Event Information:
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Mon03Feb2025
🕃 The Holy and Just Simeon who received God and Anna, Prophetess.
Post-feast of the Enounter. Saint with Six Stichera.
VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
There are no appointed psalms for this evening.
At Psalm 140
Tone 1
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The Creator of all things, and our God,* is being brought into the Temple by the virgin Mother.* The aged Simeon receives Him and cries out with joy:* Now You may dismiss your servant in peace,* according to your will, O good One.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Receiving from the Virgin the One begotten before all ages,* Simeon took Him in his arms and cried out:* I have seen the Saviour,* the Illumination of your glory to the ends of the earth.* Now You may dismiss your servant in peace, O good One,* since I have seen You today.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Near the end of his long life,* Simeon carried in his arms the Saviour* who was born for the salvation of all.* Rejoicing, he cried out:* I have seen the Light of the Gentiles and the Glory of Israel.* Now You may dismiss your servant from here, O God,* according to your command.
Tone 4
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
You are righteous, perfected, and glorified beyond everyone,* O God-inspired Simeon.* You took into your hands the incarnate and only perfect God.* He came into the world in order to justify it,* and that you might be released from the body which cried out to Him:* Now You may dismiss your servant in peace, O Lover of Mankind,* since I have seen You today.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
While remaining young in spirit, you became old in body, O Simeon.* You received the promise not to see death until you had seen the young infant.* He was of God the Father before all ages,* yet He humbled himself through the flesh.* You beheld Him and danced for joy* and asked for release from the flesh.* Then you joyfully passed to the heavenly abode.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The God-inspired Anna and the wealthy Simeon shone with prophecy.* They manifested themselves as spotless in the Law.* They saw the Giver of the Law revealing himself* as an infant according to our nature.* Therefore, let us joyfully celebrate today* and glorify Christ, the Lover of Mankind.
Tone 5, Glory… Now…
He who is ancient of days and young in the flesh* is being brought to the Temple by his virgin Mother.* He fulfils the promise of his own law.* Simeon receives Him and says:* Now You may dismiss your servant, according to your word, in peace,* for my eyes have seen your salvation, O Lord.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.
verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.
Aposticha
Tone 1
Now we are celebrating the saving grace* of the ineffable manifestation of God* because Christ our God became man without change from the Virgin Maiden.* He is now being brought into the Temple* and offered to God the Father by his mother.* Simeon receives Him and takes Him into his arms.
Now You may dismiss your servant, O Lord, according to your word, in peace.
Of old You were seen in the prophets, O Jesus,* as much as it was possible to see You.* But now, O Word of God, by your will,* You manifest yourself to the whole world.* O Christ, You took flesh from the Virgin Mary.* Since You are the Lover of Mankind,* You manifested your salvation to all those who come from Adam.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people, Israel.
Of old You established the Law on Mount Sinai.* Now in the city of Sion* You fulfil the prescriptions of the Law.* You wished to be brought into the Temple as an infant in the flesh.* O Christ, You were carried in the arms of the Theotokos,* in order to be an offering in the arms of Simeon.
Tone 1, Glory… Now…
He, who once gave the Law to Moses on Sinai,* today submits himself to the prescriptions of the Law.* In his compassion He has become like us for our sakes.* Now the pure God, as a holy infant having opened a pure womb,* is being offered as God to himself.* He is freeing us from the curse of the Law* and granting light to our souls.
Troparia
Tone 4
The elderly Simeon is filled with happiness today,* receiving the eternal God as an infant into his arms.* He begs to be released from the bonds of the flesh,* for he cries: My eyes have seen* Your salvation for the world.
Tone 1, Glory... Now...
Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,* who grants us resurrection.
DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,* who grants us resurrection.
Troparion, Tone 4: The elderly Simeon is filled with happiness today,* receiving the eternal God as an infant into his arms.* He begs to be released from the bonds of the flesh,* for he cries: My eyes have seen* Your salvation for the world.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: The elderly Simeon prayed to be released* from the bonds of this passing life.* He received the Creator and Lord of all into his arms.* He found release and departed to life everlasting.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 1: By Your birth, You sanctified a virgin womb* and fittingly blessed the hands of Simeon.* You have come also now and saved us, O Christ our God;* give peace to Your community in time of war,* and strengthen its rulers, whom You love,* for You alone,* are the Lover of mankind.
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
My soul magnifies the Lord,* and my spirit has rejoiced in God, My Saviour.
verse: Because he has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.
Epistle
Hebrews 9:11-14
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Now, O Master, You dismiss Your servant in peace according to Your word.
verse: For my eyes have seen Your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people, Israel. (Luke 2:29,32)
verse: Moses and Aaron are among His priests and Samuel among those who call upon His name. (Psalm 96:11)
Gospel
Luke 2:25-38
Hymn to the Mother of God
O God-bearing Virgin, hope of Christians, protect and guard and save all those who put their trust in you.
and the Irmos, Tone 3: In the law, the shadow, and the scriptures, we the faithful see a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the first-born Word and Son of the Father who is without beginning, the first-born Child of a Mother who had not known man.
Communion Hymn
I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord (Psalm 116:13).* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear (Psalm 111:6). Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.