Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord Jesus - Presentation of the Lord - Wooden Plaque

based on Syriac Manuscript Icon | Vatican Library Syr. 559

This sacred wooden plaque icon honors Simeon the Elder — ܡܪܝ ܫܡܥܘܢ ܣܒܐ (Mor Shemʿun Sobo) — the righteous and God-bearing elder who received the Christ-Child in the Temple and proclaimed the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel and to all nations.

Customers may choose between two authentic iconographic scenes, both rooted in the Gospel account of the Presentation of the Lord (Luke 2:22–38):

• Simeon the Elder with the Infant Christ and the Virgin Mary
  Depicting the sacred moment when Simeon takes the Child Jesus into his arms and proclaims the Nunc Dimittis:
  “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace… for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” (Luke 2:29–32)

• Saint Joseph Offering the Two Doves with the Prophetess Anna
  Portraying the offering of the poor prescribed by the Law and the prophetic witness of Anna, who spoke of the Child to all who awaited the redemption of Jerusalem

According to Holy Tradition, Simeon was a learned scribe entrusted with translating the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. While translating Isaiah 7:14, he attempted to replace the word “Virgin” with “woman,” doubting that a virgin could conceive. Each time, the word miraculously returned to Virgin. An angel of the Lord then revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he beheld the Messiah born of a Virgin.

Centuries later — having lived, according to the prayers of the Church, nearly five hundred years — Simeon finally held the Infant Christ in his arms, proclaiming the salvation prepared for all peoples, “a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel.” 

This icon is based on the Syriac Manuscript Vatican Library, Syr. 559, an illuminated evangeliary produced around 1220 AD. Created in the Jazira region near Mosul at the monastery of Deir Mar Mattai, it stands among the few richly illustrated Middle Eastern Christian manuscripts of the 13th century and reflects the living heritage of the Peshitta Gospel tradition.

Product Details

• Material: Printed on sustainably sourced natural wood

• Finish: Warm matte surface highlighting sacred color and manuscript detail

• Style: Syriac / Byzantine manuscript iconography

• Tradition: Syriac Christian – Peshitta Gospel

• Icon Options:

  • Simeon with the Christ Child and the Virgin Mary

  • Saint Joseph with the Two Doves and the Prophetess Anna

• Ideal For: Prayer corners, home iconostases, churches, chapels, and sacred spaces

A profound icon of faithful waiting, fulfilled promise, and peaceful departure, this wooden plaque invites prayerful contemplation of Christ as the Light revealed to the nations and the Glory of God’s people.

• Material: FSC-certified birch wood, showcasing natural grain for a rustic feel.
• Finish: Clean edges with edge-to-edge prints for a seamless look.
• Thickness: Choose between 10mm (0.4") or 20mm (0.79").
• Printing: Unprinted white areas reveal the wood grain for added texture.
• Hanging Kit: Included; varies by country.
• Sizes: 18 options in inches (US&CA) and cms (rest of the world).

No minimum orders, printed and shipped on demand.