Simeon the Elder: Priest and Prophet

This book explores the life of Saint Simeon the Elder, the priest and prophet who witnessed the Lord's salvation. It details his virtues of righteousness, piety, and faith, and his historical role as one of the seventy elders who translated the Torah from Hebrew to Greek (the Septuagint). The text focuses on the pivotal moment of Christ's entry into the Temple and the fulfillment of the divine promise to Simeon that he would not see death before seeing the Lord's Christ. The book explains the spiritual meanings of his famous canticle, "Now, Lord, you let your servant depart in peace," and its central place in Coptic liturgical rites, particularly in the Compline prayer, Midnight Praise, and the Raising of Incense. It also addresses his profound prophecies regarding the Virgin Mary's sorrows and the "sign that is spoken against" (the Cross), illustrating how Simeon became a model of service, spiritual anticipation, and adherence to God's faithful promises within the Coptic Orthodox trad