03-03-19 Twins: 40 Day Ritual

Sunday 3rd March 2019

We’re at church for the first time as a family of 5. Dora the matriarch ensures it happens, informs our priest beforehand avd has a little something on an envelope for afterwards.

For today is a special religious occasion we are about to observe, one which stems from the Old Testament.

The story of the Presentation of Jesus is told in Luke 2:22-29. Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews and observed their religious customs. An important custom was for the couple to take their first-born son to the Temple. The baby was taken to the Temple forty days after his birth and was dedicated to God. And the poor family offer up as a sacrifice two turtle doves.

As they arrived at the Temple, Mary and Joseph were met by a very old man named Simeon. He was a holy man and was noted as a very intelligent scholar. He is the one who holds the baby Jesus up to the Alter.

After Jesus was presented in the Temple, the family returned to Galilee to the town of Nazareth. The Bible tells us that Jesus grew and became strong, and was filled with wisdom.

In the Orthodox Church, both baby boys and baby girls are taken to the Church on the fortieth day after their birth. This is done in remembrance of the Theotokos and Joseph taking the infant Jesus to the Temple.