إنجيل القدّيس متّى .18-13:2
بَعْدَمَا ٱنْصَرَفَ المَجُوس، تَرَاءَى مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ في الحُلْمِ لِيُوسُف، وقَالَ لَهُ: قُمْ، خُذِ ٱلصَّبِيَّ وأُمَّهُ، وَٱهْرُبْ إِلى مِصْر، وٱبْقَ هُنَاكَ إِلى أَنْ أَقُولَ لَكَ، لأَنَّ هِيرُودُسَ مُزْمِعٌ أَنْ يَبْحَثَ عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ لِيُهْلِكَهُ
فقَامَ يُوسُفُ وأَخَذَ ٱلصَّبِيَّ وأُمَّهُ لَيْلاً، ولَجَأَ إِلى مِصْر
وبَقِيَ هُنَاكَ حَتَّى مَاتَ هِيرُودُس، لِيَتِمَّ مَا قَالَهُ الرَّبُّ بِالنَّبِيّ: مِنْ مِصْرَ دَعَوْتُ ٱبْنِي
ولَمَّا رَأَى هِيرُودُسُ أَنَّ المَجُوسَ سَخِرُوا مِنْهُ غَضِبَ جِدًّا. وأَرْسَلَ فَقَتَلَ جَمِيعَ الصِّبْيَانِ في بَيْتَ لَحْمَ وضَواحِيها، مِنِ ٱبْنِ سَنَتَيْنِ فَمَا دُون، بِحَسَبِ الزَّمَنِ الَّذي تَحَقَّقَهُ مِنَ المَجُوس
حِينَئِذٍ تَمَّ مَا قِيلَ بِالنَّبِيِّ إِرْمِيَا
صَوْتٌ سُمِعَ في الرَّامَة، بُكَاءٌ وَنَحِيبٌ كَثِير. رَاحِيلُ تَبْكِي أَوْلادَهَا، وقَدْ أَبَتْ أَنْ تَتَعَزَّى، لأَنَّهُم زَالُوا مِنَ الوُجُود
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 2:22-35.
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,”
and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
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 peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”