View source for Meeting of the Lord

[[Image:Presentation.jpg|right|frame|The Meeting of the Lord in the Temple]]
The '''Meeting of the Lord in the Temple''' (also called the '''Presentation''') is one of the [[Great Feasts]] of the [[Orthodox Church]], celebrated on [[February 2]].  This feast is also known as '''Candlemas''', particularly in Western nations, due to the custom of blessing [[Candle|candles]] on this day.

In Eastern tradition, it is often called '''The Meeting of Our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ''', because the hymns emphasize the incarnate God, the [[Lord]] [[Jesus Christ]], meeting with his people, Israel, in the persons of the [[Prophet]] [[Simeon the God-receiver|Simeon]] and the Prophetess [[Anna the Prophetess|Anna]].  

In the [[Gospel of Luke]] 2:22-35, [[Theotokos|Mary]] and [[Joseph the Betrothed|Joseph]] took the infant Christ to the Temple in Jerusalem.  He was received in the arms of the elder Simeon, who then prayed, "Now let Thy servant depart in peace... for I have seen Thy salvation."  This was one of the things that Mary "pondered in her heart"—the fact that others recognized that her Son was the [[Messiah]].

==Celebration of the feast==
[[File:Menologion of Basil 037.jpg|right|thumb|Meeting of the Lord, (''Menologion of Basil II, 10th-11th c.'')]] 
On the eve of the feast, [[Vespers]] is served and contains three [[Old Testament]] readings. The first is a composite of [[Exodus]] 12:15-13:16, [[Leviticus]] 12, and [[Numbers]] 8. The second reading is from [[Isaiah]] 6:1-12.  And the third is a composite from Isaiah 19:1,3-5,12,16,19-21. 

Sometimes [[Matins]] is served on the morning of the feast.  The Gospel reading is from [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 2:25-32, where St. Simeon receives Christ.

[[Divine Liturgy]] is served on the day on the feast. The [[Apostolos|epistle reading]] is from [[Book of Hebrews|Hebrews]] 7:7-17, and tells of a change in the priesthood: ''what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron.  For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.''   The [[Gospels|gospel reading]] is taken from Luke 2:22-40 telling of the Most Holy Virgin, who had no need of purification, since she had given birth to the Source of purity and sanctity without defilement, humbly fulfilled the requirements of the Law. It tells of St. Simeon who receives Christ, and his words: ''Lord, now let 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 enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel''. And his words to the Most Holy Virgin: ''Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed''. The reading also tells about the 84-year-old widow Anna the Prophetess.

The theme of all these readings together, tell of the changing from the Old Testament to the [[New Testament]], the old law becomes something new. The Son of God, giver of the law, now himself fulfills the law, being carried in Simeon's arms as a human child.

The [[forefeast]] of the Meeting is [[February 1]], and the [[leavetaking]] of the feast is [[February 9]], although the [[afterfeast]] of the Meeting of the Lord may be shortened or omitted altogether if [[February 2]] falls on or after the [[Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee]].

== Hymns ==
[[Troparion]] (Tone 1) [http://oca.org/FStropars.asp?SID=13&ID=100407]

:Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace!
:From you shone the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God.
:Enlightening those who sat in darkness!
:Rejoice, and be glad, O righteous elder;
:You accepted in your arms the Redeemer of our souls,
:Who grants us the Resurrection.

[[Kontakion]] (Tone 1)

:By Your nativity, You did sanctify the Virgin's womb,
:And did bless Simeon's hands, O Christ God.
:Now You have come and saved us through love.
:Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians, O only Lover of man!
===Forefeast hymns=== 
Troparion (Tone 1) 
:The celestial choir of heavenly angels
:Bends down to the earth
:And sees the First-born of all creation
:Being carried into the Temple as a babe
:By a Mother who has not known man,
:And in amazement sings with us a pre-festal hymn.

Kontakion (Tone 6) 
:The Word, unseen with the Father,
:Now is seen in the flesh, ineffably born of the Virgin,
:And is given into the arms of the priest and Elder.
:Let us worship Him, our True God.

==See also==
*[[Presentation of the Theotokos]]

==External links==
*[http://www.goarch.org/special/listen_learn_share/presentation February 2: The Presentation of Christ in the Temple] ([[GOARCH]])
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=100407 The Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple] ([[OCA]])
*[http://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/v2staff/FixedGreatFeasts.htm Fixed Great Feasts, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church Calendar]
*[http://www.canto.ru/calendar/day_en.php?date=15-2-2014 February 15: Orthodox Menologion Online, Orthodox Lithurgical Commonwealth]

[[Category:Great Feasts]]
[[Category:Feasts]]

[[mk:Сретение Господово]]
[[pt:Apresentação do Senhor]]
[[ro:Întâmpinarea Domnului]]