Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord on January 14: meaning, history and traditions

On January 14, Orthodox believers celebrate the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord, an event rooted in the Old Testament and associated with naming the Baby Jesus. On this day, solemn divine services are held in churches, special prayers and hymns are sung, and believers remember the spiritual significance of the ceremony. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

The history of the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord

The Circumcision of the Lord is the oldest Christian holiday, dedicated to one of the key moments in the life of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on the eighth day after Christmas, when, according to the Gospel tradition, the Baby was circumcised and given a name.

The rite of circumcision has its roots in the Old Testament: by God's command, all male children were supposed to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. It was a symbol of the Covenant between God and His people.

According to this tradition, although Jesus was the Son of God, he was born human, so he obeyed the Old Testament Law, giving an example of obedience. In this way, Jesus once again confirmed that he had entered the human race, body and soul.

Historical evidence of the celebration of the Circumcision of the Lord goes back to the first centuries of Christianity: the holiday was officially established by the fourth century. Over time, the date of celebration in different churches became fixed: in the Eastern (Orthodox) tradition, January 14 (according to the new style), which corresponds to the eighth day after January 7, the day of the Nativity of Christ according to the Julian calendar.

The meaning of the Lord's Circumcision for believers

For Christians, the holiday has deep theological and spiritual significance. First, through the rite of Circumcision, Christ showed that He took on our flesh, became truly human — with everything that is necessary for this: a body, a name, a connection with the human race.

At the same time, circumcision for the Baby Jesus is not just a ritual, but a sign of humility, obedience to God's will. The Lord, being the Creator of the Law, voluntarily accepted it in order to set an example to all people, thereby confirming respect for the Old Testament and the continuity of God's plan.

Secondly, the Circumcision of the Lord symbolizes a transitional moment — from the Old Testament to the New. In the Old Testament, circumcision was a physical sign of belonging to God, and in the New Testament, according to the teachings of the Church, its place is occupied by the rite of Baptism, designed to cleanse the soul from sins and spiritually give birth to a person. The circumcision of the Lord is to be considered as a spiritual prototype of Baptism, but in the context of the incarnation of the Savior it becomes especially important.

Thus, the holiday reminds believers of their spiritual responsibility, the need for humility, obedience and spiritual renewal. He helps Christians to connect the perception of Christ as God and as a Human Being, to emphasize the fullness of His nature and the meaning of His name — Jesus, which means "Savior."

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Traditions and rituals on January 14th

In traditional Orthodox practice, festive divine services are held on the day of the Lord's Circumcision — believers gather in churches for the liturgy, offer prayers, and remember the event of circumcision and naming of Christ.

Special hymns are played in the liturgical texts of this day: troparion and kontakion, praising the humility and saving role of Christ. These hymns remind us that through circumcision, the Lord took flesh, thereby confirming His human nature, and through this prepared the way for the salvation of all people.

Previously, and in some places still, there were folk customs associated with a festive feast, the exchange of congratulations, and public festivities. In peasant communities, this day could become an occasion for gathering, eating together and symbolic purification — through dishes that were prepared for the holiday, and prayers glorifying the event.