Akathist to the Circumcision of the Lord: the essence and characteristics

Every year in January, a week after Christ, another great Christian holiday is celebrated - Circumcision of the Lord. On January 14, he completes the entire cycle of services dedicated to the joyous event for all believers - the birth of the Savior. On this day, Orthodox people gather in temples, where prayer songs are heard, among which Akathist the Circumcision of the Lord occupies an important place. Where did this holiday come from and what is its meaning?

Old Testament Circumcision

Circumcision is the oldest custom, ascending to the Old Testament. Seven days after the birth, a sacred action was performed on the male babies symbolizing their entry into the Union with God. In this case, the newborn received names that were, as it were, a seal of this event.

The child Jesus, who according to the flesh came from the family of Abraham, was also in due time brought by the Virgin Mary and her helper Joseph to the temple, where he was circumcised. At the same time, He received the name of Jesus, which the Archangel Gabriel commanded to give him , when he told the Virgin Mary the message of Her great destiny.

Establishment of the holiday and its meaning

Since the first centuries of Christianity this great event has been celebrated annually. This holiday, Circumcision of the Lord, inspired the great fathers of the church to create many theological works. In particular, they emphasize that the fulfillment of this custom over the infant Christ has a deep meaning. An example was given of the rigorous fulfillment of the Commandments of God, so that no one doubts that his flesh is truly human, not phantom, contrary to the later statements of the followers of various heretical teachings. In honor of this significant event, a holiday was established and Akathist was written by the Circumcision of the Lord.

What is an Akathist

Speaking about Orthodox church services and hymns, performed in connection with these or other significant events, it is necessary to understand what the Orthodox Akathists are, when and in honor of which they are performed. People who attend divine services know that an akathist is a complex church chant consisting of 25 stanzas. Praise to Christ, to the Most Holy Theotokos and various saints is lifted up in him. During the singing, as well as throughout the entire Orthodox service, the worshipers stand. By the way, the very word "Akathist" in Greek means "not sitting".

Structure of construction of akathist

The structure of this form of chant includes thirteen parts, called kondaks, and twelve, called icicles. Kontakion in translation - "core". It summarizes the meaning of the holiday or describes the exploits of the saint, in whose honor he is performed. Praise be to God at the end of every kontakion - "Hallelujah!" Ikos is a more extensive description of the essence of the feast. It is never executed singly. Ends with his exclamation "Rejoice!" And the refrain of the first kontakion. In Greek, this word means "home".

All singing or reading the akathist consists of alternating pairs of kontakion and icicles. The thirteenth, unpaired kontakion, is a prayer for a saint, after whom a moleben or a feast takes place. It repeats three times. In the structure of building akathists a lot of unusual and deserving attention. Few people know that all currently performed akathists, and there are more than six hundred of them, are written on the model of the most ancient Akathist of the Blessed Virgin, dating from the sixth or seventh centuries. The form and construction of it served as a starting point for subsequent authors.

Features of Akathist to the Circumference of the Lord

Akathist to the Circumcision of the Lord is written on the same, classical for spiritual works of a similar genre, scheme. The beginning of it is the first stanza, called kukulium, which in Greek means "hood". It seems to cover all the further composition. It is followed by twelve pairs of large and small stanzas. Icons are built on the basis of a strict rhythmic base, achieved by alternating stressed and unstressed syllables. This gives the text a musicality and poetic sophistication. All this makes it possible to put the Akathist to the Circumcision of the Lord as a series of outstanding creations of spiritual poetry.

In Russia the first akathists appeared in the second half of the 14th century. The most ancient monument of works of this kind is the Akathist to the Relaxed Name of Jesus, now known as the Akathist to Jesus the Sweetest. In the same period, at the very end of the Byzantine era, Greek hymns appeared, written on the model of Akathist the Most-Holy Theotokos.

The Savior who appeared in the world established the New Testament with people and, in exchange for the circumcision, commanded the Sacrament of Baptism, also symbolizing the Union with God. Thus, the Old Testament circumcision was a type of the future purification from sin in the baptismal font. This is the meaning of the holiday, which according to the church calendar is classified as Great. In honor of him, solemn canons were formed and temples were consecrated. Its religious and philosophical meaning came from the depths of centuries. The celebration of the Circumcision of the Lord coincides with the day of the memory of Saint Basil the Great and is sometimes called Vasily's Day in the people. He was from ancient times one of the most revered holidays of Orthodox Russia.