Forty days after the Lord Jesus Christ's birth,
the Theotokos and Joseph her betrothed presented the Lord in the
temple in Jerusalem as was proscribed by the law. They offered
two turtledoves as a sacrifice. At the temple, they were met by
St. Anna the prophetess and by St. Symeon, one of the translators
of the Septuagint, who blessed the Lord.
Rejoice, thou who art full of grace,/ Mother of God and Virgin,/ for from thee arose the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,/ to give light to those in darkness./ Rejoice thou also, righteous Elder, who didst take in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls,/ Who also gives us the grace of resurrection.
Thou Who didst sanctify the Virgin's womb by Thy birth/ and bless Symeon's hands as was fitting/ hast now come to us and saved us, O Christ our God./ But grant peace in the midst of wars to Thy community,/ and strengthen the Church which Thou hast loved,/ O only Lover of mankind.
And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the
better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he
receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I
may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in
Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when
Melchisedec met him.
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for
under it the people received the law,) what further need was
there that another priest should rise after the order of
Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the
priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change
also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken
pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at
the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of
which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is
yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of
Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after
the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an
endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after
the order of Melchisedec.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of
Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to
present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the
law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon;
and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation
of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed
unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before
he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit
into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,
to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in
his arms, and blessed God, and said, 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. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those
things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and
said unto Mary his mother, 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 thy own soul
also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And
there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the
tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an
husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of
about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the
temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord,
and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in
Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to
the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own
city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit,
filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
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