THE LORD'S MEETING IN THE TEMPLE

This Feast Day is observed on February 2/15 each year.

According to the Law of Moses, on the 40th day after His birth Jesus Christ was brought into the Temple in Jerusalem. There the Holy Virgin Mary offered the Infant Christ to God.

At that time there was living in Jerusalem an aged holy man, named Si­meon. Holy Tradition informs us that Simeon was one of the translators of the Old Testament. He had been assigned the task of translating the Book of Isaiah and when he came to the Verse where Isaiah foretold that Messiah would be born of a Virgin, Simeon was puzzled and wanted to erase the word Virgin. But the Angel of God appeared unto him and commanded him to believe the exact words of this prophesy. Simeon was promised that before his death he would see Infant Jesus with his own eyes.

According to Christian Tradition, the pious Simeon lived three hundred years, awaiting the Birth of the Saviour. The Holy Spirit had led Simeon to the Temple one day and when the devout holy man saw the Infant he knew at once that the Child was the promised Messiah. He took Jesus in his arms and prais­ing God said a Prayer which is known as St. Simeon's Prayer and which is now sung at every Vesper Service in Eastern Orthodox Churches: "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word; for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel" (Luke 2 : 28-32).

Prophetess Anna, an 84-year-old widow was also in the Temple that day. She devoted her life to fasting and prayers, as she also awaited the coming of Jesus Christ. She recognized Jesus as the Saviour and praised God just as Si­meon had done.