Editing Presentation of Jesus (section)

==Liturgical celebration==
{{Main|Candlemas}}

{{Infobox holiday|holiday_name  = The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
|type          = [[Christianity|Christian]]
|image         =Hans_Holbein_d._Ä._-_Darstellung_Christi_im_Tempel_-_Hamburger_Kunsthalle.jpg
|caption       = ''Presentation of Christ at the Temple'' by [[Hans Holbein the Elder]], 1500–01 ([[Kunsthalle Hamburg]])
|observedby    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Roman Catholic]]s
* [[Anglican]]s
* [[Eastern Orthodox]]
* [[Lutheran]]s
* [[Oriental Orthodox]]
* [[Methodists]]
}}
|date          = 2 February (Gregorian)<br/>14 February ([[Armenian Apostolic Church]])
|celebrations  =
|observances   =
|relatedto     =
}}

===Name of the celebration===
In addition to being known as the [[Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple]], other traditional names include Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin,<ref name=edc/> and the Meeting of the Lord.<ref name=goarch>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goarch.org/presentation|title=Presentation of Christ to the Temple|publisher=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America}}</ref> ''Candlemas'' is an English name for the feast because of the procession with lighted candles at the [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] on this day, reflecting Simeon's proclamation of "a light for revelation to the Gentiles", which, in turn, echoes Isaiah 49:6 in the second of the "servant of the Lord" oracles.<ref name=Toon>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org.uk/the-bcp/the-presentation-of-christ-in-the-temple|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706042629/https://www.pbs.org.uk/the-bcp/the-presentation-of-christ-in-the-temple|archive-date=2016-07-06|last1=Toon|first1=Peter|title=The Presentation of Christ in the Temple|publisher=The Prayer Book Society}}</ref>

The date of Candlemas is established by the date set for the [[Nativity of Jesus]], for it comes forty days afterwards. Under [[613 Commandments|Mosaic law]] as found in the [[Torah]], a mother who had given birth to a boy was considered unclean for seven days; moreover she was to remain for three and thirty days "in the blood of her purification." Candlemas therefore corresponds to the day on which Mary, according to Jewish law, should have attended a ceremony of [[ritual purification]] ({{Bibleverse||Leviticus|12:2–8|HE}}). The Gospel of Luke 2:22–39 relates that Mary was purified according to the religious law, followed by Jesus' presentation in the [[Jerusalem]] temple, and this explains the formal names given to the festival, as well as its falling 40 days after the Nativity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-01/sunday-reflection-vatican-news3.html|title=Reflections for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord – Vatican News|date=30 January 2020|website=www.vaticannews.va}}</ref>

In the Roman Catholic Church, it is known as the ''Presentation of the Lord'' in the liturgical books first issued by [[Paul VI]],<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 2 February.</ref> and as the ''Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary'' in [[Tridentine Mass|earlier editions]]. In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and Greek Catholic Churches ([[Eastern Catholic Churches]] which use the [[Byzantine rite]]), it is known as the ''Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple'' or as ''The Meeting of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ''.

It is known as the Presentation of Our Lord in the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]. The [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]] observes 2 February as The Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord.<ref>Lutheran Service Book, 2006, xi</ref> 

In the churches of the [[Anglican Communion]], it is known by various names, including ''The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in The Temple (Candlemas)'' ([[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]]),<ref name=edc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/|title=Glossary of Terms}}</ref> ''The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, and The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary'' ([[Anglican Church of Canada]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prayerbook.ca/resources/bcponline/calendar/|title=The Calendar|date=16 October 2013|publisher=Prayer Book Society of Canada|access-date=2 February 2017|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022221459/http://prayerbook.ca/resources/bcponline/calendar/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)'' ([[Church of England]]),<ref name=Toon/> and ''The Presentation of Christ in the Temple'' ([[Anglican Church of Australia]]).

===Practices===
Traditionally, Candlemas had been the last [[feast day]] in the [[Christian year]] that was dated by reference to [[Christmas]]. It is another "epiphany" type feast as Jesus is revealed as the messiah by the canticle of Simeon and the prophetess Anna.<ref>Elliot, Peter J., ''Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year'', Ignatius Press, 2002. {{ISBN|9780898708295}}</ref> It also fits into this theme, as the earliest manifestation of Jesus inside the house of his heavenly Father.<ref name=Toon/> Subsequent [[moveable feast]]s are calculated with reference to [[Easter]].

====Western Christianity====
[[File:Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, stained glass window.jpg|thumb|Presentation of Jesus, c. 1896, [[Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)]]]]
Candlemas occurs 40 days after Christmas.

Traditionally, the Western term "Candlemas" (or Candle Mass) referred to the practice whereby a priest on 2 February blessed [[beeswax]] [[candle]]s for use throughout the year, some of which were distributed to the faithful for use in the home. In [[Poland]] the feast is called ''Święto Matki Bożej Gromnicznej'' (Feast of Our Lady of Thunder candles). This name refers to the candles that are blessed on this day, called gromnice, since these candles are lit during (thunder) storms and placed in windows to ward off storms.

This feast has been referred to as the Feast of Presentation of the Lord within the Roman Catholic Church since the liturgical revisions of the [[Second Vatican Council]], with references to candles and the purification of Mary de-emphasised in favor of the Prophecy of [[Simeon (Gospel of Luke)|Simeon the Righteous]]. [[Pope John Paul II]] connected the feast day with the renewal of [[religious vows]]. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newmanministry.com/saints/presentation-of-jesus-in-the-temple|title=Presentation of Jesus in the Temple &#124; Newman Ministry|website=www.newmanministry.com}}</ref>

In the Liturgy of the Hours, the Marian antiphon ''[[Alma Redemptoris Mater]]'' is used from Advent through 2 February, after which ''[[Ave Regina caelorum|Ave Regina Caelorum]]'' is used through Good Friday.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01326d.htm Henry, Hugh. "Alma Redemptoris Mater." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 5 February 2019</ref>

====Eastern Christianity====
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2011}}
In the [[Byzantine rite|Byzantine tradition]] practised by the [[Eastern Orthodox]], the Meeting of the Lord is unique among the [[Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church|Great Feasts]] in that it combines elements of both a Great Feast of the Lord and a Great Feast of the [[Theotokos]] ([[Mother of God]]). It has a [[forefeast]] of one day, and an [[afterfeast]] of seven days. However, if the feast falls during [[Cheesefare Week]] or [[Great Lent]], the afterfeast is either shortened or eliminated altogether.

The [[holiday]] is celebrated with an [[all-night vigil]] on the eve of the feast, and a celebration of the [[Divine Liturgy]] the next morning, at which beeswax candles are blessed. This blessing traditionally takes place after the [[Little Hours]] and before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy (though in some places it is done after). The priest reads four prayers, and then a fifth one during which all present bow their heads before God. He then [[thurible|censes]] the candles and blesses them with [[Holy water in Eastern Christianity|holy water]]. The candles are then distributed to the people and the Liturgy begins.

It is because of the biblical events recounted in the second chapter of Luke that the [[Churching of Women]] came to be practised in both Eastern and Western Christianity. The usage has mostly died out in the West, except among [[Western Rite Orthodoxy]], very occasionally still among [[Anglicans]], and [[Traditionalist Catholic]]s, but the ritual is still practised in the Orthodox Church. In addition, babies, both boys and girls are taken to the Church on the fortieth day after their birth in remembrance of the Theotokos and Joseph taking the infant Jesus to the Temple.<ref name=goarch/>

Some Christians observe the practice of leaving Christmas decorations up until Candlemas.

===Date===
[[File:The Candlemas day 1731.jpg|thumb|''Meeting of the Lord'', Orthodox [[icon]] from [[Belarus]] (1731)]]

In the Eastern and Western [[Liturgical year|liturgical calendars]] the Presentation of the Lord falls on 2 February, forty days (inclusive) after [[Christmas]]. In the Church of England it may be celebrated on this day, or on the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February. This feast never falls in Lent; the earliest that Ash Wednesday can fall is 4 February, for the case of Easter on 22 March in a non-leap year.  However, in the Tridentine rite, it can fall in the pre-Lenten season if Easter is early enough, and "Alleluia" has to be omitted from this feast's liturgy when that happens.

In [[Swedish Church|Swedish]] and [[Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church|Finnish Lutheran Churches]],
Candlemas is (since 1774) always celebrated on a [[Sunday]], at earliest on 2 February and at latest on 8 February, except if this Sunday happens to be the last Sunday before [[Lent]], i.e. [[Shrove Sunday]] or [[Quinquagesima]] ({{langx|sv|Fastlagssöndagen}}, {{langx|fi|Laskiaissunnuntai}}), in which case Candlemas is celebrated one week earlier.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Oja | title = Aikakirja 2007 | year = 2007 | pages = 175–176 | location = Helsinki | publisher = Almanach office of [[Helsinki University]] | isbn = 978-952-10-3221-9 | url = http://almanakka.helsinki.fi/aikakirja/Aikakirja2007kokonaan.pdf | language = fi | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110322045417/http://almanakka.helsinki.fi/aikakirja/Aikakirja2007kokonaan.pdf | archive-date = 22 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://evl.fi/EVLfi.nsf/Documents/A41353ABC5A3364FC225708400246DFB?OpenDocument&lang=FI | title = Kynttilänpäivä on valoisa Kristus-juhla | publisher = [[Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church]] | access-date = 2014-02-18 | language = fi}}</ref>

In the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]], the Feast, called "The Coming of the Son of God into the Temple"<ref name=EB1911/> (''Tiarn'ndaraj'', from ''Tyarn-'', "the Lord", and ''-undarach'' "going forward"), is celebrated on 14 February. The Armenians do not celebrate the Nativity on 25 December, but on 6 January, and thus their date of the feast is 40 days after that: 14 February. The night before the feast, Armenians traditionally light candles during an evening church service, carrying the flame out into the darkness (symbolically bringing light into the void) and either take it home to light lamps or light a bonfire in the church courtyard.