FESTIVE PERFORMANCE "THE MEETING OF SIMEON THE RIGHTEOUS WITH THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD"

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Category: 2012
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On Sunday, February 19,   the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Canonical showed the touching performance "The meeting of Simeon the Righteous with the Savior of the world", based on the stories from the Holy Writ and dedicated to the great Christian holiday of Presentation of the Lord.

Two thousand years ago in the David's town among the Jewish people our Savior Jesus Christ, was born. God came on this sinful Earth. He was born like the usual Child, but at once like unusual Child. A lot of miracles accompanied His birth and the beginning of His Earth life. And a lot of high souls were involved to confirm the coming of the Savior of the world on Earth, for that all prophecies and every God's word could become truth.

One of the great miracles happened on the 40th day after Jesus Christ's birth, when Mary and Joseph brought the Baby to the Jerusalem Temple, as it was established since the times of Moses. Here the meeting of newborn Our Lord Jesus Christ and pious Simeon took place. This day became the holiday of Presentation of the Lord.

 

 

 

 

This story had its beginning long ago before the birth of Jesus Christ, when the Egyptian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus invited 72 best translators from Jerusalem to translate the Holy Writ in Greek for Alexandrine library. There was Simeon the Righteous among them.

The scholars did a really great job, they translated the Holy Writ in Greek, which got the name "Septuagint" Simeon translated the book of prophet Isaiah.

And there he came to the following words: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Simeon stopped and thought: "How could virgin bear a son? It is unreal. It must be mistake. " And he wanted to replace the word "Virgin" by "Woman".

But at this moment the Angel appeared to him, which stopped his hand and said: "You should have the faith to the written words and you will make sure that they are truthful, because you will not die till the day you will see the Lord, who will be born by the Virgin."

And from that day religious Simeon the Righteous started to wait for the coming of the Messiah. Simeon got old, according to the church tradition he was 360 years old. He was tired to live, but God's word was told and it should have became truth. "Lawlessness flourishes, people only pretend that they are ruled by law. They neglect God, dissoluteness, pride, dissimulation, murders, insidiousness, false testimonies filled up this world. Oh God, the Earth is waiting for its Savior. "

It was the 40th day after Jesus birth. And at that time Mary and Joseph brought the little Jesus to the temple to present Him to God and accomplish the Law of God: "Every male who opens the womb shall be devoted to the Lord and a sacrifice should be offered - a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

They were met by Zachariah - the father of John, because it was his turn to serve in the temple.

And Zachariah stood Mary with baby, who entered the temple for purification, on the place, where young unmarried girls were standing, but not on the place, where woman, who had husbands were standing. Pharisee and scribes saw it and started to say: "It doesn't suit woman to stand on the place for girls. There is a special place for woman, who is cleaning. Because is it the breach of law, which was given by Moses. "

Then Zachariah defended Mary, because he knew about the Immaculate Conception and he said: "This Mother is a clean Virgin even after the birth of her child. If God wants to settle His creations and to make that a Virgin could give a birth and remain to be virgin, it would be so."

When Mary was standing in the temple with baby, the Holy Spirit opened to Simeon the Righteous that the Child in Mary's hands is the expected Messiah, the Savior of the world. At the same time God's Angels stood near to prove that this meeting was blessed.

The old man stood up, came to Mary and Joseph, bowed Jesus and took the baby in his hands and said his prophetical words: "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

He blessed the Virgin and pious Joseph and said to Our Lady: "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She ran out of the Temple and started to say to all people: "Glory to the Most High! Glory to the Most High! Glory to the Most High! Your salvation has come, Israel, the light shine forth to glorify you, Israel. "

And all around filled with grace. And the Heavens were glad at that time. And God's Angels glorified God and sang "Alleluia".

So, in such a way the words, which were portended by God's Angel to Simeon, came truth and his meeting with the Savior of this world took place.

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