My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Feast. First Tone
Our human form hast Thou taken on Thyself without change, O
Greatly-compassionate Master, though being God by nature;
fulfilling the Law, Thou willingly receivest circumcision in the flesh,
tht Thou mightest end the shadow and roll away the veil of our sinful
passions. Glory be to Thy Goodness unto us. Glory be to Thy
compassion. Glory, O Logos/Word, to Thine inexpressible
condescension.
Kontakion Hymn of the Feast. Third Tone
Now the Lord of All that is doth undergo circumcision, in His Goodness
cutting off the sins and failings of mortals. He this day doth give salvation
unto the whole world; and the hierarch and bright daystar of the Creator
now rejoiceth in the highest, Basil the wise and divine initiate of Christ.
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CIRCUMCISION was a mark of recognition that one belonged to the people of God. "So as to be a sign that this people is dedicated by it." According to the interpreters, circumcision in itself was not a testament, but A SIGN OF THE TESTAMENT AND AGREEMENT.
After Pentecost, the early Church was very occupied with the subject of whether the converts to the Christian faith should be circumcised. The grounds for it were that since the Old Testament preceded the New Testament, the pagans who come to the Christian Faith should keep the Law of hte Old Testament on the matter of circumcision as well. In order to deal with this topic, the First Ecumenical Synod, called Apostolic, was convoked, and it made the decision about it, as recorded in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.
The problem was created when Jewish Christians "were teaching the brethren: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved" [Acts 15:1]. Indeed there was discord and much discussion and, as it says, some who came from the sect of the Pharisees insisted that the converts be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses [Acts 15:5].
In the Apostolic Synod the Apostle Peter and the Apostles Barnabas and Paul and James the brother of God spoke. The decision of the Synod was THAT THOSE WHO CAME TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH FROM THE GENTILES SHOULD NOT BE CIRCUMCISED, but they should only keep themselves pure, abstaining from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. The decision, which was communicated in a letter to the Christians, said: "FOR IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND TO US, TO LAY UPON YOU NO GREATER BURDEN THAN THESE NECESSARY THINGS, THAT OU ABSTAIN FROM THINGS OFFERED TO IDOLS, FROM BLOOD, FROM THINGS STRANGLED, AND FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY. IF YOU KEEP YOURSELVES FROM THESE, YOU WILL DO WELL" [Acts 15:28-29].
The grounds for this decision were that since circumcision was a figure and prototype of holy Baptism and was preparing the people for the presence of Christ, IT WAS NOT INDISPENSABLE. The stipulation of the Old Testament Law, which were linked with the struggle for the purity of the body and soul from sin, and especially when they had to do with man’s personal freedom, must be kept, but circumcision, which has no connection with cutting off sin and with purity of soul, can be dispensed with, because IT HAS BEEN FULLY REPLACED, COMPLETED AND PERFECTED BY THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT) OF BAPTISM.
The holy Apostle Paul confronting the case of the Jewish Christians, who were requiring the Gentile Christians to be circumcised, he says that they are doing this in order to be praised by the other Jews and not to be persecuted for the Cross of Christ, that is to say, for their faith in the Crucified and Risen Christ [Galatians 6:12-13]. However, the holy Apostle declares that he himself glories in the Cross of Christ, by Whom a New World, a New Creation is being created. "FOR IN CHRIST JESUS NEITHER CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION AVAILS ANYTHING, BUT A NEW CREATION" [Galatians 6:15].
Besides, this circumcision has NO VALUE IN ITSELF, UNLESS IT IS CONNECTED WITH FAITH AND KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. With an amazing ability to interpret, the holy Apostle Paul underlines that circumcision is of no use to anyone if he does not fulfil the Law. Likewise also the uncircumcised person, if he keeps the righteous requirements of the Law, will be regarded as if he had been circumcised [Romans 2:25-26]. The Apostle also refers to those who come from circumcision, but are marked by many passions. He says characteristically: "FOR THERE ARE MANY INSUBORDINATE, BOTH IDLE TALKERS AND DECEIVERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE CIRCUMCISION…" [Titus 1:10].
The holy Apostle, in contrast to those who boast of the circumcision which they have received, boasts of the Cross of Christ, and indeed of the marks of Christ which he bears in his body. "FOR I BEAR IN MY BODY THE MARKS OF THE LORD JESUS" [Galatians 6:17]…
"…The Law and the works of the Law do not contribute to the justification of man. Justification in the whole thinking of the, but OF Apostle Paul and the life of the Church is linked with THE REBIRTH OF MAN, ILLUMINATION OF THE NOUS AND DEIFICATION (THEOSIS). Thus it is NOT a matter of human emotional justification, BUT OF DEIFICATION (THEOSIS). The Apostle uses the term ‘JUSTIFICATION’ with this content. What it means is seen from what he offers next: "I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, ITIS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME" [Galatians 2:20].
The Law and the works of the Law, such as circumcision, DO NOT DEIFY MAN, FOR THIS IS ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH CHRIST. The SALVATION AND DEIFICATION (THEOSIS) OF MAN COME ABOUT THROUGH THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST. Furthermore, all the legislation and works of the Law of the Old Testament were given after the Fall of man, in order to prepare men for the INCARNATION OF THE LOGOS/WORD OF GOD. That is why it is the subsequent will of God and NOT His prior will. DEIFICATION (THEOSIS) IS NOT ACHIEVED THROUGH OUTWARD KEEPING OF THE LAW OF GOD, BUT THROUGH COMMUNION WITH A PERSON, THE PERSON OF THE GODMAN CHRIST. IF IT WERE POSSIBLE FOR THE LAW TO SAVE, THE INCARNATION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NEEDED…
"…According to the teaching of Saint Cyril of Alexandria, the Old Testament circumcision did not abolish death, which New Testament circumcision does. In fact, THE PERSON WHO ENTERS THE CHURCH THROUGH BAPTISM BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE RISEN BODY OF CHRIST. In this way SPIRITUAL DEATH IS ABOLISHED AND THERE IS ASSURANCE OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. For if bodily death remains after Baptism, it is for the sake of cutting out sin.
"…In the teaching of Saint Maximos wew see that circumcision is the name for cutting off the passionate relation of the soul to the body. The soul and body have a relationship and unity. It is not a question of that, however, but of the PASSIONATE RELATIONSHIP, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOUL AND BODY THROUGH THE PASSIONS.
"…THROUGH CHRIST WE GAIN SPIRITUAL BIRTH AND TRUE WORSHIP. Saint John the Evangelist and Theologian emphasizes: "AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, EVEN TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIS NAME: WHO WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD" [John 1:12-13].
Through circumcision men become good Israelites, God’s chosen people. Through Baptism AND THE FAMILY LIFE IN CHRIST MEN BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, THEY ATTAIN SONSHIP BY THE GRACE AND THEY CONQUER DEATH.
Therefore Christ’s CIRCUMCISION SUGGESTS TO US THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART. Through the SACRAMENTAL AND ASCETIC LIFE WE BECOME MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. CHRIST’S CONDESCENSION BECOMES OUR ASCENT. [Source: The Feasts of the Lord by Metropolitan Hierotheos]
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 