The Meeting of the Lord

The Stanza (Stikhira) for: Lord, I have cried: In Tone I. Let us also come: with hymns divine let us meet Christ and receive him whose salvation Simeon beheld. For this is he of whom David prophesied: This is he who spake by the prophets; who for our sakes became incarnate, and proclaimed the law. Him let us worship. (Twice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Tone VI. To-day let the door of heaven be opened: for the Father's Word, which is from everlasting, having taken his beginning in time from a Virgin, without renouncing his Godhead, is of her own free will brought by his mother, as a babe of forty days, into the temple under the law: and an aged man receive th him in his arms, crying: Let thy servant depart, O Lord; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which is come into the world to save the race of men. Glory to thee, O Lord.

The Parables (Paremii). Exodus xii. 51, xiii. 1-3, 11-12, 14-16; Lev. xii. 2-4, 6, 8; Isaiah vi. 1-13, xix. 1, 3-5, 12, 19-21.

The Stanza at the Litiyd, in Tone I. (by Anatolius). The Ancient of Days, who of old gave the Law unto Moses, on Sinai, to-day is seen as a little Child; and in accordance with the Law, as the creator of the Law, fulfilling the Law, is brought into the temple, and given to an aged man. And Simeon the Righteous, having received him, and perceived the fulfilment of the promises accomplished, cried aloud with joy: Mine eyes have seen the mystery hidden from eternity in these latter days revealed, the light which destroyeth the darkness of unbelieving heathen, and giveth glory unto newly chosen Israel. Wherefore, release thou thy servant from the bonds of this flesh unto the life which waxeth not old, marvellous and unending; granting unto' the world great mercy.

The Hymn for the Day (Tropdr), in Tone I. Hail, O Virgin Birth-giver of God: for from thee hath shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, who giveth light to those who are in darkness. And rejoice, thou aged, righteous man, that didst receive in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls, who giveth unto us resurrection.

The Exaltation (Velitchdnie). We magnify thee, O life-giving Christ, and we do homage to thy Mother most pure, by whom thou hast now been brought into the Temple of the Lord, according to the Law.

The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Fourth Tone. I will call to remembrance thy Name from generation to generation.

Verse (Stikh): My heart is inditing of a good matter.

The Gospel. Luke ii. 25-32.

The Benediction. May he who, for the sake of our salvation, deigned to be held in the arms of the righteous Simeon, Christ our true God: and the rest. (See page 122.)

The First Canon. Tone III. (St. Cosmas of Maium.)

Theme-Songs (Irmosi). I. The sun once, of old, rose over the dry land born of the deep: for the water was hardened into walls upon either side, and the people passed on foot over the sea, and sang, in manner well-pleasing unto God: Let us sing unto the Lord, for gloriously hath he been glorified.

III. O Lord, the Confirmation of those who set their hope on thee, confirm thou thy Church, which thou hast bought with thy precious blood.

IV Thine excellence, O Christ, hath covered the heavens; for when thou hadst come forth from the ark of thy Holy Place, even thy Mother undefiled, thou didst appear in the temple of thy glory as a little Child borne in arms: and all things were filled with thy praise.

V. When Isaiah symbolically beheld God borne on high upon the throne, attended by a body-guard of Angels of glory, he exclaimed: O miserable man that I am, I have foreseen God Incarnate, who hath dominion over the Light which knoweth no setting, and the Peace which reigneth forever.

VI. The Aged Man, when with his eyes he beheld the salvation which was come from God unto the nations, cried aloud unto thee: Thou art my God, O Christ!

VII. Thee, O God the Word, who didst shed dew upon the Children which sang praises unto God in the fire, and who didst take up thine abode in a Virgin undefiled, do we hymn, devoutly singing: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

VIII. The Youths supreme in godliness, when they were thrust into the fire insupportable yet suffered no hurt from the flame, sang aloud the song divine: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, and magnify him unto all the ages!

In place of: My soul doth magnify the Lord: the Refrains:

O Virgin Birth-giver of God, the Hope of Christians, protect, guard and save thou those who put their trust in thee.

O Virgin Birth-giver of God, gracious Helper of the world, protect and keep us from all need and distress.

O God-bearing Simeon, come and take in thine arms Christ, to whom Mary the Virgin Pure hath given birth.

Simeon the aged encompasseth in his embrace the Creator of the Law, and the Lord of all.

The Aged Man holdeth not Me, but I hold him: for he entreateth of Me that he may depart in peace.

Ye Pincers mystical, how shall ye bear the coal of fire? How shall ye nourish the Nourisher of all?

O Daughter of Phanuel, come and abide with us, and bless Christ the Saviour, the Son of God.

Anna the Chaste foretelleth terrible things, confessing Christ to be the Maker of heaven and earth.

Incomprehensible unto Angels and unto men is that which is wrought with thee, O Virgin Mother Pure.

A pure dove, a spotless lamb bringeth into the Church the Lamb and the Shepherd.

O Christ, King of all! Grant me burning tears, and I will weep for my soul which is all ruined.

IX. In the Law — ■ in the shadow and in the Scriptures — do we, the faithful, behold the symbol. Every male child which first opened the womb was consecrated to God: wherefore, also, the first-born Word of the Father, who is from everlasting, the first-born Son of his Mother who knew not man, do we magnify. '

At the Liturgy.

The Introit. The Lord hath declared his salvation, he hath revealed his righteousness in the presence of the nations.

The Collect-Hymn (Konddk). Thou who by thy birth didst sanctify the Virgin's womb, and didst bless the arms of Simeon, as it was meet, having preserved us in anticipation from condemnation, hast now also saved us, O Christ-God. But grant tranquillity amid the alarms of war unto our Ruler, and keep him, whom thou hast adopted into thy love, O thou who alone lovest mankind.

The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Fourth Tone. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Verse: For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed.

The Epistle. Heb. vii. 7-17.

Alleluia. (Tone VIII.) Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.

Verse: A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

The Gospel. Luke ii. 22-40.

The Communion Hymn. I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.

The Benediction. (See page 199.)