Prayers for the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord: texts and meaning

On January 14, Orthodox believers celebrate one of the oldest Christian holidays, the Circumcision of the Lord, which is associated with an evangelical event and is accompanied by a special liturgical rule. St. Basil the Great is also revered on this day, and festive prayers and troparia dedicated to spiritual renewal and strengthening of faith are read in churches. Details about the meaning of the holiday, which prayers are customary to read and how to properly address God on this day are in the material of Izvestia.

What is the holiday on January 14th?

On January 14, according to the new style, the Orthodox Church celebrates one of the oldest holidays — the Circumcision of the Lord, established in memory of the event described in the Gospel of Luke.

According to the biblical text, on the eighth day after Christmas, the Baby Jesus was brought to the temple to perform the rite established by the Mosaic law and to give a name. On the same day, the Church honors the memory of St. Basil the Great, one of the most revered Christian theologians and authorities of the fourth century.

Church sources emphasize that the Circumcision of the Lord is considered not only as a historical fact, but also as a theological symbol of Christ's voluntary fulfillment of the law. This act is perceived as a confirmation of the Savior's true human nature and a sign of His humility.

The holiday has a stable liturgical tradition, and on January 14, a special service is held in all Orthodox churches.

The date is also associated with the end of the first holidays of the new year. In pre-revolutionary Russia, January 14 coincided with the beginning of the year according to the Julian calendar, which led to the emergence of the folk custom of celebrating the so-called old New Year. However, in the church tradition, the meaning of the date remains strictly religious and is primarily associated with the commemoration of an evangelical event.

How to pray properly on the day of the Lord's Circumcision

Orthodox tradition regards January 14th as a time of special spiritual concentration. There are no mandatory prescriptions in the official recommendations of the Russian Orthodox Church on which prayers should be recited, but believers usually turn to prayers related to the holiday, as well as prayers to St. Basil the Great. The clergy emphasizes that sincerity, attention, and inner concentration remain the main conditions of prayer.

Prayer on this day is often built around requests for inner renewal. In theological texts, the event of circumcision is seen as an image of "circumcision of the heart" — the liberation of a person from sinful tendencies and spiritual renewal. Therefore, many believers turn to prayers for help in strengthening the will, overcoming bad habits, and realizing their own actions.

It is also believed that prayers to St. Basil the Great help in matters related to life choices, reason, and sanity, as the saint became famous as a scholar, mentor, and author of many liturgical texts.

On this day, you can read both church-wide canonical prayers and personal addresses, uttered in your own words.

On January 14, prayer services are held in a number of churches with the reading of festive troparia and kontakion. Believers can prepare for prayer by reading the Gospel of Luke (2:21) at home, which describes the event underlying the holiday. However, there are no strict requirements for the prayer rule, and each person can choose the form of conversion to God, depending on their circumstances and spiritual needs.

Popular Prayer texts for January 14th

The texts that are most often read on January 14 have been preserved in traditional Orthodox prayer books. Among them are the troparion and kontakion of the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord, prayers to St. Basil the Great and prayers for spiritual renewal.

The troparion of the feast recalls the theological significance of the event and emphasizes that Christ voluntarily fulfilled the law. The text talks about taking the name Jesus, a name that means "Savior" and reveals the meaning of His earthly ministry. The kontakion of the feast is also dedicated to the fulfillment of the Law and the divine mission of Christ.

Prayers to St. Basil the Great include appeals for help in life's difficulties, strengthening faith, preserving peace in the family, and giving prudence. The saint is revered as a wise mentor and an active defender of the Christian tradition, which is why believers often turn to him with requests for support in studies, work and making responsible decisions.

Among the texts that are particularly popular is a prayer for guidance and strengthening of the spirit. It is aimed at enabling a person to overcome inner doubts, get rid of bad habits and gain the ability to take a sober look at their actions. Many believers read it on January 14 as part of a personal spiritual effort at the beginning of the year.

In addition to these texts, on the day of the holiday, you can read thanksgiving and penitential prayers, as well as address God in your own words. The clergy emphasize that the meaning of prayer is not in the exact observance of formulas, but in the sincere appeal of a person to sacred history and the desire for spiritual renewal.