THE LITURGY FOR THE BLESSING OF CANDLES FOR CANDLEMAS AND THE PRESENTATION OF THE THEOTOKOS IN THE TEMPLE

The Most Holy Theotokos Presenting Christ in the Temple After the Days of Her Purification Were Accomplished, Which We Commemorate with the Blessing of Candles in Candlemas

CANDLEMAS LITURGY 

This liturgy is to be added at the conclusion of the regular Sunday Liturgy, after the final blessing, but before the dismissal. It is a solemn occasion to bless the candles, invoking the light of Christ’s presence in the Church and the world. After the Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Reception of the Holy Eucharist at the end of the Liturgy of St. James, the Priest shall assign two readers, and shall begin the reading of the Scripture again. 

The Reading of Scripture 

Reader 1: The reading according to Malachi, beginning in the third chapter and the first verse…

Malachi 3:1-4 (The coming of the Lord as a refiner’s fire)

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

Reader 1: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

(The priests and deacons come out with candles lit around the second reader, singing “Alleluia” as in the previous Liturgy)

Reader 2: The reading according to the Holy Gospel of St. Luke, beginning in the second chapter and in the twenty-second verse…

Luke 2:22-40 (The Presentation of Christ in the Temple)

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Reader 2: The Gospel of Our Lord

People: Praise be to Thee, Lord Christ! 

(Then the priest stands with his lit candle over the unlit candles, praying aloud…) 

Priest: Let us pray. 

Priest: Almighty and ever-living God, we give Thee thanks for the light of Thy truth, which shineth in our hearts through Thy holy Incarnation, and especially for the light that Thou hast granted us through Thy holy Theotokos, who, by Thy will, presented her Son in the Temple, the true Light of the world. We now ask Thee to bless these candles, which we shall bear in procession and use for Thy glory. As we light them, may they remind us of the light of Thy presence among us, dispelling the darkness of sin and death. Grant us grace to walk in that light all our days, and to reflect Thy glory to the world. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. 

The Priest then blesses all the candles, sprinkling them with holy water.

The Litany of the Light

Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord. 

People: Lord, have mercy. 

Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, and for the salvation of souls, let us pray to the Lord. 

People: Lord, have mercy. 

Deacon: For the light of the Gospel to shine forth in all the world, dispelling the darkness of error and sin, let us pray to the Lord. 

People: Lord, have mercy. 

Deacon: For this holy house, and for all who enter with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord. 

People: Lord, have mercy. 

Deacon: For the health and salvation of the faithful, for the forgiveness of sins, and for peace in our hearts, let us pray to the Lord. 

People: Lord, have mercy. 

Deacon: For our leaders, that they may walk in the light of wisdom and truth, let us pray to the Lord. 

People: Lord, have mercy. 

Deacon: That we may be made worthy to present our lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, let us pray to the Lord. 

People: Lord, have mercy. 

Deacon: That this light may shine forth in our hearts, and that we may be filled with the light of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord. 

People: Lord, have mercy. 

The Canticle of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis)

The Priest stands before the altar holding the candles and prays the Canticle of Simeon aloud, the faithful standing at the holy doors.

Priest:

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, 

according to Thy word; 

For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, 

Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 

A light to lighten the Gentiles, 

and the glory of Thy people Israel. 

Deacon: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, 

People: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

The Procession with Candles

The Priest, Deacon, and faithful, all holding candles, process around the church, singing the following hymn or chant in honor of the Presentation of the Theotokos in the Temple.

Hymn: The Light of the World

The Light of the world is come, 

Shining in the temple, 

The Light of the world is come, 

And Mary brings Him home. 

We bear His light, O Lord, 

To guide our feet in peace, 

We bear His light, O Lord, 

That darkness may cease. 

The Final Blessing

The Priest, having returned to the altar with his own candle, prays the following: 

Priest: Let us pray. 

Priest: Almighty God, who by Thy Son Jesus Christ hast made the Light to shine in our hearts, and who didst bless these candles, may they ever be to us a sign of Thy presence, that we, walking in the light of Thy truth, may ever reflect Thy glory and bring Thy peace to the world. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Deacon: Let us go forth in peace, bearing the light of Christ to the world. 

People: Thanks be to God.