Simeon's Prophecy
It appears, before the Magi arrive, lest I be insulted; for the light from me must precede the star's arrival in Bethlehem, so that it may be known that from me both the journey is guided and the ray is borrowed; but you will not be harmed if the uninformed reap the firstfruits of the blessing.
Now, Master, you release your servant according to your word in peace. This is a moment of great joy, for I have no fear of death, but with joy, I bring life to the dead. The Father was also working these great and numerous mysteries, since the Spirit, on one hand, was the one providing for the needs, and the Son, on the other, was being carried in arms, having been pleased to appear in the flesh and to be born as a child for us. And the Father himself was working all these great and numerous mysteries. David the prophet borrowed from you and said, 'In peace I will sleep and rest' (Psalm 4:8). For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared before all peoples, and which many prophets longed to see.
The prophecy declares that light will come for the revelation of the nations and glory to the people of Israel. This means that first, the nations will be enlightened, and then Israel will be glorified. For it is written that the first will become last and the last will become first, as the privileges of the former are lost due to sloth.
Meanwhile, the father and mother of Jesus were marveling at the things being said about him. The angel Gabriel had announced to the Virgin Mary that the Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her. If she had forgotten, the Spirit would remind her. The incarnate one wanted to be called Joseph so that the one plotting against the mystery of our salvation would be deceived. For the potter could not save the perishable clay except by himself being shaped with it.
Simeon blessed them, for those who had served the curse by giving blessings needed to be blessed. And he said to Mary, his mother, 'Behold, this one is laid for a fall and...'
Greek
φανῇ, πρὶν οἱ Μάγοι παραγένωνται, μή ποτε ὑβρισθῶ μεν. Τὸ γὰρ ἐξ ἐμοῦ φῶς 1 προλαβεῖν χρὴ τοῦ ἀστέρος τὴν εἰς Βηθλεὲμ ἄφιξιν, ὥστε γνωσθῆναι ὅτι παρ' ἐμοῦ καὶ τὸν δρόμον ὁδηγεῖται καὶ τὴν ἀκτῖνα δανείζεται. Ἀλλὰ σὺ μὴ ζημιωθῇς ἂν ἀκρόβυστοι τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τῆς εὐλογίας θερίσωσιν.» 6 «Καὶ εὐλόγησεν τὸν θεὸν καὶ εἶπεν· νῦν ἀπολύεις τὸν δοῦ λόν σου, δέσποτα, κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ.» Εὐλόγησεν τὸν θεὸν τὸν Πατέρα σὺν τῷ Υἱῷ, τὸν Υἱὸν σὺν τῷ Πνεύματι, ἐπειδὴ τὸ Πνεῦμα μὲν τὸ χρηματίζον ἐτύγχανεν, τὸν Υἱὸν δὲ μετὰ χεῖρας ἐβάσταζεν, σαρκὶ φανῆναι καὶ βρέφος δι' ἡμᾶς γενέσθαι εὐδοκήσαντα· ὁ δὲ Πατὴρ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνεργῶν ἦν τὰ τοσαῦτα καὶ τηλικαῦτα μυστήρια. Ἀλλὰ τὴν εὐχαριστίαν ἐπὶ τίνι προσέφερεν; «Νῦν», φησίν, «ἀπολύεις τὸν δοῦλόν σου, δέσποτα», ὅτε μοι φόβος οὐκ ἔστι θανάτου, μετὰ χαρᾶς δὲ πρὸς τοὺς νεκροὺς τὴν ζωὴν αὐτοῖς καταγγελῶν ἀπέρχομαι. «Ἀπολύεις δὲ κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ», ἐκεῖνο ὅπερ ∆αυὶδ ὁ προφήτης παρὰ σοῦ δανεισάμενος ἔλεγεν· «Ἐν εἰρήνῃ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ κοιμηθήσομαι καὶ ὑπνώσω.» 7 «Ὅτι εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου τὸ σωτήριόν σου», ὃ πολλοὶ μὲν τῶν προφητῶν ἐπεθύμησαν ἰδεῖν· νῦν δὲ αὐτῇ τῇ πειρᾷ τῷ γένει τῶν ἀνθρώπων παρέστησας τὸν ὕψιστον δι' ἡμᾶς τοσοῦ τον ὥστε βρέφος γενέσθαι ταπεινούμενον· οὔτε γὰρ ἄλλως σῶσαι τὸν φθαρέντα πηλὸν ὁ κεραμεύς, ἀλλ' αὐτὸς αὐτῷ συναναφυρεὶς ἔμελλεν. «Εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου τὸ σωτήριόν σου, ὃ ἡτοίμασας κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν λαῶν», ἀλλὰ πάντων, ἐπειδὴ πάντων ὑπ άρχων δημιουργὸς πᾶσι προέθηκας τὸ τῆς σωτηρίας ἀναγκαίως μυ στήριον. «Φῶς εἰς ἀποκάλυψιν ἐθνῶν καὶ δόξαν λαοῦ σου Ἰσραήλ»· πρότερον τὰ ἔθνη φωτίζεται καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο Ἰσραὴλ δοξάζεται· ἐτέχθη γὰρ οὗτος ἐφ' οὗ πρῶτοι μὲν οἱ ἔσχατοι, ἔσχατοι δὲ οἱ πρῶτοι, τὰ πρεσβεῖα τῶν ἔμπροσθεν διὰ ῥαθυμίαν ζημιωθέντων, γεγόνασιν. 8 «Καὶ ἦν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ θαυμάζοντες ἐπὶ τοῖς λαλουμένοις περὶ αὐτοῦ.» Τίνος χάριν πατέρα τὸν Ἰωσήφ, ὦ τῆς θείας γενεαλογίας εὐαγγελιστὰ καὶ συγγραφεῦ, καλεῖς; Αὐτὸς γὰρ εἰπόντα τὸν Γαβριὴλ πρὸς τὴν παρθένον ἀπέδειξας, ἡνίκα πῶς ἡ σύλληψις ἔσται καὶ τίνα τρόπον ἡ παρθένος τέξε ται μεθωδεύετο· «Πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σέ, καὶ δύναμις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι.» – «Οὐκ ἐπιλέλησμαι τῶν ἐμαυτοῦ», φησίν· «εἰ γὰρ καὶ λήθην ἐλάμβανον, τὸ Πνεῦμα ἂν ἐμίμνησκεν. Ἀλλ' οὕτω τότε καλεῖσθαι τὸν Ἰωσὴφ ὁ σαρκωθεὶς ἐβούλετο, ὅπως ἀπατηθῇ ὁ ἐνεδρεύων τὸ τῆς σωτηρίας τῆς ἡμετέρας μυστή ριον.» «Ἐθαύμαζον δὲ ἐπὶ τοῖς λεγομένοις περὶ αὐτοῦ», ἐπειδὴ βρέφος ὁ πρεσβύτης ἐβάσταζεν, θεοῦ δὲ ὕμνους ἐφθέγγετο. «Καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Συμεών»· ἐχρῆν γὰρ εὐλογεῖσθαι τοὺς τὴν εὐλογίαν τοῖς ὑπὸ κατάραν πράττουσιν διακονήσαντας. 9 «Καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ· ἰδοὺ οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ
About this text
Hesychius of Jerusalem, Homilia ii de Hypapante (Greek).
Original English Translation of Hesychius of Jerusalem’s Homilia ii de Hypapante — new OET from PG 93 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.