Беседа на Сретение Господа и Спаса нашего Иисуса Христа. Святого Исихия, пресвитера Иерусалимского 120

This feast is called "purification", which feast, without sin, can be called the "holy of holies": for now the whole mystery of the incarnation of Christ is presided over. The Infant Christ was now confessed by God. The Creator of our nature, seated on the throne, was now brought on his chest and brought a pair of mental doves - Simeon and Anna. The Evangelist Luke sets out the history of the holiday as follows: And when the days of purification were fulfilled by her, according to the law of Moses, he took Him up to Jerusalem, and set Him before the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: For every child of manhood, having opened his womb, shall be called holy to the Lord; Lord, two turtle doves or two chicks of a dove (Luke 2:22–24). The one who suffered for us should have brought cleansing; the one who did not spare his own blood for us should not have spared two chicks. So, the Lawgiver serves the law for the sake of the law, and he who proclaims the freedom of the spirit obeys the letter - he does not remove Moses, so that in time he may become a witness worthy of faith. "When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled." "Them" - who is this? Joseph was not a father and was not subject to purification; Mary and the Child also did not need purification. It is said: “If a woman gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean for seven days" (Leviticus 12:2); but Mary, as she had not received semen, did not need purification. According to the law: “if a woman gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean for seven days," because she brought the second Adam into life; and if a woman gives birth to a female child, she will be unclean for two weeks (Lev. 12:5), that is, double time, since Eve is born again from Eve, a weak vessel, the leader of disobedience. However, if you have heard about the crime of a wife, then know also what the wife brought into the world virginity, contained in the womb the Inconceivable God, - carnally gave birth to the One who recreated our race, - the first began the preaching of the resurrection. It is said: “the woman who will give birth to a child.” But the Mother of God was a wife, and did not tolerate a woman: for Her womb did not receive the seed of a man, the virgin vineyard was not trodden, so that the offering was made not for Her, but for the whole race: for our sake Christ is circumcised, for He accepts baptism for us, by shedding tears, He washes nature; by bearing the cross, He frees us from the yoke of sin; “And when the days of their purification were fulfilled, they brought Him to Jerusalem, as it is written in the law of the Lord, that every male child who opens the womb should be dedicated to the Lord.” Christ, as we said, fulfilled His own law for the law: for He did not reject, but left the gates of the Virgin closed, and did not harm the One who gave birth, since He left Her the image of virginity intact. If you don’t believe, learn from Ezekiel: turn me to the path of the outer gates of the holy ones, looking towards the east: and this one is closed. And the Lord said to me: This gate will be closed, and no one will pass through it, and it will be closed (Ezek. 44:1-2). Every male child, opening his womb, will be called holy to the Lord. This (Infant Christ) is not only a saint. As He surpasses in holiness, He surpasses the commandment of the law; however, he fulfills what was spoken in the law of the Lord about two turtle doves or two chicks of pigeons. The law commanded - a lamb and a chick, and in case of poverty, bring two turtle doves or two pigeon chicks. Having ignored the offering of the rich man, Evangelist Luke remembered the will of Him who became poor for us. Entwined in a manger, where would He bring the lamb? However, He had no need for a lamb at all: He Himself was the Lamb of God, the true Lamb; He sacrificed Himself for the world. Therefore, the Evangelist omitted what the law commanded, and designated what Christ creates. It goes on to say: And there was a man in Jerusalem, and his name was Simeon. And this man is righteous and pious, seeking the joy of Israel: and the Holy Spirit is in him. And he was promised by the Holy Spirit not to see death, before he even saw Christ the Lord (Luke 2:25–26). Simeon's wealth is great, the commander's weapons are varied, the plant is full of fruits, the vine is abundant in clusters. The man is definitely called Simeon; Moreover, it is said that he was righteous and pious, sought the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him, and it was predicted that he would not see death before he saw the Christ of the Lord. Here is a man! Where? - in Jerusalem. Wonderful word! a man in Jerusalem, to whom the Lord Himself says through the prophet Zephaniah: “I will search for Jerusalem with a lamp, and will not find it” (Zephan. 1:12). The Prophet does not designate light by lamp, but refers to law. And behold, a man was in Jerusalem, and his name was Simeon. This named name means “hearing”; and where there is perfect hearing of the law, there is fulfillment of the commandments, the path of the good life, i.e. what defines a true person, about whom the Evangelist discusses in his speech. “And he is a righteous and pious man, looking forward to the consolation of Israel.” This is the right goal - to seek not one’s own, but one’s neighbor and many, to seek common salvation, and not private good. “And the Holy Spirit, they say, was upon him”: Simeon was the chariot of the Lady, the throne of God, and therefore he received the King of the ages with his hands. And he was predicted not to see death before he saw the Christ of the Lord: that is, it was predicted to move from life to life, from light to Light, to move from day to day, not to become obsolete, but to be renewed. And he came in spirit to the church (Luke 2:27). The source led the thirsty person to the source. And when he brought in the parent of the Child Jesus, he did according to the lawful custom concerning Him, and he received Him in his hand (Luke 2:28), - he took into his hands the One who holds the universe in his hand, who measured out the heavens with a span and the whole earth with his hand. And how did Simeon offer up a sacrifice that was not his? He was not a priest, for this is not said, and he was not a Levite, since the ministry was inherited to one tribe of Levites; but he was righteous (and a righteous man has the priesthood in himself); he was godly (and the godly has the anointing in him). And holding the Child, Simeon said: Now let Thy servant go, O Master, according to Thy word, in peace. Now you are letting go: the time of abandonment has come, the release of captives is approaching, the resolution of debts is approaching; a King was born, freeing those in prison, delivering those imprisoned, calling those in death to life. Now you release Your servant, O Master. I see the Lord, says Simeon, who has taken the form of a servant; He would not have taken on the form of a servant, being the Master, if he had not determined to be clothed with the servant of the Master; He would not have changed his rank and would not have diminished, being the Most High, if he had not wanted to raise those who lay below to heights. But how do you let him go? According to Your word, in peace: for if by a word He called the creation, then by a word He frees the ruler of the creation. “In peace” what? - godparents. This sword cut off the head of the tyrant and gave peace to those who took up arms with Christ. As my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared. The eyes saw what many wanted to see and did not see - God in the flesh, the Sun shining in a cloud; My eyes have seen Your salvation, that is, we have seen the incarnation through which You accomplished the salvation of people: for they have not seen the naked Divinity, since God, as He is, in essence, none of the people will see. As my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people: a light for revelation by the tongue, and the glory of Your people Israel. Common and indivisible benefits for the Jews and nations. Let the Jew not rage, let the scribe not be tempted, let Herod not worry about his kingdom, let Annas and Caiaphas not fear about the priesthood. He who comes gives to everyone, receiving from no one, distributes abundantly, bestows without measure. Joseph and the Mother of Jesus marveled at what was said about Jesus (Luke 2:33), how He could become the Son of Man? Mary marveled as a slave gave birth to the Liberator of creation. And Simeon said: This is set for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, and it is a sign: for the fall of those who remain in unbelief, and for the rising of those who convert to faith from unbelief. Christ was the Stone laid upon the creation: but the blind with their eyes stumbled at Him. Judas and Peter fell together: one who said: whatever you want to give, I will deliver Him to you (Matt. 26:15), the other who said: today I will lay down my life for You (John 13:37) (while he needed to know that a mortal does not give a soul for immortality), and also: although I am and die with You, I will not deny You (Matt. 26:35), whereas he could have said: “If you strengthen me, I will not deny You; if you protect me, I, weak, will not fear ruin.” But one was a sin of the tongue, another of the heart: therefore Peter, having fallen, rose up and became the leader of the other fallen; and Judas fell into the abyss, threw down the pieces of silver and, taking a rope, hanged himself... Why is the sign of the cross debatable? During the crucifixion of Christ by the Jews, the sun darkened; the earth shook, the people cried out: crucify Him (John 19:6); and the stones, unable to bear the weight of the reproach, disintegrated; the priests and scribes said: Let us remember, because He is flattered, He said while He is still alive: In three days I will rise (Matthew 27:63); and the centurion cried out: Truly this is the Son of God (Matthew 27:54). However, even to this day the word of the cross is a temptation for the Jews, for the Greeks it is madness, but for those who are called, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:23-24). And a weapon will pierce your very soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. By weapon we mean division, since the sword tears and divides bodies and souls with doubt. Although She was a Virgin, she was a wife: although She was the Mother of God, she was from our composition. The sword passed through Her soul so that the various thoughts of many hearts regarding Christ would be revealed, during the suffering, undergoing great hesitation due to the shock of suffering, so that the disciples who were on the journey with Cleopas said to him: “Are you one of those who came to Jerusalem and do not know about what happened in it in these days?.. what happened to Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet.” )? So, they thought of Him as the Prophet and Savior of Israel, but as a result of suffering they formed a wrong opinion about Him regarding the salvation of Israel, and they hesitated. This did not happen in vain, but in order to show that God is wiser than men (1 Cor. 1:25). In the suffering of Christ, everyone was scattered and shaken, even the chosen disciples and the Mother; but it established the whole universe in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen 121. See Curs. Compl. Ratrolog. edit. Migne, series græce, volume XCIII, col. 1468–1478. You might be interested in: