Variable Portions of the Divine Liturgy
The Meeting of our Lord in the Temple
2 February
Byzantine Antiphons
1st Antiphon Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.
2nd Antiphon O Son of God, held in the arms of Simeon the Righteous,
save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
3rd Antiphon
Troparion Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Full of Grace!
Meeting From you shown the Sun of Righteousness,
(Tone 1) Christ our God,
enlightening those who sat in darkness!
Rejoice and be glad, O righteous elder;
you accepted in your arms the Redeemer of our souls,
Who grants us the Resurrection!
After the Little Entrance
Troparion Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos... (as above)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion By Thy Nativity, Thou didst sanctify the Virgin's womb,
Meeting and didst bless Simeon's hands, O Christ God.
(Tone 1) Thou art come on this day to save us through Thy love.
Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians, O only Lover of Man!
Prokeimenon
(Tone 3) My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices
in God my Savior!
Scripture Readings
Hebrews 7:7-17 Luke 2:22-40
Hymn to the Theotokos:
People: O Virgin Theotokos, hope of all Christians!
Protect, preserve, and save all those who honor you!
We faithful saw the figure in the shadow of the law
and the scriptures:
Every male child that opened the womb was sacred to God.
Therefore, we magnify the only-begotten Son
of the unoriginate Father,
the first-born Son of the unwedded Mother!
Communion Hymn
I will receive the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord!
Epistle - The Meeting of our Lord
Priest: Let us attend! Peace be unto all!
Reader: And to your spirit.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Prokeimenon in the 3rd Tone: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
People: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
Reader: For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
People: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
Reader: My soul magnifies the Lord.
People: And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Reading from the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews.
Priest: Let us attend!
(Hebrews 7:7-17)
Reader: Brethren, it is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchiz'edek met him.
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levit'ical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchiz'edek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchiz'edek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchiz'edek."
Priest: Peace be unto you, Reader!
Reader: And to your spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: Lord, now lettest Thou, Thy servant, depart in peace according to Thy Word!
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: A light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people, Israel!
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gospel - The Meeting of our Lord
Priest: The Reading is from the holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
Priest: Let us attend.
(Luke 2:22-40)
At that time the parents of the child Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
The Blessing of Candles
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O Holy Master, Father Almighty, O Pre-eternal God, Who, at Thy command, made all things out of nothingness, and Who, only by thinking it, brought this creation to the perfect Light and, Who hast fulfilled the petition of the Righteous Simeon on this present day: Humbly we pray that Thou be pleased to bless and sanctify these candles, which have been prepared beforehand at the request of the people, for the health of soul and body, whether they be on land or on the waters, at the invocation of Thy most-holy Name, and by the prayers of the Blessed and Ever-Virgin Mary, whose feast we now reverently celebrate, and by the prayers of all Thy Saints. And from Thy holy Heaven, hearken unto the voice of these, Thy people, who reverently desire to carry them, and, singing hymns, to glorify Thee; and from the throne of Thy majesty, be merciful to all crying out unto Thee, whom Thou hast purchased with the precious blood of Thy Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy Most-holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O Almighty, O Pre-eternal God, Who, on this day, didst lay Thine Only-begotten Son in the arms of the Righteous Simeon in Thy holy Temple, we call upon Thy deep compassion: Do Thou bless and sanctify these candles, which we, Thy servants, receive and desire to carry for the majesty of Thy Name, and be pleased to light them with the light of Thy heavenly blessing, that we who are offering them unto Thee, our Lord God, meetly enflamed with Thy sweetest love, through a holy fire, may be counted worthy also to stand in the holy Temple of Thy glory. For Thou art our God, and unto to Thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
This content has been generously provided by Fr. Jerome Cwiklinski, CAPT, CHC, USN