Поучение на Сретение Господне. Из Пролога

Now the Lawgiver, the Lord Himself, fulfills the law and, like a Baby, is brought into the church of earthly Jerusalem. Now righteous Simeon, at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, hastens to meet the Lord, because he was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw Christ the Lord in the flesh. Now the aged hands of Simeon embrace God and the Creator of all. Now, filled with joy, the righteous old man tenderly asks for forgiveness and says: now do You release Your servant, Master, according to Your word, in peace, as my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people. He also prophesies about the sadness that the Most Holy Theotokos will experience at the crucifixion of the Lord, and says: a weapon will pierce your very soul, that is, when you see your Son crucified on the cross, then fierce sorrow and grave sadness, like a sharp spear, will pierce your heart: since you will not think about free crucifixion. Now Anna the prophetess confesses to God, that is, she gives Him praise and, seeing Him clothed in human flesh for the salvation of the whole world, says: “This will turn all our sorrow into joy.” He will again open to believers the doors of heaven, once closed by the fall of our forefather Adam. This one will destroy the oath that our foremother Eve brought.” Anna constantly remained in the Church, serving God day and night with fasting and prayer. Let us, brothers, imitate this widow, resorting both day and night to the Church, because everyone who comes to the Holy Church with faith is saved. There, singing and prayer are raised to God for the whole world. There will be a holy meal of God, at which we are offered the ineffable spiritual Body and Blood of the Lamb of God, who by the will of the Lamb of God was slain for the whole world and offered His Body into spiritual meat and said: He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood with faith, abides in Me and I in Him (John 6:56). Therefore, brothers, let us understand who we are approaching and what we accept. Let us approach the Holy Body and Blood of the Lord with fear and trembling, having been cleansed from all evil and having peace among ourselves. And then we will remain pure, keeping this shrine in our body, and not rushing into drunkenness and other impurities, but, as servants of Christ and partakers of His mysteries, having peace and unfeigned love among ourselves. Let us be lovers of the poor and lovers of strangers, let us fulfill the word of God in practice, and not just listen to it. As we strive to draw closer to God through pure living, let us hear His voice: “Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). For you, a strange man came down from heaven to earth, so that you, who have withdrawn from Me, may again be reconciled to My Father and your God. For you I hungered and thirsted, so that you, who have given alms, to grant the pleasure of heavenly food. And for this garment and perishable robe I will clothe you with incorruptible ones and crown you with royal crowns. Therefore, brothers, with all our soul and pure faith we glorify the Most Holy Trinity, equal in honor and equal in throne, shining inseparably in three Persons, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 127. Prologue. Moscow 1877, 66 sheets; "Monuments of Old Russian Church Literature. Issue IV. Slavic-Russian Prologue. January–April". St. Petersburg, 1898, pp. 100–101. You might be interested in: