Candlemas

This Sunday we celebrate Candlemas, the traditional end of Christmas.

This panel of our stained glass is of the “Presentation of Christ at the temple”; the purification of Mary forty days after the birth.  We can see Mary in her traditional blue robe and Joseph with their sacrificial offering of doves.  Holding Jesus is the elderly prophet Simeon who recognises Jesus as the long awaited Messiah.  He then says what we now call the Nunc Dimitis. 

“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.”

The woman is Anna a prophetess and widow aged 84 who had lived in the temple for many years.

“At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel.”