked question, which can be heard about the Candlemas: “So, well, today is the Candlemas. And what is it?"
The Presentation of the Lord - one of the Twelfth Feasts Christian Church, that is, the main holidays of the church year. This is a non-transitory holiday, in the Russian Orthodox Church it is celebrated on February 15th.
Translated from Church Slavonic, "sretenie" - "meeting". Candlemas Day - the point in time where the Old and New Testament s. Ancient World and Christianity. This happened thanks to a man who has 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 birth of Christ.
The Jews of that time had two traditions associated with the birth of a child in the family.
Firstly, a woman after childbirth could not appear in the Jerusalem Temple for forty days (and if a girl was born, then all eighty). As soon as the term 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 forgiveness of sins - a dove. If the family was poor, instead of a lamb they also brought a dove, it turned out "two turtledoves or two pigeon chicks."
Secondly, if a boy was the first-born in the family, on the fortieth day the parents came to the Temple with the newborn - for the rite of dedication to God. It 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 Divine Infant in their arms, they set foot on the threshold of the Temple. The family did not live well, so two doves became the cleansing sacrifice of the Virgin. The Blessed Virgin decided to make a sacrifice out of humility and respect before the Jewish law, despite the fact that Jesus was born as a result of an immaculate conception.
Meeting at the Jerusalem Temple
After the ceremony, the Holy Family was already heading for 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. šim'on means "hearing" in Hebrew. The righteous man took the Child in his arms and joyfully exclaimed: Now you release Your servant, Lord, according to Your word, in peace, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel"(Luke 2:29-32).
According to legend, at the time of the meeting with Christ, Simeon was over 300 years old. He was a respected man, one of seventy-two scholars assigned to translate 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).
This Saturday, the elder was in the Temple not by chance - the Holy Spirit led him. Many years ago, Simeon translated the book of the prophet Isaiah and saw cryptic words: « Behold the Virgin in the womb will receive and give birth to the 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 changing the word, but said that Simeon would not die until he was personally convinced that the prophecy was true. The 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. It was foretold to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw Christ the Lord."(Luke 2:25-26).
And so, the day has come. It came true that the scientist waited all his unbearable long life. Simeon took the Baby, born of the Virgin, in his arms, which means that the prophecy of the Angel was fulfilled. The old man could die in peace. " Now you are letting your servant go, Master...» The Church called 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, departs in peace into eternity, giving way to Christianity…”. The remembrance of this gospel story resounds every day in Orthodox worship. This is the Song of Simeon the God-Receiver, or otherwise - "Now you let go."
“Your own weapon will go through your soul”
Having received the Infant from the hands of the Most Pure Virgin, Elder Simeon turned to her with the words: “Behold, because of Him people will argue: some will be saved, while others will perish. And to You Yourself the weapon will pierce the soulMay the thoughts of many hearts be revealed"(Luke 2:34-35).
Disputes among the people are persecutions that were prepared for the Savior. The opening of thoughts is the Judgment of God. What kind of weapon will pierce the heart of the Virgin? This was the prophecy of the Crucifixion that awaited her Son. After all, the nails and the spear, from which the Savior died, passed with unbearable pain through her maternal heart. There is an icon of the Mother of God - a vivid illustration of this prophecy. It's called "Softener of 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 Candlemas, another meeting took place in the Jerusalem temple. An 84-year-old widow, “Fanuilov’s daughter”, approached the Mother of God. The townspeople called her Anna the prophetess for inspired speeches about God. She lived and worked at the Temple for many years, as the 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 townspeople the news of the coming of the Messiah, the deliverer of Israel. And the Holy Family returned to Nazareth, as they fulfilled everything that was required by the law of Moses.
Meaning of the Feast of the Presentation
Archpriest Igor Fomin, rector of the Alexander Nevsky Church at MGIMO, cleric of the Kazan Icon Cathedral 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 - how to accept the Lord with a pure and open heart.
After meeting with Christ, Simeon went to the forefathers to await the Resurrection of Christ. And, imagine, death has become a great happiness for him! The righteous elder lived a long life - according to legend, he was over 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 to the journalists by her great-great-great-granddaughter, who is also far from young. They straightened the bent grandmother 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 also 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 let your servant go,” Simeon says. Now, when he saw the Savior with his own eyes, the Lord releases him from the perishable world - to the Heavenly world. So, once we meet God, we must understand: the time of sin, weakness and self-will has passed. It's time for bliss!
It is no coincidence that the Candlemas takes place with a forty-day-old Infant. He is small and defenseless, but at the same time - great and full of triumphant joy. This is how a person who recognizes Christ should be - a newborn Christian. Full of jubilation.
Candlemas is not just a day from distant New Testament history. At least once in a lifetime, any person finds himself in the house of God - in the temple. And there, each one has his personal Meeting - a meeting with Christ. How to understand if a meeting has taken place in your life? Very simply - 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 ..." - these are the words of Simeon the God-Receiver from the Gospel of Luke.
For the first time this prayer is mentioned already in the Apostolic Decrees. In the Russian Orthodox Church, the words of Simeon the God-Receiver are read during the service, and not sung, unlike Catholics, for example. This happens at the end of the evening. In addition, the Orthodox say "Now you let go ..." during the Sacrament of Baptism - but only for baby boys.
Text:
Church Slavonic:
Now let your servant go, Master, according to your word, in peace;
as my eyes have seen your salvation,
hedgehog prepared before the face of all people,
light for the revelation of tongues, and the glory of your people Israel.
Russian:
Now you release your servant, Lord, according to your word, in peace,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
a light to enlighten 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 before the people were delivered even 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 credible evidence about the celebration of the Candlemas in the Christian East - this 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 is marching, and everything is done in order with the greatest triumph, as if on Easter. All the presbyters preach, and then the bishop ... After that, having sent everything in the usual order, they celebrate the Liturgy.
The holiday became a national holiday for Byzantium in the VI century. Following this, the tradition of the solemn celebration of the Candlemas spread throughout the Christian world.
Liturgy of the Presentation
The Presentation of the Lord has an invariable place in the church calendar. February 15 (February 2, old style). If the Candlemas falls on a Monday of the first week of Great Lent, which happens very rarely, the festive service is postponed to the previous day - February 14th.
The Meeting is the Lord's holiday, 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 Mother of God holiday will be partly right.
The meeting is close to the feasts in honor of the Mother of God and according to the order of the service. In the troparion of the feast, in the prokimons at matins and in the Liturgy and other hymns, invocations to the Theotokos occupy a central place.
Interestingly, the duality of the Candlemas 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 symbolizes Divine Light. Blue - the purity and purity of the Virgin Mary.
The custom of consecrating candles
The custom of consecrating church candles on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord came to the Orthodox Church from the Catholics. This happened in 1646, when the Metropolitan of Kiev, Saint Peter (Grave), compiled and published his breviary. In it, the author described in detail the Catholic rite religious processions with lit lamps. With the help of such a torchlight procession, the Roman Church tried to distract its flock from the pagan holidays associated with the veneration of fire. These days, the pagan Celts celebrated Imbolc, the Romans - Lupercalia (a festival associated with the shepherd's cult), the Slavs - Gromnitsa. Interestingly, in Poland, after the adoption of Christianity, the Candlemas began to be called the feast of the Loud Mother of God. This is an echo of the myths about the thunder god and his wife - the people believed that Sretensky candles could protect the house from lightning and fire.
Sretensky candles in the Orthodox Church were treated in a special way - not magically, but reverently. They were kept all year round and lit during home prayers.
Folk traditions of the Candlemas
In the folk traditions of the celebration of the Candlemas, the church and the pagan were mixed up. Some of these customs are completely un-Christian, but even they say something important about this day - for people it was very joyful.
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 with spring. Hence a lot of sayings: “at the Candlemas, winter met spring”, “on the Candlemas, the sun for the summer, winter turned to frost.”
Latest winter frosts and the first spring thaws were called Sretensky. After the holiday, the peasants began a lot of "spring" affairs. They drove the cattle from the barn to the paddock, prepared the seeds for sowing, whitewashed the fruit trees. And of course, in addition to housework, festivities were held in the villages.
1. Many are named after the Candlemas settlements in Russia and abroad. The largest is the city of Sretensk, the district center of the Chita region.
2. In the USA and Canada, the famous folk holiday- Groundhog Day.
3. Meeting 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 the heads of the local Orthodox Churches, Syndesmos approved February 15 as Orthodox Youth Day.
Candlemas icons
The iconography of the Presentation is an illustration of the narration of the Evangelist Luke. The Virgin Mary hands the Divine Infant into the arms of Elder Simeon - here main plot icons and frescoes of the holiday. Behind the Virgin is depicted Joseph the Betrothed; he carries in his arms or in a cage two doves. Behind the righteous Simeon they write Anna the prophetess.
The oldest image of the Candlemas 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 how the Mother of God walks with the Child in her arms towards St. Simeon - accompanied by angels.
The most ancient images of the events of the Presentation in Rus' are two frescoes of the 12th century. The first - in the St. Cyril's Church in Kyiv. The second - in the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa in Novgorod. Interestingly, on the fresco of the St. Cyril's Church, the Infant does not sit, but lies in the arms of the Virgin.
Introduction to the Church of the Virgin. Meeting of the Lord. Frescoes of the Savior on Nereditsa Church near Novgorod. 1199
An unusual variant of the iconography of the Candlemas is found in medieval Georgian art. On these icons there is no image of the altar, instead of it there is a burning candle, a symbol of sacrifice to God.
An icon is associated with the event of the Candlemas Holy Mother of God"Softener of evil hearts", it is also called "Simeon's prophecy". The icon-painting plot reminds us of the words of Simeon the God-Receiver addressed to the Virgin Mary:And to You Yourself the weapon will pierce the soul.”.
By the way, this image is very similar to the icon of the Mother of God "Seven Arrows". But there is one difference. Arrows piercing the heart of the Mother of God are located on the icon "Softener of Evil Hearts", three on the right and left, one below. The “seven-shot” icon has four arrows on one side and three on the other.
Quotes:
Theophan the Recluse. Word on the Meeting of the Lord
“... We are all called not only to a mental representation of this bliss, but to its actual tasting, because everyone is called to have and carry the Lord in themselves and disappear in Him with all the powers of their 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 Surozh on the Candlemas
“...Together with Him, the Mother is, as it were, sacrificed. Simeon the God-bearer says to her: But your heart will pass weapons, 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, meekly, full of faith, full of hope, total love giving Him over to death, 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 had a weapon through their hearts. She can understand everyone, She embraces everyone with Her love, She can reveal the depths of this sacrifice to everyone in the silent sacrament of communication.
May those who die 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, meekly, lovingly, for the salvation of not only those who were close to Him, but and those who were his enemy, last words drawing them out of perdition: Father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing!
And mothers, whose sons, whose children die an evil death - oh, the Mother of God can teach them how to give for achievement, for suffering and for death those whom they love most on earth and in eternity ...
Therefore, let us all reverently venerate the Mother of God in Her suffering on the Cross, in Her crucified love, in Her endless sacrifice, and to Christ the Savior, Who today is brought to the temple, and whose sacrifice will be made on Golgotha. The Old Testament is ending, the Old Testament has begun, new life love for life and death, and we belong to this life.
Archbishop Luke (Voyno-Yasenetsky). Word on the day of the Meeting of the Lord
« In the world, in the deep peace of mind Saint Simeon the God-bearer passed into eternity after 300 years of life in anticipation of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isain: “Behold, the Virgin in the womb will receive and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Emmanuel, which is, we say, “God is with us.”
And why do you constantly hear this prayer now? Why is it, like no other, repeated at every Vespers?
Then, in order to remember the hour of death, so that they remember that you too must die in such a deep peace, as St. Simeon the God-bearer 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 at the hour of death, repeat his prayer and say: “now let your servant go, Master, according to your word in peace” - if you want this, then go following Christ, taking His yoke upon ourselves, 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 baby from the hands
Mary; and three people around
The baby stood like a shaky frame,
that morning, lost in the twilight of the temple.
That temple surrounded them like a frozen forest.
From the eyes of people and from the eyes of heaven
peaks were hidden, having managed to spread,
that morning Mary, the prophetess, the elder.
And only on the crown with a random beam
the light fell on the Child; but he's nothing
did not know yet and snored sleepily,
resting on the strong arms of Simeon.
And it was told to this old man,
that he will see the darkness of death
not before he sees the Son of the Lord.
It's done. And the old man said: “Today,
keeping the once spoken word,
You are in peace, Lord, let me go,
then that my eyes saw it
Child: He is Your continuation and light
a source for the 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,
spinning for a while
over their heads, slightly rustling
under the vaults of the temple, like a certain bird,
able to take off, but unable to descend.
And they were strange. There was silence
no less strange than speech. Confused
Maria was silent. "The words are…"
And the elder said, turning to Mary:
“In the one lying now on Your shoulders
the fall of some, the rise of others,
subject of controversy and cause for contention.
And with the same weapon, Maria, with which
his flesh shall be tormented, thine
soul will be hurt. This wound
let you see what is hidden deep
in the hearts of men, like an eye."
He finished and moved towards the exit. Following
Maria, stooping, and the weight of years
stooped Anna looked silently.
He walked, decreasing in value and in the body
for these two women under the shadow of the columns.
We almost drive them with our looks, he
walked silently through this empty temple
to the dimly whitened doorway.
And the tread was old man's firm.
Only the voice of the prophetess behind when
resounded, he held his step a little:
but there they didn’t call him, but God
the prophetess has already begun to praise.
And the door was getting closer. Clothes and forehead
already the wind has touched, and stubbornly in the ears
the noise of life broke in outside the walls of the temple.
He went to die. And not in the street buzz
he, opening the door with his hands, stepped,
but into the deaf and dumb domain of death.
He walked through 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
the soul of Simeon carried before him
like a lamp, into that black darkness,
in which no one has hitherto
there was no way to light the way.
The lamp shone, and the path widened.
Orthodox magazine "Foma"
On February 15, all Orthodox believers celebrate the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. On this great day, the baby Jesus was brought to the Temple in Jerusalem and dedicated to God.
The meaning of the holiday
The word "candlemas" is translated as "meeting". Holy Virgin Together with her husband, they brought their firstborn on the fortieth day after his birth to the temple to receive the sacrament of baptism. There they were met by Simeon the God-bearer. He, in the face of all mankind, met with our God. A great and revered man, he was in the temple not by chance. The Holy Spirit Himself led him to fateful meeting. At one time he translated the Holy Scriptures and was surprised at the prophecy of Isaiah. It was written in the book: "A virgin will take in her womb and give birth to a son." A heavenly angel descended to him and announced that the elder would not leave this world until he saw the fulfilled prophecy. Simeon did not change anything and wrote down the translation word for word. At the time of the baptism of the infant Jesus, the elder was in old age and lived, according to legend, for about three hundred years. Simeon submitted to God's will and predicted to his astonished parents the coming changes in the lives of all mankind.
Celebration of the Presentation of the Lord on February 15
Every year on February 15, the Orthodox visit the temple and praise our Lord. On this important day for Christians, festive services are held in all cathedrals and churches. Main prayer from pure heart recited by millions of people, strengthening faith in God and his merciful will:
« Blessed Mother of God Virgo, rejoice. From your immaculate womb, the Lord appeared, illuminating our path in darkness. Rejoice, too, Elder Simeon, who has received the Lord, the Liberator of our souls, in his arms, granting them resurrection. Amen"
On the day of the celebration, during the service, the ceremony of lighting candles takes place. This tradition has its roots in early Christianity, but continues to this day. Everyone takes the consecrated candles into the house and lights them for a year until the next holiday during prayers, as well as illnesses and ailments. It is believed that they have the gift of healing the bodies and souls of people, relieving them of anxieties and misfortunes. During ailments, our ancestors lit such a candle and placed it next to the icon at the head of the patient. Reading prayers contributed to a quick recovery and a prosperous later life.
On this bright holiday, it must be remembered that a joyful event should not be overshadowed by a bad mood. Helping those in need on this day is treated with even greater mercy, therefore it is considered a good sign leave a trifle to those who ask, as well as do good deeds. Mutual assistance will always be encouraged and elevate human souls above the diabolical machinations. Love each other and don't forget to press the buttons and
09.02.2017 03:10
In the Orthodox Church calendar, a special place is given to holidays dedicated to our Savior. They remind you of important...
In Orthodoxy, every holiday reminds us of some important event from the life of Jesus Christ, the Virgin...
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 Jews were released from Egyptian captivity, the Law established that every first-born male was 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 a burnt offering to the sanctuary, a one-year-old lamb - as a sign of recognition of God's supreme power and gratitude over herself, and a dove or turtledove - as a sacrifice for cleansing from sins. If a woman was poor and could not get a lamb, then she brought two turtledoves. And only after the sacrifice was the woman considered purified (Lev. 12:1-8). The Blessed Virgin Mary was consecrated Merry Christmas and did not need a rite of purification, but she, in humility before God, fulfilled the prescription of the Law and brought two turtle doves for sacrifice (Luke II: 23-24).
When the Virgin Mary, together with Joseph, brought Jesus to the temple, they were met there by the gray-haired old Simeon, who had been waiting for a meeting with the Lord for many years. As the Bible tells, many years before this meeting, Simeon was translating the Holy Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek language. And when he saw the words “behold, the Virgin shall conceive and give birth to a Son” (Is., VII: 14), he decided that a mistake 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 error, and Simeon could personally verify the truth of this prophecy. He waited a long time for the fulfillment of his promise - as much as 300 years. And, finally, on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he came to the temple, where Mary and Joseph brought the Infant Jesus. And it happened like this:
And he came by inspiration to the temple. And when the parents brought the Baby Jesus to perform a legal ceremony on Him, he took Him in his arms, blessed God and said: Now you release Your servant, Lord, according to Your word, in peace, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. (Luke II:27-32)
Before his death, Elder Simeon announced that the Infant, 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 the Gospel of Luke also testifies:
There was also Anna the prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher, who had reached a ripe old age, having lived with her husband from her virginity for seven years, 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 and praised the Lord and spoke about Him to all who were waiting for deliverance in Jerusalem. (Luke II:36-38)
Having done 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 given by the pilgrim S. Eteria in her diary, where she calls it "40 days after Theophany". His celebration is described as follows:
The fortieth day after the Epiphany is indeed celebrated with the greatest solemnity. On this day, there is a procession to the Church of the Resurrection, where everyone gathers for the Liturgy. It is corrected according to the prescribed orders with the greatest solemnity, as at Easter. All priests preach and so does the bishop. All of them explain the text of the Gospel, which says that on the 40th day Joseph and Mary brought the Lord to the temple (ch. 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 takes on a special significance. Emperor Justinian ordered that the Lord's Meeting of the Lord be considered a great holiday and solemnly celebrated in the whole empire. Therefore, in the divine services on this day, the Church prays several times for the emperor.
The feast of the Presentation of the Lord belongs to the twelfth feasts. Originally in the West, this holiday was the Lord's. Much later, it began to be considered the Mother of God with the name of the cleansing of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Sacrifice of Jesus in the sanctuary. The new prescriptions of the Latin Church from the Second Vatican Council again placed the Meeting among the Lord's feasts. In the Eastern Church, the Presentation refers to the feasts of the Theotokos and sometimes also has the name of the Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Holiday traditions
On the day of the Meeting of the Lord, water and candles were consecrated in the churches of Ukraine. The candles consecrated for the Candlemas were called "thunder" because they were lit and placed in front of the images during a thunderstorm to protect people and cattle from thunder. The same candles were given into the hands of the deceased when reading the outgoing prayers. On the day of the Candlemas, when they came from the church, they lit the "tongue", "so that the spring high water does not damage the crops, and so that the frost of the trees does not freeze." From the name "loud candle" and the holiday itself, except for "Candlemas" or "Strichannya", was once called "Tomb".
When they blessed water in the church, the peasants collected that water in a new, not yet used vessel, brought it home and carefully took care of it. This water was attributed Magic force. According to folk legend, it is a healing water. She rubbed sore spots and believed that it would "help." Best of all, this water seemed to help from the "evil eye" - from the diseases that the "bad" eye entails.
According to folk beliefs, summer meets winter twice a year: on February 15 - on the day of the Meeting of the Lord and on January 22 - on the day of St. Anna. The people believed that before spring, Winter is an old woman, and Summer is a young girl. For the Feast of the Presentation old grandfather Frost leads Winter under her arms, she is bent, shaking and barely walking. The casing on the woman Zima is in patches, the boots are torn, and the mice gnawed holes in the scarf on the head, and from those holes White hair stick out. Zima carries a chipped ice basket in her hands, and an empty bag over her shoulder. And a cheerful and beautiful girl 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.
At the meeting the old Winter and young Summer they argue among themselves - who should go further, and who should return? If it gets warmer in the evening - Summer outweighed Winter, and if it gets colder - Winter. “... But no matter how she (winter) butts there, and when summer smiles, the sun will shine, the wind will blow and the earth will wake up,” says Oleksa Voropay in the book “The Customs of Our People” about the meeting of summer with winter.
Among the people, many signs are associated with the Feast of the Candlemas, by which one can foresee 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 righteous Simeon. IN spiritual sense this meeting is a symbol 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 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 will 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 fully comply, not stepping aside. 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 Mother of God the Virgin Mary gives mankind saving faith in the image of Jesus Christ, which is above the Law, because it carries the very essence of the understanding of Love, Forgiveness, Mercy. A person must himself 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 according to which the Creator created us, becoming a real daughter or son of Light.
Features of the 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 worship of the Meeting is the same as the spirit of the Nativity of Christ and Theophany: glorify the Theophany on earth and salute the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of God. The little Child brought to the temple is God the Eternal, who gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai: “Today He,” we sing on the stichera of lithium, “that once gave the law to Moses at Sinai, obeys for us the precepts of the law, because he had mercy above us... today Simeon takes the hands of the Lord of glory, whom Moses first saw in the dark when he gave him tables on Mount Sinai... Today, the Creator of heaven and earth is carried in the arms of the elder Simeon.
Meeting of the Lord- This intransitive holiday celebrated every year February, 15(February 2, old style) and was installed in memory of the bringing to the temple of Christ the Savior on the 40th day after birth to perform the established sacrifice. " Now let your servant go, Lord...". Church Slavonic word Candlemas"can be translated into Russian with the word" meeting". The meeting of the Old Testament with the New, the meeting of Simeon the God-bearer and Anna the prophetess with the Lord Jesus Christ. The word “meeting” most fully conveys the meaning of this event, because it means not just a meeting, but a meeting of a smaller one with a larger one, a person with God.
Meeting of the Lord. holiday event
Event details Meeting of the Lord believers learn from the Gospel of Luke. According to the Old Testament law, the firstborn of Moses, i.e. eldest son, dedicated to God. This was a reminder of how, on the night before the Jews left Egypt, the Angel of the Lord killed all the first-born Egyptians, children and animals, leaving Jewish houses unharmed, in which the jamb was anointed with sacrificial blood.
At the time of the birth of the Lord, it was customary for the firstborn to bring a symbolic ransom in Jerusalem to the temple. Also, a woman who gave birth to a son was supposed to have 40 days of purification, after which she had to make a sacrifice - a one-year-old lamb and a young dove or turtledove. If the family was poor, then a couple of doves were brought to the temple (Lev. 12:6-8).
According to legend, after the holy family lived in Bethlehem, in the house of their relative Salome. On the 40th day, Joseph the Betrothed and the Most Holy Theotokos with the Infant Christ went to Jerusalem to fulfill the commandments of the Law. I met them in the temple Elder Simeon who was waiting for this meeting long years his righteous and pious life. According to legend, he was one of 72 Jewish interpreters who translated the Holy Scriptures into Greek under King Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285 - 247 BC). When Simeon translated the words of the prophet Isaiah "Behold Devaya in the womb she will give birth to a Son ... ”, he decided that this was a mistake, and wanted to write“ a young woman ”. At the same moment, the Angel of the Lord appeared and held his hand. Simeon was promised that he would not die until the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.
And then came the meeting, the meeting of the Old and New Testaments: Simeon took in the arms of the Lord, a 40-day-old baby. With joy, the old man exclaimed:
N7e you let your servant go, just, according to your stupidity with 8 peace; ћkw vi1deste џchi my2 salvation is yours, є4їє3с2 ўўвал0въ before the face of everything< людeй; свётъ во tкровeніе kзhкомъ и3 слaву людeй твои1хъ ї}лz.
This prayer is now read at every Orthodox service at the end of Vespers.
After inspired words addressed to the Lord, Simeon greeted the Mother of God and Joseph. Then, turning to the Mother of God, the elder said:
This lies on the fall and on the uprising of many in Israel and in the subject of controversy. And to You Yourself the weapon will pierce the soul (Luke 2:34-35).
Thus, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord reminds us of the coming soon and Holy Week - the time of remembrance of the sufferings on the cross and the death of the Lord. It was then that the prophetic words of Simeon were fulfilled, because the Most Holy Theotokos suffered in soul along with her Son.
got to know the Lord and Anna the prophetess- an 84-year-old widow who lived at the temple and served God with fasting and prayer day and night, as the Evangelist Luke says about her. Anna prophesied about Christ and spoke about him to all the people who, with faith and hope, were waiting for His coming.
Probably, the veneration of the Magi, which is remembered on the feast of the Nativity of Christ, took place after the events of the Presentation of the Lord. After all, after that the holy family fled to Egypt… Only after the death of Herod did they return to Galilee, to the city of Nazareth.
Simeon the God-bearer died, according to legend, at the age of 360 of his life. He was not afraid of death, because the promise given to him and to all people was fulfilled. Simeon held the Messiah in his arms! And now he was going to tell all the righteous of the Old Testament that the Lord was incarnate, came to earth to save mankind from sin and death.
The Old Testament custom of a 40-day cleansing after the birth of a child is preserved in Orthodoxy. Usually on the 40th day or later, the mother and child come to the temple. The prayers of the “fortieth day” are recited to the woman, after which she can already touch the shrine and pray in the temple (before that, she is supposed to stand in the porch). The priest also brings the baby into the temple, the boy also brings it into the Altar. This rite can also be performed earlier, on the day of baptism, if it is performed before the 40th day.
Meeting of the Lord. history of the holiday
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord- one of the most ancient. Already in the 4th century, it was solemnly celebrated in the Jerusalem Church, completing the 40-day festive series from, also called Epiphany. This is mentioned by Eteria, a pilgrim from modern Europe who traveled to the Holy Land at the end of the 4th century:
The fortieth day from Epiphany is celebrated here with great honor. On this day there is a procession to Anastasis, and everyone is marching, and everything is done in order with the greatest triumph, as if on Easter. All the presbyters preach, and then the bishop, always talking about that place in the Gospel where on the fortieth day Joseph and Mary brought the Lord to the Temple, and Simeon and Anna the prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, saw Him, and about their words, which they said, having seen the Lord, and about the offering that the parents brought. And after that, having sent everything in the usual order, they celebrate the Liturgy, and then there is a dismissal.
Then the holiday spread to all local Churches, it began to be celebrated in Constantinople and Rome. But, despite its ancient origin, it was not among the solemn and great. TO twelfth holidays he was numbered in 544.
In the VI century, during the reign of Emperor Justinian (527-565), Byzantium suffered many disasters. First there was an earthquake in Antioch, accompanied by numerous victims. Then a pestilence appeared - an epidemic of smallpox brought from Africa. Tradition says that in difficult days, when the whole people experienced terrible troubles and illnesses, a pious Christian had a vision: the feast of the Meeting of the Lord should be celebrated more solemnly. On this day, a solemn service was performed with an all-night vigil and a procession.
There are references to the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in sermons holy martyrMethodius of Patara(c. 260 - 312), saint Cyril of Jerusalem (315 - 386), Saint Gregory the Theologian(329 - 389),Saint Amphilochius of Iconium(about 340 - after 394), saint Gregory of Nyssa(c. 335 - 394), saint John Chrysostom(c. 347 - 407).
Liturgy of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
The Presentation of the Lord is an unusual holiday. He is both Lordly and Mother of God. Reading troparion holiday, believers turn to the Most Holy Theotokos:
R aduisz bradovannaz btsde dv7o, and 3z8 you are blessed with a righteous sun xrt0s bg ours, enlightening the dark. merry 1sz and 3 you are the elder of the righteous, taking into the hands of the liberators of our dsh7sm, who gives us resurrection.
Troparion to the holiday. Russian text
Rejoice, having received joy (from the Lord), Virgin Mother of God, because the Sun of righteousness has shone from You, Christ our God, enlightening those who are in ignorance. Rejoice, you, righteous old man, who has taken into your arms the Liberator of our souls, who gives us resurrection.
IN kondaké we turn to the Lord:
AND $ ўt0bu dv7chyu њs ™ i1v rzhctv0m si2, and 3 rutse simeNni blzlol1v, how appropriately preliminarily, and 3 nhne saved є3si2 us xrte b9e. but ўmiri2 in the battles of our life, and 3 ўrepi2 tsRS, є3go2 loved 1l є3si2, є3di1 not chlkolu1bche.
Holiday kontakion. Russian text
Jesus Christ, who consecrated the Maiden's womb with His Birth and blessed Simeon's arms, as it was due; hastened (to save us), and now has saved us, Christ God. Give peace to society in the midst of battles and strengthen the people you love, O One Lover of Humanity.
Likewise, the magnification of the holiday, addressed to the Lord Jesus Christ, glorifies the Mother of God at the same time:
We honor TS, life-giving heh7, and 3 honor8 your most precious world2. є3yu1zhe, according to the law, nhne brought in the 8th church of the city.
Festive stichera were written by famous church hymnographers - Anatoly,Patriarch of Constantinograd(V century); Andrew of Crete (7th century); Kosma Maiumsky, John of Damascus, patriarch Constantinople Herman (VIII century); Joseph Studit(IX century) and many others. They not only tell us about the events of the holiday, but also explain their meaning.
Vespers verses, written by Patriarch German, say that the Infant, who is held in the hands of an old man, is God, who took on flesh for the salvation of people:
Gli, simeNne, whom2 noses on the hand2 in 8 cRkvi rejoice; whom you call and 3 cry, nn7e svobod1khusz, vi1deh bo sp7sa myw2; this є4st t dv7y birthz. this is the 4st t bga bg word, incarnate 1 outz for us, and save chlka. tomy bow1msz.
« In these days, I dreamed of money... ”, - believers sing the words church hymns and marvel at the humility of God. The Mother of God brings the Lord, who gave the Law to people, to the temple of God in order to fulfill the established: “... according to the law, I will law the creator, the law and the full sz, in the 8th krkv brings the…»
Here is a verse by Andrew of Crete explains to us what the two young doves sacrificed on the day of the Presentation of the Lord mean: “... ћkw supru1g the garland of the unsavory church, and 3 t kzhk n0vyz people. dove, but two chicks, to the head of the old and the 3 new…»
The festive canon, written by Cosmas of Maium, has a borderline: “ The old man joyfully embraces Christ". This is the main idea of the canon. in Greek original text the first letters of each verse formed this phrase. Each verse of the canon not only tells some detail of the festive event, but also explains its meaning, symbol. At the same time, prophecies are also recalled, for example, Isaiah, to whom a seraphim gave a burning coal to cleanse his mouth.
N cleans and 3caiz t seraphim the old man v9іzashe b9іi m™ri, you2 ћkw with ticks, you enlighten MS with your hands. having given mi2 є3g0zhe n0sishi, the light is not evening,(i.e. non-extinguishing) i3 world(i.e. dominating).
As a rule, the ninth ode of the festive canon has a refrain - a brief laudatory appeal to Christ or the Mother of God, depending on the holiday. The choir repeats it before each verse. The Canon of the Presentation differs from the others in this too: it has not one refrain for all the verses, but 14 different ones! This allows the worshipers to better understand and feel the events of two thousand years ago. "... B Gon0se simeHne, with 3di2 rise 3mi2 xrtA, є3g0zhe give 2 dv7a chtcaz mRjz. N beats the hand of the old man Simenn, co-worker, I will law, and 3 the vlku of all. Do not the old man hold me, but I hold 2 є3go2. 0y more t less tpuschenіz pr0sit.…»
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In proverbs: in the 1st proverb (from the books "Exodus" and "Leviticus") the Old Testament law is recalled to consecrate the first-born to God; in the 2nd proverb (Isaiah I, 1-12) the vision of St. Isaiah is described, who saw the God of Hosts, sitting on the Throne and surrounded by Angels; in the Third Paremia (Isaiah XIX, 1, 3-5, 12, 16, 19-21) contains a prophecy about the flight into Egypt, about the fall of the Egyptian idols before the Lord and the conversion of the Egyptians to God. The events foretold in this prophecy are not described in the gospel. An ancient legend tells that during the stay of the Savior in Egypt, in the city of Iliopolis, the pagan gods of this city fell before Jesus Christ and broke into dust.
The Apostle (Heb. VII, 7-17) speaks of the superiority of the high priesthood of Christ and the sacrifices He offered before the Old Testament sacrifices and of the abolition of the Old Testament with the coming of the Savior. The Gospel (Luke II, 23-40) tells of the bringing of Christ as a child into the temple.
Thus, people who pray not only for the Liturgy, but also for the evening service, have the opportunity to learn not only the description, the history of the event of the holiday, but also to understand its meaning and significance for each person.
Meeting of the Lord. Folk traditions and customs
The Presentation of the Lord is perhaps the only holiday that is celebrated differently by Old Believers and New Believers. The fact is that sometimes Candlemas coincides with the first day of Lent. In the ancient liturgical Rules, according to which divine services are still performed among the Old Believers, such a case is provided. The festive service is combined with the Lenten. And in this case, the New Believers postpone the holiday one day earlier, on Forgiveness Sunday. In the Old Believer periodicals of the beginning of the 20th century, this is described in great detail.
Another difference is that the New Believers in the 17th century borrowed from Catholics the custom of consecrating church candles on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This rite is contained in the breviary of Metropolitan Peter Mohyla, it is copied from the Roman breviary. The fact is that in the West this holiday is called “Light Mass”, during the Mass everyone holds lit candles in their hands. Probably, this custom comes from the ancient Jerusalem Church, where in the middle of the 5th century a procession was made and during the Liturgy the worshipers held burning candles in their hands. In Byzantium, this custom no longer existed, therefore, since the time of the Baptism of Rus', our ancestors prayed “with candles” only during polyeleos. And at present, in the Old Believer Church, on the eve of the Twelfth Feasts, in the middle of the evening service, while singing the magnification (polyeleos), the worshipers pick up burning candles and hold them almost until the very end of the evening service.
Concerning folk traditions, then in the peasant environment, the Meeting of the Lord was not considered a big holiday. Very often, peasants, especially illiterate ones, did not even know what event the Church was remembering on that day, and the very name of the holiday - “Meeting” - was explained in such a way that on this day winter meets summer, i.e., the frosts begin to weaken and the approach of spring is felt in the air. Attributing to the Meeting only the meaning of a calendar milestone, the peasants connected many agricultural signs with this day: “ On Candlemas Day snowball - in the spring dozhzhok", they said, wondering about future rains. Drops on this day portend the harvest of wheat, and the wind - fertility of fruit trees, why gardeners, having come from matins, " shake the trees with their hands so that they bear fruit". If it is quiet and red on the Candlemas Day, then in the summer flax and so on will be good. According to the weather of that day, they also judged the harvest of grasses, for which they threw a stick across the road and observed: if the snow swept it, then the livestock feed would “sweep”, that is, the grasses would be expensive. Finally, on Candlemas Day, the housewives began to intensively feed the chickens so that there were socks.
As for the religious customs associated with this day, they almost did not exist throughout Great Russia, only in some places (for example, in the Vologda province) peasants went around their houses with the icon of the Presentation of the Lord or the Savior, moreover, when the icon was brought back to the house , then the whole family, with the householder at the head, fell on their faces with an exclamation: "Lord our God, come in to us and bless us."
Icons of the Presentation of the Lord
One of the most ancient and unusual in artistic design image of the Presentation of the Lord, dating from 432-440, we find in the mosaics of the Roman basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Features of the composition indicate that the tradition of the image Feast of the Candlemas is still being formed.
Gradually, over the course of several centuries, a symmetrical compositional scheme was developed in Byzantine art, which depicts the Mother of God, Simeon, Joseph the Betrothed and Anna the prophetess. Between the central figures is placed the image of the temple throne. The Divine Infant can be depicted both in the hands of the Virgin and in the hands of Simeon.
Among the Russian icon-painting monuments of the Presentation, one of the most ancient is the fresco of the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa, XII century.
It is no coincidence that icon painters introduce an altar with ciborium into the composition. Indeed, with its help, the highest meaning of the meeting of the Divine Infant and Simeon is conveyed.
After the end of the period of iconoclasm, a new asymmetrical iconographic scheme for the image of the Candlemas appears: the Mother of God, the righteous Joseph and the prophetess Anna approach the doors of the Temple, on the steps of which Simeon stands.
On some Russian icons, frescoes and mosaics, the Jerusalem temple has been replaced by a church with Russian domes.
Temples of the Presentation of the Lord
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord known to our ancestors since the adoption of Christianity. For some unknown reason, there were very few temples dedicated to this holiday. Of the ancient, pre-schismatic, a refectory has been preserved Sretensky Church of the Antoniev Monastery in Veliky Novgorod. It was built in 1533-36, initially without an altar ledge. The upper part of the facades had inset crosses traditional for Novgorod. The temple was rebuilt in the XVIII-XIX centuries. This is one of the first pillarless Novgorod churches.
Currently, only one Old Believer church has been consecrated in the name of the Presentation of the Lord - in the village of Cherkesskaya Slava, Tulchinsky district (Romania). Congratulations to the parishioners on the feast day!
What does the word “candlemas” mean, and why is this holiday considered one of the main ones by the Orthodox?
Easter, Christmas, Trinity, Palm Sunday- these church holidays are known, perhaps, to everyone. And on February 15, the Orthodox celebrate the Great Candlemas. On this day, the events described in the Gospel of Luke are remembered - the meeting of the baby Jesus with the elder Simeon in the Jerusalem temple on the fortieth day after Christmas.
When is the Meeting celebrated?
Candlemas always falls on February 15th. And never moves, unlike many church holidays. The meeting took place 40 days after the birth of Christ. If the Candlemas falls on a Monday of the first week of Great Lent, which happens very rarely, the festive service is postponed to the previous day - February 14th.
What does the word "revelation" mean?
Candlemas is translated from Church Slavonic as "meeting". This holiday describes a meeting that took place on the fortieth day after the birth of Christ. Mary and Joseph arrived from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. With the forty-day-old Divine Infant in their arms, they set foot on the threshold of the Temple in order to bring the statutory sacrifice of thanksgiving to God for the firstborn. After the ceremony, they already wanted to leave the temple. But then an ancient old man approached them, who was considered the oldest person in Jerusalem, named Simeon.
Why did Mary and Joseph arrive at the temple with the forty-day Divine Infant?
At that time, with the birth of a child in the family, the Jews had two traditions. A woman after childbirth could not appear in the Jerusalem temple for forty days if she gave birth to a boy. If a daughter was born in the family, then 80 days should have passed. As soon as the term expired, the mother should 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, then a dove could be brought instead of a lamb.
In addition, if a boy was born in the family, then the mother and father came to the temple on the fortieth day with the newborn for the rite of dedication to God. It 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.
Even though Jesus was born from a virgin birth, the family, out of respect for Jewish law, decided to make a sacrifice. The cleansing sacrifice of Mary and Joseph was two doves - the family was not rich.
Who is Simeon the God-bearer?
According to legend, at the time of the meeting with Christ, Simeon was over 300 years old. He was a respected man, one of 72 scholars assigned to translate the Holy Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek. It was no coincidence that the elder ended up in the temple - he was led by the Holy Spirit. Once upon a time, Simeon was translating the book of the prophet Isaiah and saw the enigmatic words: "Behold the Virgin in the womb shall receive and give birth to a Son." The scientist doubted that a virgin, that is, a virgin, could give birth, and decided to correct "Virgo" to "Wife" (woman). But an angel appeared to him and forbade him to do so. He also said that Simeon would not die until he personally convinced himself that the prophecy was true.
On the day when Mary and Joseph came to the temple with a baby in their arms, the prophecy was fulfilled. Simeon took in his arms the baby born of the Virgin. The old man could die in peace.
Bishop Theophan the Recluse wrote: “In the person of Simeon, the entire Old Testament, unredeemed humanity, departs in peace into eternity, giving way to Christianity…”. The remembrance of this gospel story resounds every day in Orthodox worship. This is the Song of Simeon the God-Receiver, or otherwise "Now you let go."
Who is Anna the prophetess?
On the day of the Candlemas, another meeting took place in the Jerusalem temple. An 84-year-old widow, “Fanuilov’s daughter”, approached the Mother of God. The townspeople called her Anna the prophetess for inspired speeches about God. She lived and worked at the temple for many years, as the 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 townspeople the news of the coming of the Messiah, the deliverer of Israel. And the Holy Family returned to Nazareth, as they fulfilled everything that was required by the law of Moses.
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Meaning of the Feast of the Presentation
Meeting is a meeting with the Lord. The prophetess Anna and the elder Simeon 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. Presentation is not easy great holiday and a day from distant New Testament history. Perhaps every person at least once in his life finds himself in the house of God - in the temple. And there his personal Meeting takes place - a meeting with Christ.
Customs and traditions for the Candlemas
The custom of consecrating church candles on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord came to Orthodox Church from Catholics. It happened in 1646. Metropolitan of Kiev Saint Peter (Mohyla) compiled and published his breviary. The author described in detail the Catholic rite of religious processions with lit lamps. These days, the pagan Celts celebrated Imbolc, the Romans - Lupercalia (a festival associated with the shepherd's cult), the Slavs - Gromnitsa. Interestingly, in Poland, after the adoption of Christianity, the Candlemas began to be called the feast of the Loud Mother of God. This is an echo of the myths about the thunder god and his wife. The people believed that Sretensky candles could protect the house from lightning and fire.
On this day, they began to celebrate the meeting of winter with spring. From here came the sayings: “Winter met with spring at the Meeting of the Candlemas”, “On the Meeting of the Sun for the summer, the winter turned to frost.” After the holiday, the peasants began a lot of “spring” things: they drove the cattle from the barn to the paddock, prepared the seeds for sowing, whitened fruit trees.
What weather will be in the spring, determined by this day. It was believed that if the Candlemas is cold, then the spring will be cold. If the thaw, then wait for a warm spring.
TROPARI, KONTAKES, PRAYERS AND GREAT
THE MEETING OF THE LORD
Troparion to the Presentation of the Lord, tone 1
Rejoice, Blessed Virgin Mother of God, / from Thee rise the Sun of Truth, Christ our God, / enlighten those who are in darkness. / Rejoice, O righteous elder, / received into the arms of the Liberator of our souls, / / who grants us resurrection.
Kontakion to the Presentation of the Lord, tone 1
Consecrated the Maiden's womb with Thy Christmas / and blessed Simeon's hand, / as if it were better, having anticipated it, / and now Thou hast saved us, O Christ God, / but die in warfare / / and strengthen the people, even thou hast loved them, O One Lover of mankind.
THOUGHTS ST. Theophan the Recluse
Candlemas.(Jude. 1 :1–10 ; OK. 22 :39–42, 45, 23 :1 )
In the meeting of the Lord, on the one hand, righteousness, which hopes for salvation not in itself, is surrounded by Simeon, and a strict life in fasting and prayer, enlivened by faith, is Anna; on the other hand, essential, all-round and unshakable purity is the Virgin Mother of God, and humble, silent obedience and devotion to the will of God is Joseph the Betrothed. Transfer all these spiritual moods into your heart and you will meet the Lord who is not offered, but Himself coming to you, you will perceive Him in the arms of your heart, and you will sing a song that will pass through the heavens and rejoice all the angels and saints.
(Jude. 1 :11–25 ; OK. 23 :1–34, 44–56 )
Woe proclaims St. The Apostle Jude to those who seductively keep themselves in society, fatten themselves without fear at feasts, foam with their shame, walk after their own lusts, speak with pride, and separate themselves from the unity of faith. Woe! For behold, the Lord is coming with all and will reprove all the ungodly in all the deeds that their ungodliness has done.
PARABLE OF THE DAY
"Where is that hope you kept?"
They told about one gardener that he worked and used all his work for alms, and kept only what was necessary for himself. But a thought inspired him: collect some money for yourself, so that when you grow old or fall into illness, you will not suffer extreme need. And while collecting, he filled the pot with money. He happened to fall ill - his leg began to rot, and he spent money on doctors, without getting any benefit. Finally, an experienced doctor comes and says to him: “If you do not cut off your leg, then your whole body will rot,” and he decided to cut off his leg. At night, having come to his senses and repented of what he had done, he said with a sigh: “Remember, Lord, my former deeds, which I did, working in my garden and delivering the needs of the brethren!” When he said this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said:
“Where is the money that you collected, and where is this hope that you kept?”
He said:
“I have sinned, Lord, forgive me!” From now on, I won't do anything like that.
Then the angel touched his foot, and he was immediately healed, and, getting up in the morning, he went to work in the field.
The doctor, according to the condition, comes with a tool to cut off his leg, and they say to him: "He went to work in the field in the morning." Then the doctor, amazed, went to the field where he worked, and, seeing him digging the ground, glorified God, who had given the gardener healing.
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