Circumcision of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ

Life

On the eighth day after His birth the divine Child was brought to the temple and circumcised according to the law existing in Israel since the time of Abraham. On that occasion they gave Him the name Jesus as the Archangel Gabriel had announced to the Most Holy Virgin. The Old Testament circumcision prefigures the New Testament baptism. The circumcision of the Lord shows that He took upon Himself a true human body and not an illusory one, as heretics later taught about Him. The Lord was also circumcised because He wanted to fulfill the entire law which He Himself had given through the prophets and patriarchs. Having fulfilled that legal provision He replaced it with baptism in His Church. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Gal. 6:15), the Apostle proclaims. (In the church service this feast of the Lord has neither a Forfeast nor a Afterfeast).

From the Hymn of Praise

Thou who gavest law to the world and to man,Thou, the Lawgiver, didst Thyself submit to the law,Others by force—Thyself voluntarily—bound,Therefore on the eighth day in body wast thou circumcised.