According to St. Luke, Simeon was a just and devout man waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him (Luke 2:25). God promised him that he would not die until the promised Messiah, Christ the Lord, came into the world. So the righteous Simeon lived in expectation of this wonderful day; finally, when Simeon was very, very old, a revelation came to him from the Holy Spirit, and he came to the Temple. It was on this very day (the 40th day after the birth of Christ) when the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph had come to the Temple with the Baby Jesus. When the Spirit blessed him with the knowledge that the Christ was before him, he responded with the magnificent words we know so well today and that even appear in our Divine Services: "Lord, now let they servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for mine eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your peoples Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).