The Hymn of Elder Simeon in Luke 2: 29-32. Its Narrative Context and Theology
The Hymn of Elder Simeon in Luke 2: 29-32. Its Narrative Context and Theology

Author(s): Daniel Ayuch
Subject(s): Theology and Religion, History of Religion
Published by: Editura Doxologia
Keywords: Gospel of Luke; Infancy Gospel; Simeon the Elder; Nunc Dimittis; Nyn Apolyeis; Prayer;
Summary/Abstract: In the Gospel of Luke, we find several canticles, particularly in the Infancy narratives. Three main characters of the Gospel praise the Lord in wonderful hymns that are preserved and used in the Orthodox Liturgy until today: The Megalynarion of the Lady (1: 46-55), the Evlogetos of Zechariah the Priest (1:67-79), and the Nyn Apolyeis of Simeon the Elder (2: 29-32). This paper proposes to focus attention on the hymn of Simeon and the role this character plays in the Lucan narrative. If we consider the three praying persons, we see that both Zechariah and Mary are progenitors of their respective sons, John and Jesus, so Simeon takes on the particular aspect of bearing witness to the birth of the Savior, not as a father, but as a believer who exults his faith and hope. This article studies the narrative context of the hymn, focusing on the importance of Simeon to whom St. Luke dedicates a significant paragraph in his work and whom the tradition of the Church rescued as a model reader of the Holy Scriptures and as a witness of their promises. In a further step, the paper analyzes the three distiches that compose the hymn and its Old Testament allusions and quotations to highlight its message for contemporary readers. Each of the three couplets are studied based on the analysis of the original Greek Text and after consulting a selected reference bibliography. In Luke's eyes, all the effects ofChrist’s incarnation are brought together in this passage of the presentation of Mary's Firstborn. The aged man sees in this newborn child the fulfillment of the promises of olden days. Luke presents Simeon as a model of a believer who is blessed when he blesses and who reflects the light before his eyes.

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