Today we celebrate the feast of the Encounter of our Lord in the Temple. This feast day commemorates the meeting of our Lord with the just Elder Simeon and the prophetess Anna. This event in the life of Christ is described in the Gospel according to St. Luke (2:22-40). Oftentimes this feast day is referred to by its Latin name, the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple. However, in our Byzantine tradition, both the Greek word hypapante and the Slavonic word stritenie mean meeting or encounter. This is a celebration of Christ meeting His chosen people as the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets. The chosen people are represented by Simeon and Anna, who recognised the child Jesus as the promised Messiah and worshipped Him as such. We, too, recognising Christ as the Saviour of the world are obliged to worship Him. The constant refrain in the vesper propers is “Let us worship Him” just as Simeon and Anna did.
Joseph and Mary in accordance with the prescriptions of Judaic Law brought their first male child to the Temple to offer Him to Yahweh. He who gave the Law to the Chosen People was Himself obedient to it. Upon seeing the Christ Child, Simeon, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, took Him into his arms and blessed Him while saying the famous ‘Canticle of Simeon’, “Now you may dismiss your servant, O Lord…” This famous canticle is said every day in the vesper service and by the priest at the end of every divine liturgy. The most crucial portion of this canticle is the profession that this Child who he holds in his arms is “A Light of revelation to the gentiles, and the Glory of Your People, Israel.” Because we too encounter Christ as this Light of revelation, our custom is to bless candles on this day. The custom of blessing candles began in the East during the fifth century and eventually spread to the West where the custom was eventually adopted by the western rites. Therefore, the custom of blessing candles on this day is universal throughout the entire Church.
In the Profession of Faith we proclaim Christ as “Light from Light, true God from true God.” Simeon proclaimed the Christ Child as “a Light of revelation to the gentiles.” We as Christians and gentiles also profess Jesus Christ to be that Light which has been revealed to us from God the Father.
The flame of a fire, whether it be from a candle or any other lamp, was the major source of man-made light until the invention of the electric light bulb, which we must remember only took place within this past century. When we want light now, we simply flick a switch and we have it. But for 19 centuries, in order to get more light within the church building for nocturnal vigils and great feast days, all the faithful held lit candles. The sight of everyone holding lighted candles in the church is still impressive today, but imagine how impressive it must have been before electric lights! Therefore, the blessing of candles by the priest is our profession that we have seen the true Light Jesus Christ We have encountered Him and allowed Him into our lives by our faith in Him and by our worship of Him which stems from this faith.
The invocation that the priest gives when blessing the candles that Christ is the True Light that enlightens all. He asks Christ to bless the candles that they may be lit with a visible flame to dispel darkness, and that our hearts enlightened by the invisible light of the Holy Spirit may avoid  the darkness of sin and this world. When we take our blessed candles to our homes and place them in our icon corners, we profess every time that we light them that Christ is the true Light which guides our lives and hopes. Our eyes are set on the Light of heaven and not the darkness of this world.
“Now You may dismiss Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word in peace, because my eyes have seen Your salvation which You declare before the face of all peoples. A light of revelation to the gentiles, and the Glory of Your People Israel!”