Patriarch Daniil Leads Liturgy in Zemen for the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus
Source: EN RSS Free
Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil visited Zemen, West Bulgaria on Sunday to celebrate a patriarchal divine liturgy for the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple in the St. John the Theologian church in the town, praying for the health and well-being of the municipality’s residents.
The Sunday service attracted dozens of clergy and laypeople from the region, who came to light candles and pray. Among them was the mayor of Zemen, Mihail Zlatanov.
In his sermon, Daniil told the congregation that the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus is associated with the presentation of the infant Jesus Christ on the 40th day after his birth at the Jerusalem temple by the righteous elder Simeon. He explained that according to the Old Testament law, every firstborn male was brought to the temple on the 40th day to be presented before the Lord God as a gesture of gratitude for his birth and to pray for his blessed growth.
Following this tradition, the Holy Virgin Mary and the righteous Joseph brought the Lord on the 40th day after his birth to present him before God and to offer their sacrifice of two turtledoves.
Spiritually enlightened, the righteous elder Simeon came to the temple to greet the infant Jesus and worship him, joyfully thanking God for allowing him to live to see the arrival of the saviour of nations from sin.
“The church tradition has preserved the memory of the holy righteous Simeon as one of the 72 translators who translated the Old Testament into ancient Greek at the behest of the Egyptian King Ptolemy Philadelphus. This occurred in the mid-3rd century BC. The righteous Simeon was about 300 years old when the Lord Jesus Christ was born. Upon meeting the Holy Virgin with the Child, righteous Simeon, inspired, took the child, and uttered the words: ‘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,'” the Patriarch said.
This marks Daniil’s second visit to Zemen since assuming office. In August last year, he attended the celebration for the Zemen Town Day, where Daniil performed a blessing for health on the occasion of the 50th anniversary after the settlement was declared a town.
Later Sunday, the Patriarch will be in Pernik, where he will also perform a blessing at the newly built The Presentation of Jesus church in the Teva borough.
The original article: belongs to EN RSS Free .
