The Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple

TROPARION — Hail, Virgin Theotokos, full of grace! From you shone the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those who were in darkness! Rejoice, O righteous Elder; you received in your arms the Redeemer of our souls, Who grants us the Resurrection. KONTAKION — By Your birth, You sanctified the Virgin’s womb, and You blessed Simeon’s hands as was meet, O Christ God; by anticipation You have saved us even now. Grant peace to Your faithful people, and strengthen the Hierarchs You have loved, O only Lover of mankind.

- commemorated on February 2

"Truly, not a single earthly pleasure can satisfy our heart. We are strangers on earth, pilgrims and travelers; our home and fatherland are there in heaven, in the heavenly kingdom; and there does not exist on earth things that could perfectly satisfy our desires."

- St. Innocent of Alaska