The Meeting of the Lord

According to the Law of Moses, all Hebrew parents must bring their first born son on the fortieth day after birth to the Temple to be consecrated to God. It was the custom to bring a sacrifice in thanksgiving to God. The law was established in remembrance of the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt — freedom from slavery — when the first-born Hebrews were spared from death.

In fulfilment of this law, the Mother of God with Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem and brought for the sacrifice two fledgling doves.

At this time in Jerusalem, there lived an old man by the name of Simeon. He was a righteous, pious man, and he awaited the coming of the Messiah. It was foretold to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not have died before he had seen Christ the Lord. Simeon waited for the fulfilment of the promise of God for a long time. According to tradition, he lived about 300 years. Then, one day, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he went to the Temple. When Mary with Joseph brought the infant Jesus, Simeon met the Child, took Him in his arms, and glorifying God said, "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light of revelation for the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."

Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid officiates feast day's Liturgy at Novodevichy Monastery in St. Petersburg

His Beatitude Jovan, Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje, served the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on the feast day of Holy Three Hierarchs at the Novodevichy Monastery in St. Petersburg.

The same day in the evening at the Novodevichy monastery, Archbishop Jovan was visited by Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, who had received the title Doctor Honoris Causa of the Spiritual Academy in St. Petersburg the previous day.

The Three Hierarchs: Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostom

Each of these saints have their own feast day. St. Basil the Great, January 1; St. Gregory the Theologian, January 25; and St. John Chrysostom, January 27. This combined feast day, January 30, was instituted in the eleventh century during the reign of Emperor Alexius Comnenus.

At one time a debate arose among the people concerning who of the three is the greatest? Some extolled Basil because of his purity and courage; others extolled Gregory for his unequaled depth and lofty mind in theology; still others extolled Chrysostom because of his eloquence and clarity in expounding the Faith. Thus some were called Basilians, others Gregorgians, and the third were called Johannites.

Metropolitan Amfilohije Doctor HONORIS CAUSA of the Orthodox Spiritual Academy of St. Petersburg

Rector of the Orthodox Spiritual Academy of St. Petersburg Archbishop Ambrosius of Peterhof awarded Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral with a doctor's cross and a diploma of Doctor Honoris Causa of this eminent church and educational institution, at the ceremony in St. Petersburg on 11 February 2015.

The high distinction was given to Metropolitan Amfilohije on 13 June 2014 by the decision of the Scientific Council of the Saint Petersburg Spiritual Academy, and was approved by Metropolitan Varsonufry of St. Petersburg and Ladosh. Many guests of the Academy, representatives of the church, scientific and cultural life of the northern Russian capital, among which was also Archbishop Jovan (Vranisovski) of Ohrid.

Sunday of Orthodoxy in the Diocese of New Gracanica and Midwestern America

Bishop Antonije visits Archbishop Jovan

His Grace Bishop Antonije of Moravica, Vicar of Serbian Patriarch and the dean of the Representation of the Serbian Patriarchate in Moscow, on behalf of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, visited yesterday His Beatitude Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje, who is staying at  the Novodevichy Monastery in St. Petersburg for medical treatment.