Simeon (Prophet)

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Reliquary of the saint in the Simeon Church of Zadar , Croatia , (around 1900)

The prophet Simeon , in view of the corresponding text of the Gospel of Luke unfounded also called Simeon the old man , is a figure in the New Testament of the Bible . The name means "the hearing" (Hebrew).

New Testament findings

In the second chapter of Luke's Gospel ( Luke 2 : 25–35  EU ), Simeon is described as a pious Israelite man who waits in Jerusalem for the arrival of the Messiah (here called the consolation of Israel ). That he was an old man, as later legends and pictorial representations tell, does not find any basis in the Luke text.

Together with the prophetess Hannah , Simeon recognizes the promised Messiah in the child Jesus when he is presented in the temple . He takes him in his arms and praises him with the so-called hymn of praise of Simeon . Simeon says that in the encounter with little Jesus the word of the Holy Spirit that was given to him was fulfilled and he can now continue his life path in peace. Then he blesses the family of Jesus and prophesies that Jesus would bring down many people in Israel but help others up. For the people of Israel, Jesus would be a sign that would be contradicted. Finally, Simeon foretells Mary that the fate of her son will cause her great sorrow and pain.

Later legends

Already in early Christian times there were other legends about Simeon and he was soon venerated as a saint by the church. There is evidence that Simeon's alleged relics were brought to Constantinople in the 6th century . From there they came to Zadar in Dalmatia in 1243 . Since then, St. Simeon patron saint of the Dalmatian city. He is also invoked as an advocate for child blessings.

reception

Both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches celebrate February 3rd as the day of remembrance of the saint. The hymn of praise of Simeon has been part of the Roman Liturgy of the Hours since the 8th century . It is sung daily for Compline . In the Byzantine rite , the hymn of praise is part of Vespers .

Based on the figure of Simeon, Johann Sebastian Bach composed the cantata I have enough (BWV 82). In the bass aria that introduces the cantata it says:

“I have enough, I have taken the Savior, the hope of the pious, into my eager arms; I have enough! I saw him, my faith pressed Jesus to the heart; Now I wish to leave today with joy. "

gallery

literature

Web links

Commons : Simeon  - collection of images, videos and audio files