Description

Feast Day/Commemorated: February 3

Symeon the God-Receiver was a devout and righteous man of Jerusalem, recognized for his deep faith and his role as one of the seventy scholars commissioned by Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus. While working in Alexandria to translate the Hebrew Scriptures into the Greek Septuagint, Symeon encountered the prophecy of Isaiah regarding a virgin conceiving a son. Skeptical of the terminology, he attempted to change "virgin" to "woman," only to be stopped by an angel who promised he would not taste death until he witnessed the prophecy’s fulfillment with his own eyes.

For centuries, Symeon lived in patient expectation, guided by the Holy Spirit. This long vigil culminated forty days after the birth of Christ, when he was moved by the Spirit to enter the Temple. It was there that he met the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph as they came to perform the legal purifications. Upon seeing the infant Jesus, Symeon recognized Him instantly as the promised Messiah and took the Child into his arms, offering the famous prayer known as the Nunc Dimittis, declaring that he could now depart this life in peace.

Beyond his personal salvation, Symeon provided a profound and somber prophecy regarding the Child’s future. He blessed the holy family but warned the Mother of God that her Son would be a sign of contradiction and that a sword of sorrow would pierce her own soul. Alongside the prophetess Anna, Symeon served as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. Tradition holds that he lived to the age of 360 before finally finding rest, leaving behind a legacy that remains a cornerstone of Orthodox liturgical life.

About Our Icons (Print and Mounted):

Theophany Works Icons are handcrafted Orthodox Christian icon reproductions made in the United States with prayer and a desire for excellence. Each of our icons are printed on museum-quality matte canvas, providing a rich print with saturated coloration that lends to a beautiful handwritten-icon appearance.

All Theophany Works Icons are mounted on beveled wooden boards and finished with a high-quality UV protection sealant. This offers a subtle authentic-feeling texture while also enhancing durability, allowing for cleaning with a damp cloth. Additionally, each icon is given a maple-shelled keyhole slot on its back for easy and balanced hanging.

Our beautiful icon reproductions are lovingly made in our Lancaster, Pennsylvania studio. We pray they are a blessing to all who receive them, and we believe they will be a beloved addition to any home or parish—each at a fraction of the cost of a hand-painted icon.

***Our Beloved Brothers & Sisters in Christ: Please allow 3 weeks for production as each icon is made to order. If an icon is needed sooner for a baptism, chrismation, wedding, or name day, please contact us—we will always do our very best to accommodate your request.

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