The story of Symeon & Anna is told in Luke 2. Symeon was an old man, righteous and devout, who recieved the revealation that he would not die before seeing the Messiah (Lk. 2.27). Symeon was in the Temple when Jesus was presented for his circumcision; he took him into his arms and declared:
Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the people, a light for revelation of the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Lk. 2.29-32)
Symeon’s utterance forms one of the main chants of Vespers.
Anna an elderly widow who spent her time in prayer and fasting came forward too, gave thanks to God and prophesied about the child. Sadly Luke does not include any of her utterances in the text – which might suggest that Symeon’s words had already served some liturgical function when Luke was compiled?
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