Ma'altho (Entry of our Lord into the temple); St. Simon the Elder (Mor Shem`un Sobo).

Ma'altho (Entry of our Lord into the temple); St. Simon the Elder (Mor Shem`un Sobo).

February 2nd is the Feast of the Entrance of our Lord in the Temple and the dukhrono of St. Simon the Elder & Prophetess Anna (Hido d'ma'alte d'Moran l'hayklo, u dukhrono d'Mor Shem'un Sobo wa nbitho Hannah) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox.The feast of the Presentation (Syriac ma'altho "entrance"), commemorates the presentation of our Lord to the temple 40 days after His birth (Luke 2:22-39) according to Jewish Law of Moses for ritual purification of women who give birth to male children (Leviticus 12:1-4). The scriptures tell us that wealthy families were to bring a lamb as sacrifice & a turtledove as offering, or only two turtledoves if the family was not rich. As Joseph was not a wealthy man, he brought 2 turtledoves to the temple (Luke 2:24; Syriac iconography depicts Joseph with the two turtledoves) At the temple there was a man named Shem'un (Simeon) who would carry the Christ-child & bless him. According to Church tradition, it is believed that Simeon was a scribe of the scriptures, translating the Hebrew into Greek. But when he was translating Isaiah 7:14 he tried to replace the word 'Virgin' with 'woman', not believing that a Virgin could conceive, so the verse in his eyes must have been an error. When he wrote down the word "woman", the next day it would revert to Virgin, again he did so but with the same result. Suddenly, an angel of God appeared, telling him that he would live to see the child born of a Virgin; only then will he be able to die peacefully. Hence his words upon holding Jesus in his arms, “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 enlighten the Gentiles, & the glory of Thy people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32). The prayers for this feast say that Mor Shem'un was 500 years old, hence he's given the epitaph 'the Elder' (Sobo). At the temple was also the prophetess Anna who was a widow about 84 years old. She lived in the temple, praying & fasting. She gave thanks to God for the Christ-child. A special service for the Blessing of the Candles is performed on this day. A tray filled with wax candles covered by a white veil is kept on a table at the first step of the Holy Madbaho below the Gospel stand during the Holy Qurbono. At the close of the Quqalyon of the Mother of God, the celebrant carries a cross in his arms, in the likeness of Simeon who carried Christ, & performs a procession inside the Church. Following the procession, the priest will bless each candle with the sign of the cross. The service concludes with the Order of Zuyoho (hawde malakhe) after which each member in the congregation holds the lit candle symbolizing the Light (i.e. Christ) which Simeon the Elder saw. It is customary that the faithful use soot from these candles to color their eyelids, though this is not part of the liturgy.Sources: Syriac Orthodox Resources, 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church' The Holy Bible readings from the Church Lectionary:Evening:St. Luke 2:22- 35Morning:St. Luke 2:22-35Before Holy Qurbono:Leviticus 12:1-8, 22:17-23II Samuel 5:1-6, 17-21Isaiah 10:33-11:10Holy Qurbono:Acts 24:10-23Ephesians 3:13-21St. Luke 2:36-40For sermons/commentaries based on the Gospel: https://goo.gl/VEuhDeTone of the Day: 3Syriac Prayers: https://tinyurl.com/2dndd3xjSignificance of Ma'altho liturgy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T46j6UKbkUService from Ma'De'Dono: https://tinyurl.com/yc3tbfyhSyriac Service in Ma'De'Dono: https://tinyurl.com/37pf3afcHuthomo: https://youtu.be/N8bTPJPYmGwPromiyon Sedro (Malayalam courtesy Hymonutho) - Evening by Fr. Basil: https://youtu.be/ASaMX4lqcn4Fixed Feast