Homily By His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America

At the Vespers of the After-Feast of our Lord’s Presentation in the Temple

Holy Cross Chapel

Brookline, Massachusetts

February 6, 2023

 

Beloved Community of Hellenic College and Holy Cross,

We are yet within the celebration of the Feast of Ὑπαπαντή – the Meeting, the Encounter, the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple of the Law.

The Word of God – Who is seated upon the Throne of Heaven in the Sanctuary not-made-by-hands, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and surrounded by an emerald rainbow* – deigns to be carried as an infant into an earthly temple made by human hands.

He wills to be received into pious and saintly human hands by the ancient Symeon. And thus, He fulfills the Elder’s deepest desire to behold the salvation prepared for all people – the light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of the People of Israel.†

This prayer – known as Νῦν ἀπολύεις, the Canticle of Symeon – ends virtually every Vespers throughout the year. It is the song of an old man, who is waiting upon death. Not morbidly, though, but hopefully! It is a moment of consummation, which is true of every human being’s last breath. And as Christians, we believe and know that it is not the end of existence.

In the Great Vespers of Ὑπαπαντή, in the Second of the Prophecies, we read of the Vision of Isaiah. He was standing in the Temple, as you are now. And the glory of the Lord filled the Temple, as the glory of this Chapel surrounds you now. And the Prophet heard the Trisagion Hymn that you hear at every Divine Liturgy:

Ἅγιος, Ἅγιος, Ἅγιος Κύριος Σαβαώθ, πλήρης πᾶσα ἡ γῆ τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ…‡

In this ecstatic moment of Divine θεωρία, the Prophet Isaiah experienced the cleansing of his sins, when ‘one of the seraphim took a burning coal in his hand with the tongs from the altar, laid it upon his mouth, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged”.’§ This wondrous affirmation is said by every priest to himself (and to the Deacon he has communed), just after receiving the Holy Eucharist – as did the Prophet the coal of Divine Fire and Love.

Here at Holy Cross, those of you studying for the Holy Priesthood are learning how it will become your ministry to represent the Seraph and, with the sacred λαβίδα as new tongs, to transmit the Holy Eucharist to the faithful, as stewards of the Mysteries of Christ. And even those of you not entering ordained ministry, you are nevertheless becoming stewards of the knowledge of the Church. Even though the Liturgy is the central and perfect action of the Church, there is also much room for ministry at every level of ecclesiastical affairs. Thus, all of us must respond to the question that the Lord asked the Holy Prophet Isaiah: “Whom shall I send? And who shall go to this People?”**

My beloved community, are we willing to go? Are we willing to serve? Are we willing to love the People of God, with all their human frailties? If so, then let our answer be now and forever:

Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ εἰμι, ἀπόστειλόν με.

“Here am I! Send me!”††

Therefore, if your heart says “Yes” to the summons of the Lord, apply yourselves with all the diligence that everlasting life deserves. Welcome the embrace of the Ancient One – not Symeon, but the Ancient of Days, Who will sustain your ministry for all the years to come. Your role is unlike the Prophet Symeon. For he was waiting to be released, to be dismissed from his office. But you are only at the beginning. And so, every day, you can say:

“Now, O Master, send forth Your servant in peace.

Let my eyes behold the salvation that You, O Lord, have prepared in the presence of all peoples.

That they may behold the Light of revelation for the Gentiles,

and the glory of Your people, the New Israel.”

Amen.