Week 4: Welcoming Christ into the Temple and Candlemas

52 Weeks of Orthodoxy: A photo a week from our life in Christ in the Orthodox Church

Just as St. Simeon greeted the Christ child at the temple, so the children greeted the golden flames from the newly blessed candles.

On the eve of February 2, we celebrated Jesus’ Presentation into the Temple on his 40th day after birth, the traditional time when infants were brought into the church and the mother had finished her time of purification.  The choir sang of Simeon, who received Christ and said, “My eyes have seen thy salvation.  Now let thy servant depart in peace.”  At the end of the service, Father Paul blessed bundles of service candles as is the tradition on this night and also called Candlemas in some countries. As the service wrapped, the children joined their newly blessed candles into one flame which bathed their sweet faces in soft golden light.