St. John the Baptist - Saints of the Day

This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before
the year 1100, during the reign of the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus,
because of a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and
virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil, while others
preferred Gregory, and yet others preferred John Chrysostom, quarreling
among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. Furthermore,
each party, in order to distinguish itself from the others, assumed the
name of its preferred Saint; hence, they called themselves Basilians,
Gregorians, or Johannites. Desiring to bring an end to the contention,
the three Saints appeared together to the saintly John Mavropous, a monk
who had been ordained Bishop of Euchaita, a city of Asia Minor, they
revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal,
and told him to compose a common service for the three of them, which he
did with great skill and beauty. Saint John of Euchaita (celebrated
Oct. 5) is also the composer of the Canon to the Guardian Angel, the
Protector of a Man's Life. In his old age, he retired from his
episcopal see and again took up the monastic life in a monastery in
Constantinople. He reposed during the reign of the aforementioned
Emperor Alexis Comnenus (1081-1118).

When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary's forty
days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to
Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might
present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches
that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she
might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young
pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8).
On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was
also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long
time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been
informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the
Lord's Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up
into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: "Now lettest Thou Thy
servant depart in peace, O Master. . ." And he confessed that he would
close his eyes joyfully, since he had seen the Light of revelation for
the nations and the Glory of Israel (Luke 2:25-32). From ancient times,
the Holy Church has retained this tradition of the churching of the
mother and new-born child on the fortieth day and of the reading of
prayers of purification.

The Apodosis of the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple is usually on
the 9th of February. This, however, may vary if the Feast falls within
the period of the Triodion. Should this occur, the Typicon should be
consulted for specific information concerning the Apodosis of the Feast.