Conference yukon::christian_v7

[late fourth century]

The Fortieth Day after [the Nativity of Our Lord] is observed here with
special magnificence.  On this day they assemble in the Anastasis.  Everyone
gathers, and things are done with the same solemnity as at the feast of
Easter.  All the presbyters preach first, then the bishop, and they interpret
the passage from the Gospel about Joseph and Mary taking the Lord to the
Temple, and about Simeon and the prophetess Anna, daughter of Phanuel,
seeing the Lord, and what they said to him, and about the sacrifice offered
by his parents.  When all the rest has been done in the proper way, they
celebrate the sacrament and have their dismissal.

[638]

In honor of the divine mystery that we celebrate today, let us all hasten to
meet Christ.  Everyone should be eager to join the procession and to carry a
light.

Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendor of the one who comes to
expel the dark shadows of evil and to make the whole universe radiant with
the brilliance of his eternal light.  Our candles also show how bright our
souls should be when we go to meet Christ.

The Theotokos, the most pure Virgin, carried the true light in her arms
and brought him to those who lay in darkness.  We too should carry a light
for all to see and reflect the radiance of the true light as we hasten to
meet him.

The light has come and has shone upon a world enveloped in shadows; the
Dayspring from on high has visited us and given light to those who lived
in darkness.  This, then, is our feast, and we join in procession with
lighted candles to reveal the light that has shone upon us and the glory
that is yet to come to us through him.  So let us hasten all together to
meet our God.

The true light has come, "the light that enlightens every person who is
born into this world."  Let all of us, beloved, be enlightened and made
radiant by this light.  Let all of us share in its splendor, and be so
filled with it that no one remains in the darkness.  Let us be shining
ourselves as we go together to meet and to receive with the aged Simeon
the light whose brilliance is eternal.  Rejoicing with Simeon, let us
sing a hymn of thanksgiving to God, the Father of the light, who sent
the true light to dispel the darkness and to give us all a share in his
splendor.

Through Simeon's eyes we too have seen the salvation of God which he
prepared for all the nations and revealed as the glory of the new Israel,
which is ourselves.  As Simeon was released from the bonds of this life
when he had seen Christ, so we too were at once freed from our old state
of sinfulness.

By faith we too embraced Christ, the salvation of God the Father, as
he came to us from Bethlehem.  Gentiles before, we have now become the
people of God.  Our eyes have seen God incarnate, and because we have
seen him present among us and have mentally received him into our arms,
we are called the new Israel.  Never shall we forget this presence;
every year we keep a feast in his honor.

O Lord, holy Father almighty, everlasting God, who hast made all things
out of nothing, and hast appointed that the labors of bees should be
formed into wax by thine ordinance: who didst likewise as on this day
fulfil the prayers of thy righteous servant Simeon: we humbly beseech
thee; that thou wouldest vouchsafe, by the power of thy holy Name, to
ble+ss and sanc+tify these candles for the use of men, and for their
protection both in body and soul in all perils of land or sea: hear,
O Lord, we humbly pray thee, from thy holy heaven and from the throne
of thy glory the voice of this thy people, that seeketh to bear them
forth to thy glory and to sing thy praises: and we humbly beseech thee
that thou wouldest have mercy on all them that call upon thee, whom
thou hast redeemed with the precious Blood of thy dear Son.  Who liveth
and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God,
world without end.  Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, who as on this day didst suffer thy only-
begotten Son to be presented in the temple and to be received in the arms
of Saint Simeon: we humbly beseech thy mercy; that like as we thy servants,
taking these candles do seek to light them and bear them to the glory of
thy Name, so thou wouldest vouchsafe to ble+ss and sanc+tify the same: that
we being made worthy of offering them unto thee, our Lord and our God, and
being enkindled with the holy flame of thy most gracious charity, may be
found meet to be presented before thee in the temple of thy glory.  Through
the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

O Lord Jesu Christ, who art the true light that lightenest every man that
cometh into the world: we beseech thee to pour out thy bless+ing upon
these candles, and sanc+tify them with the light of thy grace; and mercifully
grant, that even as they with their outward flame do scatter the darkness of
night; so our hearts being inflamed with the inward brightness of thy Holy
Spirit may be delivered from all blindness of iniquity: that the eyes of our
souls being enlightened may discern such things as are pleasing unto thee
and profitable unto us for our salvation; that finally after the darkness
and dangers of this world we may attain in the end to light everlasting.
Through thee, O blessed Jesu, Redeemer of the world, who in the unity of
the blessed Trinity livest and reignest God, world without end.  Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, who by the mouth of Moses thy servant didst
command the shildren of Israel to bring pure olive oil for the lamps to
burn always before thy face: we beseech thee to pour the bless+ing of thy
grace on these candles; that like as they shed forth on us their outward
beams, so of thy bounteous goodness the light of thy Holy Spirit may never
fail to enlighten us inwardly in our souls.  Through thy Son Jesus Christ
our Lord in the unity of the same Holy Spirit.  Amen.

O Lord Jesu Christ, who as on this day appearing among men in the substance
of our flesh wast presented by thy parents in the temple: whom Simeon in
his old age, being enlightened by the light of thy Spirit, knew and blessed,
taking thee in his arms: mercifully grant; that we, being enlightened and
instructed by the grace of the same spirit, may know thee truly in our minds
and love thee faithfully with all our hearts.  Who livest and reignest with
the Father in the unity of the same.

V. Let us go forth in peace.
R. In the Name of Christ.  Amen.

And the Thurifer shall go first with smoking censer: and after him the Subdeacon
vested and bearing the Cross in the midst between two Acolytes with lighted
torches: then shall follow the Clergy after their order; and last the Celebrant
with the Deacon on his left, all bearing lighted candles in their hands: singing

		O Sion, adorn thy bridechamber, and receive
		Christ thy King: greet Mary who is the gate
		of heaven: for she beareth the King of the
		glory of the new light: she remaineth a Virgin,
		yet beareth in her arms a Son begotten before
		the morning star: whom Simeon took in his arms
		declaring to all nations that he is Lord of life
		and death, and Saviour of the world.

		It was revealed unto Simeon by the Holy Ghost
		that he should not see death before he had seen
		the Lord's Christ: and when they brought the
		child into the temple, then took he him up in
		his arms and blessed God and said: Lord, now
		lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.

		When his parents brought in the Child Jesus to
		do for him according to the custom of the law,
		then took he him up in his arms.

		They offered for him unto the Lord a pair of
		turtledoves or two young pigeons: As it is written
		in the law of the Lord.

		When the days of Mary's purification according to
		the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought
		Jesus to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord.
		As it is written in the law of the Lord.

		Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the
		Holy Ghost.  As it is written in the law of the Lord.

		Almighty and everliving God, we humbly beseech thy
		Majesty: that, as thy only-begotten Son was this
		day presented in the temple in substance of our
		flesh; so we may be presented unto thee with pure
		and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ
		our Lord.  Who livest and reignest with thee and the
		Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.  Amen.

Alleluia.  Alleluia.  The old man bare the young Child in his arms: yet was
the young child the old man's King.  Alleluia!

John:

There are some good things in here.  I read through every reply and question 
two areas.  See below.

>>		O Sion, adorn thy bridechamber, and receive
>>		Christ thy King: greet Mary who is the gate
>>		of heaven: for she beareth the King of the
>>		glory of the new light: she remaineth a Virgin,
>>		yet beareth in her arms a Son begotten before
>>		the morning star: 

Is there historical or scriptural evidence to support this?  To be quite
candid, if I were Joseph, I for one would not look too kindly on this. 
Paul exhorts us to render to your husbands what is his and likewise husbands
render to the wife what is hers.  This doesn't appear to make for a Godly
marriage.   Notice I used the word appear.  


>>             -< From a sermon of Sophronius, Bishop of Jerusalem >-

>>The Theotokos, the most pure Virgin, carried the true light in her arms
>>and brought him to those who lay in darkness.  We too should carry a light
>>for all to see and reflect the radiance of the true light as we hasten to
>>meet him.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the word Theotokos imply divinehood?
If this be so, doesn't this statement strike you as a tad suspicious?

Again, everything else I didn't have a question on, just these two points.

Thanks,

-Jack

re .-1

Yes, there is scriptural evidence to suggest that Mary remained a virgin
at least until after the Presentation in the Temple, and the Purification
of Mary which is what Candlemas celebrates.  It would have been a violation
of the Law for her to have had intercourse during the first forty days after
the birth of a son, and scripture tells us that Joseph was an honorable man.

I would suggest we carry on any discussion of what happened after that in
the topic where it has already been banged around.  I would stand with Martin
Luther in defense of the decree of the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in 451.

>Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the word Theotokos imply divinehood?

"Theotokos" means "The One who Gave Birth to God", and was a title given
to Mary at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in 431, when it was declared
that Jesus was God before Mary gave birth to Him, in opposition to various
heresies which claimed that he was not God, or that he became God at his
baptism or his resurrection, or some other time.  Remember, Jesus said,
"Before Abraham was, I AM," giving scriptural support to his eternal and
pre-existing divinity.

/john

    Thanks for defining that.  Makes sense now.  I will check out the
    entries in the other strings.  I was curious about the viginity through
    life issue as I know there are different teachings on this.  I concur
    with your belief regarding the 40 days.
    
    Thabn

    I mean...Thanks!

1 Hail to the Lord who comes,		3 There Joseph at her side
   Comes to his temple gate!		   In reverent wonder stands;
  Not with his angel host,		  And, filled with holy joy,
   Not in his kingly state;		   Old Simeon in his hands
  No shouts proclaim him nigh,		  Takes up the promised Child,
   No crowds his coming wait;		   The glory of all lands.

2 But borne upon the throne		4 Hail to the great First-born
   Of Mary's gentle breast,		   Whose ransom-price they pay!
  Watched by her duteous love,		  The Son before all worlds,
   In her fond arms at rest;		   The Child of man today,
  Thus to His father's house		  That He might ransom us
   He comes, the heavenly guest.	   Who still in bondage lay.

			5 O Light of all the earth,
			   Thy children wait for thee!
			  Come to thy temples here,
			   That we, from sin set free,
			  Before thy Father's face
			   May all presented be!

						John Ellerton (1826-1893)