What hymns are chanted during the Feast of the Circumcision?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
The Feast of the Circumcision (ⲟⲩⲱⲣⲡ ⲙ̀ⲡⲓⲥⲉⲃⲓ) is one of the Seven Minor Feasts of the Lord in the Coptic Orthodox Church, celebrated on the 6th of Tobe (ⲧⲱⲃⲓ). It commemorates our Lord's obedience to the Law and the shedding of His first drops of blood for our salvation.
Because it is a Feast of the Lord, the hymns are chanted in the Joyful Tune (ⲡⲓϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲑⲣⲉϥⲟⲩⲛⲟϥ). Based on Coptic liturgical tradition and the patterns of the Psalmody, the following hymns are focal points for the day:
1. The Hitenniet (ⲉⲑⲃⲉ ⲛⲓⲉⲩⲭⲏ)
During the Raising of Incense and the Divine Liturgy, a special verse is added to the Hitenniet:
Ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲉⲩⲭⲏ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲥⲉⲃⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ: Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲁⲣⲓϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲙ̀ⲡⲓⲭⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲓ.
(Through the prayers of the Circumcision of our Savior, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins.)
2. The Psalm Response (ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲱϣⲉⲃ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲯⲁⲗⲙⲟⲥ)
The response chanted after the Psalm emphasizes the specific event of the day:
Ⲁⲗⲗⲏⲗⲟⲩⲓⲁ (x2). Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ Ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲡ̀ϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲙ̀ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ: ⲁϥϣⲉⲡ ⲡⲓⲥⲉⲃⲓ ⲉⲣⲟϥ: ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲛⲓⲥⲙⲏ ⲙ̀ⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲓⲕⲟⲛ. Ⲁⲗⲗⲏⲗⲟⲩⲓⲁ.
(Alleluia, Alleluia. Jesus Christ the Son of God, accepted Circumcision unto Himself, according to the prophetic voices. Alleluia.)
3. The Gospel Response (ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲱϣⲉⲃ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ)
Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ Ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲡ̀ϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲙ̀ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ: ⲁϥϣⲉⲡ ⲡⲓⲥⲉⲃⲓ ⲉⲣⲟϥ. ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲫⲱϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲱⲟⲩ: ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲉϥⲓⲱⲧ ⲛ̀ⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲥ: ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲡⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ: ⲓⲥϫⲉⲛ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ.
(Jesus Christ the Son of God accepted Circumcision unto Himself. To Him is the glory, with His Good Father and the Holy Spirit, from now and forever.)
4. General Feast Characteristics
- The Watts/Adam Psali: Special hymns (ⲯⲁⲗⲓ) are chanted during the Midnight Psalmody (ⲧⲉⲛⲑⲉⲟⲩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲉϫⲱⲣϩ) that tell the story of the eighth day and Christ's fulfillment of the covenant of Abraham.
- Liturgy of the Word: The Trisagion (ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲟ ⲑⲉⲟⲥ) is chanted in the Joyful Tune, and if the feast falls on a weekday, the Praxis Response (ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲱϣⲉⲃ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲡⲣⲁⲝⲓⲥ) reflects the theme of the Lord’s humility.
Theological Note
As Source 4 highlights the crossing of the Red Sea in the First Hoos (ⲡⲓϩⲱⲥ ⲙ̀ⲡⲓϩⲟⲩⲓⲧ), the Church reminds us that Christ’s physical circumcision was the precursor to our "circumcision not made with hands"—Baptism (ⲡⲓⲱⲙⲥ). By being circumcised, the Lord (ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ) proved His true humanity and His love for the Law which He Himself authored.