Description
This late 16th century icon shows the Virgin Mary bringing her Divine Son into the Temple to dedicate Him to the Lord on the 40th day after His Birth as was written in the Law. She gives Him into the arms of the Prophet Symeon the God-Receiver, who has come into the Temple by inspiration from the Holy Spirit. On that day God will fulfill the promise made to St. Symeon that he will see the Lord of the Prophecy of the birth of Immanuel, God-with-us, and so let him depart in peace. The beautiful hymn in Luke 2:29-32 is the response of St. Symeon to holding Jesus Christ in his arms and blessing God Who had come to him.
The Prophetess Anna is also in the Temple by inspiration to see the Divine Child. St. Joseph, the Betrothed to the Virgin Mary, but not married to her as a witness that this Child is not his, is there, too, and holds two turtledoves as an offering to the priest as was written to fulfill the Law on a child’s dedication in the Temple. This is the junction between the prophecies of the Old Testament and their fulfillment in the New, for Christ is that fulfillment. Let us praise Christ, too, and bless God like St. Symeon.