The patronage of this small church, with its rather inconspicuous architecture—neither a cross crowning the roof nor the regionally typical open bell tower—was entrusted to Saint Simeon, who is mentioned in the New Testament. According to the biblical account, he is one of the two persons present in the Temple forty days after the birth of Jesus Christ, when Mary and Joseph—faithfully following Jewish precepts—visited the Temple with their firstborn son and an offering (two doves). The Evangelist Luke records the following prayer on the occasion of this encounter between the elderly Simeon and Jesus as the promised Messiah:
+ "Now, Lord, you let your servant depart in peace, according to your word. For my eyes have seen the salvation you have prepared for all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."+ (Luke 2:29-32)