Orthodox holidays took shape in the Old Testament time, then they merged with the New Testament holidays. A certain day of the year is marked by an event in the life of Jesus Christ and his mother the Virgin Mary, as well as the memory of the saints. The Orthodox Church glorifies in its services and honors those to whom this day belongs.
Sacrament
The Church considered these holidays to be useful and necessary from the point of view of piety, therefore they were given a special, solemn character. An indispensable condition at the festival was the fulfillment of the sacrament of the communion of the Holy Mysteries. In accordance with this rite, the life of all Christians was arranged. They protected themselves from various labors during the holidays, behaved deanely: they did not make noise and did not arrange feasts, but consecrated gifts and gave them to the church and the poor.
Circumcision of the Lord
And January 14th, what holiday? Orthodox! Church ministers and faithful parishioners celebrate the Circumcision of the Lord. This fact is described in detail in the Gospel of Luke. This ceremony was performed on the 8th day from the birth of Jesus Christ. In memory of this event, it was decided to set the date of the holiday on January 14th. What church holiday is still celebrated on this day, what great meaning is it?
The ancient Jews believed that the fact of the fulfillment of the rite in itself bears one of the elect of God. It was believed that if a person is uncircumcised, he is unworthy and does not have the right to offer sacrifices and apply prayers and petitions to God.
The first followers and disciples of Christ, Christians and apostles, also circumcised themselves. According to ancient sources, Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple, where the mystery of circumcision took place, January 14. What holiday can be more important than the circumcision of the Lord for all Jews? And why? He proves, contrary to all heresies that distort the earthly appearance of the Savior, that Jesus was a man and therefore was subjected to those rites that were accepted by the Jews.
Named
The rite of circumcision took place on January 14th. Every holiday is celebrated solemnly and magnificently by the Orthodox Church. This significant day reminds all believers that the Divine Infant was circumcised on the eighth day of his Christmas. During this rite, he was called the name that was foretold by the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation of Mary, and also foreshadowed by the angel Joseph the Betrothed to the holy and righteous - Jesus (Savior).
The designation of this name is a sign of the greatest service in the human form of the Son of God. He is called to earth to save people from their sins. The Old Testament circumcision is a type of the Baptism of the New Testament, it is established as a sign of the Covenant with the Lord and cleansing from original sin.
Jesus Christ is a "sinner"
A thought-provoking date is January 14th. What Orthodox holiday calls us to humility? Circumcision of the Lord. This was not a complete and true cleansing, which was established after Jesus took upon himself the sins of the world and martyred shed his blood on Calvary in the name of his salvation. And it points to the first Old Testament warning that we would listen to our ancestors ("My mother conceived in sin and in sin give birth to me").
Jesus is the Son of God and the True God, in everything is similar to people, except for sin, he did not need any purification. But in humility he accepted what was supposed to be for sinful people, and on this occasion he said that he came to fulfill the law, and not to break. Later, St. Demetrius of Rostov writes that the Lord showed greater humility in circumcision than during Christmas. When the Lord was born, he was transformed into a man, and in circumcision, suffering the pain laid for sin, he perceived the image of a sinner.
Lord's covenant
Remember the date of January 14th. What church holiday serves as a reminder of the fidelity of peoples to the Creator? Abram was almost 100 years old when the Lord appeared before him and said: "I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless; and I will make My Covenant between me and you, and I will greatly multiply you." What does it mean to walk before God? It is constantly thinking that he sees and knows all your thoughts and deeds. To be immaculate means by our thoughts and deeds not to offend the Creator, not to forget about the honor that God bestowed by his proximity to people.
It is with this appeal to man that the covenant of the Lord begins. He blesses Abram to numerous offspring and adds to the names of the couple by the letters "a" and "r": Abraham and Sarah. Now loyalty to God is required of him and his posterity. To remind and preserve the covenant, and as a promise to fulfill the mandate, an external action is chosen - circumcision.
Inner sanctification
The date, which is intended to recall the covenant of the Creator, is January 14th. What holiday unites all believers? Circumcision is a rite designed to instill in generations the desire for unification and the desire to be one people for worshiping only the God of Abraham. This action also includes inner sanctification, without which the rite of circumcision does not make sense. The increase in the number of God's chosen people is not yet evidence of cordial affection for the Creator and fidelity to the faith of the forefather Abraham. That is why in the books Leviticus and Acts, uncircumcised hearts and ears were denounced and ridiculed.
Consecration of the head of the family
Therefore, a deep meaning is laid on this day - January 14. What holiday is of great importance in the life of believing Christians? According to the prescribed rules, this rite is performed on the eighth day from birth, when the baby is a little stronger, in addition, the number eight meant perfection and completeness. To postpone action to a later date meant manifestation of negligence and neglect, which was considered an unacceptable phenomenon, where it is a matter of God's command.
This ceremony is necessary only for boys, and only the heads of the family are sanctified to continue the race, since the wife is one with her husband.
The Feast of Circumcision is a reminder that Christians entered the New Testament with God.
Saint Basil
Another holiday is celebrated on January 14th. What holiday? St. Basil. If the Circumcision of the Lord convinces us that Jesus is a true person with flesh like people, then the day we honor the memory of St. Basil, whose life was cut short on this day, tells us about the divine beginning of Jesus. The fact that he was and is one of the three faces of the Holy Trinity. St. Basil was an ascetic and a great ascetic, the main business and struggle of his life was the conviction of the Hypostases of the Holy Trinity, he believed and upheld this Orthodox teaching.
At that time there were many unwise people, they were endowed with power in this world, not everyone was able to avoid delusions, but Saint Basil not only resisted, but also managed to give a helping hand to those who were shaken in faith and helped again to take the righteous and right path. In Russia, Vasily the Great, along with Nikolai the Miracle Worker, is the most revered saint.
Let's go generous
On the calendar - January 14th. What holiday in Russia was celebrated at that time until 1918? This date coincided with the Orthodox holiday of the Circumcision of the Lord. In the secular calendar of Tsarist Russia, this day is the first in the New Year. In our time, the date of January 14 (Circumcision of the Lord) in the modern interpretation is: "Old New Year." He is still loved and celebrated by all Russians.
According to the old style, January 14 - what holiday? Generosity! At this time, on New Year's Eve, it was customary to go home with songs and congratulations and wish the owners health, happiness and all kindness, and for this the owners gave gifts that were then shared among themselves. On this generous Vasiliev evening, the children sang: "Generous, bucket! Give me a dumpling, a breast of porridge, a shmatka of sausage ..."