What does the meeting of the Lord mean. What a feast of the Presentation of the Lord: history, traditions, signs
On this day, the Christian Church recalls the events described in the Gospel of Luke, namely in I meet in the Jerusalem temple of the baby Jesus with the elder Simeon on the fortieth day after Christmas.
The Presentation of the Lord is one of the twelve, that is, the main holidays of the church year. This is an enduring holiday, which means that it is always celebrated on February 15th.
What does the word Presentation mean?
In the Church Slavonic language, "meeting" means "a meeting"... The holiday is established in memory of the meeting described in the Gospel of Luke. On that day, the Virgin Mary and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed brought the baby Jesus to the Jerusalem temple in order to make the statutory sacrifice of thanks to God for the firstborn.
What sacrifice in ancient Judea needed to be made after the birth of a baby?
According to the Old Testament law, a woman who gave birth to a boy was forbidden to enter the temple for 40 days (and if a girl was born, then all 80). She should also have brought the Lord thanksgiving and cleansing sacrifice: thanksgiving - a one-year-old lamb, and for the remission of sins - a dove. If the family was poor, a dove was sacrificed instead of a lamb, and it turned out "two turtle doves or two chicks of pigeons."
In addition, if the first-born in the family was a boy, the parents on the fortieth day came with the newborn to the temple and for the rite of dedication to God. It was not just a tradition, but the Mosaic Law, established in memory of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt - the liberation from four centuries of slavery.
The Blessed Virgin Mary did not need cleansing, because Jesus was born as a result of the virgin birth. She came to the temple out of humility and in order to fulfill the law. Two doves became the cleansing sacrifice of the Mother of God, since the family in which Jesus was born was poor.
Rembrandt van Rijn. Presentation
Who is Simeon the God-Receiver?
According to legend, when the Virgin Mary crossed the threshold of the temple with a baby in her arms, an ancient elder came out to meet her. His name was Simeon. In Hebrew, Simeon means "hearing."
Tradition says that Simeon lived 360 le m. He was one of 72 scribes who in the III century BC. at the behest of the Egyptian king Ptolemy II, the Bible was translated from Hebrew into Greek.
When Simeon was translating the book of the prophet Isaiah, he saw the words: "Behold the Virgin in her womb will receive and give birth to a Son" and wanted to correct "Virgin" (virgin) to "Wife" (woman). However, an angel appeared to him and forbade him to change the word, promising that Simeon would not die until he himself was convinced of the fulfillment of the prophecy.
On the day of the Meeting, what the elder had been waiting for all his long life. The prophecy has come true. The old man could now die in peace... The righteous man took the baby in his arms and exclaimed: "Now you release your servant, O Master, according to your word, in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all nations, the light for the enlightenment of the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel" (Lk 2: 29-32). The church named him Simeon the God-receiver and glorified him as a saint.
In the 6th century, his relics were transferred to Constantinople. Bishop Theophan the Recluse wrote: "In the person of Simeon, the entire Old Testament, unredeemed mankind, in peace departs into eternity, giving way to Christianity ...". In memory of this gospel event in Orthodox worship Every day the Song of Simeon the God-Receiver sounds: "Now let go."
Rembrandt van Rijn. Simeon the God-Receiver 1627-1628
Who is Anna the prophetess?
On the day of the Meeting, another meeting took place in the Jerusalem temple. An 84-year-old widow, "Fanuil's daughter", approached the Mother of God in the church. For her inspired speeches about God, the townspeople called her Anna the prophetess. She lived and worked at the temple for many years, “serving God day and night by fasting and prayer” (Luke 2:37 - 38).
Anna the prophetess bowed to the newborn Christ and left the temple, bringing the news of the coming of the Messiah, the deliverer of Israel to the townspeople. “And at that time she came and glorified the Lord and prophesied about Him to all who were awaiting deliverance in Jerusalem” (Luke 2: 36-38).
How did you start celebrating the Presentation of the Lord?
The Presentation of the Lord is one of the oldest holidays. Christian Church and completes the cycle of Christmas holidays. The holiday has been known in the East since the 4th century, in the West - from the V. The earliest evidence of the celebration of the Meeting in the Christian East dates back to the end of the 4th century. Then the Meeting in Jerusalem was not yet an independent holiday, but was called "the fortieth day from the Epiphany." It should be noted that this holiday was not celebrated so solemnly until the 6th century.
Under Emperor Justinian (527-565), in 544 Antioch was struck by a pestilence that killed several thousand people every day. During these days, one of the Christians was instructed to make the celebration of the Presentation of the Lord more solemn. The calamities did end when on the day of the Meeting, an all-night vigil was served and procession. Therefore, the Church in 544 established a solemn celebration of the Presentation of the Lord.
Since the 5th century, the names of the holiday have taken root: "the Feast of the Meeting" (Meeting) and the "Feast of Purification". In the East it is still called the Presentation, and in the West it was called the "Feast of Purification" until 1970, when a new name was introduced: "The Feast of the Sacrifice of the Lord."
Icon "Softening Evil Hearts"
What does the icon "Softening Evil Hearts" mean?
The event of the Meeting of the Lord is associated with the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is called "Softening Evil Hearts" or "Simeon's Prophecy"... It symbolically depicts the prophecy of Saint Simeon the God-Receiver, uttered by him in the Jerusalem temple on the day of the Meeting of the Lord: “For you the weapon will pass your soul” (Luke 2:35).
The Mother of God is depicted standing on a cloud with seven swords piercing the heart: three on the right and on the left, and one below. There are also half-length images of the Virgin. The number seven means the fullness of grief, sorrow and heartache experienced by the Mother of God in her earthly life.
What are the signs for the Presentation?
By mid-February, frosts begin to subside in Russia, and the approach of spring is felt in the air. In our country, the weather for this holiday was usually determined by the timing of the beginning of spring field work. According to folk signs, the Meeting is the border between winter and spring, as evidenced by folk sayings: "Presentation - winter met with spring and summer", "The sun for the summer, winter for the frost."
According to the weather on the Feast of the Meeting, the peasants judged the coming spring and summer, the weather and the harvest. They judged about spring as follows: "What is the weather for Meeting, so will spring be." It was believed that e if on the meeting thaw- spring will be early and warm, if it's a cold day- wait cold spring. Snow that fell that day- by a long and rainy spring. If snow across the road carries- spring is late and cold. “On Meeting in the morning, snow is the harvest of early grain; if at noon - medium; if late in the evening ”. "For the Meeting of Drops - Wheat Harvest". "On Meeting the wind - to the fertility of fruit trees."
The Presentation of the Lord is one of the twelve great Orthodox events. This holiday is dedicated to the earthly life of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God. On this day, you must follow traditions in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from trouble.
Many Orthodox holidays are dedicated to the saints, as well as to their merits in helping people in need. We can say that the Presentation of the Lord is a unique holiday. On this day, we remember the earthly life of our Savior and the Most Holy Theotokos.
The Presentation of the Lord is one of the twelve eternal holidays, and in 2018, as usual, its date falls on February, 15... From the Church Slavonic language, the name of the event is translated as "meeting". This day is dedicated to the first meeting of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God with the righteous Simeon the God-receiver.
History of the Presentation of the Lord
On this day, believers remember an important event that happened in the earthly life of our Savior. Based on the laws of the Old Testament, a woman after giving birth was not supposed to go to church for 40 days. At the end of the term, the mother came to the temple to perform the ritual of purification and to bring a grateful sacrifice to the Heavenly King.
Holy Mother of God was a pure, believing and immaculate Virgin, so she did not need additional cleansing, but, despite this, she obeyed the prescriptions of the law. When the Mother of God with the baby in her arms crossed the threshold of the church, the righteous elder Simeon came out to meet her with the aim of holding a church ceremony.
When Simeon saw the righteous Virgin Mary with a child in her arms, he realized that this was the Messiah, whose appearance he had been waiting for for many years. After that, the elder realized that now he could die in peace.
Simeon took Jesus Christ in his arms, blessed him, and then uttered a prediction about the Savior. After that, the Orthodox believers began to call the elder the God-receiver. One of the witnesses of the event was the old widow Anna.
The meaning of the holiday
The main meaning of the holiday lies in the long-awaited intersection of two eras, which have come to be called the Old and New Testaments. Simeon the God-Receiver was able to worthily end the old era, and the long-awaited Messiah became the main representative of the new era. For over a hundred years mankind has been waiting for a meeting with the Savior. From that moment on, faith and what people have professed for many years finally found its Creator.
The Presentation of the Lord is a holiday dedicated not only to the Mother of God and the Infant Jesus Christ, but also to the Lord God.
Presentation Traditions
Despite the fact that the Presentation of the Lord is an Orthodox holiday, many religious and folk traditions are associated with it. Some of them may have no religious meaning, but most became an important part of a great event.
On this day, morning and evening services are held, as well as festive liturgies. Believers turn to the Lord God and the Virgin Mary with thanksgiving prayers, and then take the candles from the church to light them in the evening while reading the prayer.
At the Meeting of the Lord, it is customary to consecrate church candles... It is believed that with their help you can protect your home from enemies and natural disasters.
In Russia, the day after the Meeting, the peasants began to engage in farming, and only after that noisy festivities began, dedicated to the holiday.
According to our ancestors, at the Presentation of the Lord, winter met in the spring. There are many signs and sayings associated with this. If the weather is cold on February 15, it means that spring will not please with warmth either.
On this day, people said goodbye to winter, prepared for the onset of spring, a new harvest and prepared seeds for sowing.
The last frosts in February were called Sretensky. It was believed that after them the long-awaited warm spring should come to replace winter.
The Presentation of the Lord is one of the final Orthodox events of the outgoing winter. During this period, nature often hints to us about the imminent onset of spring and a change in weather. It is not surprising that many folk signs and superstitions are associated with this holiday. We wish you happiness and health, and don't forget to press the buttons and
09.02.2018 07:00
Orthodox culture has many icons. Some of them are especially revered by believers and have a hidden meaning. ...
Among the Orthodox holidays, you can find the Feast of the Meeting. And some may immediately have a question about what the Presentation is. What events gave rise to it? The Presentation of the Lord is one of the most revered Twelve Christian holidays. Events related to the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary are honored. The Feast of the Presentation is non-passing, and it is customary to celebrate it on February 15. The word "srѣtenie" is translated from Church Slavonic as "meeting".
The day of the Meeting determined the point in time when the Old Testament met with the New Testament - the ancient world with the world of Christianity. All this happened thanks to one person; a special place is assigned to this in the Gospel. However, let's start in order. The Gospel of Luke says that the Presentation of the Lord took place exactly 40 days after
There is very interesting fact, related to the answer to the question of what date the meeting. In 528, a strong earthquake hit Antioch and many people died. Then in the same lands (in 544) there was an epidemic of pestilence, and people began to die in thousands. In these days of terrible calamities, providence was revealed to one pious Christian so that the people would celebrate the feast of the Meeting more solemnly. And then, on this day, an all-night vigil (public service) and a procession were held. And only then did these terrible calamities in Christian Byzantium cease. Then the Church, in gratitude to God, established the Meeting of the Lord to celebrate February 15 solemnly and reverently.
history of the holiday
At that time, the Jews had two traditions that were associated with the birth of a baby in a family. After giving birth, a woman was forbidden to come at 40 days, if a boy was born, and if a girl - then all 80. After the expiration of the period, the woman in labor had to bring a cleansing sacrifice to the Temple. For the burnt offering and for the atonement of sins, a young lamb and a dove were offered. The poor family sacrificed another dove instead of a lamb.
On the 40th day, the parents of the newborn boy were to come with him to the Temple to perform the sacrament of dedication to God. And this was not a simple tradition, but the Law of Moses, established in memory of the liberation of the Jews from slavery and the exodus from Egypt. And now we come to the most important Gospel event, which will explain in detail what the Presentation is.
Mary and Joseph arrived from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. They had the Divine Infant in their arms. Their family was poor, so they sacrificed two doves. The Most Pure Mother of God, despite the fact that Jesus was born as a result, still brought the due sacrifice with meekness, humility and great respect for Jewish laws.
Now that the ceremony was completed and the Holy Family was about to leave the Temple, an elder named Simeon approached them. This was a great righteous man. Taking the Divine Infant in his hands, he exclaimed with great joy: "Now you release your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation ..."
Simeon
At the time of his meeting with the Christ Child, Elder Simeon was over 300 years old. He was a highly respected and respected man, one of 72 scholars who were commissioned to translate the Gospel from Hebrew to Greek language... On this Sabbath day, it was not at all by chance that he found himself in this Temple, because it was the Holy Spirit who brought him here.
Once upon a time, Simeon began to translate the book of the prophet Isaiah, he was greatly surprised to read there such incomprehensible words for his mind: "Behold the Virgin in her womb will receive and give birth to a Son." Then he thought to himself that a virgin could not give birth, and wanted to change the word "Virgo" to "wife". When suddenly an Angel appeared from Heaven and forbade him to do this, and also told him that until he saw the Lord Jesus with his own eyes, he would not die, and that the prophecy was true.
"Now let go"
From that moment he waited for this moment for a long time, and at last the prophecy of the Angel was fulfilled - Simeon saw the Child, whom the Immaculate Virgin gave birth to. Now he could rest in peace. The church called Simeon the God-receiver, and he was glorified as a saint.
Later, Bishop Theophan the Recluse wrote that from the moment of the Meeting the Old Testament gave way to Christianity. Now this Gospel story is mentioned every day in the Christian divine service - "The Song of Simeon the God-Receiver", or in other words - "Now let go."
Simeon's predictions
Simeon, taking the Child of the Most Pure Virgin into his hands, said to her: “Behold, because of Him they will argue among the people: some will be saved, while others will perish. And for you the weapon will pass soul, - may the thoughts of many hearts be revealed. "
What did he mean? It turns out that the disputes among the people signify the persecution prepared for Her son, the opening of thoughts - the Judgment of God, the weapon that will pierce Her heart - the prophecy of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, because he received death from nails and spears that passed through the mother's heart with terrible pain.
The icon of the Mother of God "Softening Evil Hearts" became a vivid illustration of Simeon's prophecy. Icon painters depicted the Mother of God standing on a cloud with seven swords stuck in her heart.
Prophetess Anna
Another important event happened on this day, and another meeting happened. An 84-year-old eldress Anna the prophetess approached the Mother of God, as the townspeople called her. She worked and lived at the temple and was pious, since she was in constant fasting and prayer. Anna bowed to the Infant Christ, left the Temple and began to tell all the townspeople the great news that the Messiah had come into the world. Meanwhile, Joseph and Mary with the Child, having fulfilled everything that was required according to the law of Moses, returned to Nazareth.
Now is it clear what the Presentation is? After all, the Meeting is a meeting with the Savior. The names of the elder Simeon and Anna the prophetess are inscribed in the Holy Scriptures, they gave us an example, since they accepted the Lord with a pure and open heart. After meeting with the Infant God Jesus, Simeon went to the forefathers.
Feast of the Presentation
The Presentation of the Lord is an ancient holiday in Christianity. In the 4th-5th centuries, the people preached the first sermons of the Sretensky, for example, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory the Theologian, and Gregory of Nyssa.
Some are interested in the question of what date is the Meeting. IN church calendar An invariable place is occupied by the Feast of Meeting, which is always celebrated on February 15 But if the date of the Meeting of the Lord falls on the Monday of the first week in Great post, which may also be the case, the festive divine service is postponed to February 14.
Answering the question about what the Presentation is, first of all I must say that this is a holiday dedicated to the Lord Jesus. In the first centuries it was the day of the celebration of the Virgin. Therefore, the one who calls this holiday the Mother of God will also be partly right. After all, in the structure of the service on this day, addresses in prayers and chants to the Mother of God occupy a central position. This duality of the Feast of the Meeting also influenced the color of the clothes worn by the clergy at the service. White color became a symbol of Divine light, blue - the purity and purity of the Mother of God.
Candles. Candlemas
The tradition to sanctify the Feast of the Meeting came to Orthodoxy from Catholics. In 1646, the Metropolitan of Kiev Pyotr Mohyla described this Catholic rite in great detail in his missal, when a religious procession was organized, which was a procession with torches. Thus, the Roman Church distracted its flock from the pagan traditions associated with the worship of fire.
But in the Chita region there is the city of Sretensk, named in honor of this great holiday.
In some other countries, this day is celebrated as the Day of Orthodox Youth, approved in 1992 by the heads of local Orthodox churches. This idea belongs to the World Orthodox Youth Movement "Syndesmos".
Plots of icons
The Icon of the Presentation illustrates the plot of the story from the Evangelist Luke, where the Pious Virgin Mary hands over her baby Jesus to the elder Simeon. Behind the back of the Mother of God stands Joseph the Betrothed, who carries a cage with two doves. And behind Simeon is Anna the prophetess.
One of the most the oldest images can be found in the mosaic of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore in the city of Rome, which was created at the beginning of the 5th century. On it you can see how the Holy Virgin Mary with the Divine Infant in her arms goes to Saint Simeon, and at this time she is accompanied by angels.
The Orthodox Meeting in Russia was depicted in two frescoes of the 12th century. The first is located in the St. Cyril Church of the city of Kiev. The second icon of the Presentation is in Novgorod, in the Church of the Savior on Nerditsa. There is a rather unusual image of the Meeting on icons in medieval Georgian art, where instead of an altar a symbol of sacrifice to the Lord is depicted - a burning candle.
The icon of the Blessed Mary "Softening Evil Hearts" (in another way it has the name "Simeon's Prophecy", "Seven-shot") is associated with the events of the Presentation. In this icon, sharp arrows pierce the heart of the Mother of God standing on a cloud, three arrows on one side and the other, and one from below. But there is an icon where the Mother of God is pierced by a dagger, not arrows.
These icons symbolize the prophecy of the holy elder Simeon the God-receiver, which he made after meeting with the Mother of God and her Child.
Believers always turn to these icons with prayer. By softening the heart, not only their bodily but also mental suffering is relieved. They know that if you pray in front of the image of the Mother of God for your enemies, then the hostile feeling will gradually fade away and anger will disappear, giving way to mercy and kindness.
The Presentation of the Lord is one of the 12 main church holidays, which are dedicated to the events of the earthly life of the Savior and the Mother of God. The Presentation of the Lord is not a passing holiday and always falls on February 15th. Translated from the Old Slavic word "meeting" means "meeting".
The holiday is established in memory of the meeting described in the Gospel of Luke, which took place on the 40th day after the Nativity of Christ.
CANDLEMAS
On this day, the Church remembers an important event in the earthly life of Jesus Christ. According to the Old Testament law, a woman who gave birth to a male baby was forbidden to enter the temple of God for 40 days.
After this period, the mother came to the temple with the baby to bring a thankful and cleansing sacrifice to the Lord. The Most Holy Virgin Mary did not need purification, but out of deep humility she obeyed the prescription of the law.
And when the Mother of God crossed the threshold of the temple with the baby in her arms, an ancient elder came out to meet her - by the name of Simeon, which in Hebrew means "hearing".
The Gospel of Luke says: "He was a just and pious man, longing for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It was foretold by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw Christ the Lord."
Simeon, according to legend, was one of 72 scribes who, at the behest of the Egyptian king Ptolemy II, translated the Bible from Hebrew into Greek. In the year when the Saint was 360 years old (according to some sources, about 300 years old), the Holy Spirit brought him to the Jerusalem temple.
By inspiration from above, the pious elder came to the temple at the time when the Most Holy Theotokos and the righteous Joseph brought the Infant Jesus there to perform the lawful ceremony.
Simeon realized that the prophecy had come true and the Baby in Mary's arms - the very long-awaited Messiah, about which the prophets had been writing for hundreds of years, and now he could die in peace.
The God-Receiver took the baby in his arms and blessed God, uttered a prophecy about the Savior of the world: "Now you release your servant, O Master, according to your word in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all nations, the light to the enlightenment of the pagans and glory your people Israel. " The church named him Simeon the God-receiver and glorified him as a Saint.
The elderly widow, the prophetess Anna, who lived at the Jerusalem temple, testified to the same. The words spoken by Simeon at the time of the meeting became part of the Orthodox divine service.
HISTORY
The Presentation of the Lord belongs to the most ancient holidays of the Christian Church and completes the cycle of Christmas holidays, but despite this, until the 6th century, this holiday was not celebrated so solemnly.
The earliest evidence of the celebration of the Meeting in the Christian East dates back to the end of the 4th century, and in the West from the 5th century. Then the Meeting in Jerusalem was not yet an independent holiday, and was called "the fortieth day from the Epiphany."
In 528, under the emperor Justinian (527 - 565), Antioch suffered a disaster - an earthquake, from which many people died. This misfortune was followed by another. In 544, a pestilence appeared, taking away several thousand people every day.
In these days of national disaster, it was opened to one of the pious Christians in order to make the celebration of the Meeting of the Lord more solemn.
When on the day of the Meeting of the Lord there was an all-night vigil and a procession of the cross, the calamities in Byzantium ceased. In gratitude to God, the Church in 544 established to celebrate the Presentation of the Lord more solemnly and included it among the main holidays.
The Feast of the Presentation has one day of the forefeast and seven days of the afterfeast. On the second day of the celebration, February 16, the Church celebrates the memory of the righteous Simeon, whom she called the God-Receiver, and Anna the Prophetess - the Saints, whose personal spiritual exploit, as you know, was directly connected with the events of the Meeting.
THE ESSENCE
The priests explain that the essence of the holiday is in a long-awaited and saving meeting, on this day two epochs met, marked by two Testaments of God and man - Old and New.
In the face of Simeon, one of the best people the passing time, the Old Testament greeted and bowed to the New Testament, which was to embody the Child Christ.
The law of God given to the Jewish people meets the new, higher Law of Divine love, brought to the world by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Icon with the image "Meeting". XII century. Georgian cloisonne enamel
In fact, the whole life of mankind before the coming of the Savior is a long and painful expectation of the joy of this meeting, the Meeting of the Lord. And this long-awaited day has come - humanity in the person of Simeon clearly recognized and firmly confessed that after many millennia of its unauthorized excommunication from God, it has finally met its Creator.
After all, Simeon held in his arms the One who, by His mysterious will, having transgressed the limits of eternity and omnipotence, "diminished" to the state of a helpless Child, held - God Himself.
This bright holiday is equal to both our Lord Christ and the Virgin Mary.
TRADITIONS
On this day, in addition to the festive liturgy in churches, a procession of the cross is sometimes held. People give thanks to heaven, and they also take candles from the temple to their home to light them while reading prayers.
According to custom, church candles are consecrated on the day of the Meeting of the Lord. This custom came to the Orthodox Church from Catholics in 1646. The people believed that the candles consecrated at the Presentation of the Lord can protect the house from lightning and fire.
After the holiday, the peasants began many "spring" activities, including driving the cattle out of the barn into the corral, preparing seeds for sowing, whitewashing fruit trees. In addition to household chores, of course, festivities were held in the villages.
The people believed that on February 15, winter meets spring, as evidenced by many sayings - "at the Meeting, winter met with spring", "at Meeting the sun for the summer, winter turned to frost".
According to the signs, if the Meeting of the Lord is cold weather, then the spring will be cold. If a thaw is expected, then wait for a warm spring. But, be that as it may, and the Meeting is always the joy of parting with winter and the expectation of a new fruitful year.
The last winter frosts and the first spring thaws were called Sretensky.
Simeon's saying
The icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is called "Softening of Evil Hearts" or "Simeon's Prophecy", is associated with the event of the Meeting of the Lord.
It symbolizes the fulfillment of the prophecy of the righteous elder Simeon: "The weapon itself will pass the soul for you," which he uttered after he took the Divine Infant in his arms and blessed Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Just as Christ is pierced with nails and a spear, so the soul of the Most Pure One will be struck by a certain "weapon" of sorrow and heartache when She sees the suffering of the Son.
This interpretation of Simeon's prophecy became the subject of several "symbolic" icons of the Mother of God. All those who resort to them with prayer feel how mental and physical suffering is relieved.
The image "Softening of Evil Hearts" comes, presumably, from South-Western Russia, however historical information about him, or where and when she appeared, no.
Usually, the icon depicts the Mother of God, whose heart is pierced by seven swords - three on the right and on the left, and one from below. The choice of the image of the sword on the icon is not accidental, since it is associated in human representation with the shedding of blood.
The number "seven" in the Holy Scriptures means the "fullness" of something, in this case - the fullness of all that grief, "sorrow and heart disease" that the Blessed Virgin suffered in Her earthly life.
The celebration of this image takes place on All Saints' Week (on the first Sunday after Trinity).
PRAYER
O long-suffering Mother of God, Higher than all the daughters of the earth, in her purity and in the multitude of sufferings that you transferred to the earth, accept our many-painful sighs and preserve us under the roof of your mercy. Inago bo shelter and warm intercession, do we not know You, but, as you have boldness for the One who was born from You, help and save us with Your prayers, so that we will unambiguously reach the Kingdom of Heaven, where, together with all the saints, we will sing in the Trinity to the One God, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
There are Christian holidays that literally everyone knows about. And they can briefly describe what, in fact, the believers note. Christmas - Christ was born. Easter - Christ is risen. And what is the Presentation of the Lord? What does this unusual mean? modern man word - "meeting"?
Olga K., town of Zelva.
On February 15, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord. This is one of the oldest Christian holidays. Even in the 4th-5th centuries, the holy teachers of the Church preached Sretensky sermons before the people. The holiday became a national holiday for Byzantium in the 6th century. Following this, the tradition of the solemn celebration of the Presentation spread throughout the Christian world. The word “meeting” itself, translated from Church Slavonic, means “meeting”.
The Holy Gospel says that forty days after the Nativity of Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos and righteous Joseph brought the Divine Infant to the Jerusalem temple to consecrate Him to God.
At that time in Jerusalem there was an old man named Simeon, a righteous and pious man. He was foretold by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he saw Christ. Simeon waited a long time for the fulfillment of God's promise. According to legend, he lived for over 300 years.
When the Blessed Virgin Mary brought the Infant Jesus to the temple, Simeon met Christ, took Him in his arms and, glorifying God, uttered a prophecy about the Savior of the world. Since then, righteous Simeon has been called the God-receiver, that is, he who took the Lord into his own hands.
Here, in the temple, was Anna the prophetess - a pious widow of eighty-four years old. Having recognized the God-child, she glorified the Lord and spoke about Christ the Savior to everyone in Jerusalem.
The Day of the Meeting of the Lord is a meeting of the Old and New Testaments, the ancient world and Christianity. The meeting is a meeting with the Lord. Elder Simeon and the prophetess Anna showed to all mankind an example of sincere faith and purity of heart, having accepted the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The custom of bringing babies to the temple has survived to this day in order to make the forty-day-old baby a member of the Lord's family and pray for him. The mother comes to church with the newborn. The priest is waiting for her at the entrance, takes from the hands of the child and reads a prayer. Then churching takes place, when the priest carries the baby inside the church, stopping and making the image of a cross at the entrance, in the middle and near the altar. If it is a boy, he is carried to the altar. In all the prayers associated with these actions, righteous Simeon and other circumstances of the event are remembered.
Orthodox Christians remember this church institution well and rush to church to perform the necessary rite, receive God's Blessing, and the Lord protects the mother and baby throughout their lives.
It should be noted that in the Orthodox missal there is "The Rite of Blessing Svesh at the Meeting of the Lord." Christians bring candles home. They are kindled in front of icons during prayer. A burning candle reminds of light and spiritual fire. The human heart should burn with love for God and neighbor - to shine like a candle to others as an example of a virtuous life.