Feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Temple
On February 2, the Church commemorates an important event in the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2: 22-40). Forty days after His birth the God-Infant was taken to the Jerusalem Temple, the center of the nation’s religious life. According to the Law of Moses (Lev. 12: 2-8), a woman who gave birth to a male child was forbidden to enter the Temple of God for forty days. At the end of this time, the mother came to the Temple with the child to offer a young lamb or pigeon to the Lord as a purification sacrifice. The Most Holy Virgin, the Mother of God, had no need of purification, since she had given birth to the Source of purity and sanctity without defilement. However, she humbly fulfilled the requirements of the Law.
At this time, the just Elder Simeon (Feast February 3) was living in Jerusalem. It had been revealed to him that he would not die until he should behold the promised Messiah. By inspiration from above, Saint Simeon went to the Temple at the very moment when the Most Holy Mother of God (Theotokos) and Saint Joseph had brought the Infant Jesus to fulfill the Law.
The God-Receiver Simeon took the divine Child in his arms, and giving thanks to God, he spoke the words repeated by the Church each evening at Vespers: “Now you release your servant, O Lord, according to your word, in peace; because my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples: a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for your people Israel.” (Luke 2: 29-32). Saint Simeon said to the Most Holy Virgin: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted. (And your own soul a sword shall pierce,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2: 34-35).
At the Temple was the 84-year-old widow Anna the Prophetess, daughter of Phanuel (Feast, February 3), “who never left the temple, with fastings and prayers worshipping night and day. And coming up at that very hour, she began to give praise to the Lord, and spoke of him to all who were awaiting redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2: 37-38). In the icon of the Feast she holds a scroll which reads: “This Child has established Heaven and earth.”
Before Christ was born, righteous men and women lived by faith in the promised Messiah, and awaited His coming. The just Elder Simeon and the Prophetess Anna, the last righteous people of the Old Testament, were deemed worthy to meet the Saviour in the Temple.
The Feast of the Encounter of the Lord is among the most ancient feasts of the Christian Church. We have sermons on the Feast by the holy bishops Methodius of Patara (+ 312), Cyril of Jerusalem (+ 360), Gregory the Theologian (+ 389), Amphilocius of Iconium (+ 394), Gregory of Nyssa (+ 400), and John Chrysostom (+ 407). Despite its early origin, this Feast was not celebrated so splendidly until the sixth century.
In 528, during the reign of Justinian, an earthquake killed many people in Antioch. Other misfortunes followed this one. In 541 a terrible plague broke out in Constantinople, carrying off several thousand people each day. During this time of widespread suffering, a solemn prayer service for deliverance from evils was celebrated on the Feast of the Encounter of the Lord, and the plague ceased. In thanksgiving to God, the Church established a more solemn celebration of this Feast.
Church hymnographers have adorned this Feast with their hymns: Saint Andrew of Crete in the seventh century; Saint Cosmas Bishop of Maium, Saint John of Damascus, and Saint Germanus Patriarch of Constantinople in the eighth century; and Saint Joseph, Archbishop of Thessalonica in the ninth century.
Troparion of the Encounter
Hail, O Woman full of grace, Virgin and Mother of God, from you has arisen the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, enlightening those who stand in darkness. You too, O just Elder Simeon, rejoice, for you carried in your arms the Redeemer of our souls, who grants us resurrection.
Kondakion of the Encounter
O Christ our God who, through your birth have sanctified the virginal womb and have blessed the arms of Simeon, You have come today to save us. When wars prevail, keep your people in peace and strengthen our Public Authorities in every good deed, for You alone are the Lover of Mankind.