Friday, 1 January 2027

Circumcision of Our Lord; St Basil the Great

Friday of the 31st week after Pentecost

264 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Red cross circle (great feast typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

★ The Circumcision of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

379

On the eighth day after His Nativity, according to the Divine Law given through Moses, our Lord Jesus Christ was brought to the temple in Jerusalem to be circumcised. This feast commemorates this holy event, which took place when the Divine Infant received His holy name Jesus, as the Archangel Gabriel had declared to the Virgin Mary at the time of the Annunciation. The circumcision of Jesus is traditionally understood as the first shedding of His precious blood, marking the beginning of the redemptive process through which mankind would be saved. The event also demonstrated that Christ was fully human and submitted to the Law, even though He is the Lord and Author of the Law. The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is celebrated on this day, as the Church combines the commemoration of this feast with the memory of Saint Basil the Great, whose repose occurred on this same day in the year 379.

★ Our Father among the Saints Basil the Great

379

In its services, the Church calls St Basil a “bee of the Church of Christ”: bringing the honey of divinely-inspired wisdom to the faithful, stinging the uprisings of heresy. He was born in Cappadocia to a wealthy and prominent family. Their worldly wealth, however, is as nothing compared to the wealth of Saints that they have given to the Church: his parents St Basil the Elder and St Emmelia; his sister St Macrina (July 19), the spiritual head of the family; and his brothers St Gregory of Nyssa (January 10), and St Peter, future bishop of Sebaste (January 9). Inspired and tutored by his father, a renowned professor of rhetoric, the brilliant Basil set out to master the secular learning and arts of his day, traveling to Athens, where he studied alongside his life-long friend St Gregory of Nazianzus. When he returned from his studies in 356, he found that his mother and his sister Macrina had turned the family home into a convent, and that his brothers had also taken up the monastic life nearby. Puffed up by his secular accomplishments, he at first resisted his sister’s pleas to take up a life devoted to God, but at last, through her prayers and admonition, entered upon the ascetical life. After traveling among the monks of Egypt, Palestine and Syria, he settled in Cappadocia as a hermit, living in utter poverty and writing his ascetical homilies. A monastic community steadily gathered around him, and for its good order St Basil wrote his Rule, which is regarded as the charter of monasticism. (St Benedict in the West was familiar with this Rule, and his own is modeled on it.) In about 370 he was consecrated Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Even as bishop, he continued to live without any possessions save a worn garment to cover himself. At this time the Arian heresy was rending the Church, and it became St Basil’s lot to defend Orthodoxy in Sermons and writings, a task which he fulfilled with such erudition and wisdom that he is called “Basil the Great.” He reposed in peace in 379, at the age of forty-nine.

Holy Martyr Basil of Ancyra

Saint Basil of Ancyra suffered persecution and martyrdom for his unwavering faith in Christ during the age of anti-Christian emperors. He is commemorated among the holy martyrs of the early Church who confessed Christ before their persecutors and sealed their faith with their blood. Though specific details of his passion are sparse in the surviving historical records, Saint Basil's name is honoured in the Orthodox tradition as one of those who remained steadfast in witness even unto death.

Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia

379

Saint Basil the Great was born in 329 in Caesarea of Cappadocia to a wealthy Christian family. His father was named Basil the Elder, and his mother was Saint Emmelia. He was the younger brother of Saint Gregory of Nyssa and Saint Macrina the Younger, both of whom are also venerated as saints. Basil received an excellent education in rhetoric and philosophy, studying in Caesarea, Constantinople, and Athens, where he befriended the future Saint Gregory the Theologian. After completing his studies, Basil taught rhetoric for a time but eventually dedicated himself to monastic life, founding a monastery on the family estate. He later became priest and then Archbishop of Caesarea, a position in which he became renowned for his theological writings, his defence of Orthodox doctrine against Arianism, and his pastoral care for the poor and suffering. Saint Basil composed the most commonly used Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Church, known as the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. He was also instrumental in establishing the veneration of the Holy Spirit in the Church, which was formally affirmed at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. Saint Basil reposed in the Lord on 1 January in the year 379, at the age of forty-nine. He is venerated as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, along with Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostom, whose joint feast is celebrated on 30 January.

Saint Gregory of Nazianzus the Elder

Saint Gregory the Elder was Bishop of Nazianzus, serving in that office for forty-five years from 328 or 329 until his repose. He and his wife Nonna were wealthy landowners who converted to the faith, with Nonna bringing her husband to baptism. Renowned as a steadfast defender of his flock against Arianism and persecution, Gregory ordained his son Gregory the Theologian (later known as the great Three Hierarchs) to assist him in his later years. Together with Nonna, they were blessed with three saintly children, all of whom became saints of the Church. Saint Gregory reposed in peace in 374 at the age of one hundred years.

Saint Telemachus the Monk

Saint Telemachus was a monastic martyr who came from the East to Rome, moved by zeal for Christ and abhorrence of the pagan spectacles that continued even after Christianity had become the official religion of the Empire. When gladiatorial games were being exhibited in the Roman amphitheatre, Telemachus went himself into the arena and endeavoured to stop the men who were wielding weapons against one another. The spectators, inspired by demonic fury, became indignant and stoned the peacemaker to death around the year 391 or 404. His martyrdom profoundly moved the Christian Emperor Honorius, who was inspired to issue the historic edict that abolished all gladiatorial combats throughout the Roman Empire.

Venerable Peter of Atroa

Venerable Peter of Atroa, also known as Peter the Standard-Bearer, lived in the ninth century and was a stalwart defender of the holy icons during the period of iconoclasm. He is remembered for his steadfast opposition to the heresy that sought to eliminate sacred images from the Church, standing firm in the Orthodox faith at great personal cost. Peter's courageous witness and unwavering commitment to the tradition of venerating holy icons earned him commemoration as a venerable ascetic of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

St Gregory, Bishop of Nazianzus, father of St Gregory the Theologian

374

He converted to Christianity from paganism as an adult through the influence of his pious wife St Nonna (Aug. 5). He was made Bishop of Nazianzus in Cappadocia in 329, and served faithfully for forty-five years, defending his flock against the inroads of Arianism and the persecutions of Julian the Apostate. Late in life, he ordained his son Gregory, later known as St Gregory the Theologian (Jan. 25) to assist him. He reposed in peace, aged almost 100.

St Emilia, mother of Sts Macrina, Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, Peter of Sebaste, and Theosevia

375

Her main commemoration is on May 8.

Daily readings

Vespers

OT — Composite 1 - Genesis 17.1-2, 4, 5-7, 8, 9-10, 11-12, 14

The Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am your God. Be well pleasing before me and be blameless. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you greatly; and you will be the father of a multitude of nations. And your name will not be Abram, but your name will be Abraham, because I have established you as father of many nations. And I will increase you very greatly, and I will establish you for nations, and kings will come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and between your seed after you for their generations as an eternal covenant, and I will be their God.’ And Abraham fell on his face and worshipped the Lord. And God said to Abraham, ‘You are to keep my covenant, you and your seed after you to their generations. And this is the covenant which you are to keep between me and between your seed after you to their generations. Every male among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the foreskin of your flesh, and it shall be for a sign of the covenant between me and you. And every male child among you shall be circumcised at eight days for your generations. And an uncircumcised male that is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be wiped out from its race; because it has rejected my covenant.’

Vespers

Proverbs — Proverbs 8.22-30

²²The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. ²²Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. ²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. ²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was. ²⁴When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. ²⁴When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. ²⁵Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: ²⁵Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth; ²⁶While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. ²⁶While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world. ²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, ²⁷When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: ²⁸When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong, ²⁸When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: ²⁹When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: ²⁹When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth; ³⁰Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; ³⁰Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him,

Vespers

Proverbs — Proverbs 10.31-11.12

³¹The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. ³¹The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off. ³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. ³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked speaketh perverseness.

¹A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. ¹A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight. ²When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. ²When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom. ³The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them. ³The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. ⁴Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death. ⁴Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. ⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. ⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. ⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity. ⁷When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth. ⁷When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. ⁸The righteous is delivered out of trouble; And the wicked cometh in his stead. ⁸The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. ⁹With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered. ⁹An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. ¹⁰When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

¹⁰When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. ¹¹By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. ¹¹By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. ¹²He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

¹²He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Matins Gospel

John — John 10.9-16

⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ⁹I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. ¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. ¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. ¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. ¹²He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: ¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. ¹³he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, ¹⁵even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. ¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.

Epistle

— Circumcision weekly cycle

Colossians — Colossians 2.8-12

⁸Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ: ⁸Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. ⁹for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, ⁹For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. ¹⁰and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power: ¹⁰And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: ¹¹In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: ¹¹in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; ¹²having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹²Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Epistle

— St Basil

Hebrews — Hebrews 7.26-8.2

²⁶For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ²⁶For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ²⁷who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself. ²⁷Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. ²⁸For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore. ²⁸For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

¹Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

¹Now in the things which we are saying the chief point is this: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, ²a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. ²A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Gospel

— Circumcision weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 2.20-21, 40-52

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them. ²¹And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²¹And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. ⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. ⁴¹Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

⁴¹And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. ⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. ⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; ⁴³And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. ⁴³and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; ⁴⁴but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: ⁴⁴But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. ⁴⁵and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. ⁴⁵And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. ⁴⁶And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. ⁴⁶And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: ⁴⁷And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. ⁴⁷and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. ⁴⁸And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. ⁴⁹And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father’s house? ⁴⁹And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? ⁵⁰And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. ⁵⁰And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. ⁵¹And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. ⁵¹And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

⁵²And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. ⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Gospel

— St Basil

Luke — Luke 6.17-23

¹⁷and he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judæa and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

¹⁷And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed. ¹⁸And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. ¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. ¹⁹And all the multitude sought to touch him; for power came forth from him, and healed them all.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²³Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. ²³Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.