Anna's Prophecy
As she grew weak, Anna said to the Lord, 'If you have carried him, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.' The story of the gospel now continues with the remaining events. There was a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She had lived a long life, having been married for seven years after her virginity, and then she had been a widow for about eighty-four years. Anna's wealth was remarkable, for the treasure of good things was gathered from all sides for her, first because she was a prophetess. Although she was a woman with a weak vessel, she had cleansed it, and the Spirit of God had drawn near to her for dwelling. Additionally, she was an elder, and although her body had grown old, her mind had not grown old. Furthermore, she was a widow, not just a simple widow, but one who had lived with her husband for seven years and had borne the yoke of widowhood for many days and times, without giving her bed to a second husband, and thus she had reached the eightieth year of her life. Since she had certainly seen what was clearly announced to the Spirit in the eighty-fourth psalm, she sought to say such things about him as David, the psalmist, had sung: 'You were pleased, Lord, with your land, you turned back the captivity of Jacob. You forgave the iniquities of your people, you covered all their sins. You stopped all your anger, you turned back from the anger of your wrath. Truth has risen from the earth, and justice has looked out from heaven.' For in these words is the redemption of Jerusalem, which is next told and proclaimed by the woman and prophesied.
Anna's prophecy was a remarkable event, for she had lived a long and faithful life, and the Spirit of God had drawn near to her. She had cleansed her weak vessel, and her mind had not grown old, despite her advanced age. As a widow, she had borne the yoke of widowhood for many years, without giving her bed to a second husband, and thus she had reached a ripe old age. Her wealth was not just material, but also spiritual, for she had the treasure of good things gathered from all sides for her. She was a prophetess, and her words were inspired by the Spirit of God, as she proclaimed the redemption of Jerusalem.
Anna's devotion to God was unwavering, as she spent her days and nights in the temple, serving with fasts and prayers. Many people dwell in the temple, but they do not all share Anna's commitment to a life of service and worship. While they may insult or dishonor the temple through their actions, Anna's example shows us what it means to truly dwell in the presence of God. The Spirit led her, as it did Simeon, to recognize the child Jesus and to give thanks to God for his coming.
As Anna spoke to the people waiting for redemption in Jerusalem, she warned them not to be deceived by Jesus' humble appearance. He may have appeared as a mere child, but he was, in fact, the father of the ages. We would not have been able to see the redeemer or receive him if he had not humbled himself for our sake. By hiding his glorious nature and revealing his humble side, Jesus made it possible for us to approach him and to receive his gift of salvation. To him be glory forever and ever.
Greek
ἠσθένησεν, ὅτε καὶ αὐτὴ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔλεγεν· «Κύριε, εἰ σὺ ἐβάστασας αὐτόν, εἰπέ μοι ποῦ ἔθηκας αὐτόν, κἀγὼ αὐτὸν ἀρῶ.» 13 Τρεχέτω ἡ γλῶττα τῆς εὐαγγελικῆς ἱστορίας τὰ λείποντα· «Καὶ ἦν Ἅννα προφῆτις, θυγάτηρ Φανουήλ, ἐκ φυλῆς Ἀσήρ· αὕτη προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ἡμέραις πολλαῖς, ζήσασα μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἔτη ἑπτὰ ἀπὸ τῆς παρθενίας αὐτῆς, καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα ὡς ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων.» Λαμπρὸς ὁ τῆς Ἅννης πλοῦτος, πανταχόθεν αὐτῇ ὁ τῶν ἀγαθῶν θησαυρὸς συνάγεται, πρῶτον ὅτι προφῆτις ἦν· σκεῦος γὰρ ἀσθενὲς ὡς γυναικεῖον ἔχουσα ἐκάθαιρεν αὐτό, καὶ τὸ τοῦ θεοῦ Πνεῦμα πρὸς αὐτὴν εἰς κατοικίαν εἵλκυσεν· ἔπειτα ὅτι πρεσβῦτις ὑπῆρχεν καὶ τὸ σῶμα γηράσασα οὐκ ἐγήρα τὸ φρόνημα· τρίτον ὅτι χήρα καὶ οὐχ ἁπλῶς χήρα, ἀλλ' ἔτη μὲν ἑπτὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῷ ἀνδρὶ συμβιώσασα, προβεβηκυῖα δὲ ἡμέραις πολλαῖς καὶ χρόνοις τοσούτοις τὸν ζυγὸν τῆς χηρείας ἕλκουσα, νυμφίῳ δευτέρῳ τὴν κοίτην οὐ προδέδωκεν, ἀνθ' ὅτου ἄρα εἰς ἔτος ὀγδοηκοστὸν τοῦ βίου τὴν ἡλικίαν ἤλαυνεν. 14 Ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ πάντως εἶδε τὸν ἐν τῷ ὀγδοηκοστῷ τετάρτῳ ψαλμῷ σαφῶς τῷ Πνεύματι καταγγελθέντα, ἐζήτησεν εἰπεῖν περὶ αὐτοῦ τοιαῦτα οἷα ∆αυὶδ προβάλλων ὁ ψαλμῳδὸς ἐμελῴδησεν· «Εὐδόκησας, κύριε, τὴν γῆν σου, ἀπέστρεψας τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν Ἰακώβ· ἀφῆκας τὰς ἀνομίας τῷ λαῷ σου, ἐκάλυψας πάσας τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Κατέπαυσας πᾶσαν τὴν ὀργήν σου, ἀπέστρεψας ἀπὸ ὀργῆς θυμοῦ σου. Ἀλήθεια ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἀνέτειλεν, καὶ δικαιοσύνη ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ διέκυψεν»· ἐν τούτοις γὰρ «τῆς Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἡ λύτρωσις», ἣν ἑξῆς οὕτως ἱστορεῖται καὶ κηρύξαι τὸ γύναιον καὶ προφητεῦσαι· φησὶ γάρ· «ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ.» Πολλοὶ μὲν τὸ ἱερὸν οἰκοῦσιν, ἀλλ' οἰκοῦντες ὑβρίζουσιν, ὅσοι οὐχ οὕτως οἰκοῦσιν καθάπερ ἡ Ἅννα κατοικοῦσα ἐτύγχανεν, «νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν»· ταῖς μὲν γὰρ νηστείαις τὸ σῶμα ἐξεκάθαιρε, ταῖς δεήσεσιν δὲ τῆς ψυχῆς ἀνεπτέρου τὸ φρόνημα καὶ ἱερὸν ἐν ἱερῷ κατοικοῦσα ἐτύγχανεν. 3 15 «Καὶ αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐπιστᾶσα»· πάντως γὰρ καὶ αὐτὴν τὸ Πνεῦμα καθάπερ καὶ τὸν Συμεῶνα εἰς τὴν τοῦ βρέφους δοξολογίαν ἤγαγεν. «Ἀνθωμολογεῖτο τῷ θεῷ»· οὐχ ἁπλῶς ἐδοξολόγει ἀλλ' ἀνθωμολογεῖτο, τοῖς παρὰ τοῦ Συμεὼν εἰρημένοις παραπλήσια ἀναφωνοῦσα. «Καὶ ἐλάλει περὶ αὐτοῦ πᾶσιν τοῖς προσδεχομένοις λύτρωσιν ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ.» Τίνα καὶ ποῖα λέγουσα; «Μὴ πλανᾶσθε τῇ σαρκί, τῇ τοῦ δούλου μορφῇ μὴ προσκόπτετε, μὴ θορυβείτω τὸ βρέφος ὑμᾶς.» Ὁ τὰ βρέφη διαπλάττων φαινόμενος καὶ παιδίον, νήπιον ὁ τῶν χρόνων πατὴρ ὁρώμενος· ἄλλως γὰρ ἰδεῖν τὸν λυτρωτὴν οὐκ ἐχωροῦμεν, ἑτέρως οὐκ ἐδυνάμεθα δέξασθαι. Ἡμῶν ἕνεκεν ἑαυτὸν ἐταπείνωσεν, δι' ἡμᾶς κατέβη· φειδοῖ τῶν ἡμετέρων ὀφθαλμῶν, ἀποκρύπτει τὰ ἔνδοξα, τὰ ταπεινὰ προβάλλεται. Αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. 4
About this text
Hesychius of Jerusalem, Homilia ii de Hypapante (Greek).
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 93 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.