Meeting Andrey Rublev. icon "The Meeting of the Lord"

History of the icon

The history of the icon is the history of the feast of the Presentation.
It all started with the Nativity of Christ, after which 40 days passed. According to the tradition of the ancient Jews, the first boy in the family had to be initiated into the faith on his fortieth day of birth. For this purpose, a special ritual with a sacrifice was carried out, to which the Virgin Mary and Joseph brought two doves. Sometimes the icon depicts a dove and a turtledove, which in Catholicism have become a special symbol of goodness and light. Almost always on the icon there is the Virgin Mary herself, Joseph, Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess, as well as the baby Jesus. The image depicts the events of the day when our Lord Jesus Christ accepted the ancient rite of initiation. This was the moment when two greatest eras came together. It was from this moment that the countdown of our era began. This was the horizon where the Old and New Testaments met. This is the greatest moment in the history of the world.

He was accepted into the faith and performed the ritual by Simeon the God-Receiver, who, according to some sources, lived for more than two centuries in anticipation of the baby Christ, the Messiah, who would save the world. The prophecy was fulfilled, as it was intended by Heaven and our Father God.

Meeting means "meeting." This is the greatest encounter between God in human form and the world. This icon fully reflects the essence of the holiday, its secret meaning and all the power of human faith, which is why many clergy recommend that every Christian have it in their home.

Since the meaning of the holiday is double, a double name was assigned to it: “Candlemas” - in the Eastern Church, “Cleansing” - in the Western. The names reflect different emphases: the Orthodox tradition emphasizes the theological meaning, the Catholic tradition – the human one.

Moreover, in Catholicism it is the feast of the Mother of God, in Orthodoxy it is the Lord’s feast, in which the role of the Mother of God is glorified. This can be seen in the blue robes of the priests who dress in the color of the Mother of God on this day. The icon of the Presentation of the Lord is necessarily present in the festive row of the iconostasis.

Icon painting knows two types of holiday icons.

In the first, righteous Simeon receives the Baby from the hands of the Mother at the altar throne, referring the event to the future: the Savior is an atoning sacrifice for people. In the second, righteous Simeon receives the Baby from the hands of the Mother at the entrance to the temple.

In the first case, the sacrificial principle of Jesus is emphasized, in the second - the role of the Mother of God as the Mediator in the redemption of the human race.

History of appearance

The icon called “The Presentation of the Lord” was painted in honor of a holiday dedicated to Christ. The composition of the most holy image was based on a real event from the life of the Savior. On his 40th birthday, little Jesus was brought to the temple to be dedicated to God. This custom existed in ancient Jerusalem, and its founder was the prophet Moses.

The Meeting is the meeting of the righteous Simeon with Jesus. The Holy Child was brought to the temple by the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. A holiday in honor of this event was established only in the 4th century. The Church began to celebrate Candlemas annually on February 2 (15). Later, in the 9th-10th centuries, based on the texts of the Gospel of Luke, icon painters created an icon, the composition of which was based on the moment of the meeting of the Son of God with Simeon the God-Receiver.

With the birth of Jesus, new times came, with laws that formed the basis of the New Testament. The old order, of which Simeon was a zealous servant, retreated. In the ancient temple of Jerusalem, on the 40th birthday of Christ, a kind of meeting of the New Testament with the Old Testament took place.

Sretensky candles

At the Presentation of the Lord, special candles are often lit, which differ significantly from those that are present in the church every year. A candle is traditionally associated with the fire of a person’s faith in God. Such candles consist of the necessary components: wax, as a symbol of trust and submission to the will of God, and oil, a symbol of God’s mercy.

People of faith claim that Sretensky candles have special power. Whether it is a prayer to the Lord Jesus, the Mother of God and the saints when lighting candles in honor of the Presentation of the Lord, rest assured that your Voice will undoubtedly reach Him.

Candles are used exclusively for lighting them in the temple for prayer. This ritual is associated with the solution of complex life problems (choosing a life partner, profession, etc.), with illnesses or real demonic possession.

Many people have a logical question: why are Sretensky candles better than ordinary ones? After all, both types are sanctified in the church. So what's the difference? The fact is that simple candles are blessed several times a year with a small rite. Sretensky candles are lit once a year, but by the highest rank.

There is, of course, no special magic in such candles, because all church candles are designed to give a person a chance to dialogue with God. Let us remember that a candle is a sacrifice to the Lord. What you give away from the bins of your material world free of charge. This way, if you go to a store and buy something, it won't be a sacrifice.

If you just bought a candle to consecrate a room, this is also not a sacrifice. A sacrifice will be the case when you buy a candle in a church and put it to burn near the shrine. Another sacrifice is considered to be giving alms to a beggar, as well as the fact that you do not exchange for something material, but only give with a sincere heart.

It is impossible to “bribe” the Lord, for example, by buying a large and thick candle in a temple. The candle is just a formality, God cherishes your pure hearts

It is important for him to see whether we know how to sacrifice material things for the sake of spiritual things and how soon we will be ready for life in heaven. Material things for God – dust, spirituality – that’s what’s really important

Hymns of the Presentation of the Lord

The celebration of the meeting of man and God cannot take place without praise. Every year on February 15, chants are held in churches, in which an event that happened a long time ago is glorified, but managed to instill a spark of joy and true happiness in our souls. The day when the Virgin Mary arrived at the Jerusalem temple with her Son became a significant date for all Christians.

Even today we do not forget the meeting of Elder Simeon the God-Receiver and the Son of God; we know that the meeting was destined. The truth lies in the chants. Only through songs and prayers can one convey a layer of voice to God. Traditionally, the church choir is occupied with singing, carrying the will of all people in the house of God. If a parishioner knows the words of the chant, he can join the choir from the crowd and together become heard by the Lord.

Troparion of the Presentation of the Lord

The troparion is presented as a short chant. Its primary task is to reveal the essence of the holiday. At some points, the troparion is classified as a type of hymn. The Troparion of the Presentation of the Lord, dedicated to the Presentation of the Lord, glorifies the Mother of God and her responsible mission to the birth of the Son of God. The Son of God is, first of all, the Liberator, who was born to save our souls from sinful darkness. The specific role of Simeon the God-Receiver in the recognition of the Son of the Mother of God is also noted. It was he who became the first witness that the prophecy of Isaiah came true and the Savior arrived on our sinful earth.

Kontakion of the Presentation of the Lord

In essence, the kontakion about the holiday is presented in the form of a poetic sermon and is dedicated to a specific holiday. In our case, the kontakion dedicated to the Presentation of the Lord develops the theme of the holiday, which the troparion began to glorify. In other words, even though today’s kontakion is limited to one stanza, and sometimes is indistinguishable from a troparion, it is the means that fully reveals the essence of the holiday, highlighting those moments that were unintentionally hidden.

The Kontakion of the Presentation of the Lord describes in verse the scene in which Simeon the God-Receiver holds the Son of God in his arms. At this moment, the world knew true happiness and received hope for deliverance from sinful darkness.

The Greatness of the Presentation

The last moment in the song-singing process is magnification. There are no special plots here. This is the final part of the holiday chants and is dedicated to the magnification of Jesus Christ as our Defender and Savior. The majesty of the Presentation glorifies not only the Son of God, but also his Mother, who in an immaculate way gave the world hope for the revival of the human race. On His Path, the Son of God experienced a lot of sorrows and suffering, but did not turn away from people. The more suffering he experienced, the more he sympathized with it. After all, when torturing him, they tortured only his body, but their souls suffered comparatively more.

Prayer text

There is a special prayer text that is read in front of the icon called “The Presentation of the Lord.” The prayer mentions a biblical event from the life of Jesus: the Holy Child was brought to a pagan temple and handed over to the hands of the righteous Simeon. At that moment, a meeting of old and new religious movements took place. Christians thank the Almighty for the Son of God and glorify Jesus and the Immaculate Virgin.

Prayer for the Presentation of the Lord

Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son and Word of God, seen of old as a prophet in fortune-telling, in these last days born incorruptibly in the flesh of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, and on this fortieth day in the Sanctuary at the Meeting of the Whole World from Him, like a Child held in His hands, revealed and carried in the arms of the righteous Simeon for the salvation of all who exist from Adam!

How glorious and bright is Thy offering into the hand of the Mother of God into the temple of the Lord and Thy Divine meeting from the holy elder! Today the heavens rejoice and the earth rejoices, for Thy procession has been seen, O God, the procession of our King God, Who is in the Holy One. Of old, Moses ascended to see Your glory, but it was not possible to see Your Face, You had previously shown Him Your rear.

On the bright day of this Presentation of Yours, You revealed Yourself as a man in the sanctuary, shining with the indescribable Light of the Divine, so that together with Simeon they see You face to face and with their hands, and touch You, and take You into their arms, so that they know You as God who has come in the flesh.

For this reason, we glorify Your indescribable condescension and Your great love for mankind, as by Your coming You have now granted heavenly joy to the anciently fallen human race: For by Your righteous judgment You expelled our ancestors from the paradise of sweets into this world, but now You have had mercy on us and have again opened up the heavenly abodes for us and You turned our weeping to joy, so that the fallen Adam would no longer be ashamed of You for disobedience and may Your Face not be hidden, Called by You, for You have come now, so that You may take upon Yourself his sin, and wash it with Your Blood and May you clothe him naked with the robe of salvation and the robe of joy and adorn him like a bride with beauty.

For all of us who remember Your Divine Meeting, grant us the privilege of going with the wise virgins to Thy Meeting, our Heavenly Bridegroom, with burning lamps of faith, love and purity, so that with the eyes of faith we may see Your Divine Face, may we accept You into our spiritual embrace, and may we carry You in your heart all the days of your life, that you may become God to us and we your people.

On the last and terrible day of Your Coming, when all the saints come to the last and great Meeting of Yours in the air, grant us also the ability to sleep on You, so that we will always be with the Lord. Glory to Thy Mercy, Glory to Thy Kingdom, Glory to Thy vision, O One Lover of Mankind, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory with Thy Beginning Father and Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Troparion of the Presentation of the Lord

Rejoice, Blessed Virgin Mary, for from You has risen the Sun of Truth - Christ, our God, enlighten those in darkness. Rejoice also, O righteous elder, received into the arms of the Liberator of our souls, who gives us resurrection.

Rejoice, blessed Virgin Mary, for from You has arisen the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those in darkness. Rejoice also, O righteous elder, / who has accepted into the arms of the Liberator of our souls, who gives us resurrection.

Kontakion of the Presentation of the Lord

You sanctified the womb of the Maiden with Your Nativity / and blessed the hand of Simeon, as befitting, having preceded, and now save us, O Christ God, but die in battle and strengthen the people whom You have loved, the only One who loves mankind.

You sanctified the womb of the Virgin by Your Birth, and blessed the hands of Simeon, in advance, as it should have been, and now You have saved us, O Christ our God. But protect Your people in peace amidst wars and strengthen those whom You have loved, O One Lover of Mankind.

Archimandrite Seraphim (Tyapochkin) about the Presentation of the Lord

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This is how the Divine Teacher, our Lord Jesus Christ, called to Himself during His earthly life. He called to Him those who were toiling and burdened, He called to Him the unfortunate and destitute, He called to Him all the toilers and sufferers of the earth. His Divine voice penetrated human souls, shook minds and attracted the hearts of people to Him.

This is how Christ calls you and me, dear brothers and sisters, promising to give rest to our souls. Peace of mind - what happiness this is for a person. What could be more valuable in our life than this peace?! You can have complete contentment in life, you can enjoy all the comforts of life, all the blessings of this world, you can consider yourself happy in your family and social life, but if there is no peace in your soul, then, alas, our happiness will be far from perfect.

Can something that is temporary and fleeting be called true happiness? Today we are in glory and honor, but tomorrow we may be in contempt and reproach. Today we shout “Hosanna”, and tomorrow – “Crucify”, today we are in strength and health, tomorrow – in weaknesses and illnesses, today we live, and tomorrow the veil of death may cover our eyes, and the coffin will become our last asset here on earth .

We advise you to study the Prayer “Queen of Heaven”

He will warm us with His love. He will comfort us. He will forgive all our sins before Him, He will forget all the insults that we so often inflict on Him, He will return His favor to us, and in the bosom of endless love we will find peace for our souls. Amen.

You have read the article The Presentation of the Lord in 2021.

Meeting of the Lord in 2021 - February 15

Meeting of the Lord in 2022 - February 15

Read materials about other major Orthodox holidays:

In the word “dormition” there is a feeling of peace (+audio)
Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Christmas: dates, history, traditions

history of the holiday

Presentation of the Lord

Events described in the Gospel of Luke

On the fortieth day after the Nativity of Christ and after the completion of the days of legal purification, Mary, together with Joseph, came from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to the temple, bringing the forty-day-old baby Jesus. According to the Law of Moses, parents had to bring their firstborns to the temple for dedication to God on the fortieth day after birth. In this case, it was necessary to offer a sacrifice in gratitude to God - a one-year-old lamb and a young dove or turtle dove. If the family was poor, then only a couple of doves were brought to the temple. In fulfillment of this law, Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple, and for the sacrifice they brought two chicks of a dove.

Simeon the God-Receiver

The Slavic word “sretenie” is translated into modern Russian as “meeting”. Meeting is a meeting of humanity in the person of Elder Simeon with God. Simeon the God-Receiver was a righteous and pious man - according to legend, one of the 72 learned interpreters and translators who were commissioned by the Egyptian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus to translate the Holy Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek. When Saint Simeon was translating the book of the prophet Isaiah and read the words “Behold, the Virgin will receive and give birth to a Son,” he thought that this was a typo and instead of “Virgin” there should be “Wife,” and considered it his duty to correct the text. But the angel of the Lord stopped the hand of Saint Simeon and assured him that he would not die until he was convinced of the truth of the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah.

Simeon waited a long time for the fulfillment of God's promise - he lived, according to legend, about 300 years. And on this day, at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he came to the temple. When Mary and Joseph brought the Baby Jesus, Simeon took Him in his arms and, praising God, said:

Now do You let Your servant go, Master, according to Your word, in peace, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all nations, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.

These words of the righteous Simeon became a prayer called “Song of Simeon the God-Receiver”

It has important liturgical significance and is sung twice: at the end of Vespers (both small and great during the All-Night Vigil) and at the “Prayers of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion” at the end of the Divine Liturgy

Joseph and Mary were surprised by these words. Simeon blessed them and, turning to Mary, predicted to Her about the Child:

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His Mother: Behold, this One is appointed for the fall and uprising of many in Israel and for the subject of discord, and a weapon will pierce Your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Controversy is the persecution that was prepared for the Savior. Opening thoughts - God's Judgment. What kind of weapon will pierce the heart of the Virgin Mary? This was a prophecy of the Crucifixion that awaited her Son. After all, the nails and spear from which the Savior died passed through her mother’s heart with unbearable pain.

These words formed the basis of the iconography of the image of the Mother of God “Softening Evil Hearts.” Simeon the God-Receiver died, according to legend, in the 360th year of his life. He was not afraid of death, because the promise given to him and all people was fulfilled. Simeon held the Messiah in his arms! And his soul now departed into eternity to tell all the righteous of the Old Testament that the Lord became incarnate and came to earth to save humanity from sin and death.

Anna the Prophetess

On the day of the Presentation, another meeting took place in the Jerusalem Temple. Right there in the temple was the pious widow Anna the Prophetess, 84 years old, who served God with fasting and prayer day and night throughout the long years of her widowhood. She recognized the Savior. Anna the prophetess bowed to the newborn Christ and left the Temple, bringing the news to the townspeople about the coming of the Messiah, the deliverer of Israel. And the Holy Family returned to Nazareth, since they fulfilled everything prescribed by the law of Moses.

What is the meaning of Candlemas

In a symbolic sense, the Meeting means the meeting of the new with the old, the New Testament with the Old. The New Testament here is symbolized by the baby Jesus, the firstborn, who, according to the law of Moses, was brought to the temple for the ceremony on the fortieth day after birth. According to the same law, on the eighth day after his birth he was circumcised and given a name.

In the temple, the Most Holy Virgin and Righteous Joseph were met by Simeon the God-Receiver, an ancient elder who, according to legend, was already about 300 years old. He was one of the 72 interpreters who translated the Old Testament into Greek for the Library of Alexandria, and while working on the translation of the book of the prophet Isaiah, something amazing happened to him. The prophecy said: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son.” Simeon considered this a mistake and was about to correct “virgin” to “wife,” but he was stopped by the angel of the Lord, who proclaimed that the elder would not die until the prophecy was fulfilled.

The Spirit of God himself led righteous Simeon to the Jerusalem temple when the baby Jesus was brought there to perform the ritual and the prescribed sacrifice. The Holy Spirit revealed to the elder that the baby in his mother’s arms was the Messiah, called to save the world. Taking the Divine Child in his arms, Simeon uttered the words that later became the beginning of the prayer “Now you let go.” After blessing Mary and Joseph, he revealed to the Mother of God what fate was in store for Her Son: being the Messiah, to become an atoning sacrifice.

At the same time, the prophetess Anna was present, serving God in the temple day and night. Hearing Simeon’s words, she brought this news to the people and “prophesied about Him to all who were looking for deliverance in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).

What does the icon “The Presentation of the Lord” mean?

The very compositional design of the Candlemas icon reflects the deep meaning of this great event. On the left is the Virgin Mary and Joseph behind her, on the right are Simeon the God-Receiver and the prophetess Anna. Thus, the right side of the icon symbolizes the Old Testament, and the left side symbolizes the New Testament

The center and link between both groups is the Baby Jesus, whom Simeon took into his arms with the greatest tenderness and care.

But not only care for the Divine Child explains the bent posture of Simeon, but also admiration for the holiness of the Virgin who immaculately conceived and the torment for the Son that she will have to endure in the future.

The Mother of God herself looks enlightened and humble in the icon. As a rule, the icon “The Presentation of the Lord” depicts her with her hands covered with clothes, because she has already given up her Baby. Joseph, standing behind Her, holds two doves in his hands. It was precisely this kind of sacrifice that poor people were allowed to make in the Jerusalem Temple in honor of the birth of a child. Joseph’s position is dual: on the one hand, he is a righteous man who observes all traditions and customs, and on the other, he is the guardian of the new that Jesus will bring into the world. This duality is emphasized by his position on the icon.

The prophetess Anna stands behind Simeon the God-Receiver and is, as it were, a witness certifying the fulfillment of the prophecy, about which she will notify the people and the world.

Already at the dawn of Christianity, Candlemas was considered a holiday dedicated not only to the baby Jesus, but also to the Virgin Mary. Both of them enter the way of the cross: Jesus, who has to save the world at the cost of his own earthly life, and his Mother, who sacrifices her Son and resigns herself to this sacrifice. But even having resigned herself, She cannot help but worry with all her soul for Her Child.

And this duality of the holiday - the combination of joy at the birth of the Savior, which is expressed by Simeon the God-Receiver, and sorrow in anticipation of the Passion of Christ - is deeply reflected by the Icon of the Presentation of the Lord.

In Orthodoxy, an ancient custom from the times of early Christianity is observed - to bless brought candles, which are then lit until the next Candlemas during prayer and in case of mental and physical ailments.

In the old days, such a lit candle was usually placed along with an icon at the head of the patient’s bed and prayers were read, which helped his speedy recovery.

How does an image help?

The most holy icon in honor of the Presentation, that is, the meeting of the Son of God with the righteous Simeon, is a symbol of the advent of new orders and the salvation of the entire human race. The New Testament met the Old Testament. Jesus, the Son of the Most High, came to our world in the form of a man to give people Christian teaching. Believers can pray to the icon and thank God for the knowledge given.

Simeon, having met Christ, soon went to hell to announce the souls of the martyrs gathered there about the coming liberation and salvation. Indeed, thanks to the sacrifice of the Son of God, all sinners received forgiveness. Jesus cleansed the whole world from sin. The Savior gave people a teaching, thanks to which the pagans converted to Christians and received the mercy of God. Christ opened mankind's eyes to the truth. The Son of God gave people the truth, taught them how to live, what to do in order to receive God's grace during life, and after death to have the opportunity to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Christians can pray to the image and ask God to cleanse their minds and sanctify their souls with the purity of Christian teaching.

The image called “The Presentation of the Lord” helps believers strengthen their faith and receive the protection of the Lord. Prayers to Jesus save people from illness, trouble, hunger, and misfortune. Believers ask the holy Son of God to protect them from enemies visible and invisible, to help them in a hopeless situation.

The icon “The Presentation of the Lord” helps:

strengthen faith in Christ;
ask God for forgiveness for your sins;
soften the wrath of God;
receive salvation from illnesses, misfortunes, enemies;
find a way out in a difficult situation;
find peace of mind after the loss or death of a relative or friend.

When a person’s soul is heavy, he comes to the temple to the Lord and reads prayers in front of his holy image. The believer trusts God with all his secrets and asks Christ for forgiveness for his sins. Having sincerely repented of sins, a Christian has the right to hope for the condescension and mercy of God.

The Savior is merciful. Christ forgives many people’s sins, although He severely punishes some. Believers need to accept God's will, whatever it may be. The Lord can send a person difficult trials. Sincere prayer before the image of the “Meeting of the Lord” will help the believer overcome all the difficulties that befall him. Christians must remember that they will answer for their sins before God.

Presentation of the Lord - pictures of congratulations for February 15

The Presentation of the Lord - pictures of congratulations for February 15. Download our postcards for free and congratulate your acquaintances and friends on the Orthodox holiday of Candlemas (meeting) on February 15.

On Candlemas I wish you to do many good deeds, to walk through life without losing heart, to always be cheerful and courageous. Happy Feast of the Presentation of the Lord!

The Presentation of the Lord - picture for February 15.

Postcard for the holiday of the Presentation of the Lord.

I congratulate you on the Presentation of the Lord, I wish you good happy days, may there be no spiritual kindness in the light of the truth of the divine rays.

Meeting means a meeting, an expected meeting with God. Simeon, who was standing in the synagogue, recognized the conduct of the heart, where Joseph and Mary brought the baby for the ceremony, the Messiah in the son of man.

This event is called the Meeting of the Lord (meeting), and the righteous elder is called the Receiver of God, because he accepted the Infant Christ into his arms.

On this day, little Jesus was dedicated to the Lord in the temple, the heavens themselves blessed a happy holiday in the world for people!

February 15 Meeting of our Lord Jesus Christ. Flickering and animated GIF image for the holiday.

GIF card - I wish you happiness on the holy day!

Postcard - Meeting.

Happy Presentation of the Lord, I wish you faith, goodness, warmth, a lot of happiness and health, so that love may live in your hearts.

Happy Candlemas holiday. The Presentation of the Lord has come, so may Jesus protect you, yesterday, and tomorrow, and today the Lord gives us this life.

Happy holiday of the Presentation of the Lord! Good luck to you!

Happy wonderful holiday - the Presentation of the Lord!

The Presentation of the Lord is a solemn date, it’s not for nothing that we are all so rich in soul today!

We advise you to study the Baptism Day of Rus': pictures, postcards

Postcard - Dove of Happiness.

We celebrate the Meeting of the Lord today, and with it spring comes to our home with warmth, love and kindness.

Picture - A fulfilled prophecy.

GIF postcard - Meeting in the synagogue.

I congratulate you on the Presentation of the Lord, I wish you peace in your bright souls on this day.

On the Day of the Lord's Presentation, I wish you to find a blessing from the bottom of my heart, I congratulate you on the holiday!

Flickering picture for Candlemas - Meeting in the temple.

Postcard - Long-awaited day.

On the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, I hasten to congratulate you and wish that an angel would protect you every hour.

Postcard for the Presentation of the Lord.

The Meeting of the Lord is coming today! May the Lord send you happiness, and a lot of warmth and light! And let life be warmed with joy!

Happy Presentation of the Lord, happy day of great meetings! Let your hearts always be open to Christ, so that sins cannot carry you away, and your soul is free, like pure snow...

The God-receiver Simeon prayed to the Lord that hour, having come to know the Messiah and the Law, he rested in blissful joy!

Picture for the Presentation of the Lord.

Postcard for the Presentation of the Lord.

GIF picture for the Presentation of the Lord.

Flickering picture for the Presentation of the Lord.

Picture for the Presentation of the Lord.

Picture for the holiday of the Presentation of the Lord.

May your life be happy, may peace live in your hearts, may heaven help you in all your affairs.

Picture for the Presentation of the Lord for February 15.

I congratulate you on the Presentation of the Lord! May heaven and fate be favorable to you. Heaven gives joy and happiness, and the Lord will come in a dream - He will give His grace and bring magic to life!

Animated card for the Presentation of the Lord for February 15.

GIF picture for February 15th. On the Presentation of the Lord, we congratulate you today, and wish you to see God’s grace again!

Picture of the Presentation of the Lord! May God, by his power, show you the right path to prosperity and happiness, where love will dispel sadness!

Prayers for Candlemas

Meeting is a feast of the Lord, that is, dedicated to Jesus Christ. But in the first centuries of Christianity, the Mother of God was honored on this day. Therefore, those who say that this is the feast of the Mother of God will be partly right.

Meeting is close to the holidays in honor of the Mother of God and according to the structure of the service. In the troparion of the holiday, in the prokeimnas at Matins and Liturgy and other hymns, appeals to the Mother of God occupy a central place. Interestingly, the duality of the Presentation influenced the color of the vestments of the clergy at the festive service. They can be white - as on the Lord's holidays, and blue - as on the Mother of God. In church tradition, white color symbolizes Divine light. Blue - the purity and purity of the Virgin Mary.

On the Presentation of the Lord, Orthodox Christians offer prayers of thanksgiving, glorifying Christ and the Mother of God. It is believed that the prayer to the Virgin Mary on this day acquires special power. People turn to her for help in creating a family, protecting and patronizing children, having a safe pregnancy and easy childbirth.

“Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.”

Prayers are offered to Jesus and for their children, baptized and churchgoers. Parents ask for their health and protection.

“Our Lord is All-Merciful. Just as the Virgin Mary brought You to the temple to worship, so we ask for our children, Your children. Protect them from sorrows and sorrows, protect them from evil spirits and instill in their souls the joy of being. Become their hope and support in life, and we, sinful servants, will pray for them to You and the Angels preaching Your Word."

The icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Quench My Sorrows” is also associated with the celebration of the Presentation. Simeon the God-Receiver, who predicted strife among people over the life of Jesus, said to the Virgin Mary: “A weapon will pierce your soul.” The name of the icon speaks for itself. This is a kind of sign and hope that all people will be merciful to each other and end internecine strife, in order to live in peace and goodness until death and ascend to Heaven under the wing of their Father and God.

“Mother of God, soften our evil hearts, extinguish the flame of those who are angry with us, and cleanse our souls from pride. We pray to You, Mother of Our God, with prayerful words softening Your pain from the terrible wounds that torment You. Bless us and protect us from ourselves, do not let us perish in our anger and close our souls to the words of salvation. You are the only hope for our mitigation; by Your mercy we live and rejoice in every day given.”

Prayer for the Presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ

“Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son and Word of God, seen of old as a prophet in fortune-telling, in these last days born incorruptibly in the flesh of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, and on this fortieth day in the Sanctuary at the Meeting of the Whole World from Him, as a Child we hold in His hands , revealed and carried from Adam in the arms of the righteous Simeon for salvation by all beings!

Glory to Thy Mercy, Glory to Thy Kingdom, Glory to Thy vision, O One Lover of Mankind, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory with Thy Beginning Father and Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen".

Prayer for the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Oh, Most Holy, Radiant Virgin of Heavenly purity, Gentle dove, Undefiled Lamb, Good Helper of the world, Mother of Christ our God!

You are the beginning, the middle and the end of our present joy, as from You the Sun of Truth, Christ our God, rose, and You brought Him in Your holy embrace on this fortieth day in the Sanctuary for our meeting and for the joy and salvation of the whole world.

For this reason, we please and glorify Thee, for Thou art the Tabernacle of God with man, Foreseen by the Theologian, and through Her God dwells with us, so that we may be His people?

You are the Door of Heaven, Foretold by Ezekiel, Who has opened for us the entrances to the heavenly abode. You are the High Ladder, Foreseen by Jacob, Who brought God down to earth and the Bridge, leading those who exist from earth to heaven. In the same way, we pray to You, looking at You as if You have gone to the Sanctuary, carrying the Heavenly Fire in the hands of Your God, O Blessed One.

The fire of Your prayer hit the fire of our passions, so that we may be delivered from the eternal fire of Gehenna.

You came to the Sanctuary for the sake of the lawful purification, not requiring purification, as a Pure Virgin, and hereby teach us how it is proper for us to keep ourselves in chastity and purity and with what humility it is appropriate for us to carry out the feat of virginity, remembering how You, who exist above the Cherubim, became place of unclean women.

You, O Most Holy Mother, the very essence of the God-containing temple of God, brought into the lawful church Your Most Precious Son, Christ our God, grant us, above all else on earth, to love the temples of Your Son, to visit all the days of our life, to behold the beauty of the Lord there, for it is better to wander about in the courts of the Lord one day than to live in the villages of sinners. Most of all, grant us, O Most Pure One, like Simeon, to carry Thy Son and our God without condemnation in Thy heartfelt embrace, when we will be partakers of His Most Pure Body and Blood, and then help us to strictly preserve ourselves in holiness and the fear of God, so that we do not corrupt the temple of flesh ours.

And thus, O Mother of God, I will bring forth Thy Son in our hearts and souls, so that through Thy prayers we may be worthy to achieve that blessed Meeting of the Lord in the air, when together with all the saints we will glorify and sing His Most Holy Name with the Father and the Holy Spirit and Thy merciful intercession now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".

Troparion of the Presentation of the Lord

Troparion, tone 1 (Forefestival)

“The heavenly face of the Heavenly Angel, descending to earth, having come to see like a Child, is carried to the temple, the Firstborn of all creation from the Mother of the Unskilled, they sing the pre-feast song with us, rejoicing.”

Troparion, tone 1

“Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin Mary, for from You has risen the Sun of Truth, Christ our God, who enlightens those in darkness: rejoice and you, the righteous elder, are received into the arms of the Liberator of our souls, who gives us resurrection.”

Kontakion, tone 4

“Having sanctified the womb of the Maiden with Thy Nativity, and blessed the hand of Simeon, as befitting, having preceded it, now Thou hast saved us, O Christ God; but pacify your life in battle, and strengthen the Orthodox Christians, whom you alone have loved, O Lover of Mankind.”

Greatness

“We magnify Thee, Life-Giver Christ, and honor Thy Most Pure Mother, Who, according to the law, was now brought into the temple.”

What not to do at the Presentation of the Lord

On the Presentation of the Lord, Orthodox Christians need...

do not swear;
not to clean - the tradition of not tidying up the house, not working in the garden and not doing handicrafts on holidays dates back to the days of the emergence of Christianity in Rus', when religion was imposed by force: in order to gather newly converted Christians in the temple at the height of the harvest, it was necessary to forbid them to work under fear divine punishment;
do not wash;
do not wash - however, you can still take a shower on holy days. From a logical point of view, the interpretation of this prohibition is as follows: in order to heat a bathhouse, you need to chop wood, apply water, and monitor the stove for several hours - that is, quite a lot of work.

In addition, it is not recommended to go on a long journey on Candlemas, as it may end badly. As on any twelfth holiday, it is not advisable to work on the Day of the Presentation of the Lord. The exception is when the work must be done for the benefit of other people. On this day you should definitely visit the church, since on the day of the Presentation of the Lord a special solemn service is performed in the church and a prayer service is served.

It is better to take Sretensky candles home from church, since candles on this day are blessed with a special rite. These candles must be carefully stored for a whole year. At the Presentation, Simeon the God-Receiver, taking Christ in his arms, called Him the Light of Salvation. And early Christian prayers call Jesus Christ truly the Quiet Light. Therefore, the candle plays in the Church not only a physical role, to burn inflamed, but symbolizes our faith and prayer, which ascends to heaven.

The so-called Sretensky candles are lit in especially difficult moments of life during a prayerful appeal to God. These could be illnesses or life difficulties and troubles. The Sretenskaya candle is filled with deep meaning and sanctifies hearts with the Holy Spirit. The only thing to remember: it is not the candle that prays for us, but we pray at this candle.

A candle was also lit if a person was dying (with this candle, it was believed that the deceased would be able to leave the world of the living more calmly and easily).

According to signs on this day, they judge the proximity of the onset of spring and what the weather will be like in the next few months.

Signs for the Presentation of the Lord

There are quite a lot of signs associated with the Presentation. Old people say that they all have an amazing feature - to tell the pure truth about what awaits a person in the future. Sretensky signs are mainly associated with the two main symbols of the holiday: blessed candles and water.

Omen for health Look at the lit Sretensky candle. If the flame burns evenly and calmly, then you will not have any health problems. If the flame sways and its tint turns blue, beware of diseases, especially those associated with diseases of the internal organs and nervous system.

A sign of prosperity in the house At Candlemas you cannot leave money on the table, it will simply start flowing out of your home. But if you lose money, don’t be upset, this will lead to financial well-being, prosperity awaits you and your family.

A sign of good luck It is customary to bake pancakes at Candlemas. But you can’t eat them before the first star, which is unfortunate. But as soon as the clock strikes 8 pm, eat a piece of Sretensky pancake and ask for good luck to be sent to you. Treat everyone you wish happiness to with pancakes: family, friends, neighbors. Sign for a well-fed family life If a hungry dog comes up to you on Candlemas, feed him, he will immediately “bring” a person to your home with whom your life will be well-fed and calm. However, it is always worth feeding stray animals - our ancestors had no doubt that this helps to attract good luck and prosperity. Sign for damage Pour some Sretensky water into a perfume bottle, close it and leave it at the head of the bed overnight. If the water darkens, you are damaged. Try to get rid of it immediately. Darkened water must be poured out.

There are also “natural” signs that can quite accurately indicate what surprises the weather may bring in the coming year.

What is the weather for Candlemas, such will be the spring:
A quiet and cloudy day on Candlemas foretells a good harvest of bread and fruits: “On the Meeting of drops, a harvest for wheat; the wind is the fertility of fruit trees"
If there was a big frost on Candlemas, then the snow would not last long, and spring and summer did not promise anything good.
If the sun peeks through the cloud cover before sunset, this means that the last frost has passed; If the sun doesn’t show up at all, expect severe Vlasievo frosts on February 24th.
“If there is a thaw on Candlemas, the cat will cry for the harvest”

Based on materials from vedmochka.net, podrobnosti.ua, pozdrav.a-angel.ru

Palm Sunday

Easter is the way out of hell

Miraculous Rescues

Three times through the Vladimir Icon the Mother of God revealed her will to the cities

. The number of miraculous healings cannot be counted.

1395: Khan Tamerlane and his army headed for Moscow. Along the way, he destroyed Russian cities, killing almost everyone, regardless of gender, age, or religion. The number of the horde was many times greater than the Russian squad. The combat experience and cruelty of the khan’s warriors had practically no analogues. There was no chance to withstand such a force. All that was left was to pray, hoping for a miracle.

The Prince of Moscow sent to Vladimir for the miraculous icon. The clergy organized a religious procession. As we exited the city, there were people standing on both sides. When they saw the icon, they fell on their faces, fixed their gaze on it and prayed to the Virgin Mary for only one thing: to save Rus'. On August 26, the shrine ended up in Moscow - the meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God took place.

On the same day, the khan had knowledge in a dream. A huge mountain from which saints with golden rods descend. The Mother of God hovers above them, protected by countless angels. Waking up, Tamerlane gathered his priests. From the description, they immediately realized that this was the Mother of God, the intercessor of Rus'. With one voice, the elders advised the khan to leave the Russian lands as quickly as possible. That's what he did. In gratitude for the liberation, the Sretensky Monastery and the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary were built, where the icon was installed.

1480: Akhmet, Khan of the Golden Horde, gathered an army to capture Moscow. Having reached the Ugra River, on the other side of it the commander saw the squad of John the Third, the then Moscow prince. The chronicles say: the Tatars suddenly fell into fear and began to scatter. Khan could not cope with this and was forced to retreat. It is difficult to explain such a phenomenon, given that the Golden Ordn army was significantly superior to the Russian army in numbers and was not inferior to it in courage, experience, and equipment. It was the Virgin Mary who again interceded for the city, granting it pardon for its sins. In honor of this, every year on June 23, a religious procession is held in the capital from the Cathedral of the Assumption to the Sretensky Monastery.

Less than half a century had passed before the Golden Ordians again decided to attack Rus'. Khan was replaced, and along with him, they forgot about the fear they experienced then. 1521 An army of 100 thousand people was gathered by Mehmet Giray. Vasily the Third, who ruled the capital at that time, did not expect an attack; he himself did not prepare any campaigns. Therefore, most of the military personnel were scattered around the country - they rested at home with their families. In total, no more than 50 thousand people managed to oppose the khan. The forces were not equal, only a miracle could save the city from destruction. And so it happened: the Virgin Mary appeared to the invader in a dream. He was afraid of this sign and retreated.

Paintings, frescoes, icons of the Presentation of the Lord

Fresco from the Church of Santa Maria in Castelseprio. The end of the 7th - beginning of the 8th century. Italy

Miniature of the Khludov Psalter. Mid-9th century State Historical Museum, Moscow

Fragment of a carved icon. 2nd half of the 10th century Byzantium. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.

Miniature Menology of Vasily II. Around 986 Vatican Library

Miniature of the Gospel from c. Mogni. Mid-11th century Armenia. Institute of Ancient Manuscripts Maternadaran, Yerevan, Armenia

Fresco of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozh Monastery. Around 1156 Pskov

Icon-epistylium. 2nd half of the 12th century Monastery of St. Catherine, Sinai, Egypt. Fragment

Fresco of the Novgorod Church of the Savior on Nereditsa. 1199 (not preserved)

Enamel. End of the 12th - beginning of the 13th century. Georgia. State Museum of Art of Georgia, Tbilisi

Western gate of the Nativity of the Virgin Cathedral. 1227-1238 Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve. Fragment

Miniature from Chashots (festive Menaion) of King Getum II. 1286 Cilicia. Institute of Ancient Manuscripts Maternadaran, Yerevan, Armenia

Pietro Cavallini. Mosaic of the apse of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. 1291 Rome, Italy

Vasilyevsky Gates of the Novgorod Cathedral of St. Sophia. 1336 Cathedral of the Alexander Assumption Monastery. Fragment

Icon. 70-80s of the 15th century. Novgorod. Novgorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve.

Icon from the workshop of Gury Nikitin's circle. 1680s Kostroma. Yaroslavl Art Museum

Icon. Beginning of the 19th century Palekh. State Museum of Palekh Art, Palekh

Icon. 1st third of the 19th century. Palekh. Private collection

Giotto di Bondone. Fresco of the Chapel del Arena. 1304-1306 Padua, Italy

Giotto and students. Fresco from the lower church of San Francesco in Assisi. 1320-1340 Assisi, Italy

Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Candlemas. 1342 Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy

Brothers Limburg. Bringing to the temple. Miniature of the Magnificent Book of Hours of the Duke of Berry. Beginning of the 15th century Condé Museum in Chantilly, France

Gentile da Fabriano. Bringing to the temple. From the Strozzi Chapel in the c. Santa Trinita in Florence. 1423 Louvre, Paris, France

Andrea Mantegna. Around 1465-1466 State Museums, Berlin, Germany

Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn. Elder Simeon in the temple. 1669 Stockholm. National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden

Presentation of the Lord: icons and frescoes

We find the first images of Christ being brought to the temple in the 5th century. What the symbols of the holiday icon mean is explained in an article by the famous theologian Vladimir Lossky (published in abbreviation). Just like the Circumcision of the Lord, the feast of the bringing of the Infant Christ to the temple shows us that the Creator of the Law, fulfilling the law, is brought to the temple (vespers, stichera, tone 1), for the Lord said to Moses: Sanctify to Me every firstborn, who opens all falsehoods between the children of Israel, from man to beast, (because) they are Mine (Ex. 13:2), and about the sacrifice of purification of a mother after the birth of a male child: At the end of the days of her purification for a son or for a daughter, she must offer a one-year-old lamb in burnt offering and a young dove or turtledove for a sin offering, at the entrance of the tabernacle of meeting to the priest (Lev. 12:6). The liturgical texts and iconography of the Presentation are based on the Gospel narrative about this event (Luke 2:22-39). We find the first known images of the bringing of the Child Christ into the temple in the mosaic of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore (5th century) and on an enamel cross-reliquary (a hollow cross inside which the relics of a saint are kept) of the late 5th - early 6th century from the Lutheran Museum. The iconography of the Feast of the Presentation finally took shape in the period from the 9th to the 10th centuries and has remained almost unchanged since then. Sometimes we see the Child Christ in the arms of the Mother or the moment when She hands Him over to Saint Simeon, but most often Simeon himself holds the Savior in his arms. The Child Christ is never depicted in swaddling clothes: He is usually dressed in a short shirt that does not cover His bare legs. Sitting on Simeon's outstretched arms, He blesses him, as depicted in our icon. This is the iconographic type of Christ Emmanuel: “Having seen Thee as a child, the wondrous Simeon cried out: Of the Eternal Word, born of the Father, I am afraid and afraid to embrace with my hands, O Master, but in peace seek Thy servant, now let go, as the Merciful” (vespers, stichera on “ Lord, I cried." “Today, in ancient times, the law was given to Moses in Sinai, the lawful one obeys the commandment, for our sake, as the Merciful One, was for us. Now the Pure One, God, like the Holy Child, opens the Pure One falsely, He offers Himself, like God, lawful vows, freeing and enlightening our souls” (vespers, 2nd stichera at the litia). “The Ancient Days, having been infancy in the flesh, is brought into the church by the Virgin Matter, fulfilling His law with a promise, which Simeon received with the verb: now dost thou dismiss thy servant in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, O Holy One” (vespers, stichera at litia, Chapter 1). As in the Gospel narrative, the theme of the purification of the Mother of God seems to have been forgotten: the focus of the holiday is the Presentation of the Messiah: the meeting of the Old and New Testaments. In our icon, the Meeting takes place in front of the throne, above which rises the ciborium (canopy). A cross, a book or a scroll is sometimes depicted on the throne. On the left side of the throne stands the Mother of God, on the right is righteous Simeon. The Mother of God sacrificially stretches out her hands covered with maforium. She had just handed over Her Son to righteous Simeon. The holy elder, leaning forward, holds the Child in both hands, also covered with a robe as a sign of reverence. The Mother of God is accompanied by Joseph, carrying in the folds of his cloak the sacrifice of poor parents: two turtle doves or two young pigeons (Lev. 12:8). These birds are considered symbols of the Church of Israel and the Church of the Gentiles, as well as symbols of the two Testaments, the one head of which is Christ. The holy prophetess Anna, daughter of Phanuel... a widow of eighty-four years old (Luke 2:36), stands behind Simeon in the background, like the righteous Joseph. Turning away slightly, she raises her head, covered with a scarf; her face reflects prophetic inspiration. The personality of Saint Simeon the God-Receiver has special significance. His prophecy, one of the three “songs of the New Testament,” is sung at every vespers throughout the liturgical year. They wanted to see the holy elder, who took the Infant Christ into his arms, as a temple priest. Some claimed that he was a teacher of the law, the son of Hillel and the father of Gamaliel, the mentor of the Apostle Paul. Others said that he was one of the Seventy Interpreters, a translator of the Bible, and that God preserved his life until the coming of the Messiah for 350 years. Liturgical texts glorify righteous Simeon as the greatest prophet. Simeon is more worthy than Moses to bear the title of “Seer of God.” After all, the Lord appeared to Moses shrouded in darkness, and “Simeon in his arms carried the Primordial Word of the Father incarnate and with his tongue revealed the Light, the Cross and the Resurrection” (vespers, 7th stichera at the litia). The cross in this stichera indicates the weapon that will pierce the soul of Mary. “Now you let go” takes on a new meaning. The prophet asks the Lord's permission to proclaim the good news of the incarnation in the underworld. To Adam, “who lives in hell, I go, if I want to tell him, and to bring the gospel to Eve” (7th hymn of the canon). On our icon nothing indicates the sacred rank of Simeon; a long, flowing robe covers his bare feet to the ankle. As befits a Nazarite, he has a bare head and long hair. “The Child Christ sits in the hands of an old man like on a throne.” One of the choruses on the 9th song of the canon says: “It is not the elder who holds Me, but I who hold him: he is asking for forgiveness from Me.”

Candlemas. Mosaic from the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. 5th century Here, as in many other scenes of the mosaic decoration of this basilica, the Mother of God is depicted in royal robes, surrounded by angelic guards.

View of the pre-altar arch of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The composition “Candlemas” is located on the right in the upper register of the mosaics.

Candlemas. Fresco of the church of Santa Maria foris portas (“beyond the gates”) in Castelseprio (Italy, Lombardy). End of the 7th century (?) Presentation of the Lord. Miniature menology of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II - the oldest surviving illustrated collection of the lives of saints. This manuscript, presumably from the first quarter of the 11th century, is in the Vatican collection (Vat. gr. 1612) The Presentation of the Lord. Mosaic of the katholikon (cathedral church) of the monastery of Hosios Loukas (St. Luke of Greece) in Phokis (Greece). Around 1022.

Miniature from the manuscript of the Gospel readings in the collection of the Dionysiatus Monastery on St. Mount Athos. (cod. 587) Third quarter of the 11th century. Meeting of the Lord. Fresco of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozhsky Monastery in Pskov. 40s of the 12th century

Meeting of the Lord. Fresco of the Church of St. Panteleimon in Nerezi (now Macedonia). 1164

The Virgin and Child from the Presentation. Fresco of the Church of St. Panteleimon in Nerezi.

Candlemas. Fragment of the epistyle of the templon from the collection of the monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai. Second half of the 12th century.

Candlemas. A poorly preserved composition on the pre-altar pillars of the Cyril (St. Cyril of Alexandria) Church in Kyiv. Late 12th century

General view of the altar of the St. Cyril Church in Kyiv. The fact that the “Candlemas”, spread over two pillars, is located in the place where the “Annunciation” is traditionally placed is a unique feature of the iconographic program of the Cyril paintings. (The figures of the Archangel and the Mother of God from the Annunciation above belong to the brush of M. Vrubel). And one more point - as can be seen from previous monuments, in the iconography of the holiday that developed in the Middle Byzantine period, the figures of Mary, Joseph, Simeon the God-Receiver and the prophetess Anna are separated, as a rule in pairs, by a throne with a ciborium above it, which hints at the Holy of Holies of the Jerusalem Temple, while At the same time, it is figuratively similar to the actual throne of the Christian Church. In the space of the Cyril Church, this throne turns out to be a throne that actually stands in the altar.

St. Simeon the God-Receiver with the Infant Christ. Fresco from the Church of Panagia tou Arakou in Lagoudera (Cyprus). Around 1192.

Meeting of the Lord. Fragment of the so-called Suzdal "Golden Gates" - the gates of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Suzdal. XII-XIII centuries Collection of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve.

Meeting of the Lord. Fresco of the Church of St. Trinity Monastery Sopocany (Serbia). 1260s Mosaic by Pietro Cavallini in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome. End of the 13th century. Meeting of the Lord. Fresco by Manuel Panselin in the Cathedral of Protata on St. Mount Athos. 1290.

Fresco of the Protata Cathedral. Fragment.

Meeting of the Lord. Fresco of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady of the Gracanica Monastery (Serbia, Kosovo). Around 1321.

Meeting of the Lord. Fragment of an icon from the festive series of Sofia of Novgorod. Collection of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve.

Meeting of the Lord. Fresco of the Church of the Savior Monastery of Decani (Serbia, Kosovo). Mid-14th century. Meeting of the Lord. Fresco of the Church of St. Demetrius Markov Monastery (now Macedonia). Third quarter of the 14th century.

Fresco of the Church of St. Demetrius Markov Monastery. Fragment. Meeting of the Lord. Fresco of the Church of the Assumption on Volotovo Field near Novgorod. End of the 14th century. Pre-revolutionary photo. Fresco of the Church of the Assumption on Volotovo Field near Novgorod. Fragment. Meeting of the Lord. Icon from the festive rite of the Assumption Cathedral of Vladimir. Around 1408. Andrey Rublev and the workshop. State Meeting Russian Museum. Meeting of the Lord. Icon-“tablet” from the series of obverse calendars of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Second quarter of the 15th century. Collection of the Sergiev Posad Museum-Reserve / sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Meeting of the Lord. Icon from the festive rite of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Tver. Mid-15th century. State Meeting Russian Museum.

Meeting of the Lord. XV century. Icon from the collection of the Athonite monastery of Pantokrator. Meeting of the Lord. “Tablet” icon from the series of obverse calendars of St. Sophia of Novgorod. End of the 15th century. Collection of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve. Meeting of the Lord. Icon from the festive row of the Assumption Cathedral of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. Around 1397. Collection of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve. Meeting of the Lord. Icon from the festive row of the cathedral of the Stavronikita monastery on Athos. Mid-16th century. Master Theophan of Crete. Meeting of the Lord. First half of the 17th century. Collection of the Yaroslavl Art Museum. Similar complicated iconography appears in Russian art, probably at the turn of the 16th-17th centuries. Below left is the prophet Isaiah writing his prophecies. Below on the right is the appearance of an angel to Simeon, who, according to legend, translated the book of Isaiah for the Egyptian king Ptolemy and doubted the truth of the words of the prophet “behold, the Virgin will receive with child.” An angel predicted to Simeon that he would not die until he “sees the Christ of the Lord.” In the upper left corner, an angel with a cross in his hands informs the Mother of God about the fate of Her Son. At the top in the center is the Trinity in the “Fatherland” iconography. At the top right is the overthrow of idols, which is an illustration of the sixth ikos of the Akathist to the Mother of God, which tells about the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt (“idols for it (i.e. Egypt), Savior, not tolerating Your fortress, fallen..."). Below you can see the mouth of hell with the righteous rising from it and the overthrown sinners and the devil, which corresponds to the words of Simeon’s prophecy: “Behold, this one is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel...”.

Meeting of the Lord. 17th century Icon from the collection of the Pskov Museum-Reserve.

Meeting of the Lord. XIX century. From the Epiphany Cathedral of the Epiphany Anastasia Monastery in Kostroma. Meeting of the Lord. Palekh icon of the 19th century.

Meeting of the Lord. Chromolithography of the printing house E.I. Fesenko in Odessa. 90s of the XIX century. Modern Greek icon.

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Presentation Church art

Fulfillment of a wish on Candlemas

The power of the holiday is great, which allows you to make a wish, and it will definitely come true. For this you will need Sretenskaya water and candles.

It is important to think about your desire and take the process seriously. It is necessary to light two candles on the sides of the glass

Clear your head of unnecessary thoughts and take three sips from the glass. Ask the Lord to forgive your sins. Read the short Jesus Prayer three times; it can be found on our Orthodox portal. Then “Our Father” three times. Next, you can make a wish.

In this process, visualization of desire plays an important role. Imagine your dream while the candles burn

As soon as they go out, the water should be removed to a secluded place and drunk for 3 days. Talking about the ritual to outsiders (even family and friends) is strictly prohibited.

Meeting of the Lord. Folk traditions and customs

The Presentation of the Lord is perhaps the only holiday that is celebrated differently by Old Believers and New Believers. The fact is that sometimes Candlemas coincides with the first day of Lent. In the ancient liturgical Charters, according to which services are still performed among the Old Believers, such a case is provided for. The holiday service is combined with the Lenten service. And in this case, the New Believers move the holiday one day earlier, to Forgiveness Sunday. In the Old Believer periodicals of the early 20th century, this is described in great detail.

Another difference is that the New Believers in the 17th century borrowed from Catholics the custom of blessing church candles on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This rite is contained in the consumer book of Metropolitan Peter Mogila; it was copied from the Roman breviary. The fact is that in the West this holiday is called “Bright Mass”; during the mass everyone holds lighted candles in their hands. This custom probably originates from the ancient Jerusalem Church, where in the middle of the 5th century a procession of the cross was held and during the Liturgy the worshipers held burning candles in their hands. In Byzantium, such a custom no longer existed, therefore, since the time of the Baptism of Rus', our ancestors prayed “with candles” only during polyeleos. And now in the Old Believer Church, on the eve of the Twelve Feasts, in the middle of the evening service, while singing the magnification (polyeleos), the worshipers take burning candles in their hands and hold them almost until the very end of the evening service.

We advise you to study the Icon of John of Kronstadt

As for folk traditions, among the peasants the Presentation of the Lord was not considered a big holiday. Very often, peasants, especially illiterate ones, did not even know what event the Church was remembering on this day, and the very name of the holiday - “Candlemas” - was explained in such a way that on this day winter meets summer, i.e. frosts begin to weaken and You can feel the approach of spring in the air. Attributing to Candlemas only the significance of a calendar milestone, the peasants associated many agricultural signs with this day: “On Candlemas there will be snow on Candlemas, rain in the spring,” they said, wondering about future rains. Drops on this day foreshadow the harvest of wheat, and the wind foretells the fertility of fruit trees, which is why gardeners, coming from Matins, “shake the trees with their hands so that they will bear fruit.” If Candlemas Day is calm and red, then in the summer the flax and so on will be good. The weather of that day was also used to judge the herb harvest, for which they threw a stick across the road and observed: if the snow sweeps it away, then the livestock feed will also be “swept away,” i.e., the herbs will be expensive. Finally, on Candlemas Day, housewives began to feed the chickens intensively so that they would have socks.

As for the religious customs associated with this day, they almost did not exist throughout Great Russia, only in some places (for example, in the Vologda province) peasants walked around their houses with an icon of the Presentation of the Lord or the Savior, and when the icon was brought back to the house , then the whole family, with the householder at the head, fell on their faces with the exclamation: “Lord our God, come to us and bless us.”

Meeting of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ

The church and liturgical commemoration of the Presentation of the Lord is based on a historical event known from the Gospel (Luke 2:21-39).

On this holiday, the Church glorifies the Divine Infant Jesus and His Most Pure Virgin Mother, who brought the forty-day-old Firstborn Son to the temple for dedication to God the Father.

The hymns of the holiday were composed by the holy Patriarchs of Constantinople Herman and Anatoly, St. Andrew, Archbishop of Crete, St. Cosmas of Maium, St. John of Damascus and Andrew Pyrrhus.

These authors, based on the Gospel story of the Presentation of the Lord, reveal the dogmatic teaching

about the Divine height of the Infant Christ and the greatness of the Mother of God.
stichera
they compiled explain the reasons for the visit of the Mother of God and the Infant God to the temple on the fortieth day (in particular, the purification of the Most Pure Virgin Mother according to the custom then introduced by law) and, in comparison with the Gospel, the prophetic words of the righteous Simeon the God-Receiver about the Cross of Christ are set forth in more detail.

The authors of the hymns put into the mouth of the Most Holy Theotokos an appeal to righteous Simeon, known from the Gospel, before he received the Infant God in his arms. Stichera of the holiday

They also depict the amazement of the disembodied Angels at the contemplation of the Infant God in the arms of the Mother of God and the elder Simeon.

Using the historical facts we have noted, we will recreate a complete picture of the event of the Presentation of the Lord in the liturgical description of the holiday .

The fortieth day after the Nativity of Christ has arrived. The Most Holy Theotokos Mary, fulfilling the dictates of the Mosaic Law, on this day brought the Infant Jesus to the Temple of Jerusalem. According to the legal requirement, all Jewish children - the first-born males - were presented in the temple to the Face of God on the fortieth day after birth and were dedicated to serving God. At the same time, the parents made a sacrifice of purification for their first-born, legalized by the prophet Moses, and paid a small monetary contribution, which freed the newborns from constant service at the temple. Joseph the Betrothed, who accompanied the Mother of God, the guardian of the Divine Infant, - just like ordinary parents - brought the established monetary payment for Him to the temple and as a sacrifice for the purification of the Mother of God - two dove chicks.

According to Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete, the two dove chicks in the present case symbolized the future leadership of the Savior of the New Testament Church of Jews and pagans.

Christ was born of the Virgin Mary in divine husbandhood, without defilement, and the Most Pure One did not need purification. She was a pure Dove and an undefiled Lamb. But, as the most humble Servant of the Lord, who brought before the Face of God Her Divine Infant - the Lamb and the Shepherd - She herself deigned to stand inside the church along with ordinary wives.

In this regard, paying due honor to the Mother of God, Saint Cosmas of Maium inspiredly calls:

“Let us come to the Mother of God and look at the Son of God held by Her”

When contemplating Him, the disembodied spirits said to each other in surprise:

“Now we see a wonderful thing: He who created Adam is carried in like a baby; Unable to fit in your arms; He who is in the indescribable depths of the Father is described by the flesh.”

The Sacred and Unartificed Virgin Mary, holding with her virgin hands the Infant God - the Creator of all infants - showed to the subordinate Church the Lawgiver, who had given Himself over to the New Testament Church. The highest sanctuary of the temple, She herself sanctified the church halls with Her entry.

The Old Testament temple opened its bright entrances to Her and the Infant God and prepared for them gifts of divine praise.

Of course, without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, none of the Jews at that time could naturally see the Mother of God in the Virgin of Nazareth and in the baby Jesus the Son of God, who gave the law to Moses at Sinai.

But this great secret was revealed from above to two Jerusalem righteous spirit-bearers: Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess. They saw, at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in the Infant God the Heavenly Man and God the Word in the flesh, who came to save the baby with his mind - the fallen Adam.

In the person of the Virgin Mary, the Lady Theotokos, the pure Dwelling of God, the heavenly Door, the Cherubic Throne, the living Tabernacle of the Lord, His many-lighted Palace, appeared to their God-illuminated spiritual eyes.

These righteous people understood the bringing of the Divine Infant Jesus by the Most Pure Virgin into the temple not as the fulfillment of the duty of purification, but as a way of assuring people of the Savior’s true acceptance of flesh from the Virgin . Christ, as the Lord, who cleanses all people from sins and preserves His most pure Mother, the Virgin, did not need a sacrifice of cleansing. Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess, moved by the Holy Spirit, met the holy family in the courtyard of the Jerusalem Temple.

From the church hymns it is clear that righteous Simeon was a venerable old man who had purified his soul with a holy life and deeds of piety. He came from a priestly family and, probably, due to the abundance of grace-filled gifts, was called “Saint” in one holiday stichera.

Anna the Prophetess, the daughter of a certain Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, like the righteous Simeon, was a venerable and chaste ascetic who pleased God with fasting and prayer day and night. She was then 84 years old.

When righteous Simeon approached the Most Holy Virgin in the temple and looked at Her and the Infant of God with the greatest reverence, She said to him:

“Simeon, bearer of untold secrets! Take into your arms like a baby the Lord of glory and salvation of the world... in whom you trusted. He is the divine consolation of Israel, the Lord of the law and the Executor of the legal order."

The elder bowed to the ground of the Mother of God and said:

“Rejoice, Pure One! You, like a throne, hold God and carry Fire... I’m afraid to embrace the Child God... True, Isaiah was once cleansed by receiving charcoal from Seraphim. You give me the Unevening Light carried by You... I am afraid to embrace with my hands the Eternal Word, born of the Father.”

With these words, Simeon, trembling, stretched out his aged hands, took the primordial incarnate Father's Word into his arms and kissed Him. He hugged and kissed the One Whom the heavenly powers tremble.

Then the elder, in subsequent words, confessed the Infant God as the Lord of life and death and prophetically announced His coming suffering on the cross, death, resurrection and enlightenment of the peoples saved by Him.

St. Patriarch Herman, presenting Simeon the God-Receiver as bearing the Lord Jesus Christ, cannot resist exclamation and speaks in one stichera

"Simeon! Tell me, Whom do you carry in your arms in Church? To whom are you extending your appeal? This is God the Word, incarnate for our sake.”

And how could the patriarch-singer not be amazed when the Angels themselves were horrified by this spectacle, seeing God the Word in the flesh sitting and reclining in the arms of an old man, as if on a throne and a cherubic chariot.

Meanwhile, righteous Simeon, holding the Lord in his arms, inspiredly uttered the following immortal words:

“Lord! Now You release me in peace to that bliss (beyond the grave). My eyes saw a secret hidden for centuries and revealed at the end of days. I saw in You the Light that dispels the darkness of the unbelieving nations and gives glory to the newly chosen Israel. Having beheld my Savior, I am now freed from the bonds of earthly life. Now, Lord, release Your servant from union with this flesh to endless, ageless life, for I have seen You - the Life of all.”

“Let me go to tell Adam that in the form of a baby I saw You, the indispensable eternal God and Savior... I will go to bring the good news to Adam and Eve who are in hell that God, the Savior of the earthly race, will come before hell. He will grant forgiveness to all captives and recovery of sight to the blind.”

“Christ! You have given me the joy of Your salvation. Receive Your servant, weary of old age.”

Everyone in the temple silently listened to the speech of the righteous elder. No one found words to interrupt the flow of thoughts of this saint, saying goodbye to earthly life. Only the Divine Infant seemed to be speaking to everyone in general silence:

“It is not the old man who holds Me, but I hold him (in life on earth), since he asks Me for leave from it.”

Addressing the Most Holy Virgin, Righteous Simeon predicted to Her the future of the Infant of God and Her suffering at the Cross of Christ.

“This Youth,” the elder said to the Mother of God, “will be a sign of the dispute between people. It is for the fall and rising of many in Israel: the disobedient will be a fall, but the believer will be a rising.”

“He has made Himself a stone of stumbling and stumbling block, unyielding to His salvation, which cannot be broken.”

“And Your heart, Imperishable, will be a weapon at the sight of Your Son on the Cross.”

As for the prophecy of rights. Anna the Prophetess about Christ the Savior, then it is conveyed in general terms in the canon and stichera of the holiday. The holy old woman, according to the hymns, preached in the church about the Mother of God and the Infant God, calling Him “Savior,” “Deliverer of Israel,” “Christ and Creator of heaven and earth.”

The above content of the service for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord focuses the attention of believers on the contemplation of the images of the Infant Christ and His Most Pure Mother. It teaches us to gratefully glorify the Savior and prayerfully call on the Mother of God for help in salvation with the words:

“Virgin Mother of God, hope and good Helper of Christians! Cover, protect and save those who trust in You from all need and sorrow.”

“Oh, Virgin Mary! Enlighten my soul, which is extremely darkened by worldly pleasures.”

Iconography of the Presentation of the Lord

If you look closely at the icons dedicated to the Presentation of the Lord, you will notice one important detail: the holiday of the Presentation of the Lord and the icons exist in two main variations. The first variety is presented in the form of a symmetrical image of the Virgin Mary, the Child and Simeon the God-Receiver, the second variety is not symmetrical (the Virgin Mary, Joseph the Betrothed and the prophetess Anna are depicted walking towards the Jerusalem temple).

For the first time, a modern believer became acquainted with the image of the Presentation on the surface of the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The image was created in 432–440 AD. The presented fragment, like a scene from the Holy Scriptures, has been known to icon painters since ancient times, however, the form itself was only just taking its shape.

A vertical version of the scene was unacceptable due to space, so the basilica was painted exclusively in a horizontal version. Here we see the Mother of God, the Son of God and Simeon the God-Receiver, who bends down and stretches out his hands to hold the Baby. His hands are traditionally covered with cloth, as tradition required.

A modern viewer may not fully understand the gestures made by the prophetess Anna and Joseph the Betrothed. This is how they express their piety and involvement in the events taking place. In other words, they bless the day when the Old Testament and New Testament churches came to agreement.

Gradually, the appearance of the image changes. Byzantine artists begin to work on a symmetrical compositional scheme. Such an image aims to show the main characters of the plot from the right angles:

The plot of confirmation of the redemptive mission of the Infant lies in his transfer to Simeon the God-Receiver through the throne. An equally important point is also noted: the throne is a Christian one, and not a Jerusalem altar. This is the continuity and hope given by the Savior.

Old Russian icons gradually began to adopt the experience of Byzantine artists, depicting the events of the Presentation from the point of view of Orthodoxy.

For example, at the end of the 16th century, an iconographic version was written along the perimeter of the main scene, the Presentation of which the previous events are depicted.

The plot inserts are as follows:

Prophet Isaiah, at the time of creating his famous prophecy about the coming of the Son of God into this world.
The appearance of an angel to Simeon, who, according to legend, did not allow the elder to distort the meaning of Isaiah’s prophecy. God gave him time to live until the prophecy was fulfilled.
An angel who informs the Mother of God about the torment that her son will experience in the future. Traditionally depicted with a Cross.
The scene of the overthrow of idols, when the Infant God was approaching Egypt. The belief says that the idols immediately fell, sensing the true God.
The righteous emerging from hell and the sinners and the devil cast into Gehenna. Such a plot can be interpreted as follows: everyone is destined for what they deserve.
"New Testament Trinity" or God the Father. A plot that gained considerable popularity in the New Testament church.

The famous Sretensky icon in Russia is considered to be the icon of the Mother of God “Softening Evil Hearts” and the icon of Simeon the God-Receiver.

Icon “The Presentation of the Lord”. Its importance and how does it help?

The image called “The Presentation of the Lord” helps believers strengthen their faith and receive the protection of the Lord.

The most holy icon called “The Presentation of the Lord” was painted in honor of an important event in the life of the Savior. The Mother of God and Saint Joseph brought little Jesus to the temple in order, according to Jerusalem customs, to dedicate him to God. The Son of God was taken into the arms of the righteous Simeon the God-Receiver. A priest who honored the laws of the Old Testament met the Messiah, who brought the New Testament to the world.

History of appearance

Description of the icon “The Presentation of the Lord”

In the center of the composition is a small Jesus. The parents brought the Holy Child to the Jerusalem temple to perform a ritual - dedication to God. To the left of Christ stands the Mother of God and her husband, Joseph. The husband of the Immaculate Virgin holds in his hands two doves sacrificed. To the right of the Holy Child, icon painters depict the righteous Simeon the God-Receiver and (sometimes) Anna the Prophetess. The priest takes baby Jesus in his arms.

According to legend, Simeon was the man who translated the Holy Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek. In the writings of the prophet Isaiah, the translator came across the words that “A virgin will give birth to a Son.” The righteous Simeon thought that there was a mistake. He decided to write “wife” instead of the word “virgin”. An angel appeared to Simeon in a dream and asked him not to change anything. The Holy Spirit promised that the righteous man would live until he himself was convinced of the truth of the prophecy.

Simeon lived 300 years and saw the Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Christ the Savior. The Most Holy Theotokos brought the Son of God to the pagan temple. The icon also depicts a ciborium, that is, an ancient structure like a tent on high columns.

The meaning of the icon “The Presentation of the Lord”

Icon painters created the most holy image in honor of an important event in the life of the Lord. Little Jesus was brought to the temple to be dedicated to God. However, the icon “The Presentation of the Lord” also has a symbolic meaning. The Old Testament, in the person of the righteous Simeon the God-Receiver, meets the New Testament, that is, with the Mother of God and her most holy Child.

The Savior came into the world to atone for human sins at the cost of his life and save humanity. Jesus was born to convert the pagans to Christianity, giving them a new teaching. The icon “The Presentation of the Lord” is both joy from the birth of Christ and great sorrow. After all, the Son of God is destined for the fate of a great martyr, a sufferer, a sacrifice for the atonement of human sins.

How does an image help?

The icon “The Presentation of the Lord” helps:

strengthen faith in Christ;

ask God for forgiveness for your sins;

soften the wrath of God;

receive salvation from illnesses, misfortunes, enemies;

find a way out in a difficult situation;

find peace of mind after the loss or death of a relative or friend.

More details on All Iskitim: https://vesiskitim.ru/2021/02/14/189037-ikona-sretenie-gospodne-ee-vazhnoe-znachenie-iv-chem-ona-pomogaet

Divine service for Candlemas

Meeting is one of the Lord's feasts, but in its liturgical content it is close to the feasts of the Theotokos.
The Feast of the Presentation originated in the Church of Jerusalem and appeared in its liturgical calendar in the 4th century. Initially, it was perceived not as an independent holiday, but as a day completing the 40-day cycle after the Feast of the Epiphany.

Presentation is one of the Lord's feasts, dedicated directly to Christ, but in its liturgical content it is extremely close to the feasts of the Theotokos. Therefore, the liturgical features of the Presentation are inherent in the feast of the Mother of God with elements of the Lord's feast. In particular, in the Liturgy the antiphons are figurative, but there is an entrance verse: “Having spoken the Lord His Salvation, He revealed His Truth before the tongues.”

If Candlemas falls on the Monday of the first week of Lent, which happens very rarely, the festive service, according to the Charter, is moved to the previous day - February 1, Forgiveness Sunday.

On the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, before the start of the Divine Liturgy, at the end of the rite of 6 o'clock, the consecration of candles takes place on the pulpit in front of the Royal Doors and their subsequent distribution to the faithful. People have always treated Sretensky candles in a special way - not magically, but reverently. They were kept all year and lit during home prayer.

Brief history of the shrine

According to legend, the icon from which the Vladimir copy was made was painted by Luke himself. Instead of canvas, he used the top of the table at which Jesus, Joseph and the Virgin Mary dined. Seeing the image, the Virgin Mary blessed it, saying that it would protect all Christians and bestow grace. About 500 years later, the shrine ended up in Constantinople. Further opinions about her fate differ. Some say that a list was made and sent as a gift to Yuri Dolgoruky. Others claim that the original icon was transferred. Having studied the stylistics and subjected the painting to a series of analyses, scientists are inclined to the first option. The Vladimir icon was painted around the 12th century and is a striking example of Byzantine painting of those times.

Yuri's son, Andrei Bogolyubsky, took the shrine and went with it to Moscow to organize a state there, independent of Kyiv. On the way he stopped in Vladimir. As we left the city, the inexplicable happened. The horses refused to go. Changing the team did not produce results. Then the prince began to pray, and the Virgin Mary appeared to him. She ordered not to take the icon from the city, but to build a temple there. And so it was done.