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.

Gabriel, the angel-named Martyr, came from the village of Alloni, in the region of Proikonesos. From an early age he became a monk, and conducted himself prudently and virtuously, attaining the desire and longing of the Martyr Stephen. Having come to the Queen City, he became a preacher of the Great Church. 

As holy Lent was approaching, he thought to himself in what way he would be able to chance upon his desired martyrdom. Spending nights in vigil within the Patriarchal church, he supplicated our Lord Jesus Christ, who from a young age he desired with all his soul and heart, to manifest the manner of his martyrdom. One day, after receiving the immaculate mysteries, he pondered how he might find his much-desired Bridegroom Christ, even as the bride in the Song of Solomon. Now he chanced upon a Hagarene along the road who, with customary audacity, rudely pushed the monk out of his way and even off the road so that he might pass. But Gabriel not only pushed him back, but also reviled his religion.

 Some Hagarene bystanders heard the insults of the monk. They shouted for their companions to rally round for vindication that he had insulted their faith. So they all rushed forward and set upon the monk. Some grabbed and beat him, while others jostled him about ruthlessly. Bringing him before the judge, they sought a judgment against him. They pressed to have him indicted for cursing Islam. The other Muslims concurred that the complaint was true. Hence, the judge ordered the Martyr to prison, and gave the Muslims a written indictment against him. 

In the morning, they removed the Martyr from prison. He was arraigned before the city administrator, since the sultan was with the vizier at Adrianople, where the indictment was submitted in the course of the proceedings. The administrator inquired of Gabriel if, in fact, the text of the indictment were true. The Martyr acknowledged the complaint, saying, "Yes, it is true." The administrator continued, "Man, depart from your faith and enter into ours. Do you not see how much glory and dominion the religion of Mohammad possesses?" The Martyr commented, "May I never come to such madness and ignorance, and say that Christ was but a man; for our Lord Jesus Christ was true God and true Man. Now your own man, I shall never call a prophet! Indeed, I confess and believe that my Christ is true God from true God; but as for your Mohammad, I emphatically declare that he was not a prophet but an ordinary and uneducated fellow. He was a fraud and adversary of our Savior Christ. Consequently, I detest your religion. I have nothing but contempt for it."

 The administrator, puzzled, asked him, "O man, perhaps you are drunk? Are you insane?" The Martyr responded, "I am neither drunk, nor have I taken leave of my senses; but by the grace of God I am healthy both in mind and soul." Then the administrator changed his mild tone to a strident one. He angrily said to the prefect, "Take him and behead him." The prefect took the Saint, who was bound, and led him forth to the location called Pachtze-Kapisi, near the customs house. Once there, the Martyr prayed and remained joyful at his beheading. They severed his blessed head, and his holy and all-luminous soul departed to his much-desired and much-loved Bridegroom, our Lord Jesus Christ, that he may receive from Him the triple-plaited crown of virginity, asceticism and martyrdom, so that he may rejoice and be glad in the choirs of the Virgins, Ascetics and Martyrs. 

Now his martyred and revered relic, the Hagarenes cast into the sea three days later, so that the pious would not be able to purchase it with money. Thus he was made perfect after many years of labors, and he took hold of what he longed for unto the ages, with its eternal good things. Through his intercessions may we be redeemed from hell, and be found worthy of the kingdom of heaven. Amen. 

Blessed Jordan was from Trebizond. He was a forty-year-old married coppersmith, from the Galata district of Constantinople. On the eve of the Feast of the Reception of our Lord (Feb. 2), Jordan was playing cards with some Hagarenes who were companions and fellow artisans. They were sporting and jesting in his workshop that was located in a place called "Sultan Bayezid". One of the Muslims scoffed in Greek, saying, “O mangy Saint Nicholas, help me to win!” Jordan countered this remark by jokingly calling upon their Muslim prophet, Mohammad, in the same fashion. At this point, each one of his dissipated companions went off on his own. 

The following morning, however, one of them took steps to bring an action against Jordan, complaining that he had insulted their prophet and therefore merited death. Now when Jordan heard news of this accusation, he took flight. He hid away in the house of a prominent Hagarene. But the Turks promulgated another feftan (order) stating that “should any Turk offer refuge to any Christian who speaks in a wicked manner of Mohammed, that Turk would be liable to punishment as an infidel.” On account of this decree, Jordan’s sympathizers were compelled to surrender him to the vizier (judge) and to testify that he had reviled Mohammed. 

The vizier questioned Jordan: “Man, according to their testimony, you must either lose your head or become a Muslim. If you should become Muslim, I shall greatly esteem you.” The vizier spoke such words to Jordan because he had known him prior to the charge. Then Jordan cried aloud in a resounding voice, “I am not going to deny my sweetest Jesus Christ; for I believe and confess Him to be the true God. I only request from you one concession: that you grant me leave to go to my shop and close my accounts, because I have to pay and collect some debts. After I have concluded my affairs, let your will prevail.” 

Thereupon the vizier commanded the prefect to accompany Jordan to his shop, according to his request, and then to strike off his head. Jordan went and settled his accounts with his associates. Then he received the final forgiveness from the Christians. For the sake of his soul, he also bequeathed his possessions to the Church, monasteries, and orphans. He was then taken to be beheaded. Jordan ran joyfully down the street, even as the Prophet David’s “deer pants after for streams of water” [cf. Ps. 41:1]. Jordan also gave thanks to God who granted this longed-for martyrdom. The martyr once more then asked forgiveness of young and old alike, of all whom he chanced to meet on his path. 

All were amazed upon beholding the blessed Jordan. He neither feared, nor shrank back, nor altered his facial expression in the least. In fact, he proceeded on the path rather cheerfully. When they arrived at Kioutsouk-Karamani (Kutzuk Karaman), the prefect leaned over to strike off Jordan’s head. Then suddenly, a sergeant of the vizier arrived and whispered to the Martyr: “The vizier sends this message: he has taken pity on your life. If you should only utter a word now, to make it appear as if you have become a Muslim, afterward you would be free to go wherever you will, and even resume your life as a Christian." 

The Martyr replied, “Indeed, I thank the vizier; but what he proposes I will never do." With this statement, the blessed Jordan bowed his head, upon which the executioner brought down his sword. After the execution, that same evening, Jordan’s relatives and friends, who were in that district, took up his holy relics. This, of course, was only achieved after paying the Muslim authorities an exorbitant sum. The Christians, thereupon, with honor reverently buried the relics of Saint Jordan with honor in a place called Beyoglu (Karakoy), to the glory of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.