The first day of the year has something special about it: it is a blank page. Many people feel the need to begin it not only with wishes and celebration, but also with a moment of quiet before God. A prayer for January 1 can be short, said in the morning, at the family table or in church, but you can say it with your whole heart. In this article you will find prayers of thanksgiving for the year that has passed, prayers of blessing for the new year, what we celebrate on January 1 in the Orthodox tradition and a few simple customs that help you enter the year with a peaceful soul.
What we celebrate on January 1
In the Orthodox calendar, January 1 is not only the start of the civil year. On this day the Church celebrates the Circumcision of the Lord according to the flesh, eight days after His Nativity, and Saint Basil the Great, one of the great hierarchs and teachers of the Church. That is why, in Romanian tradition, New Year carols and “La mulți ani” wishes are intertwined with the remembrance of Saint Basil, and those named Vasile or Vasilica celebrate their name day.
In many parishes the Divine Liturgy is celebrated on the morning of this day, and some churches also hold a service of thanksgiving at the turn of the year. If you can get to church, it is the most beautiful way to begin the year.
Prayer of thanksgiving for the year that has passed
Before asking for something for the new year, it is good to give thanks for the one that has ended, with its joys and its hardships.
A prayer in your own words (suggested by us, not a liturgical text):
Lord, I thank You for the year that has passed. For the good days and for the hard ones, for the people You sent to me and for the lessons I have received. Forgive my mistakes this year, those I know and those I do not know. What I have lost, I entrust to You; what I have received, help me to cherish. Amen.
Prayer for the New Year and for a good beginning
A prayer in your own words (suggested by us, not a liturgical text):
Lord Jesus Christ, bless this year that is beginning. Bless my home, my family and all those dear to me. Give us health, peace and wisdom to choose what is good. Be the beginning of every day and the end of every work. Keep us from illness, from troubles and from division, and help us to be kinder to one another. Amen.
You can add the Lord’s Prayer and say this prayer together with your family at the first meal of the year. For the days that follow, morning prayers can also help you keep the habit after the holidays.
Prayer for the family on January 1
Lord, I pray for my family in this new year: for parents, for children, for those far away and for those who have left us. Keep love and patience among us. Where there was quarrel, bring reconciliation; where there was lack, bring increase. Amen.
If you want to pray at greater length for your loved ones, you will find more texts in our guide to prayer for the family.
Saint Basil the Great, patron of the day
Saint Basil the Great was archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia in the 4th century. Tradition honours him for his care for the poor and the sick: he founded a complex for people in need, known in history as the “Basiliad”. One of the Liturgies of the Orthodox Church is also attributed to him, the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, which is celebrated ten times a year, including on January 1.
You can pray simply: “Holy Hierarch Basil, pray to God for us in this new year.” And as a good deed in his spirit, you can begin the year by helping someone in need.
Simple customs for a peaceful start to the year
- Begin the day with prayer, even if you went to bed late. A few minutes matter.
- Light a candle at home or in church, for the living and for the departed.
- Write down three things you are grateful for from last year and three good intentions for the new year.
- Forgive someone with whom you have remained in conflict, at least in thought and in prayer.
- Give a gift or alms, in memory of Saint Basil.
For a bright prayer corner you can choose candles from our shop. And if you wish the new year to bring increase and openness into your life, the Abundance collection and our guide to prayer for abundance can accompany you, alongside prayer and honest work.
Frequently asked questions
What prayer is said on January 1?
There is no single compulsory prayer. You can attend the Divine Liturgy, say the Lord’s Prayer and a prayer in your own words thanking God for the past year and asking a blessing for the new one, like those above.
Which saint is celebrated on January 1?
On January 1 the Orthodox Church celebrates Saint Basil the Great and the Circumcision of the Lord according to the flesh.
Can I pray for the New Year at home if I cannot get to church?
Yes. A prayer said at home with sincerity is received. You can light a candle, read a prayer together with your family and, when you can, go to church in the following days.
How do I place my intentions for the new year in prayer?
Say them simply and honestly, as a request, not as a command: “Lord, help me to…” Then leave room for God’s will and take the concrete steps that depend on you.
