Every year, since the IV century, on January 14, the Orthodox Church celebrates an important holiday – God’s circumcision. According to the law of the Old Testament, the ceremony was performed on boys who turned eight days old, and was a symbol of union with the Most High.

Among the Jews, the meaning of the act of circumcision was similar to baptism, which is considered the beginning of a Christian’s full life. Anyone who avoided the rite became an apostate and a non-believer who was not worthy to turn to the One God.

The eight-day-old baby of God was held circumcision ceremony according to all the rules, the bride was named Jesus, that is, the Savior. Since the Son of God was sinless, he could not undergo the procedure. The Fathers of the Church interpret this event as follows: Jesus showed his humility before the Lord and was included in the human race in order to eventually fulfill his mission – to take upon himself all earthly sins for the sake of eternal life.

For believers the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord symbolizes spiritual circumcision, which consists in limiting sinful passions and creating a new connection in love and peace between man and the Heavenly Father through his Son.

The very definition of “circumcision” is some kind of restriction, removal. That is, Christ took away all sins and thus explained that people need spiritual circumcision – to limit themselves from such sinful passions as selfishness, pride, and others.

On this day, church services are held. January 14 is also an old-style New Year’s holiday, when boys sow seeds and sing songs, and girls make fortune-telling.

• There are some signs: you can’t refuse a person help, use obscene words, lend money.