On this holiday, the Church commemorates an important event in the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:22-40). On the 40th day after his birth, the Infant of God was brought to the Jerusalem Temple, the center of the religious life of the God-chosen people. According to the law of Moses (Leviticus 12), a woman who gave birth to a male baby was forbidden to enter the temple of God for 40 days. After this period, the mother came to the temple with the baby to offer a thanksgiving and cleansing sacrifice to the Lord. The Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God, had no need of purification, for she had unskilfully given birth to a Fountain of purity and holiness, but out of deep humility She obeyed the precept of the law.
At that time, the righteous elder Simeon lived in Jerusalem (information about him is posted on memorial day - February 3). He had a revelation that he would not die until he saw Christ the Savior. By inspiration from above, the pious elder came to the temple at the time when the Most Holy Theotokos and the righteous Joseph brought the Baby Jesus there to perform the lawful rite. Simeon, the God-receiver, took the infant in his arms, and blessing God, prophesied about the Savior of the world: "Now, Master, according to your word, you are letting your servant go in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all nations, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel" (Luke 2, 29-32). Saint Simeon said to the Blessed Virgin: "Behold, this one lies for the fall and rebellion of many in Israel and for the object of strife, and a weapon will pass through Your very soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:35). There was also an 84-year-old widow, Anna the prophetess, daughter of Fanuilov (commemorated on February 3)., "who did not leave the temple, serving God day and night by fasting and prayer. And at that time she came and praised the Lord and spoke of Him (the Infant of God) to all who were waiting for deliverance in Jerusalem" (Luke 2:37-38). Before the Birth of Christ, all righteous men and women lived by faith in the Coming Messiah, the Savior of the world, and waited for His coming. The last righteous men of the outgoing Old Testament, the righteous Simeon and Anna the prophetess, were honored to meet in the temple the Bearer of the New Testament, in Whose Person the Deity and humanity had already met.
The feast of the Presentation of the Lord belongs to the most ancient feasts of the Christian Church. It is known that on the day of this celebration, Saints Methodius of Patara (+ 312), Cyril of Jerusalem (+ 386), Gregory the Theologian (+ 389), Amphilochius of Iconium (+ 394), Gregory of Nyssa (+ 400), John Chrysostom (+ 407) preached sermons. But, despite its early origin, this holiday was not celebrated so solemnly until the sixth century. In 528, under Emperor Justinian (527-565), Antioch was struck by an earthquake that killed many people. This disaster was followed by another. In 544, a pestilence appeared, killing several thousand people every day. In these days of national calamity, it was revealed to one of the pious Christians to celebrate the Presentation of the Lord more solemnly. When an all-night vigil and a procession were held on Candlemas Day, the disasters in Byzantium ceased. In gratitude to God, in 544 the Church established a more solemn celebration of the Presentation of the Lord.
Church songwriters decorated the feast with many hymns: in the seventh century, St. Andrew, Archbishop of Crete, and in the eighth century, St. Cosmas, Bishop of Maium, St. John of Damascus, St. Herman, Patriarch of Constantinople, in the ninth century, St. Joseph the Studite, Archbishop of Thessalonica.
The icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, called "Softening of Evil Hearts" or "Simeon's Prophecy", is associated with the event of the Presentation of the Lord.

The icon "Simeon's Prophecy" symbolizes the fulfillment of the prophecy of the righteous elder Simeon: "The weapon itself will pass through your soul" (Luke 2:35).