Nicholas of Lyra's Apocalypse Commentary, Philip D. W. Krey translator, pp. 135-36 and 139, reports the following from Nicholas of Lyra (d. 1349):
19. Then God's temple in heaven was opened, Here, thirdly, the increase of devotion is included. At that time a great plague affected Constantinople, for which the feast of purification of the Blessed Mary was instituted to be solemnly celebrated on February 2, when the Blessed Virgin presented her son in the temple, which is called the "ark of the covenant." In that place the fullness of knowledge and of truth was designated by the tablets and of power by the vessel and of devotion by the manna -- all three of which were in the ark. The plague ceased, and this is what is said, Then God's temple in heaven was opened, That is, the Church militant in which the material temple was opened to solemnly celebrate the feast. And the ark of the covenant was seen That is, Christ, whose offering and presentation in the temple through St. Simeon and Anna the prophetess was memorialized in the Feast of Purification, which spread from Constantinople to other parts of the world. Therefore, it is added: There were flashes That is, burning torches like "flashes." And peals Of divine praise. Of thunder, Of holy preaching. An earthquake, Many of the earthly people were moved to devotion. And heavy hail. Because the power of the demon causing this pestilence was repressed.
...
A woman That is, the Church generally, and specifically the one in Jerusalem, which was joined with Christ as a woman with a man. Clothed with the sun, That is, with Christ, who is the sun of Justice (Gal 3:27), "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."
