İstanbul and Turkey’s Spiritual Leader of the Armenian Catholics; Archbishop Levon Zekiyan who presided the holy mass was held on January 31, 2021, on the occasion of the “Day of the Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple” (Diyarnintarac).
Archbishop Levon Zekiyan, high priest Vartan Kazancıyan, Gisasargavak Jan Acemoğlu, and the readers accompanied the ceremony held in Taksim Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Church. This special ritual was held closed to the public within the scope of Corona measures, in accordance with the pandemic rules. Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Choir sang hymns under the direction of Conductor Zaven Agay.
The Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple is in the Bible verses 22-40 of chapter 2 of the book of Luke.
Presentation of Jesus to God at the Temple
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus. This was the name the angel gave to her before he was conceived.
At the end of their purification days, according to the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took the child to Jerusalem to consecrate to the Lord.
As a matter of fact, it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn boy will be deemed to be consecrated to the Lord.” They would also consecrate “a pair of doves or two pigeon-cubs” as a sacrifice, as commanded in the Law of the Lord.
At that time there was a man named Simeon in Jerusalem. He was a righteous and devout man. He longed for the comfort of Israel. The Holy Spirit was on him.
It was communicated by the Holy Spirit that he would not die without seeing the Lord’s Christ. So Simon came to the temple at the direction of the Spirit. When the father and mother of little Jesus brought him in to fulfill the relevant rule of the law, Simeon took him in his arms, praising God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
There was a very old woman prophet named Anna. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the Asher tribe. She was widowed after marrying as a young girl and living with her husband for seven years. She was now eighty-four years old. She would not leave the temple, but worship God day and night by fasting and praying. Just then, Anna, thanking God, began to speak of Jesus to all who awaited Jerusalem’s salvation.
After fulfilling everything prescribed by the Law of the Lord, Joseph and Mary returned to Galilee, their city of Nazareth. The boy was growing, getting stronger, and being competent in wisdom. God’s grace was upon Him.
