On Lord, I have cried, four stichera are sung:

Tone One

to the special melody, O purest Virgin, thou joy of the heavenly hierarchies…

Simeon received in his embrace the Word uncircumscribed and supreme in being, who is borne on high in glory upon heavenly thrones; and he cried aloud: ‘Now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, O Saviour, salvation and delight of the faithful’ (twice).

Beholding Thee as a babe, O Word begotten of the Father before all ages, Simeon the venerable cried aloud: ‘I am distraught by fear at holding Thee, O Master, in my arms. But now, I pray Thee, lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for Thou art compassionate.’

Now let the gate of heaven be opened: for God the Word, begotten timelessly of the Father, has taken flesh and is born of a Virgin. He desires in His goodness to call back mortal nature and to set it at the right hand of the Father.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Four

by Andrew of Crete

Today the holy Mother who is higher than any temple, has come into the temple, disclosing to the world the Maker of the world and Giver of the Law. Simeon the Elder receives Him in his arms and, venerating Him, he cries aloud: ‘Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, for I have seen Thee, the Saviour of our souls.’

Aposticha:

Tone Two

to the special melody, O house of Ephratah…

Today the Saviour is brought as a babe into the temple of the Lord, and Simeon the Elder receives Him in his aged hands.

℣. Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation (Luke 2:29–30).

Christ the coal of fire, whom holy Isaiah foresaw, now rests in the arms of the Theotokos as in a pair of tongs, and He is given to the Elder.

℣. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel (Luke 2:32).

In fear and joy Simeon held the Master in his arms, and asked for his release from life, singing the praises of the Mother of God.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Same Tone

The All-Pure cried aloud, ‘O Simeon, receive as a babe in thine embrace the Lord of glory and the Salvation of the world.’

Apolytikion (troparion) of the feast:

Tone One

Hail, O Theotokos Virgin full of grace: for from thee has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, giving light to those in darkness. Be glad also, thou righteous Elder, for thou hast received in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, who bestows upon us resurrection.

Dismissal.

We sing Blessed is the man (the first portion of the first kathisma).

On Lord, I have cried, eight stichera are sung:

Tone One

by Patriarch Germanos

Simeon, tell us: whom dost thou bear in thine arms, that thou dost rejoice so greatly in the temple? To whom dost thou cry and shout: Now am I set free, for I have seen my Saviour? ‘This is He who was born of a Virgin: this is He, the Word, God of God, who for our sakes has taken flesh and has saved man.’ Let us worship Him (three times).

Receive, O Simeon, Him whom Moses once beheld in darkness granting the Law on Sinai, and who has now become a babe subject to the Law. This is He who spoke through the Law: this is He whose voice was heard in the prophets, who for our sakes has taken flesh and has saved man. Let us worship Him (three times).

Come, and with divine songs let us also go to meet Christ and let us receive Him whose salvation Simeon saw. This is He whom David announced: this is He whose words the prophets uttered, who for our sakes has taken flesh and speaks to us in the Law. Let us worship Him (twice).

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Six

by John the Monk

Let the gate of heaven be opened today: for He who is without beginning, the Word of the Father, has made a beginning in time without forsaking His divinity, and as a babe forty days old He is of His own will brought by the Virgin His Mother as an offering in the temple of the Law. The Elder received Him in his arms, crying as a servant to the Master: ‘Let me depart: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.’ Glory to Thee, O Lord, who hast come into the world to save mankind.

Entrance, O joyful light, and prokimenon of the day.

Lessons:

Reading from Exodus.

The Lord spake unto Moses, in the day that He brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, saying, Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is Mine. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place. Thou shalt therefore keep His law. And it shall be, when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as He sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, that thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord’s. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes. For thus spake the Lord Almighty: The firstborn of your sons ye shall give unto Me. If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child, in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest. And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean. For they are wholly given unto Me from among all the children of Israel; instead of the first born of the Egyptians have I taken them unto Me and sanctified them for Myself, on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt from man to beast, saith the Lord Most High, the Holy One of Israel.

Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (6:1–12).

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: and he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And He answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. And after this the Lord shall remove these men far away, and the remnant who are left in the land shall be multiplied.

Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (19:1, 3–5, 12, 16, 19–21).

Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at His presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord, saith the Lord of hosts. And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. Thus saith the Lord: Where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them say what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He shaketh over it. In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and He shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and He shall deliver them. And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it.

At the Lity:

Tone One

by Anatolios

The Ancient of Days, who in times past gave Moses the Law on Sinai, appears this day as a babe. As Maker of the Law He fulfils the Law, and according to the Law He is brought into the temple and given over to the Elder. Simeon the righteous receives Him, and beholding the fulfilment of the divine ordinance now brought to pass, rejoicing he cries aloud: ‘Mine eyes have seen the mystery hidden from the ages, made manifest in these latter days, the Light that disperses the dark folly of the Gentiles without faith and the Glory of the newly-chosen Israel. Therefore let Thy servant depart from the bonds of this flesh to the life filled with wonder that knows neither age nor end, O Thou who grantest the world great mercy.’

Same Tone

by John the Monk

Today He who once gave the Law to Moses on Sinai submits Himself to the ordinances of the Law, in His compassion becoming for our sakes as we are. Now the God of purity as a holy child has opened a pure womb, and as God He is brought as an offering to Himself, setting us free from the curse of the Law and granting light to our souls.

Tone Two

by Andrew Pyros

Him whom the Ministers at the Liturgy on high entreat with trembling, Simeon has now received below in his earthly arms, and he proclaims the union of the Godhead with mankind. Seeing the heavenly God as mortal man, he makes ready to withdraw from earthly things, and raises his cry in joy: ‘Glory to Thee, O Lord, who hast revealed to those in darkness the Light that knows no evening.’

Same Tone

by Germanos

Today Simeon takes in his arms the Lord of Glory whom Moses saw of old in the darkness, when on Mount Sinai he received the tables of the Law. This is He who speaks through the prophets; He is the Creator of the Law. This is He whom David announced; He is fearful to all, yet has great and abundant mercy.

Same Tone

by Germanos or John the Monk

The holy Virgin offered in the Holy Place Him who is Holy, giving Him to the minister in holy things. And Simeon with exceeding joy received Him in his outstretched arms, and he cried out: ‘O Master, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, O Lord.’

Same Tone

by the same

The Creator of heaven and earth is carried today by holy Simeon the Elder in his arms: and he said in the Holy Spirit: ‘Now am I set free, for I have beheld my Saviour.’

Same Tone

by Anatolios or Andrew of Jerusalem

Today Simeon the Elder enters the temple rejoicing in spirit, to receive in his arms Him who gave the Law to Moses and who Himself fulfils the Law. For Moses was counted worthy to see God through darkness and sounds not clear; and with his face covered he rebuked the unbelieving hearts of the Hebrews. But Simeon carried the pre-eternal Word of the Father in bodily form, and he revealed the Light of the Gentiles, the Cross and the Resurrection; and Ann was proved to be a prophetess, preaching the Saviour and Deliverer of Israel. Unto Him let us cry aloud: O Christ our God, through the Theotokos have mercy upon us.

Tone Four

by Andrew of Crete

Today the holy Mother who is higher than any temple, has come into the temple, disclosing to the world the Maker of the world and Giver of the Law. Simeon the Elder receives Him in his arms and, venerating Him, he cries aloud: ‘Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, for I have seen Thee, the Saviour of our souls.’

Glory be to the Father…

Tone Five

by the same

Search the Scriptures, as Christ our God said in the Gospels. For in them we find Him born as a child and bound in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger and fed upon milk, receiving circumcision and carried by Simeon: not in fancy nor in imagination but in very truth has He appeared unto the world. To Him let us cry aloud: Glory to Thee, O pre-eternal God.

Both now…

Same Tone

by Germanos or Anatolios

The Ancient of Days, a young child in the flesh, was brought to the temple by His Mother the Virgin, fulfilling the ordinance of His own Law. Receiving Him, Simeon said: ‘Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, O Lord.’

Aposticha:

Tone Seven

by Cosmas the Monk

Adorn Thy bridal chamber, O Zion, and welcome Christ the King; salute Mary, the heavenly gate. For she has been made as the throne of the cherubim, and she carries the King of glory. A cloud of light is the Virgin, who has borne in the flesh the Son begotten before the morning star. Simeon, taking Him in his arms, proclaimed to the peoples: ‘This is the Lord of life and death and the Saviour of the world.’

℣. Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation (Luke 2:29–30).

The Mother who has never known wedlock has brought into the temple Him who shone forth before the ages from the Father, and who in the latter times was born from a virgin womb. He who gave the Law upon Mount Sinai, makes Himself obedient to the ordinance of the Law; and she has brought Him to the priest and righteous Elder, whose appointed lot it was to see Christ the Lord. Simeon, receiving Him in his arms, greatly rejoiced, crying aloud: ‘This is God coeternal with the Father, and the Deliverer of our souls.’

℣. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel (Luke 2:32).

The Theotokos Mary carried in her arms Him who is borne aloft upon the chariot of the cherubim and praised in song by the seraphim, who was made flesh of her without her knowing wedlock, the Giver of the Law who fulfils the commandment of the Law. She gave Him into the arms of the priest and Elder; and holding the Life, he asked to be released from life, saying: ‘Now, O Master, let me depart to declare to Adam that I have seen the pre-eternal God and the Saviour of the world made a babe without undergoing change.’

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Eight

by Andrew of Crete

He who is borne on high by the cherubim and praised in hymns by the seraphim, is brought today according to the Law into the holy temple and rests in the arms of the Elder as on a throne. From Joseph He receives gifts fitting for God: a pair of doves, symbol of the spotless Church and of the newly-chosen people of the Gentiles; and two young pigeons, for He is the Originator of the two Covenants, both Old and New. Simeon, having now been granted the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning himself, blesses the Virgin and Theotokos Mary, and foretells in figures the Passion of her Son. From Him he begs release, crying aloud: ‘Now let me depart, O Master, as Thou hast before promised to me: for I have seen Thee the pre-eternal Light, the Lord and Saviour of the people that bear the name of Christ.’

Apolytikion (troparion) of the feast:

Tone One

Hail, O Theotokos Virgin full of grace: for from thee has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, giving light to those in darkness. Be glad also, thou righteous Elder, for thou hast received in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, who bestows upon us resurrection.

And the Dismissal.

After the first reading from the Psalter, sessional hymn:

Tone One

Let the choir of angels be amazed at this wonder, and let us mortal men raise our voices in song, beholding the ineffable condescension of God. Aged arms now embrace Him before whom the powers of heaven tremble, He who alone loves mankind.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Repeat.

After the second reading from the Psalter, sessional hymn:

Tone One

He who is with the Father upon the holy throne, coming to earth is born of a Virgin; and He who is uncircumscribed by time becomes a babe. Simeon received Him in his arms and said rejoicing: ‘Now, O merciful Lord, let me depart in peace, for Thou hast made glad Thy servant.’

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Repeat.

After the polyeleos, the megalynarion:

We magnify Thee, O Christ the Giver of life, and we venerate Thy most pure Mother, who this day according to the Law has brought Thee into the temple of the Lord.

℣. My heart is inditing a good matter (Psalm 44:2).

We magnify Thee…

℣. The Lord is in His holy temple: the Lord’s throne is in heaven (Psalm 10:4).

We magnify Thee…

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to Thee, O God (three times).

We magnify Thee…

Sessional hymn:

Tone Four

The Ancient of Days for my sake becomes a child; God the most pure receives purification, that He may confirm the reality of the human flesh which He took from the Virgin. Simeon, initiated into this mystery, acknowledged Him as God made manifest in the flesh; he greeted Him as Life and with rejoicing he cried in his old age: ‘Let me depart: for I have seen Thee, the Life of all.’

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Repeat.

The first antiphon of the hymn of degrees in Tone Four.

Prokimenon:

Tone Four

I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations (Psalm 44:18).

℣. My heart is inditing a good matter (Psalm 44:2).

Let everything that hath breath…

Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (2:25–32).

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, then took he 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 before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

Psalm 50.

Glory be to the Father…

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

Both now…

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

Have mercy upon me…

Tone Six

Let the gate of heaven be opened today: for He who is without beginning, the Word of the Father, has made a beginning in time without forsaking His divinity, and as a babe forty days old He is of His own will brought by the Virgin His Mother as an offering in the temple of the Law. The Elder received Him in his arms, crying as a servant to the Master: ‘Let me depart: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.’ Glory to Thee, O Lord, who hast come into the world to save mankind.

Canon of the feast, by St. Cosmas. In each Canticle, the irmos is repeated, and then twelve troparia are read. Before the troparia we say, Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Tone Three

Canticle One

Irmos: The sun once shone with its rays upon dry land in the midst of the deep. For the water on both sides became firm as a wall while the people crossed the sea on foot, offering this song acceptable to God: Let us sing to the Lord, for He has been greatly glorified.

Let the clouds drop with rain: for Christ the Sun, riding upon a swift cloud, is carried by pure hands as a babe into the temple. Therefore let us, the faithful, cry aloud: Let us sing to the Lord, for He has been greatly glorified.

Ye hands of Simeon, weakened by age, be strong, and ye, the feeble legs of the Elder, run straight to meet Christ. Forming a choir with the bodiless powers, let us sing to the Lord, for He has been greatly glorified.

Be joyful, O heavens stretched out in wisdom, and be ye exceeding glad, O earth. For Christ the Artificer, who came forth from the bosom of the Godhead and who was before all things, as a newborn child is offered to God His Father in the temple by His Mother the Virgin: for He has been greatly glorified.

Katavasia: The sun once shone with its rays…

Canticle Three

Irmos: O Lord, the firm foundation of those that put their trust in Thee, do Thou confirm the Church, which Thou hast purchased with Thy precious blood.

The firstborn of the Father before all ages has appeared from an undefiled Maiden as a firstborn child and He stretches out His hands to Adam.

That He might restore the first-formed man, who through beguilement had become childish in his mind, God the Word has appeared as a child.

The Creator, having become a young child without undergoing change, has reshaped according to the form of His divinity our nature, taken from the earth and destined to return to earth once more.

Katavasia: O Lord, the firm foundation…

Sessional hymn

Tone Four

Moses in days of old saw on Mount Sinai the back parts of God and was counted worthy in darkness and a storm of wind faintly to hear the divine voice. But now Simeon has taken in his arms God who for our sakes took flesh without changing; and joyfully has he made haste to depart from hence to the life eternal. Therefore he cried: ‘Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.’

Canticle Four

Irmos: Thy virtue, O Christ, has covered the heavens, for proceeding forth from the Ark of Thy sanctification, from Thine undefiled Mother, Thou hast appeared in the temple of Thy glory as an infant in arms, and the whole world has been filled with Thy praise.

The Theotokos cried: ‘O Simeon, knower of mysteries past speech, with rejoicing take in thine arms Christ the Word become a child, concerning whom thou wast told long since by the Holy Spirit; and shout aloud to Him: The whole world has been filled with Thy praise.’

O Simeon, receive with joy Christ in age a babe, the Consolation of God’s Israel, for which thou hast hoped, the Maker and Master of the Law who fulfils the order of the Law; and cry unto Him: ‘The whole world has been filled with Thy praise.’

Simeon was amazed when he beheld incarnate the Word that is without beginning, carried by the Virgin as on the throne of the cherubim, the Cause of all being, Himself become a babe; and he cried aloud to Him: ‘The whole world has been filled with Thy praise.’

Katavasia: Thy virtue, O Christ, has covered the heavens…

Canticle Five

Irmos: In a figure Isaiah saw God upon a throne, lifted up on high and borne in triumph by angels of glory; and he cried: ‘Woe is me! For I have seen beforehand God made flesh, Lord of the light that knows no evening and King of peace.’

The aged servant of God, seeing before him the Word held in the arms of His Mother, understood that this was the Glory made manifest of old to the Prophet; and he cried, ‘Rejoice, O holy Lady; for as a throne dost thou carry God, Lord of the light that knows no evening and King of peace.’

The Elder bent down and reverently touched the footprints of the Mother of God who knew not wedlock, and he said: ‘O pure Lady, thou dost carry Fire. I am afraid to take God as a babe in my arms, Lord of the light that knows no evening and King of peace.’

‘Isaiah was cleansed by receiving the coal from the seraphim’, cried the old man to the Mother of God. ‘Thou dost fill me with light as thou dost entrust to me, with thy hands as with tongs, Him whom thou holdest, Lord of the light that knows no evening and King of peace.’

Katavasia: In a figure Isaiah saw God…

Canticle Six

Irmos: The Elder, having seen with his eyes the salvation that was come to the peoples, cried aloud unto Thee: ‘O Christ that comest from God, Thou art my God.’

Thou hast been set up in Zion as a stumbling stone and rock of offence for the disobedient, but unto the faithful Thou art salvation which cannot be broken.

Bearing faithfully the image of Him who begat Thee before all ages, Thou hast now from pity put on the weakness of mortal man.

Now lettest Thou depart in peace him who worships Thee as Son of the Most High and Son of the Virgin, God become a child.

Katavasia: The Elder, having seen with his eyes…

Kontakion

Tone One

by Romanos the Melodist

Thou who hast sanctified by Thy birth a virgin womb and fittingly blessed the hands of Simeon, Thou art come, O Christ our God, and on this day hast saved us. Give peace to Thy commonwealth in time of battle and strengthen the Orthodox people whom Thou hast loved, O Thou who alone lovest mankind.

Ikos

Let us run to the Theotokos, desiring to behold her Son brought to Simeon. The bodiless powers, looking at Him from on high, were filled with amazement, saying ‘Now we see wondrous and most marvellous things, past understanding and past telling. He who created Adam is carried as a babe. He who cannot be compassed is compassed by the arms of the Elder. He who rests uncircumscribed in the bosom of His Father, is voluntarily circumscribed in flesh but not in divinity, He who alone loves mankind.

Canticle Seven

Irmos: O Word of God who in the midst of the fire hast dropped dew upon the Children as they discoursed on things divine, and who hast taken up Thy dwelling in the pure Virgin: Thee do we praise as with piety we sing: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

‘I depart’, cried Simeon, ‘to declare the good tidings to Adam abiding in hell and to Eve’; and with the prophets he sang rejoicing: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

‘To deliver our kind formed from dust, God will go down even unto hell: He will give freedom to all the captives and sight to the blind, and will grant the dumb to cry aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.’

‘And a sword shall pierce thy heart, O All-Pure Virgin,’ Simeon foretold to the Theotokos, ‘when thou shalt see thy Son upon the Cross to whom we cry aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.’

Katavasia: O Word of God who in the midst of the fire…

Canticle Eight

Irmos: Standing together in the unbearable fire yet not harmed by the flame, the Children, champions of godliness, sang a divine hymn: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.

O people of Israel, beholding thy Glory, Emmanuel the Child of the Virgin, offered before the Ark of God, dance now and sing together: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.

‘Lo’, cried Simeon, ‘this is He who is at once God and a child, who shall become a sign that is spoken against. Unto Him in faith let us sing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.’

He that is Life, God the Word, has here become a little child: and He shall be the fall of the disobedient and the rising again of all those who sing with faith: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.

Katavasia: Standing together in the unbearable fire…

Canticle Nine

The Magnificat and Greater in honour than the cherubim are not sung, but before the irmos and the troparia we sing the following megalynaria:

(Greek) That which is fulfilled in thee is beyond the understanding of angels and mortal men, O pure Virgin Mother.

(Slav) O Virgin Theotokos, thou Hope of all Christians, protect, watch over, and guard all those who put their hope in thee.

Irmos: In the shadow and the letter of the Law, let us, the faithful, discern a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the firstborn Word and Son of the Father without beginning, the firstborn Child of a Mother who had not known man.

(Greek) Simeon the Elder takes in his arms the Maker of the Law and Master of all.

(Slav) O Virgin Theotokos, thou good Helper of the world, protect and preserve us from all necessity and grief.

Repeat the irmos.

(Greek) The Creator, wishing to save Adam, took up His dwelling in thy pure and virgin womb.

(Slav) O Godbearing Simeon, come thou and lift up Christ, whom the pure Virgin bore.

Of old the people offered a pair of doves and two young pigeons. In their stead the godly Elder and Ann the prophetess, sober in spirit, ministered and gave glory to the Child of the Virgin, the Only-begotten Son of the Father, as He was brought into the temple.

(Greek) All mankind blesses thee, O pure Virgin, and in faith glorifies thee as Mother of God.

(Slav) Simeon the Elder takes in his arms the Maker of the Law and Master of all.

Of old the people offered…

(Greek) Come ye and behold Christ the Master of all, whom Simeon carries today in the temple.

(Slav) ‘It is not the old man who holds Me, but I uphold him: for he begs Me to let him depart.’

Of old the people offered…

(Greek) ‘Thou dost look down upon the earth and make it tremble: how then can I, aged and weary, hold Thee in mine arms?’

(Slav) O mystical Tongs, how dost thou bear the Coal? How dost thou feed Him who gives food to all?

Of old the people offered…

(Greek) Simeon had lived for many years when he beheld Christ and cried aloud to Him: ‘Now do I seek my release.’

(Slav) O daughter of Phanuel, come and stand with us, and give thanks to Christ our Saviour, the Son of God.

‘Thou hast committed to me the exceeding joy of Thy salvation, O Christ’, cried Simeon. ‘Take Thy servant, who is weary of the shadow, and make him a new preacher of the mystery of grace, as he magnifies Thee in praise.’

(Greek) Mary, thou art the mystic Tongs, who hast conceived in thy womb Christ the live Coal.

(Slav) Ann, sober in spirit, makes terrible things known, as she confesses Christ Creator of heaven and earth.

‘Thou hast committed to me…’

(Greek) O God, who wast before all things began, of Thine own will Thou hast become man and art carried, a child forty days old, into the temple.

(Slav) O Christ, the King of all, grant Orthodox Christians victory over their enemies.

‘Thou hast committed to me…’

(Greek) Simeon the priest received the Lord of all, come down from heaven.

(Slav) That which is fulfilled in thee is beyond the understanding of angels and mortal men, O pure Virgin Mother.

‘Thou hast committed to me…’

(Greek) Illuminate my soul and the light of my senses, that I may see Thee in purity: and I will proclaim that Thou art God.

O pure Virgin Mother, why dost Thou bring into the temple a newborn babe and commit Him into the hands of Simeon?

(Slav) The pure Dove, the Ewe without blemish, brings the Lamb and Shepherd into the temple.

Holy Ann, sober in spirit and venerable in years, with reverence confessed the Master freely and openly in the temple; and proclaiming the Theotokos, she magnified her before all who were present.

(Greek) ‘From Thee, the Creator, I now seek release: for I have seen Thee, O Christ, my Salvation and my Light.’

Him whom the Ministers at the Liturgy on high entreat with trembling, here below Simeon now takes in his arms.

(Slav) O Christ, the King of all, give me warm tears, that I may weep for my soul which I have lost in evil.

Holy Ann, sober in spirit and venerable…

(Greek) O Thou by nature One but in Persons Three, watch over Thy servants who put their faith in Thee.

(Slav) Let us praise in piety the threefold Light of the Godhead in three Persons.

Holy Ann, sober in spirit and venerable…

(Greek) O Theotokos, thou Hope of all Christians, protect, watch over, and guard all those who put their hope in thee.

(Slav) O Maiden Mary, enlighten my soul which is grievously darkened by the lusts of life.

Holy Ann, sober in spirit and venerable…

Katavasia

The first megalynarion and the irmos.

Exapostilarion:

The Elder, brought to the temple by the Spirit, took in his arms the Master of the Law and cried: ‘Now let me depart in peace from the bond of the flesh according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen the revelation that brings light to the Gentiles and the salvation of Israel’ (three times).

Lauds. Four stichera are sung:

Tone Four

to the special melody, Thou hast given an ensign…

Fulfilling the written Law, He who loves mankind is now brought into the temple; and Simeon receives Him in his aged arms, crying aloud: ‘Now let me depart to the blessedness of the world to come: for I have seen today wrapped in mortal flesh Him who is Lord of life and Master of death’ (twice).

As a light to lighten the Gentiles, hast Thou made Thyself manifest, O Lord: the Sun of Righteousness seated upon a swift cloud, Thou hast fulfilled the shadow of the Law and shown forth the beginning of the new Grace. Therefore, beholding Thee, Simeon raised this cry: ‘Let me depart from corruption, for I have seen Thee today.’

Not parted in Thy divinity from the bosom of the Father, Thou wast made flesh according to Thy good pleasure; and upheld in the arms of the ever-Virgin Thou hast been committed to the hands of Simeon, the receiver of God, O Thou who upholdest the whole world with Thine hand. Therefore he cried with joy: ‘Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for I have seen Thee, O Lord.’

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Six

by Germanos

O Christ our God, who hast been pleased to rest this day in the arms of the Elder as upon the chariot of the cherubim, from the tyranny of the passions now deliver us who sing Thy praises, and save our souls.

Great Doxology and Dismissal.

The Typika (Psalms 102 and 145) and the Beatitudes. With the Beatitudes are sung four troparia from Canticle Three of the Canon of the Feast, and four troparia from Canticle Six.

The firstborn of the Father before all ages has appeared from an undefiled Maiden as a firstborn child and He stretches out His hands to Adam (twice).

That He might restore the first-formed man, who through beguilement had become childish in his mind, God the Word has appeared as a child.

The Creator, having become a young child without undergoing change, has reshaped according to the form of His divinity our nature, taken from the earth and destined to return to earth once more.

Thou hast been set up in Zion as a stumbling stone and rock of offence for the disobedient, but unto the faithful Thou art salvation which cannot be broken (twice).

Bearing faithfully the image of Him who begat Thee before all ages, Thou hast now from pity put on the weakness of mortal man.

Now lettest Thou depart in peace him who worships Thee as Son of the Most High and Son of the Virgin, God become a child.

Alternatively, according to the modern Greek practice, the following antiphons may be sung:

Antiphon One

Tone Two

℣ 1. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made to the King (Psalm 44:2).

At the prayers of the Theotokos, save us, O Saviour.

℣ 2. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer (Psalm 44:2).

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

℣ 3. Full of grace are thy lips (Psalm 44:3).

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

℣ 4. Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever (Psalm 44:3).

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

Antiphon Two

Same Tone

℣ 1. Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most mighty, in Thy glory and Thy beauty (Psalm 44:4).

O Son of God, carried in the arms of Simeon the righteous, save us who sing to Thee: alleluia.

℣ 2. Bend Thy bow, and prosper, and reign (Psalm 44:5).

O Son of God…

℣ 3. Thine arrows are sharp, O most mighty, the peoples shall be subdued under Thee: Thou shalt pierce the heart of the King’s enemies (Psalm 44:6).

O Son of God…

℣ 4. The sceptre of Thy kingdom is a righteous sceptre (Psalm 44:7).

O Son of God…

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

O Only-begotten Son and Word of God…

Antiphon Three

Tone One

℣ 1. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear: forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house (Psalm 44:11).

The troparion of the feast:

Hail, O Theotokos Virgin full of grace: for from thee has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, giving light to those in darkness. Be glad also, thou righteous Elder, for thou hast received in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, who bestows upon us resurrection.

℣ 2. Even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour (Psalm 44:13).

The troparion of the feast.

℣ 3. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations (Psalm 44:18).

The troparion of the feast.

Introit:

The Lord hath made known His salvation: His righteousness hath He revealed in the sight of the Gentiles (Psalm 97:2).

O Son of God, carried in the arms of Simeon the righteous, save us who sing to Thee: alleluia.

Then the troparion of the feast; Glory be to the Father… Both now…; the kontakion of the feast.

Prokimenon:

Tone Three

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour (Luke 1:46–47).

℣. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed (Luke 1:48).

Reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews (7:7–17).

Brethren, without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Alleluia:

Tone Four

℣ 1. Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation (Luke 2:29–30).

℣ 2. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel (Luke 2:32).

Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (2:22–40).

At that time His parents brought the child Jesus to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord; (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, then took he 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 before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.

In place of It is meet, we sing the megalynarion and irmos of Canticle Nine of the Canon.

(Greek) That which is fulfilled in thee is beyond the understanding of angels and mortal men, O pure Virgin Mother.

(Slav) O Virgin Theotokos, thou Hope of all Christians, protect, watch over, and guard all those who put their hope in thee.

Irmos: In the shadow and the letter of the Law, let us, the faithful, discern a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the firstborn Word and Son of the Father without beginning, the firstborn Child of a Mother who had not known man.

Communion verse:

I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord (Psalm 115:4).

If the feast falls on a day of fasting, fish, wine, and oil are allowed, but meat and animal products may not be eaten.

The apodosis of the feast falls on 9 February. If, however, 2 February occurs on or after the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, on account of the approach of Lent the period of the afterfeast is shortened to a greater or lesser degree. When the feast falls on the Sunday immediately before Lent or the Monday of the first week of Lent, the afterfeast is omitted altogether, the feast closing at Vespers on the same evening (2 February).

On the day of the apodosis all the office of the feast is repeated, omitting only the entrance, lessons, lity, and blessing of bread at Vespers: and the polyeleos and Gospel at Mattins. In the reading of the Psalter at Vespers, the normal kathisma appointed for the day is used.