Have fun, too, old man.
Taking into the arms of the Liberator of our souls,
Who gives us resurrection
Tropar
The word “meeting” means “meeting.” The reason for the celebration was the bringing of the baby Jesus to the temple, and his meeting with Elder Simeon. However, behind a rather ordinary event (on the 40th day all male babies were brought to the temple) there is a deep philosophical meaning.
Simeon was a scribe who studied the law of God and participated in its translation from Hebrew into Greek. When his work reached the book of the prophet Isaiah, in which he promised that “a virgin in the womb will conceive and give birth”, Simeon decided to correct the word “virgin”, realizing that this is impossible. But his hand was stopped by an angel who promised that the elder would live until he met a baby born in this unusual way.
Messiah.
My husband had to wait a long time for this event. He had such a long life, so when he saw the baby Jesus, he was very happy. The one who has the opportunity to see and even hold the Savior in his arms. That long earthly journey is coming to an end and rest awaits him. He was not afraid of death because he saw the Savior.
Christians call Simeon the God-receiver. He took the Lord in his arms and prophesied to his mother Mary, predicting what path she would go through the cross.
In the example of Simeon, we see that a long and fruitful life does not bring true joy until a meeting with the Lord takes place. Only this meeting fills the soul with true joy. Simeon rejoiced, rejoicing, glorifying God, righteous Anna, who was present at the meeting.
And yet, meeting the Lord brings liberation, peace in the soul. Simeon did not go to death, to eternal life. He left, carrying the image of a baby in his soul, “like a lamp, into that black darkness,” as Joseph Brodsky wrote. With the Lord in our hearts there is not darkness, but light. Isn’t that something to celebrate? Together with Simeon, the Old Testament religion departs into eternity, the time of Christianity comes. The light of the world remains with us, Jesus. Therefore, in Sretenye candles are lit in the temple, and believers take them home to light during prayer, remembering the end of one era and the beginning of another.
The early Christians understood the importance of the meeting. The celebration of this day began in the 4th century, when Christianity had not yet become a universal religion. Description of the holiday left us pilgrim Eteria. She said that this day is celebrated with a festive procession, the preaching of the presbyters and the bishop, and then the divine Liturgy. In the center of the sermon is always the main event – Sretenye, Meeting. Gradually, the holiday spread everywhere, but it was not considered particularly important. By the middle of the 6th century, Byzantium — the stronghold of Christianity in those days, experienced major cataclysms: pestilence, crop failures, earthquakes. In the year 544, a Christian had a vision. In order for troubles to stop the holiday of Sretenya, it was necessary to celebrate more solemnly. Since that year, we have been celebrating the cross and
All-night vigil. So Sretenje was among the 12 most important church holidays.
Special attention and honor are given to the Sretenya of the Virgin. After all, the meeting ends forty days of festivities, prepares believers for Great Lent. To the suffering of Jesus, but also to the suffering of the Virgin, because her soul will be pierced with sorrow, says the Gospel.
In the meantime, let us rejoice in the Meeting and ask the Lord to fill our souls with the Holy Spirit and lead us to heaven.
Charity foundHoly Land.
Soul investment!
