Joy of the Feast! Spraznikom!
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Christ into the Temple, one of the 12 Great Feastdays of the Orthodox Church.
We know that according to the Law of Moses, a Jewish mother and her new born child came to the Temple forty days after their birth for the rite of purification. The mother came to the Temple for ritual purification and the child was brought to the Temple as a symbolic act of being dedicated to God.
It was also a custom to bring an offering to God: a lamb, a dove or a pigeon. In the case of a poor family only two doves or pigeons were necessary for this offering in the Temple.
So being pious Jews, Joseph and Mary observed this custom or ceremony of purification and brought Jesus to the Temple and two doves. At the Temple they were met by the Elder Simeon who took the baby Jesus in His arms, gave thanks to God and prophesies about the future work of Jesus.
The Holy family was also met by the Prophetess Anna who likewise thanked God and told the people about Jesus. This Feastday which is a Biblical Event is often referred as the “Meeting of the Lord”, because Simeon and Anna “came” to meet Jesus as He was presented in the Temple, “the light to enlighten the Gentiles…”
This is why we on this Feastday bless candles to commemorate Christ, “the Light of the World”.
