Simeon the God-Receiver

The Elder Simeon who received the infant Christ in the Temple.

The righteous Simeon the God-Receiver was the elder to whom it was revealed by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. When the infant Jesus was brought to the Temple forty days after His birth, Simeon received Him into his arms and blessed God with the prayer sung at every Vespers: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.

He is honored on the day after the feast of the Meeting of the Lord, together with the Prophetess Anna who also bore witness to the Child. His memory is kept on February 3.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Simeon the God-Receiver is commemorated on February 3. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on February 16 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Symeon, Simeon

Also commemorated on February 3

• Anna the Prophetess

  Holy Woman, Άννα η Προφήτις

  Righteous Anna the Prophetess, who greeted the infant Christ in the Temple.

• Stamatios, John and Nicholas of Spetses

  Martyr, Σταμάτιος, Ιωάννης και Νικόλαος

  New Martyrs Stamatios and John, brothers, with their companion Nicholas, of Spetses.

  Name days: Stamatios, Stamatis, Stamos, Stamatia, Matoula, Stamatina

• Azariah the Prophet

  Prophet, Αζαρίας

  Holy Prophet Azariah, son of Oded, who called King Asa to faithfulness.

• Adrian and Euboulos of Caesarea

  Martyr, Αδριανός και Εύβουλος

  Holy Martyrs Adrian and Euboulos of Caesarea in Palestine.

  Name days: Adrianos, Adrian, Adriana, Adriani

• Nicholas of Japan

  Apostle, Νικόλαος Ιαπωνίας

  St. Nicholas Kasatkin, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Enlightener of Japan.

• Blaise the Shepherd

  Martyr, Βλάσιος ο Βουκόλος

  Holy Martyr Blaise the Shepherd of Caesarea in Cappadocia.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.