Fr. Garabed Kochakian
From the Gospel of Luke, we read of the Dominical Feast of Christ’s Presentation to the Temple.
Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your Salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all people; a Light for the revelation to the Gentiles and for the Glory of Your people Israel [the chosen ones] of Luke (2:29-32)
Forty days following Christ’s birth, according to the Judaic law and tradition, Jesus was brought to Simeon, the high priest of the Temple of Jerusalem who with Anna the Prophetess had been waiting to see the Messiah. At the same time, this also fulfilled the religious rite of the purification of the Virgin Mary, a post-birth tradition for women forty days after the birth of a child.
This dominical feast, dating from the fourth century in Jerusalem, is celebrated in the Armenian Church on the 40th day after Theophany January 6th- and falls on the 14th of February Տօն քառասնօրեայ գալստեանն Քրիստոսի ի Տաճարն/ The Feast of the 40th day of the Comming of Christ to the Temple- also known as the Feast of Light Diarrn unt arrach/ Տեառն ընդառաջ.
Saint Simeon at that time was the High Priest of the Temple and a Prophetess, an eighty-four-year-old widow named Anna, daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, who was long awaiting the redemption of Jews in Jerusalem.
The Icon of this holy event as the scripture describes, clearly captures every detail of this awesome encounter. At once, we see the four main figures in the forefront, Sts. Mary, Joseph, Sts. Simeon and Ann prayerfully and lovingly gaze upon the Infant Messiah.
Mary, caressing in her arms the newborn Christ child accompanied by Joseph, her husband, both piously approach the hope-filled Elder Simeon. With his outstretched arms longing to embrace the long-awaited Messiah, he eagerly reaches out to receive Jesus. As was customary and as a symbol of gratitude, Saint Joseph offered two turtledoves as a gift to the Temple. Holding a white towel, the aged Simeon can hardly wait to receive his Saviour.
The Temple building, a symbol of the Saviour’s Tomb, and the white cloth are significant, both a prelude to the future burial shroud of the Lord.
The architecture in this icon appears to deliberately dominate the scene, with the arched canopy supported by columns echoing the grandeur of the Temple in Jerusalem. There is a red curtain concealing the Holy of Holies is drawn open to welcome the Coming of Christ, the Holy One and Redeemer. Behind or in some instances between the placement of all the figures is an altar that represents both sacrifice of, and honor to, Christ God as is brought into His Holy Temple. The red curtain symbolically represents the Lord’s saving blood and portends the Light of God with Us, Emanuel has come to shine forth throughout the world, and our Creator-God is ever present in every circumstance. This Light, which both the priest Simeon and the Prophetess Anna behold, is none other than the Light of the Creator emanating and beaming forth from the Christ Child, is the Light to Enlighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of Your Chosen People [Israel].
Translating the Light of Christ into the worship of the church is a symbol of the Divine Light of Jesus and has been used in the ritual celebration in the Armenian Church on this great feast in February. As Simeon received Christ, the Light of the World, the faithful who also have received Him at Baptism and in all Sacred Sacraments and mysteries of the Church are blessed with the hope of the Resurrection and a place in Heaven with the Father and Son in the Eternal Kingdom of God. At the conclusion of the Holy Liturgy of this feast, worshippers are given lighted candles at the conclusion of the celebration to carry the living flame of Christ into the hearths and hearts of their own homes. The burning glow of God’s
The light reminds us, as it did Saint Simeon, that despite the travails we encounter in our lives, we nonetheless continue to behold God's Eternal Light and His never-ceasing rays to shine upon us day and night and in our daily walks of faith, hope, and love, as we praise Him, guide us, the children of light. . .
Christ the King of Glory comes this day to be presented. He fulfills the law by His coming on the fortieth day. This, the Prophet Isaiah, has aforetime did prophesy of God; for the aged one who dwelt in the Temple did not see death until he saw the Anointed One. There was a cry for His coming and a fearful thunder; The Lord of the Temple, Christ, had come to be presented. (A hymn from the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of The Presentation)
This iconography in this sacred image, especially during the present days where so much darkness enshrouds us, that certainly the Light of God is needed to dispel the gloom and despair we daily encounter. The world which sits in darkness, as the Gospel reminds us, can only be redeemed by God’s True Light. Jesus says I am the Light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” [Jn. 8:12].
Several years ago in 1969, a rock musical group called the 5th Dimension recorded an album called the Age of Aquarius, with its concluding song Let the Sunshine in. It couldn’t be any clearer!
Perhaps, in a way, the word sunshine and the refrain of this song, Hey, Come on! Open up your heart and let the sunshine in should touch us, the ‘Children of Light. In our church’s theology and hymnody, Jesus is often referred to as the Sun of Righteousness. It is the rays of His Sunshine that echo in our hearts, the need for His Divine Light of God’s Son, and the joy it can bring. And when we, like Simeon, can embrace Him to shine in and through us, bringing us all to the Light of the Knowledge of God.
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