Беседа на слова: „И егда исполнишася дние очищения ею, по закону Моисеову, вознесоста Его во Иерусалим, поставити пред Господем» (Лук. 2:22). Св. Афанасия, архиепископа Александрийского

And when the days of purification were fulfilled by her, according to the law of Moses, He was taken up to Jerusalem, and set Him before the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: For every male child, when he opens his womb, shall be called holy to the Lord: and I shall give a sacrifice, according to that which is spoken in the law of the Lord, two turtledoves, or two chicks of a dove. (Luke 2:23–24). Not in the likeness of other people, the Lord did not put on flesh in order to come into being and come into the world; but he became man in order to sanctify the flesh. If someone understands the words: “set him before the Lord” about the Lord Himself, then in this case he will deviate from the proper meaning. For when was the Lord hidden from the eyes of the Father, and could not be seen by Him? Or is there any place outside His dominion, where He would not remain before the Father until He was brought to Jerusalem and brought into the church? But why did they bring educational sacrifices when He was reality itself? Is it not because this was written not for His sake, but for our sake? For just as He, who is God, is immutably made man by nature, and is circumcised in the flesh, and is baptized, and endures the rest, not for His own sake, but for our sake, so that we, being men, by grace would become gods through adoption as sons, and be circumcised spiritually, and not according to the Law, and with baptism wash away the stain of sin, and be crucified to the world, and rise up to God: so is what was said. here about their cleansing, about setting Him before the Lord and about the representative sacrifices was accomplished and written not for His sake, but for our sake, so that we learn to cleanse and place ourselves before God, mysteriously and spiritually offering Him two turtle doves or two chicks of a dove. The turtledove is a symbol of chastity and silence, because this animal is desert-loving and very chaste (and if a male or female turtledove dies, then the remaining one does not mate with another), and pigeon chicks are an image of gentleness and meekness. Therefore, those who through chastity cleanse themselves from carnal pleasures and lusts, and through gentleness and meekness refrain from irritability and anger, truly make good sacrifices, appear before the face of God, and place themselves in heavenly Jerusalem: for nothing pleases God more than gentleness and chastity. And indeed, God wants to make us so chaste that we do not even look at a woman with lust; about gentleness he says: if you do not convert, you will become like children (Matthew 18:3), not according to physical age, but in the image of children, representing gentleness; and the Lord presents Himself as an example of meekness and humbleness of mind, saying: Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). But if someone asks: why is it commanded to bring two and two, and two perfect animals, and two chicks? We answer: since man is two-part, that is, he consists of soul and body, then God requires from us twofold chastity and twofold meekness. If in body I abstain from carnal pleasures, but in soul I lust after them: then I am not chaste, but an adulterer, for it is said: he who has contemplated to lust has already committed fornication in his heart (Matthew 5:28). And also, whoever seems meek in appearance, but is irritable in his soul, is not gentle, but hypocritical and angry; For him, visible and imaginary kindness serves as a veil for secret malice. With such in mind, the Prophet says: I will bless my lips. and in my heart I repent (Psalm 61:5); and again: those who speak peace with their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts (Psalm 27:3). By the command to bring two perfect ones and two chicks, it is given to understand that in prudence and chastity we must be perfect, but in malice, as the Apostle says, we must be childish (1 Cor. 14:20). Now let Thy servant go, O Lord, according to Thy word, in peace, (said Elder Simeon at the meeting of the Lord). Therefore, we will despise death: for even if we become afraid of it, we will die, of course, at the time determined for us by Providence. It is better to meet it valiantly, as something absolutely required, than to succumb only to dishonor. He who ends his life in godliness does not die. But whoever is called solely in time, as one who lived for himself, must give an account in time itself: but if he does not give, then he will hear: You have received good things in your belly: but now you are suffering here (Luke 16:25). Therefore, we must take courage, as the Apostle commanded (1 Cor. 16:13), in order to kill for us the evils that are on the earth (Col. 3:5); We must prepare things for the coming, so that when the end of time comes, or when we are called by the Savior, we can also say: now release Your servant, Master. But when the Lord Himself comes, may He find us awake and not asleep, and may He not reproach us, saying: “Were you not able to watch for one hour” (Matthew 26:40)? Mental sleep is negligence and failure to remember death. Amen 111. See the works of our holy father Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, in Russian. transl., part IV. Moscow 1854, 498–501 countries. You might be interested in: