Tuesday, 2 February 2027

Meeting of Christ in the Temple

Tuesday of the 36th week after Pentecost

296 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Major feast Lord · No Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Meeting of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Temple

The Meeting of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, also known as the Presentation of Christ and the Hypapante, commemorates one of the most significant events in the life of our Lord and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This great feast occurs on the fortieth day after the Nativity of Christ, corresponding to 2 February in the Orthodox Church.

The event is recorded in the Gospel of Luke (2:22-39). In accordance with the Jewish Law given by Moses, Mary and Joseph brought their firstborn Son, Jesus Christ, to the Temple in Jerusalem forty days after His birth to present Him to the Lord and to offer the prescribed sacrifice. This was in obedience to the ancient custom of redeeming the firstborn and purifying the mother.

In the Temple, they encountered two righteous and devout servants of God: Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess. Simeon was a just and devout man who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not depart from this life until he had seen the Christ of God. Anna was an elderly widow of great age who had spent her long years in the Temple, worshipping night and day with fasting and prayer. By the illumination of the Holy Spirit, both recognized in the infant Jesus the Messiah and Saviour of the world whom they had awaited.

Simeon took the Child into his arms and uttered his great hymn of thanksgiving, the Nunc dimittis, acknowledging Christ as the Light of revelation to all nations. He also prophesied concerning the sufferings that lay ahead, telling Mary that a sword would pierce her soul. Anna, coming forward at that same moment, gave thanks to God and spoke of the Child to all who awaited the redemption of Jerusalem, bearing witness to His coming.

This feast marks the fulfilment of the Law, the meeting of the old covenant with the new, and the universal light of Christ's salvation breaking into the world. The Church celebrates this great feast as one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox liturgical year.

Holy Martyr Agathodorus of Tyana

Saint Agathodorus was a holy martyr who suffered in Tyana, a city of Cappadocia in Asia Minor. He bore witness to his Christian faith openly and fearlessly, even when threatened with torture and death by pagan authorities. His unwavering commitment to Christ and his courageous proclamation of the Gospel made him a target for persecution during times when Christians faced severe trials. In his martyrdom, Saint Agathodorus shed his blood for the faith, joining the cloud of witnesses who testified to the power of Christ even unto death. His feast is commemorated on 2 February among the other saints who have glorified God through their sacrifice and steadfast confession of Jesus Christ.

Holy New Martyr Jordan of Trebizond

Saint Jordan was born in the city of Trebizond and worked as a coppersmith. Living among Muslims in Constantinople during the seventeenth century, he boldly confessed his Orthodox faith and, when called upon to defend Christianity, openly mocked the false claims of Islam. His fearless witness to Christ brought him into danger with those who could not tolerate his defence of the Gospel. On the eve of the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord in 1650, Jordan was accused of insulting the Muslim prophet and summoned before the Ottoman authorities. When offered the opportunity to renounce his Christian faith to save his life, he refused, declaring: "Indeed, I thank the vizier; but what he proposes I will never do." For his unwavering confession of Christ, Saint Jordan was beheaded on 2 February 1650, becoming a martyr and a shining example of faith in the midst of persecution.

Holy and Righteous Anna the Prophetess

Saint Anna was a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She lived in the Jerusalem Temple in prayer and fasting, having been widowed after seven years of marriage. For eighty-four years, she remained steadfast in her devotions, never departing from the Temple as she served the Lord with prayers and fasting day and night. Her life was entirely devoted to seeking God's consolation for the suffering of Israel. When the infant Jesus was brought to the Temple by His parents forty days after His birth, Saint Anna recognised Him as the promised Messiah. Moved by the Holy Spirit, she gave thanks to God and spoke of redemption to all who looked for the liberation of Israel. Her testimony confirmed that of righteous Symeon, establishing the Child Jesus as the fulfillment of all the Law and the Prophets.

Holy and Righteous Symeon the God-Receiver

Saint Symeon the God-Receiver was chosen as one of the seventy elders to translate the Hebrew scriptures into Greek. While translating the Book of Isaiah, he came upon the prophecy: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb, and shall bring forth a Son." He questioned the translation of "virgin," intending to correct it to "woman," when an angel appeared and stayed his hand, saying: "Thou shalt not die until thou shalt behold Christ the Lord born of a pure and spotless Virgin." Thus, Symeon became the first to confess that Jesus was the Christ promised by the prophets. During the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, the aged righteous man received the Child Jesus into his arms and praised God, recognising the Messiah he had been promised. Though he had awaited this blessed event his whole life, he was now ready to depart in peace, for his eyes had seen the salvation of the Lord.

Daily readings

Vespers

OT — Composite 6 - Exodus 12, 13; Numbers 8; Leviticus 12

The Lord spoke to Moses on the day on which he brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, saying, ‘Sanctify to me every first-born, first produced that opens every womb among the children of Israel’. And Moses said to the people, ‘Remember this day, on which you came out of Egypt, from the house of slavery, for the Lord has brought you out from there with a mighty hand. And keep his law. And it shall be that when the Lord God brings you into the land of the Chananites, in the way that he swore to your fathers, you shall set apart everything that opens the womb; the males to the Lord. But if after this your son asks you, saying, “What is this?”, you will say to him, “God brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery, with a mighty hand. And when Pharao hardened his heart against sending us out, the Lord slew every first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of humans to the first-born of animals. This is why I sacrifice everything that opens the womb; the males to the Lord, and every first-born of my sons I will redeem”. And it will be for a sign upon your hand, and immovable before your eyes, because thus said the Lord the Almighty, “All the first-born of your sons you will give me. And it shall be that everyone who gives birth to a male child shall circumcise the flesh of its foreskin on the eighth day. And for thirty three days he will not come into the sanctuary of God to the Priest, until the days of purification are completed. And after this he will offer an unblemished yearling lamb to the Lord for a holocaust, and a young pigeon or turtle dove to the Priest at the door of the Tabernacle of Witness. Or instead of these he will offer two young pigeons or two turtle doves. And the Priest will make atonement for him. Because these have been offered to me as an offering out of all the children of Israel. And I have taken them and sanctified them for myself in place of the first-born of the Egyptians, on the day when I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt from human to beast of burden,” said God the Most High, the Holy One of Israel.’

Vespers

Isaiah — Isaiah 6.1-12

¹In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

¹In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. ²Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. ²Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. ³And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. ³And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. ⁴And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. ⁴And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. ⁵Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts.

⁵Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. ⁶Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

⁶Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: ⁷and he touched my mouth with it, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven. ⁷And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. ⁸Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. ⁸And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me.

⁹And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. ⁹And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. ¹⁰Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. ¹⁰Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed. ¹¹Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until cities be waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land become utterly waste, ¹¹Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, ¹²and Jehovah have removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land. ¹²And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

Vespers

OT — Composite 7 - Isaiah 19.1, 3, 4-5, 12, 16, 19-21

See, the Lord will be seated on a light cloud and will come to Egypt and the idols of Egypt will be shaken at his presence and their heart will be worsted within them. ‘And their spirit will be troubled within them, and I will frustrate their counsel and hand Egypt over into the hands of harsh lords,’ says the Lord Sabaoth. And the Egyptians will drink water that is beside the sea, while the river will fail and be dried up. Thus says the Lord, ‘Where now are your wise men? And let them declare to you and let them say, “What has the Lord Sabaoth planned against Egypt?” On that day the Egyptians will be like women, in fear and trembling in the presence of the hand of the Lord Sabaoth, which he will bring against them. And there will be an Altar to the Lord in the country of the Egyptians and a pillar to Lord at its border. And it will be for a sign for ever to the Lord in the country of Egypt, because they will cry to the Lord and he will send them a man who will save them. And the Lord will be known to the Egyptians. And the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and they will offer sacrifice and gift, and they will vow vows to the Lord and pay them.

Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 2.25-32

²⁵And, 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. ²⁵And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁶And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷And 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, ²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law, ²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, ²⁸then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, ²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: ²⁹Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace; ³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, ³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, ³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; ³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; ³²A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. ³²A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.

Epistle

— Meeting weekly cycle

Hebrews — Hebrews 7.7-17

⁷But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better. ⁷And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. ⁸And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. ⁸And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. ⁹And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes; ⁹And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. ¹⁰for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. ¹⁰For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

¹¹Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron? ¹¹If 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? ¹²For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. ¹²For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. ¹³For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. ¹³For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar. ¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests. ¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. ¹⁵And what we say is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, ¹⁵And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, ¹⁶who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life: ¹⁶Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. ¹⁷for it is witnessed of him, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek. ¹⁷For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Epistle

Hebrews — Hebrews 12.25-26, 13.22-25

²⁵See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven: ²⁵See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: ²⁶whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. ²⁶Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. ²²And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

²²But I exhort you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation: for I have written unto you in few words. ²³Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. ²³Know ye that our brother Timothy hath been set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. ²⁴Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

²⁴Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. ²⁵Grace be with you all. Amen.

²⁵Grace be with you all. Amen.

Gospel

— Meeting weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 2.22-40

²²And 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;

²²And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord ²³(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) ²³(as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), ²⁴And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. ²⁵And, 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. ²⁵And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law, ²⁷And 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, ²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, ²⁸then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, ²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: ²⁹Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace; ³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, ³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, ³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; ³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; ³²A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. ³²A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel. ³³And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

³³And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him; ³⁴And 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; ³⁴and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; ³⁵(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. ³⁵yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. ³⁶And 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; ³⁶And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, ³⁷And 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. ³⁷and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. ³⁸And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. ³⁸And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. ³⁹And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. ³⁹And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. ⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Gospel

Mark — Mark 10.2-12

²And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

²And there came unto him Pharisees, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? trying him. ³And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? ³And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? ⁴And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. ⁴And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. ⁵And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. ⁵But Jesus said unto them, For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. ⁶But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. ⁶But from the beginning of the creation, Male and female made he them. ⁷For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; ⁷For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; ⁸and the two shall become one flesh: so that they are no more two, but one flesh. ⁸And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. ⁹What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. ⁹What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. ¹⁰And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. ¹⁰And in the house the disciples asked him again of this matter. ¹¹And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. ¹¹And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her: ¹²And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. ¹²and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery.