Trinity: three most important signs, three main symbols and three holiest things. Trinity - traditions, rituals, signs Number of the Trinity
Trinity is one of the 12 main Orthodox holidays. It is celebrated annually on Sunday, the 50th day after Easter. In 2020, Trinity Sunday falls on June 7th. The official church name of the holiday is Holy Trinity Day. Pentecost. It was established in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Virgin Mary on the 50th day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The holiday symbolizes the unity of the Holy Spirit, God the Father and God the Son.
history of the holiday
The holiday is dedicated to the events that occurred on the 50th day after Easter - the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Virgin Mary. At this time, the disciples of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God were in the Zion Upper Room in Jerusalem. At three o'clock in the afternoon they heard a loud noise, and the blessed fire descended on them. After this, the apostles received the gift of speaking in different languages in order to preach the teachings of Christ to the nations of the world. This event is described in the Acts of the Holy Apostles.
Traditions and rituals of the holiday
Trinity has well-established church and folk traditions of celebration.
In the Orthodox Church it is celebrated for three days. The clergy dresses in green clothes, which symbolizes eternal life and life-giving. Temples are decorated with tree branches and the floor is covered with fresh grass.
On the eve of Saturday an all-night vigil is served. On the day of the holiday, the Gospel of John is read, and the festive liturgy is performed. The third day of Trinity is called the day of the Holy Spirit. On this day, it is customary for churches to bless water. People take the grass and branches that were used to decorate the temples and bring them home. They are dried and stored all year - they protect the house from diseases and troubles.
On holidays, people attend services in churches. On the eve of Trinity, they remember the dead: they go to cemeteries and leave treats for the spirits.
According to folk traditions, on the eve of the celebration, housewives carry out general cleaning of houses and courtyards. They prepare holiday treats, bake bread or loaf, which symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Houses and icons are decorated with tree branches and herbs. On the day of the Holy Trinity after the service, it is customary to visit or invite close relatives and friends and give gifts. After the festive dinner, folk festivities are held. People go to nature, where they perform ritual dances, sing songs, and light fires.
Traditional healers collect herbs on this day. They believe that nature gives them special miraculous properties.
Fortune telling for Trinity
On the day of the Holy Trinity, young girls make fortunes about future events, marriage, love. When performing rituals, they use plants and water.
Fortune telling on a wreath. On the evening of the holiday, you need to make a wreath of birch branches and four types of grass: thyme, Ivan-da-Marya, burdock and bear's ear and leave it overnight in the yard. If it withers the next morning, then you can expect minor difficulties in the near future. A fresh wreath heralds a successful year.
Fortune telling by the river. The girl must weave a wreath, insert a lit candle into it and launch it down the river. If he drowns near the shore, then the relationship with the guy will be short and unsuccessful. If a wreath floats far down the river with a lit candle, then a fateful meeting awaits its owner. A wreath washed ashore marks this year's wedding.
Fortune telling for St. John's wort. In order to find out whether a young man has feelings for a girl, she must take a bunch of St. John's wort and twist it with such force that the juice flows out of it. If the juice is clear, then the love is unrequited, and if it is red, then the feelings are strong and mutual.
What can you eat on Trinity Sunday?
There is no fasting on this day, so you are allowed to eat any dishes and products.
How to decorate a house for Trinity
People use young branches of trees, meadow grasses and flowers to decorate their houses. The main symbol is the birch tree. Young green foliage symbolizes the cycle of life and youth. The white color of the branches represents the pure thoughts of believers. Branches of oak, linden, maple and rowan are designed to protect the house from evil spirits.
Among meadow herbs, people use cornflowers, lovage, thyme, fern, mint, lemon balm, and burdock. They weave wreaths from them and hang them on the door, make bouquets that they place on the table or near the icons. Unmarried girls put herbs under their pillow.
What not to do on Trinity
Trinity is a great Orthodox holiday. On this day you should not engage in heavy physical labor or household chores. You should devote time to prayers and loved ones. You can’t quarrel and get angry with others. According to popular beliefs, on this day it is forbidden to swim in natural reservoirs. People believe that on Trinity, evil spirits take the form of mystical characters (mermaids, merman) and are capable of causing harm.
Signs and beliefs for Trinity
- A rainy day means a good harvest of mushrooms in the fall.
- You should not have a wedding on this holiday, otherwise the marriage will be unsuccessful.
- Arranging matchmaking on Trinity is a good omen. The future marriage will be strong and happy.
- Pentecost is a good time to search for treasures. On this day, the earth is able to generously bestow wealth on a person.
- It is considered a good sign to shed tears during the service. Mourning the grass symbolizes a bountiful harvest and wealth.
Congratulations
Happy Trinity Day, I congratulate you,
I wish you prosperity, love, and earthly blessings.
On a sublime holiday, a holy holiday
Feel great joy in your soul!
Peace in the family, understanding, care,
New victories, achievements in work.
Blessings and a beautiful life,
Celebrate the Trinity holiday with your family!
I want to congratulate you on the Holy Trinity,
Look at the sky with your soul today.
Let the holiday fill your heart with warmth,
And let the sun shine inside you.
I also wish you good health,
And find peace of soul in fragrant herbs.
Let an angel always hover at your head,
And may he protect all your paths.
What date is Trinity in 2021, 2022, 2023
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 June Sun | 12 June Sun | 4 June Sun |
PENTECOST - FIFTY DAYS FROM EASTER TO TRINITY.
In the period from Easter to Trinity, the most important events of the Sacred history of the New Testament are remembered, completing the great work of our salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ: 1) Holy Resurrection of Christ - Easter , the special celebration of which takes place on Bright Easter Week, but generally extends to all days before the Ascension of the Lord, which occurred on the 40th day after the Resurrection; 2) the most Ascension and 3) the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles that soon followed - Trinity Day (Pentecost) , which marked the beginning of the earthly existence of the Church of Christ and filled with new meaning the Old Testament holiday of Pentecost, established in memory of the gift of the Sinai legislation to Old Israel on the 50th day after the Passover of the Exodus.
The memories of these most important events are complemented by special attention to the theme of the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and the spiritual perfection of Christians in Christ, revealed in the Gospel of John, read during this period at the Liturgies.
Divine services during this period are performed according to the Colored Triodion, or in Greek Pentekostarion πεντηκοσταριον, which literally means “Pentecost”.
Bright Week is the first seven days of the celebration of Holy Easter - from Easter proper to the Week of St. Thomas. During Bright Week, fasting on Wednesday and Friday and prostrations to the ground are abolished. Morning and evening prayers are replaced by the singing of the Easter hours. Every day after the Liturgy, a festive procession of the cross takes place, and all bells are rung every day throughout the week. On Friday, when the celebration of the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” takes place, after the liturgy there is, according to custom, a small consecration of water. To commemorate Christ's opening of the doors of heaven, the Royal Doors remain open throughout the week.
On Bright Saturday after the Liturgy, a special Easter bread is distributed - Artos, consecrated on the first day of Holy Pascha and which has been in the church all this time.
The eight days of celebrating Christ's Resurrection are like one day belonging to eternity, where “time will be no more” (Rev. 10:6). Starting from the day of Easter until it is celebrated (on the fortieth day), believers greet each other with the Easter greeting “Christ is Risen!”, “Truly He is Risen!”.
The order of celebrating Holy Easter throughout the week, as well as the special symbolic meaning that was given to the second appearance of the risen Christ to the disciples on the eighth day after the Resurrection, gave rise to an unusual calculation for the rest of the liturgical cycle of Sundays and the corresponding Weeks: from Easter to Pentecost, Sunday is considered the first the day of the week following it, i.e. Sunday of Holy Easter is considered the first day of Bright Week, Sunday of Assurance of St. Thomas is considered the second after Easter and begins the second week after Easter, etc. The entire time from Easter to All Saints Sunday is filled with a continuous series of successive holidays, their after-feasts and sacrifices, so that only the day of Trinity Funeral Saturday remains non-holiday.
From Holy Easter Sunday to Trinity Funeral Saturday, hymns to the Holy Spirit are excluded from the service. Heavenly King. Instead of the latter, the troparion is sung during the Easter period Christ is risen from the dead: on the Ascension with the post-celebration - the troparion of the holiday, on Trinity Funeral Saturday - the funeral troparion The depth of wisdom.
All 50 days from Easter to Pentecost, in commemoration of the joy of the Risen Savior, kneeling (bows to the ground) is canceled. It is restored through the special kneeling prayers of Vespers on the day of Pentecost, asking the Trinity God for special providence for the Church in feeding living and departed Christians with the grace of the Holy Spirit.
In the successions of the Weeks, that is, the Sunday days of the period of Pentecost, there are special memories of such events in which the Divinity of the Lord, His power and glory were revealed, and which further confirm in us faith in the unshakable truth of His glorious resurrection from the dead.
Anti-Easter. 2nd Sunday of Easter, Apostle Thomas.
Thomas's assurance. Frescoes of the Tabor Monastery
The second Sunday after Easter occurs on the 8th day from St. Sunday. Easter. In the service of this day, the Resurrection of Christ is remembered in connection with the appearance of the Savior to the disciples on the eighth day after His Resurrection, during which the assurance of the Apostle Thomas, who did not believe the words of the Apostles about the Resurrection, took place. The confirmation of the Resurrection on the 8th day (aka the 1st day of the new week) was perceived by the first Christians as an indication of the Providence of God for the weekly remembrance of the Resurrection of Christ: why is this day also perceived as a Renewal (i.e., a new celebration) of the Resurrection of Christ, or Antipascha (“second Pascha”), opening a series of similar Updates, or Antipascha, on Sundays throughout the year. The service of this day is performed according to the rite of the twelfth holiday, with an after-feast throughout the next week and the celebration of the holiday on Saturday. (After-feast - the days after the holiday, in which prayers and hymns dedicated to this holiday are used during the divine service, i.e. throughout the next week we sing the troparion and kontakion of the Week of Antipascha)
Troparion of the Week of Antipascha:
The sealed tomb, the life from the tomb shone forth from the tomb, O Christ God, and to the closed door, as a disciple, you appeared, the Resurrection of all, renewing the right spirit to us, according to the greatness of Your mercy.
Kontakion of the Week of Antipascha:
With your curious, life-giving right hand, Thomas tested Thomas’s ribs, O Christ of God, with the closed door, as you entered, with the rest the apostles cried out to you: Thou art my Lord and my God.
The 2nd week after the great holiday of Easter is called Antipascha, which literally means “the second Sunday after the Holy Resurrection of Christ.” Another name for this day, which was very common among the people in Rus', is “Fomino’s Resurrection,” since the Holy Orthodox Church remembers the Apostle Thomas and his fervent confession of the Lord on it.
The summary of the Gospel narrative (see John 20: 24–29), read on Antipascha, is as follows: The Lord, after His Resurrection, appeared to His disciples, as the Holy Scripture says, “by a closed door.” Having assured them that He has truly risen, the Lord gives them the blessing to go into the world to preach. However, among the disciples who saw Jesus Christ, there was no Apostle Thomas, on whom the crucifixion of the Lord made such a heavy impression that it plunged him into despondency. And perhaps he decided that the death of the Lord is the end, the end of all hopes, all aspirations, and each of the disciples should live a separate life, returning to their usual activities. Therefore, he was not present during the first appearance of the Lord.
Having heard from the apostles that they saw Jesus Christ, Thomas puts forward, on the one hand, very daring demands, and, on the other, testifying to the apostle’s lack of faith: “unless I see the wounds of the nails in His hands, and put my finger into the wounds.” from the nails, and I will not put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” But the seed of hope was planted in Thomas's soul, because the next Sunday he was already with the rest of the apostles.
And the Lord did not want to leave Thomas in his unbelief. He again came “with the door closed” and humbly offered to fulfill the demands of the apostle: “Come, I give you permission. Put your finger into My wounds and your hand into My pierced side, and do not be an unbeliever, but a believer.”
The Gospel does not say whether the Apostle Thomas did what he wanted or not, but his fervent prayer exclamation is given: “My Lord and my God!” For about two thousand years, these words of the Apostle Thomas have been repeated by thousands of those people who found the Lord, who suddenly came out of darkness into the light and clearly realized that Jesus Christ is God and Lord, whose “eyes were opened” and whose “ears were opened.”
Every year on the day of Antipascha, the Holy Orthodox Church says that the Lord does not leave anyone who doubts, and those who sincerely desire to find the truth find it.
And to those who deceitfully say: “Show us the Lord now,” He answers: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” That the power of faith is great; she is sharper than bodily vision and more sensitive than bodily hearing, She is able to move mountains.
Radonitsa is a day of special all-church remembrance of the dead. Derived from the word “joy,” reminding us of the great joy of Christ’s liberation of souls imprisoned in hell.
Radonitsa is celebrated on the 9th day after Easter, on Tuesday of St. Thomas Week (next after Bright Week), to share the joy of Easter with relatives and friends who died in the hope of resurrection and eternal life.
This commemoration reflects the belief that the deceased, even after death, do not cease to be members of the Church of That God, Who “is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (Matthew 22:32).
The custom of commemorating the dead on these days is based on the fact that on St. Thomas Week the descent of the Lord Jesus Christ into hell is remembered, and from Monday of St. Thomas Week, the Charter allows for the beginning of the celebration of forty-day prayers for the dead.
On Easter and throughout Bright Week, for the sake of the great joy of the Resurrection of Christ, all funeral services and memorial services are canceled in churches. The custom of visiting cemeteries on Easter day itself is contrary to the charter of the Church. If a person dies on Easter, then he is buried according to a special Easter rite. Easter is a time of special and exceptional joy, a celebration of victory over death and over all sorrow and sorrow. Thus, you can remember your departed loved ones and share with them the spiritual celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord after the end of Bright Week on Radonitsa. This holiday has been celebrated since the third century.
On Radonitsa, believers go to church in the morning to participate in the Liturgy. The service performed on this day differs from the worship of ordinary parental Saturdays - the basis of church prayer for Radonitsa is joyful Easter chants: Resurrection day, let us enlighten people...; Come, let’s drink some new beer...; The angel cried out with grace...; Shine, shine, new Jerusalem...
It is on Radonitsa (and not on Easter Day) that the graves of close relatives are visited. People come to cemeteries to symbolically share Christ with their deceased relatives. It is necessary to put the graves in order in advance or later, but not on the day of Christ’s Resurrection.
3rd Sunday of Easter, Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women.
Mary Magdalene at the feet of the Risen Christ. Frescoes of the Tabor Monastery.
In the service of this day, the Resurrection of Christ is remembered in connection with the saints who served at the burial of the Savior: Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and the Myrrh-Bearing Women, who turned out to be the first witnesses of His Resurrection. The hymns of this day include the hymns of Holy Easter (at the service the Paschal Canon and Stichera of Easter are sung), Sunday hymns of the 2nd tone and the own hymns of the Feast of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women (some of them repeat the hymns of the Burial of the Savior), which form the basis of the after-feast throughout the next week . During the liturgy, the Gospel is read: Mark 15:40-41; 16:1-8
Sunday Troparion 2nd Tone
When you descended to death, Immortal Belly, then hell killed you with the brilliance of the Divine; When you raised those who had died from the grave, all the Powers of Heaven cried out: Life-Giver, Christ our God, glory to Thee.
Troparions of the Week of the Myrrh-Bearing Women:
Blessed Joseph, from the Tree I fell Your most pure Body, wrapped in a clean shroud, and with fragrant fragrances, in a new tomb, closed and laid, but on the third day You rose again, Lord, give to the world I have mercy.
An angel appeared at the tomb of the myrrh-bearing women, crying out: peace is fitting for the dead, but Christ is a stranger to corruption. But cry: the Lord is risen, grant great mercy to the world.
Kontakion of the Week of Myrrh-Bearing Women
You commanded the myrrh-bearers to rejoice, you quenched the tears of your foremother Eve with your resurrection, O Christ God, and you commanded your apostles to preach: The Savior is risen from the grave.
On the third Sunday after Easter, the Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of the myrrh-bearing women. Myrrh-bearer is literally “who bears the myrrh.” In Jewish society, when burying the dead, it was customary to use various incense as a sign of respect and veneration. Our Lord Jesus Christ was buried appropriately by Saints Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, but nevertheless hastily, since the Sabbath day was approaching, on which Jewish law prescribes strict rest. The women who served the Lord throughout His Divine sermon, those who were almost the only ones who did not leave Christ on Calvary, could not leave everything as it was. They bought aromas and early in the morning went to the tomb, not thinking about the guards guarding the doors of the tomb, nor about the malice of the Jews, worried only by one thought - who would roll away the stone covering the tomb, carved into the rock. And it was they who were granted by the Lord to be the first to know about His Resurrection, it was they who had the appearance of the Angels, who announced that they were in vain looking for “the Living One with the Dead”, it was them who were met by the Lord Himself when they ran to the apostles and said: “Don’t be afraid, go Tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me” (Matthew 28:9-10). The Lord thereby makes them “apostles for apostles.”
Why is there such mercy of God towards ordinary women? According to the thought of St. Gregory the Theologian, “Eve, who fell first, should have been the first to greet Christ.” Just as the terrible news of the Fall entered the world through a woman, so the good news of Victory over sins and death had to be proclaimed by her. Just as Eve’s disobedience became the reason that sin became part of the world, the obedience and humble service of the “new Eves” to the Lord, who came to sacrifice for His people, served to drive out sin. The Holy Orthodox Church solemnly celebrates the memory of the myrrh-bearing women, honoring in their person their unfeigned love for the Lord, which did not allow Him to leave Him during terrible suffering, sincere service to Him in every place, persistent following of Him, deep faith in Him.
The Gospel narrative has not brought to us the names of all the myrrh-bearing women; we know only a few: Mary Magdalene, Salome - the mother of the apostle James and John of Zebedee, Joanna - the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward. Church tradition also points to Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, who was resurrected by the Lord, Mary of Cleopas and Susanna. But there were others whose names we do not know, but they are known to the Lord, and they shine in the host of saints as those who were the first to hear and then proclaim to others the joyful news that shook the world “from the highest to the lowest”: “Christ is risen !
4th week of Easter, about the paralytic
Healing of the paralytic at the Sheep's font. Frescoes of the Tabor monastery.
In the service of this day, the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ is combined with the remembrance of the miraculous healing by Jesus Christ of the paralytic at the Sheep's Font, which, according to the Gospel narrative (John 5: 1-15), occurred during the period of Pentecost, that is, 50 post-Easter days. The hymns of this day include the hymns of Holy Pascha, the Sunday hymns of the 3rd tone and the own hymns about the healing of the paralytic, which form the basis of the afterfeast until the coming Tuesday.
Troparion for Sunday, 3rd tone
Let the heavenly ones rejoice, let the earthly ones rejoice; for the Lord created a power with His arm, trampling down death upon death, He became the firstborn of the dead; Deliver us from the belly of hell, and bestow great mercy on the world.
Kontakion of the Week of the Paralytic
My soul, Lord, in all kinds of sins, and weakened by placeless deeds, raise up by Your Divine intercession, just as You raised up the weakened one of old, let me call You, let us be saved: Again Dear one, glory to Christ, Thy power.
After the week of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women, in church services words about water increasingly begin to be heard, but not simple water, but that which “flows into eternal life” (John 4:14). The Holy Orthodox Church is gradually leading believers to the Day of Holy Pentecost.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, talking with his disciples after His glorious Resurrection, gave them a promise: “And I will send the promise of my Father upon you” (Luke 24:49), meaning by promise the grace of the Holy Spirit. He commanded the apostles to remain in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from above.
In the Gospel narrative, the Lord compares the grace of the Holy Spirit precisely with the action of water, revitalizing barren deserts and quenching fierce thirst. Just as water is necessary for human life, so the grace of the Holy Spirit is necessary for the true life of the human soul.
That is why the 4th week after Easter in the Orthodox Church is called “the week of the paralytic,” and it commemorates the healing of a paralytic man at the Sheep Font in Jerusalem. Many sick people were there, waiting for the moment when the Angel of the Lord would descend into the water, and it would acquire healing properties, but only for a short time: only the one who first entered the water would receive healing. And this is by no means accidental: the people of Israel, as chosen by God, were given His mercies, but only in limited quantities, like a small stream. Our Lord Jesus Christ created a huge river from this stream, the healing waters of which began to wash the souls of all people who came to Him. He saw at this font a man who had been ill for 38 years, but who had not lost hope, despite the fact that he could not move fast enough and did not have a person to help him, so for many years in a row another person had been ahead of him. And his hope, hope in God’s help and faith did not remain fruitless; it was the Lord who approached him and healed him with one word. There was no longer any need for the paralytic to be washed by material water. He who created water, the Source of living water, washed away his sins with His Word. And the fact that it is sins that are the cause of any illness was confirmed by the Lord, saying to the paralytic: “Sin no more, lest anything worse happen to you” (John 5:14).
Of course, the event remembered on the 4th Sunday after Easter is much more complex; it contains many questions and answers, the comprehension of which may take considerable time. Like, for example, the question of our unmercifulness, because the cruel truth sounds in the words of the paralytic: “I have no man to put me in the font” (John 5:7). That is, no one helped him during all the time that he spent in the vestibule of the Sheep Pool, and in Hebrew it was called “Bethesda,” translated as “house of mercy.” Or the question of the need for perseverance in faith and maintaining hope in God’s mercy in any circumstances, because it is unknown when the Lord will come and ask: “Do you want to be healthy?” But everyone can read the full text for themselves by opening the Gospel of John, chapter 5. And the Holy Orthodox Church reminds us of this mercy of God at every blessing of water, when part of the Gospel narrative of the 4th week of Easter is read.
Midnight of Pentecost
Twelve-year-old Christ in the temple. Frescoes of the Tabor Monastery.
In the service of this day, the anticipation of the feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, which finally confirmed the Divinity of Jesus Christ, is thematically combined with the recollection of various Gospel events, first of all, the Savior’s conversation about Living Water (John 4 - reading at the Liturgy on Sunday about the Samaritan) and the conversation about the right judgment (John 7 - reading at the Liturgy of the Midsummer), affirming the messianship (anointing) of the Son of God. On this day, according to tradition, a small blessing of water is performed. The post-feast of Midnight continues until celebrated on Wednesday of the next week. The icon “Pre-Sex” often depicts the 12-year-old boy Jesus teaching the elders. He rises above them on a majestic throne. This is how the icon painter figuratively shows that the New Testament is replacing the Old.
Troparion of Midnight
Kontakion of Midsummer
On this lawful holiday, the Creator and Master of all, you said to those who are to come, O Christ of God: come and draw the water of immortality. Moreover, we bow down to You and faithfully cry out: Grant us Your bounties, for You are the Source of our life.
The Orthodox Church heralds great joy on this day for believers: exactly half the way has been passed until the great feast of Pentecost (that is, the holiday celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter). In the sticheron of the Midsummer it is sung: ““The Midsummer of the days has come, from the saving uprising that begins, which is printed with the Divine Pentecost, and it shines with the lordship of both, and unites both, and presents the coming glory, prefers the Master’s Ascension.”
The Day of Pentecost is also called the Day of the Holy Trinity, since on this day the Holy Trinity appeared to man in Its fullness, or the Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, because it was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. The Feast of Midnight is a kind of “Pre-Feast” of Pentecost. Very often the grace-filled gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel are metaphorically likened to pouring water. Like streams of water, the Holy Spirit nourishes the human soul and revives it. “I was filled with the feast, and gave water to my thirsty soul for piety, as if we were the Savior, you cried out: thirst, let him come to me and drink,” says the troparion of Mid-Half.
St. John Chrysostom wrote: ““not manna, not fire, not rain has been sent down today, but the gifts of the Holy Spirit are being poured out.” Therefore, in the image of “living water” - the grace of the Holy Spirit, on this day a small consecration of water takes place in churches. Just as the human body cannot exist without water, the human soul dies without the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.
At Midsummer, an appeal is heard from the face of the Lord: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). “If so, then let us all go to Him,” writes St. Theophan the Recluse. “Whoever thirsts for anything, as long as it is not contrary to the Spirit of the Lord, will certainly find satisfaction. Those who thirst for knowledge, go to the Lord, for He is the only light that truly enlightens every person. Those who thirst for cleansing from sins and quenching the burning of conscience, go to the Lord; for He bore the sins of the whole world on the tree and tore their handwriting. Those who thirst for peace of heart, go to the Lord; for He is a treasure, the possession of which will make you forget all hardships and despise all blessings in order to possess Him alone. “Whoever needs strength, He has all strength.” Is it glory - He has the glory of the world. Is it freedom? He is the giver of true freedom. He will solve all our perplexities, break the bonds of passions, dispel all sorrows and hardships, allow us to overcome all obstacles, all temptations and intrigues of the enemy. and will level the path of our spiritual life. Let us all go to the Lord!”
5th Sunday after Easter, about the Samaritan
Conversation with a Samaritan woman. Frescoes of the Tabor Monastery.
In the service of this day, the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ is combined with the ongoing celebration of the Mid-Pentecost and the remembrance of Christ’s conversation with the Samaritan Woman (John 4: 5-42), in which He reveals both His Messiahship (Anointing) and His Divine nature, promising those who believe in Him "living water flowing into eternal life", that is, the Holy Spirit. The hymns of this day include the hymns of Holy Pascha, the Sunday hymns of the 4th tone, the hymns of the Feast of Midnight, which continues until the coming Wednesday, and the own hymns about Christ’s conversation with the Samaritan Woman, which form the basis of the afterfeast.
Troparion for Sunday, 4th tone
The Lord's disciples heard the bright Resurrection sermon from the Angel and rejected the ancestral condemnation, the Apostle boasted of the verb: death has been proven, Christ God is risen, granting peace I have mercy.
Troparion of Midnight
Halfway through the holiday, give water to my thirsty soul for piety, as you cried out to everyone, O Savior: let him thirst, come to Me, and let him drink. Source of our life, Christ God, glory to You.
Kontakion of Midsummer
On this lawful holiday, the Creator and Master of all, you said to those who are to come, O Christ of God: come and draw the water of immortality. Moreover, we bow down to You and faithfully cry out: Grant us Your bounties, for You are the Source of our life.
Kontakion of the Week of the Samaritan
By faith the Samaritan woman, who came to the storehouse, saw Thee, the water of wisdom, and drank abundantly from her, the Kingdom on High is hereditary forever, like the one of all glory.
On the fifth Sunday after Easter, we remember the meeting of our Lord Jesus Christ with the Samaritan woman on His way to Galilee. The Samaritans were the people who came from the mixture of Jews and pagans, resettled to this territory by the Assyrian king Shalmaneser after his conquest of the kingdom of Israel. The Samaritans recognized the Pentateuch of Moses, but rejected vices and Tradition, and also worshiped pagan gods. The Jews abhorred the Samaritans and tried not to pass through their lands or communicate with them. They rejected the help of the Samaritans in building the second Jerusalem temple, so the Samaritans built themselves a temple on Mount Gerizim and continued to worship God there, even after its destruction in 130 BC.
The Lord, passing through Samaria, near the city of Sychar (or Shechem), stopped at a well, according to legend, dug by Jacob. His disciples went into the city to buy food. And at that time a Samaritan woman came to the well for water, to whom the Lord asked: “Give me a drink” (John 4:7). And in response to the surprise of the Samaritan woman, how He, a Jew, talks to her, Jesus Christ says that if she knew who was talking to her, then she herself asked Him to give her living water. The Samaritan woman asked Him how He would get water if He had nothing to draw with, and was He really greater than the patriarch Jacob, who dug this well. And here the Lord transfers the conversation from the material realm to the spiritual realm: “Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never thirst; But the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life” (John 4:14). With these words, the Lord speaks about the grace of the Holy Spirit, feeding a person’s spiritual thirst, directing his soul to salvation. And in order for the Samaritan woman’s mind to ascend from earthly things, the Lord reveals to her that He knows her whole life. She, convinced that He is a prophet, asks about the place where God should be worshiped. Truly, this woman was not easy when she asked the Lord a question indicating a spiritual search. And He answers her that soon “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth,” meaning that a person must perform true worship of God first of all in his heart.
The Samaritans were waiting for the Messiah, just like the Jews, so the Samaritan woman said that the One who would tell them everything would soon come. To this the Lord directly answers her: “It is I who speak to you.” He repeatedly did not answer the questions of the Pharisees and scribes, who were trying to find out whether He was the Messiah, but he confessed to a simple woman, seeing her pure heart. And the Samaritan woman ran into the city, telling everyone that she had met the Messiah. And those whom the Jews abhorred met the Lord with much greater cordiality, they listened to His words and told the Samaritan woman that they no longer believed from her words, but from their own experience, that He truly Christ. The Lord spoke before the apostles words about the harvest, indicating that they entered into the work of those Old Testament prophets and righteous men who fulfilled the will of God and were beaten and killed for this by their own people.
This Gospel narrative once again tells us about the necessity of the grace of the Holy Spirit for human life, about God’s condescension to every person, that truly, the Lord reveals a lot to “babies” who seek and accept the truth with a pure heart, and leaves the “wise of the age” in ignorance this."
6th week of Easter, about the blind man
Healing a man born blind. Frescoes of the Tabor Monastery.
In the service of this day, the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ is combined with the remembrance of the miraculous healing by Jesus Christ of a man blind from birth (John 9:1-38). The hymns of this day include the hymns of Holy Pascha, the Sunday hymns of the 5th tone and the own hymns about the healing of the Blind, which form the basis of the after-feast until the coming Wednesday, when the present holiday and the feast of Holy Pascha are celebrated simultaneously.
Troparion for Sunday, 5th tone
Let us sing, faithfully, and worship the co-meaning Word of the Father and Spirit, born of the Virgin for our Salvation; for it was good for the Flesh to ascend to the Cross, and to endure death, and to resurrect the dead by His glorious resurrection.
Kontakion of the Week of the Blind
Blinded by my spiritual eyes, I come to You, Christ, like one blind from birth, calling You to repentance: You are the brightest Light of those who are in darkness.
The sixth Sunday after Easter, like the previous ones, is dedicated to the memory of an event that reveals the Divine essence of the Lord Jesus Christ. This time it is the healing of a man born blind. It took place in the third year of the Lord's public preaching. And, despite the fact that He performed many healings, including the blind, the Evangelist John devotes an entire chapter to this miracle, since it is not only a miracle of deliverance from an illness, but more than that - a miracle of the birth of faith, capable of withstanding any attacks on it .
The brief narrative of the gospel event is as follows: passing by, the Lord saw a man blind from birth. When the disciples asked who sinned, he or his parents, since the Jews believed that not a single illness was given by God to a pure person, the Lord answered that neither he nor his parents sinned, but blindness was given so that the miracle of God could be revealed on him. Then He spat on the ground and anointed the eyes of the man born blind with it, commanding him to wash himself in the spring of Siloam, sacred to the Jews, which he did, after which he received his sight. The people who knew him took him to the Pharisees so that they could witness the miracle. But the Pharisees, already guessing about the One who could perform this miracle, were looking not for the truth, but for a reason to condemn the Lord, based on the formal law of preserving the Sabbath rest. They asked the man born blind: “What will you say about Him, because He opened your eyes?” To which he confidently replied: “This is a prophet.” Wanting to cast doubt on the very fact of the miracle, the Pharisees even called the parents of the man born blind to confirm that this was their son and that he was born blind. Fearing being excommunicated from the synagogue, the parents of the man born blind did not insist on the reason for the healing, although they did not reject their son. The Pharisees called him a second time, insisting that he admit under oath that the One who healed him was a sinner. To which we received the answer: “But we know that God does not listen to sinners; but whoever honors God and does His will listens to him” (John 9:31). After this, the Pharisees expelled him from the temple, but He who opened his bodily eyes did not want to leave him spiritually blind. The Lord found the man born blind and asked: “Do you believe in the Son of God?” And the blind man answered that he did not know Him. “And you have seen Him, and He speaks to you.” - “I believe, Lord! And he worshiped Him” (John 9:35-38).
The one who was blind from birth turned out to be spiritually more mature than those who, boasting of their imaginary spiritual gifts, did not recognize the Son of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” The pride of those who insisted that they saw the truth obscured their eyes, and they became blind, wandering in darkness. A humble heart turned out to be able to see the light of truth and defend it. Which should serve as an example for us too.
Saint John Chrysostom wrote: “If a blind beggar, not seeing Christ, even before His instruction showed such boldness that in the face of the whole people, breathing murder and rage, raging and wanting the former blind man himself to accuse Christ, did not agree to this, did not remain silent, but with all boldness stopped their mouths and would rather be an exile than to change the truth, then how much more should we, who have lived so long in faith, who have seen thousands of miracles by faith, who have received more benefits than he...should show zeal for Christ? against those who dare to accuse and reject Christianity.”
Celebration of Easter holiday
“... Just before the Ascension, I went to church. The last Easter Matins was served early in the morning, in white vestments, with the Easter candle, but there was almost no one in the church. No one in the city knows that there is a day when the Church says goodbye to Easter.
Everything was the same as on Easter Matins at night - only the light was morning, but there were no Easter cakes and no noise, and when the priest exclaimed to the people: “Christ is Risen,” there was no sound of this cheerful roar: “Truly He is Risen!”
For the last time they sang “The sacred Easter appears to us today.”
After the Easter liturgy, the holy shroud was taken out of the altar, placed in a golden tomb and covered with a glass lid.
And for some reason it became hard for me to breathe, just like it was at the funeral of my brother Ivanushka.
After the service, I accompanied Yakov to the lodging house, and on the way he said to me:
— Will we live until next Easter? You, my dear, don’t count! You'll get there! But I don’t know. Easter! - He smiled bitterly, “but I don’t want to die because of her!.. And I’ll tell you, if there was no Easter on earth, a person would turn black with grief!” Man needs Easter!..."
Ascension of the Lord
Ascension of Christ. Frescoes of the Tabor Monastery
On Thursday of the sixth week of the post-Easter period, on the fortieth day after Easter, the Ascension of the Lord is remembered, which crowned the earthly ministry of Christ and preceded the sending of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. The service of this day is dedicated to the remembered event, as well as the anticipation of the feast of Pentecost, being one of the “twelve”, i.e., the 12 most important holidays of the church year.
Troparion of the Ascension
Thou art ascended in glory, O Christ our God, having brought joy to the disciple, by the promise of the Holy Spirit, by the former blessing communicated to them, for Thou art the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Kontakion of the Ascension:
Having fulfilled your concern for us, and having united us on earth with the Heavenly One, You ascended in glory, Christ our God, in no way absent, but remaining persistent, and crying out to those who love You: I am with you we, and no one else on you
7th Sunday after Easter, Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council (325)
Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. Frescoes of the Tabor Monastery
In the worship of this day, the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ is combined with the ongoing celebration (after-feast) of the Ascension of the Lord and the memory of the holy 318 Fathers - participants in the First Ecumenical Council, which confirmed the consubstantiality of the Son of God with God the Father and the deposition of the heretic Arius.
Troparion for Sunday, 6th tone
The Angelic Powers are upon Thy tomb, and the guards are dead; and Mary stood in the tomb, seeking Your Most Pure Body. You captured hell without being tempted by it; You retiled the Virgin, granting life. Risen from the dead, Lord, glory to You.
Kontakion of the Ascension
Having fulfilled your concern for us, and having united us on earth with the Heavenly One, You ascended in glory, Christ our God, in no way absent, but remaining persistent, and crying out to those who love You: I am with you we, and no one else on you.
Troparion of the Fathers
Glorified art thou, O Christ our God, the founding luminary of the earth, our fathers, and through them instructing all of us to true faith, O Most Gracious One, glory to Thee.
Kontakion of the Fathers
The apostle preaching and the father of the dogma of the Church, sealing the one faith, even wearing the robe of truth, istended from above theology, corrects and glorifies piety, the great sacrament
We commemorate all Orthodox Christians who have died from time immemorial, our fathers and brothers, including everyone’s ancestors, which is why it is usually called parental.
Funeral troparion
With the depth of wisdom, build everything humanely and give what is useful to everyone, O One Creator, rest, O Lord, the souls of Your servant, for I have placed my trust in You, Creator and Maker and our God.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God: To you and the wall, and the refuge of the imam, and the prayer book, I have favor with God, Whom you gave birth to, O Brideless Mother of God, salvation of the faithful.
Kontakion
With the saints rest, O Christ, the souls of Thy servant, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life.
Week 8 of Easter. Day of the Holy Trinity. Pentecost.
Pentecost. Descent of the Holy Spirit. Frescoes of the Tabor Monastery
On the eighth Sunday after Easter, the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles is remembered, which occurred on the 50th day after Easter and on the 10th day after the Ascension of the Lord and marked the beginning of the existence of the Church of Christ. The service of this day is dedicated to the remembered event, as well as to the glorification of the entire Holy Trinity, since the descent of the Holy Spirit, according to the promise of the Savior, finally confirmed His Divine dignity and thereby completed the revelation of God the Trinity about Himself. This holiday belongs to the “twelve”, that is, the 12 most important holidays of the church year.
On the very day of the holiday, usually immediately after the Liturgy, Vespers is celebrated with the singing of the Great Prokeimenon and the reading of special kneeling prayers. According to the custom of the Russian Church, for the entire celebration of Pentecost, churches are decorated with flowers, as well as fresh greenery of trees (birches) and field herbs.
Troparion of the holiday
Blessed are You, Christ our God, who are all wise fishers of things, having sent down to them the Holy Spirit, and with them you have caught the universe, Lover of mankind, glory to You.
Kontakion of the holiday
Whenever the languages of the Most High descended, dividing the tongues, and when the fiery tongues were distributed, we all called into unity, and we glorified the All-Holy Spirit in agreement.
The 1st Week after Pentecost is continuous. Holy Spirit Day
The entire week after Sunday, the 8th of Easter, the celebration of Pentecost continues, in which the second day of the Holiday, the Spiritual Day, dedicated to the Hero of the Celebration - the Holy Spirit, who descended on the Apostles in the Upper Room of Zion and through them enlightened the entire universe, continues. The week is continuous, there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, souls ours.
1st Sunday after Pentecost, All Saints
Voice 8th. Confession for Peter's Fast.
In the service of this day, the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ is combined with the memory of all Saints, primarily Sts. Martyrs, who with their blood continued the testimony of Sts. Apostles and those who prepared the victory of Christianity.
On the same day there is a spell for the fast of St. Apostles (Peter's Fast), continuing until the feast of Sts. the supreme apostles Peter and Paul on June 29/July 12.
This Sunday afternoon The post-Easter service ends, which is celebrated according to the Colored Triodion, which is used from Matins on the first day of Easter until the Divine Liturgy on All Saints Sunday, when the hymns of the Colored Triodion are sung for the last time, and in conclusion it is written: "The End and Glory to God", and the services of Octoechos begin.
Sunday Troparion, 8th Tone
You descended from the heights, O Blessed Mother, you accepted the burial of three days, so that you free us from passions, our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory to You!
Troparion of All Saints
Thy martyr throughout the whole world, as Thy Church was adorned with purple and visor, with blood, with these Thy, Christ God, cries out to Thy people for Thy bounty, O world of life. Grant to Your body, and to our souls, great mercy.
Kontakion of All Saints
Like the firstfruits of nature, the Planter of creation, the universe brings to You, Lord, God-bearing martyrs, with those prayers in the deep world, Your Church, Your life, Keep the Mother of God, Many mils ostive.
2nd Sunday after Pentecost, All Saints who shone forth in the Russian land
In the service of this day, the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ is united with the memory of all the Saints who have shone in the Russian land.
The decision to restore the memory of all Russian saints and assign it to the second Sunday after Pentecost was made by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1917-1918. The compiler of the service and the creator of most of its texts was the priest Afanasy (Sakharov), bishop. Kovrovsky.
Sunday Troparion 1st tone
The stones are sealed from the Jews and the warriors guarding Your Most Pure Body, You have risen on the third day, Savior, granting life to the world. Therefore, for the sake of the Heavenly Power, I cry out to You, O Life-Giver: glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ, glory to Your Kingdom, glory to Your sight, the only One who loves mankind.
Troparion of Russian Saints
I am like the red fruit of Your saving sowing, the Russian land brings to You, Lord, all the saints have shone forth in that one. With those prayers in the deep world, protect the church and country of our Mother of God, O Most Merciful
Troparion of Russian Saints
Citizens of Jerusalem, the Most High, who have risen from our earth and have pleased God in every rank and with every feat, come, let us sing to the faithful: for the all-blessed land of the Russian intercessors, pray to the Lord, that He may have mercy on this one from His wrath, healing her contrition, and comfort His faithful people .
Kontakion of Russian saints
Today the face of the saints who have pleased God in our land stands in the church and invisibly prays to God for us. The angels praise him, and all the saints of the Church of Christ celebrate him, for all of them pray to the Eternal God for us.
The Greatness of Russian Saints
We bless you, wonderworkers of our glory, who have illuminated the Russian land with your virtues and who have clearly shown us the image of salvation.
Trinity is one of the greatest celebrations in Orthodoxy, which is celebrated among the people and recognized in the church. This is the second most important holiday after Easter, and it is scheduled for the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday. The Bible says that on this day the Holy Spirit descended from heaven, also simultaneously by the Father and the Son, to the twelve apostles and proved the unity of God. It was then that God gave the blessing to the apostles to build a church. This day is considered the founding day of the church.
There is also a legend that on the fiftieth day after leaving Egypt (Old Testament Passover), Moses on Mount Sinai told Israel God's law, which everyone must fulfill. This was precisely the starting point in the development of the Old Testament church. Since then, every year Jews have celebrated the so-called Shavuot, that is, Pentecost. Also on this day, Israel celebrates the festival of the first harvest and fruits. However, Shavuot is considered more important and significant, and is one of the three holiest Jewish holidays.
Pentecost always falls at a time when trees and flowers are in bloom. Therefore, for the holiday, temples and houses are decorated with branches with leaves that smell and remind of the holiday. Before Trinity, Saturday is held in churches when they commemorate people who died of their own free will and those who drowned and disappeared. On the holiday, clergy dress in festive attire. The grass is taken from the temple, dried, and then used for a year as a talisman against the evil eye and ill-wishers.
Trinity among the Slavs
As you know, the Slavic people did not always profess Christianity, and for many centuries their official religion was paganism. That is why, even today, customs and traditions that belong more to the Slavic culture have been preserved.
Even before the church began to celebrate Trinity, this day was considered the border between spring and summer. On this day it was customary to sing songs, dance, have fun, and dance in circles. Houses were decorated with greenery, which was then used as medicinal herbs and tinctures. It was believed that it was on this holiday that evil spirits came to earth in the form of mermaids and mawoks.
Before the baptism of Rus', there was the holiday of Semik or Triglav, that is, the Slavic Trinity. According to pagan teaching, there are three Deities who rule humanity - Svarog, Perun, Svyatovit or Svyatozhich. The first, in their opinion, created the Universe, the second is a defender of the truth, moreover, it was Perun that all the warriors revered in a special way and considered him their patron. The third, Svyatozhich, is the keeper of light and sky, it is he who fills humanity with the energy of life.
As we have already mentioned, another name for the Slavic Trinity is Semik, which translated means Green Week. This, one might say, is the beginning of the summer holidays, which, as always in Rus', were accompanied by loud festivities, peculiar rituals, and, of course, girls’ fortune telling.
Traditions and customs of the Trinity in Rus'
Like many holidays, this one began with cleaning. Housewives, a day or two before Trinity, began general cleaning in the house and in the yard. After this, the women decorated the hut and yard with everything that summer had bestowed on the earth, namely green plants. According to our ancestors, young plants symbolize prosperity, wealth and continuation of life.
And on Trinity Day, from the very morning the whole family hurried to the temple. After all, churches held a festive service on this day. After the temple, everyone went home and had a festive dinner. As usual, our ancestors visited each other to congratulate each other, give gifts and communicate together.
Swimming in rivers and lakes was prohibited all week. After all, our ancestors believed that during this period you could meet a mermaid who would invite you to come to her, and not return, because mermaids could tickle you to death.
Towards evening, all the people gathered in the villages for a celebration. They held round dances, sang songs, danced, and performed rituals. Also, fairs were often held for the whole week, where one could also find a lot of entertainment. Of course, at this time the young people looked closely at each other and got to know each other.
Rituals and rituals for Trinity
The celebration of Trinity lasts three days. IN first day of Trinity, which is also called Green Sunday, people should be very careful and careful. It is believed that mythical creatures such as mermaids, Mavkas and other evil spirits are walking around. Therefore, it is customary to decorate your homes with fragrant herbs, and icons with birch branches. A young birch tree is a symbol of blossoming nature in all its glory. And the color green is associated with cleansing, renewal and life-giving power. It’s not for nothing that nature “puts on” a beautiful green dress for this day.
They celebrated Trinity in forests, fields, and gardens. They sang songs and played fun games. On this day, unmarried girls used their own woven wreaths to tell fortunes, into which they wove flowers fragrant with a delicate aroma and striking in their beauty. They threw wreaths into the water and sang amazingly heartfelt songs; if the wreaths matched, then be a young bride this year. Old-timers say that on a festive night one will have prophetic dreams, which are usually given special significance. They also visited cemeteries and commemorated the dead, leaving refreshments. Towards evening, a real party began, where people were entertained by buffoons.
On second day of Trinity, which is called Clergy Monday, people attended church. After the service, the clergy walked through the fields and prayed, asking the Lord to protect the harvest.
The third day of Trinity is called God-spirited day. They chose the most beautiful girl, dressed her up beyond recognition - with multi-colored ribbons and matchless wreaths, and dressed her in festive clothes. After that, they took her around the yards, and the owners generously presented her with treats. They also sanctified the water in wells in order to cleanse it of the unclean spirit.
Each Slavic holiday is literally imbued with different rites and rituals. Well, let's take a closer look at a few of them:
As we have already mentioned, on this day there was a belief that mermaids wake up on Trinity. Therefore, in order to protect themselves from it, several rituals were performed in the villages. In some villages, women ran around the entire village with a broom at nightfall. And in other villages they dressed the girl as a mermaid, and then drove her out into the field and threw her into the grain crop, after which they ran home. Another ritual associated with the expulsion of the mermaid was carried out as follows. In advance, the whole village created a stuffed mermaid, and in the evening during the festivities they danced around it. Then everyone was divided into two teams, one of which was trying to take the mermaid from the enemy. After this, the stuffed animal was taken to the field, torn into small pieces and scattered across the field.
In addition to mermaids, according to the Slavs, on this day the merman also woke up, who also needed to be scared away. To do this, the entire village lit bonfires along the shore, danced in circles and sang songs loudly. The next morning it was believed that all evil spirits had been driven away, so the people with a clear conscience ran to the river from the very morning to swim.
Women who had young children saved a piece of Trinity pie for their wedding. When someone got married, the mother handed this biscuit to the newlyweds, in the hope that it would be their amulet and would bring peace, happiness, wealth and joy to the house, and also protect them from illness and adversity.
Particular attention should be paid to decorating the house, since ordinary branches and bouquets were not suitable. It is believed that on this day there must be branches of maple, birch, oak and rowan in the house - after all, they are the ones who can protect from evil people, and also bestow strength, health and energy to overcome obstacles. A week later, all the plants were burned at the stake.
It was also customary to collect various herbs on Trinity Day, because according to our ancestors, they had special powers. All this was dried and left in case someone in the house got sick. An obligatory ritual on Trinity Sunday was the throwing of wreaths along the river. This was a kind of fortune telling for Trinity - in this way the girls tried to find out their fate for the next year.
In order to escape from drought and crop failure, on this day it was customary to water the flowers and branches with which they stood in the temple with their tears. The girls deliberately tried to cry so that the drops would fall on the flowers, after which they were stored for a whole year.
Signs for Trinity
They tried not to schedule a wedding for this day; it was believed that nothing good would await such a family. But matchmaking and acquaintance on this day is a good sign. Such a marriage will be strong and happy.
We also tried on Trinity Sunday not to think about bad things, to be jealous and angry at someone - this is a bad sign and it will not lead to anything good.
Many of us have heard that if it rains on this day, it means tears for the dead. However, in addition to this sign, there was another one, which said that if it rains on this day, then there will be a lot of mushrooms all year, a good harvest and wonderful weather.
Women also tried to redo all their work before Trinity Day, since it was believed that on this day it was forbidden to sew, spin, whitewash, bake pies and work in the garden.
If, after three days, the birch branches with which the house was decorated were fresh and had not withered, then everyone was waiting for wet haymaking.
Many believed that in order to scare away evil spirits and attract wealth and prosperity to the village, it was necessary to go to the cemetery and sweep the graves.
It was a very bad sign if it was hot on Trinity Sunday. This means the whole summer will be dry and, accordingly, a poor harvest.
And the dew collected on Trinity Sunday, according to Slavic women, has a special power that can heal and give strength.
How is Trinity celebrated today?
Despite the importance of the holiday, many traditions have been forgotten. Few people attach any importance to the Trinity, especially in big cities. And if you conduct a survey “Why is Trinity celebrated and what is its meaning?”, most people will not be able to answer anything specific. It’s a pity, because this is our history and it should be remembered and honored, adhering to traditions.
But in the villages they prepare for the holiday in advance. They carefully clean and decorate their homes with beautiful flowers and herbs collected at dawn, which intoxicate with their delicate aroma, believing that evil spirits will not be able to enter the house. Housewives prepare culinary delights for households and guests. And after preparations they attend church. Then they sit down at the festive tables, which they take outside or go into nature. And in the evening they attend folk festivals, taking active part in various competitions.
For Orthodox people, the holiday of Trinity carries a special meaning. This is one of the twelve main Orthodox celebrations, which is celebrated on a large scale and helps to understand the secrets of Divine intent.
The celebration of the Trinity directly depends on the day of celebration of another bright holiday - the Resurrection of Christ. Easter is a fundamental Christian holiday, which is the center of all biblical history and the basis of all Christian teaching. The date of Easter changes every year. This is a moving holiday, due to which many other Orthodox celebrations have a floating date, and Trinity is no exception.
Trinity in 2018
As already mentioned, the holiday of Trinity is a moving holiday. People also call this celebration Pentecost because it occurs 50 days after Easter. In 2018, Orthodox believers will celebrate Trinity on May 27. Since the celebration of Pentecost, Lent ends, after which people prepare for the cycle of summer Christian holidays.
The Holy Trinity was established by the apostles. It has been celebrated since ancient times. This celebration has absorbed many traditions, since it originated at the dawn of Christianity. Many customs have remained unchanged and carried over into the present day.
As a rule, the celebration begins with a solemn service, which includes an all-night vigil. The All-Night Vigil, or, otherwise, the All-Night Vigil, is served on the eve of all great holidays. The celebrated day begins in the evening, and this divine service is directly related to the Orthodox celebration. The all-night vigil is an ancient service that began to be performed at the dawn of religion. Jesus Christ himself most often prayed at night together with the apostles. In ancient times, evening services were quite long: they took place all night. All believers should be present at this service in order to offer prayers to the Lord and all the saints together with the clergy.
According to biblical legends, on the day that we now call Trinity, the Holy Spirit descended to earth, thereby showing the Trinity of God. First, heavenly fire visited the Virgin Mary, and then endowed the apostles with Divine power, giving them cleansing from sinfulness, sanctifying their thoughts and revealing the secrets of their destiny.
Traditions of the Holy Trinity
The main attribute of the Trinity holiday is considered to be birch. Its branches and young leaves were used to decorate huts and temples, they were taken to church to be blessed, and then kept as a powerful talisman against all evil. The floors were usually covered with freshly cut grass. Each parishioner, going to the service, had several birch branches with him. At home, consecrated branches were placed near icons. According to popular beliefs, such a talisman helped protect the house from negativity.
As soon as the morning service ended, people tried to get home quickly in order to have time to prepare festive dishes and set the table. The loaf was considered an integral part of the festive table. The menu that day was special. This is not a fast day, so you can allow yourself whatever your heart desires, just as our ancestors did. Many families could afford to bake a pig, serve meat treats and other delicious dishes. It was believed that the year would be successful if treats from your garden were served at the table. Kvass was considered the main drink; compote, which had healing properties, was also served.
After the gala dinner, our ancestors went out into the street to congratulate neighbors, friends and strangers on the holiday of the Holy Trinity. This was a very important ritual, during which all people exchanged joy and happiness, wishing each other success and prosperity. The remains from the festive table were given to the poor, who were waiting for alms that day.
On this day, people paid special attention to spiritual life. It was customary to pray and glorify the Lord. This is very important now. The clergy call on everyone to pray in order to beg the Almighty for salvation and forgiveness, for guidance on the true path, for earthly and heavenly happiness. You need to pray not only for yourself, but also for loved ones, relatives, children and for every lost soul. On this day, the Lord is patient and merciful to any request and to any words.
Single people looked for their ideal companion on Trinity Day, since it was believed that acquaintance on this holiday would be blessed from Above. Many men decided to take a responsible step and asked girls to marry, appeasing the parents of the future bride.
Of course, some traditions have lost relevance, but most of them have retained their value and significance. For the most part, we are talking about moral cleansing. They have been striving for it since ancient times, since only by following the spiritual path can one find meaning and place in this life. We wish you a bright holiday. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. May luck smile on youand don't forget to press the buttons and
26.01.2018 01:26
The image of the Holy Trinity is revered by Orthodox Christians around the world. Prayers in front of this icon can protect your...
Trinity is one of the most important and ancient holidays of Orthodox Christians. It is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, so the second name of the Trinity is Pentecost.
As a rule, the holiday falls at the end of May and beginning of June. In pre-Christian times, this period - the beginning of summer - was celebrated with pomp and joy. They walked for several days, and the holiday was called Green or Mermaid Weeks. Echoes of paganism have survived to this day: in the signs and traditions of the Christian holiday.
History of the Christian holiday
Those who believed in the Lord God also believed in his son Jesus Christ when he was resurrected. And they believed in the power of the Holy Spirit only when, on the 50th day, the twelve apostles and the Mother of God gathered in one upper room. They heard a terrible noise from the sky, which soon filled the whole house. Following the noise, tongues of fire appeared, which stopped, one at a time, on each of Christ’s disciples. This is how the Holy Spirit entered each of the apostles.
And from that moment they all received the opportunity to preach the word of God in “other” languages, which they did not know before. Thus, the triumph of the Holy Trinity took place: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit testified before Christians.
In Christianity, following pagan traditions, the Holy Trinity is celebrated for several days. The Saturday before the holiday is called Parents' Day, then Trinity Sunday and Spiritual Day.
Naturally, as with any holiday, so with the Trinity, which in turn also has a name - Pentecost, there are many different signs and rituals associated with it. Since this Christian holiday is always celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter, that’s why it has the name Pentecost. Absolutely all the signs of the Trinity were treated quite carefully and parents always passed on the history of their meanings to their children.
Trinity is the greatest Orthodox holiday, which always falls on Sunday, since it is celebrated precisely on the 50th day after Easter.
In fact, the meaning of this holiday is that God reveals himself to all of us in a certain number of stages, and not in one moment. In modern times, the Trinity means that the Father, who, in turn, created absolutely all living things, sent the Son to people - Jesus Christ, and only then the Holy Spirit. For all believers, the meaning of the Most Holy Trinity comes down to the special praise of God in absolutely all of his hypostases.
The Trinity holiday in Rus' was celebrated in several stages, which began precisely after the 7th Thursday after Easter. Then comes Parents' Saturday, which, in turn, had special significance for remembrance. Next was the day of the Holy Trinity, and this day has several special names, such as Rusalnaya, Green, Gryanaya or Klechalnaya. Then after the holiday of the Trinity comes, and on Thursday - Rusalkin Great Day, or as it is also called - Nava Trinity.
On the occasion of the Trinity, great importance was attached to diverse vegetation. Before the holiday, all housewives put their home in quite a special order and prepare festive dishes, and decorate absolutely all the rooms with various herbs and flowers. After all, they always believed that such a ritual would drive away all evil spirits from the house.
In general, a huge number of and are associated with Trinity Day, which, in turn, are observed in the modern world.
The Orthodox Trinity is one of the beautiful religious holidays, all the traditions of which are quite closely intertwined with a variety of pagan rituals. This day was revered as the day of the birth of the Church of Christ and it is also necessary to note that it is celebrated fifty days after Easter. This fiftieth day is not accidental and it coincides with the holiday of the Old Testament, that is, Pentecost.
The Holy Trinity is the day when they glorify God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit, this is the best time to fill your heart with sincere love for absolutely everything that exists and lives.
This bright holiday is simply amazing in its diversity of traditions and customs.
Greenery for Trinity - a symbol of regenerating life
It is quite important to pay tribute to greenery on Trinity Day, that is, for example, to decorate your house or apartment with it; it is also necessary to consecrate bouquets of herbs in the church, giving special meaning to the birch tree. This rite symbolizes the rebirth of a new life and also, according to all popular beliefs, on Trinity, every branch is an excellent friend and helper, and most importantly, a healer. Blessed flowers on Trinity are used in a wide variety of rituals, which you can find out in
Birch tree - symbol of the Trinity
The main tradition of the Trinity is to decorate the windows and doors of houses with birch branches; this is also the key to the rapid and smooth growth of everything that is in the house, that is, money savings, children, supplies in the barn and animals.
In the modern world, there is a custom to place birch branches consecrated in the church at the bottom of a flower pot when replanting it. This ritual is the key to the rapid growth of the plant and its lush flowering.
You can also ask a birch tree for mutual and sincere love on Trinity; you need to curl a birch tree branch with thoughts of the young man you like. If good health is needed, then on Trinity Sunday you need to prepare an infusion of birch leaves, and be sure to drink it for any illness.
Tradition of folk festivals
After the festive service, absolutely all believers on Trinity Day necessarily went to visit each other, with a variety of treats and interesting gifts. And they certainly organized folk festivals in the streets with quite funny songs and beautiful dances. And in modern life the traditions of the Trinity are finding their revival.
Should I swim on Trinity Sunday?
There is a folk legend according to which, during the “mermaid” week, mermaids come out of the water to the shore at night and watch people. And that is why going swimming, especially alone, was considered completely undesirable, since mermaids could take a careless traveler to themselves, namely, to the bottom. Do you want to take a risk and test this folk wisdom? Swim, of course, unless you are afraid of mermaids.
Thanks to all the very interesting traditions of the Trinity, we get a holiday with a fairly rich history, beautiful rituals and various signs.
Signs about the weather for Trinity say that if it rains on this holiday, then there will definitely be warm weather and a large number of mushrooms.
The most ancient sign is the custom of consecrating a special “mourned” grass in the church; tears have always symbolized rain. Such grass was hidden in the house behind a frame or an icon, thereby begging from nature and God for a very good summer, that is, without drought, but with a rich harvest.
Birch branches are a symbol of the Trinity, since they are one of the first, so to speak, to dress in very bright, elegant greenery, which is why they were inserted behind shutters and trim, and also scattered around the room, thereby begging for a sufficiently fruitful summer.
On the Monday following Trinity, the Orthodox people celebrate. And from Monday to Sunday there is Rusal Week. And since, according to legend, especially on Thursday - Rusal's Great Day, mermaids tried to lure people to them, they tried not to swim during the entire Rusal Week, and also always carried everything with them - wormwood. It was believed that mermaids were very afraid of this herb.
Also, absolutely any work for the Trinity was condemned, except for cooking. It was absolutely impossible to do any business.
Matchmaking was considered a fairly good omen for Trinity. The family life of the young people will be very happy and long enough if they get married on Trinity Sunday and get married on Intercession.
All the old women went to the cemetery on Trinity Sunday, and in order to please the dead and ward off evil spirits, they swept the graves with birch brooms.
It is believed that it is on Trinity that the birch tree has quite great power and therefore a special medicinal infusion is made from its leaves.
On Trinity Day, absolutely all young girls performed one rather special ritual with birch branches. After mass, all the girls put on their most beautiful outfits and made themselves wreaths from birch branches with flowers. Afterwards, they went to develop the birch tree in this way: they stood in an even circle near the curled birch tree, and one of the beauties cut it down and placed it in the middle of the formed circle. The birch tree was decorated with beautiful flowers and ribbons. Next, the girls walked in pairs, and in front of everyone, one of the girls carried a birch tree that had been curled earlier. After the girls had walked around the entire village, they placed this birch tree in the middle of the street and began to dance around it. Young boys also joined them. Well, in the evening of the same day, each of the girls broke off one branch for themselves and all together they went to the river to drown them. And thus the birch tree floated along the flow of the water, and meanwhile the beauties threw their wreaths into the water and watched:
the wreath sank - it promised trouble, there was no need to get married.
If a wreath is nailed to the other side, love will definitely be instilled in the girl.
Let the Trinity holiday enter your home with the unusually fresh smell of herbs. And always remember: mermaids are worth watching out for.
Trinity Day, which is also called “Green Christmastide” or “Green Sunday”, is a day of glorification of blossoming nature, it symbolizes the onset of the long-awaited hot summer, it is a holiday of great mood and happiness. And that is why a large number of different magical rituals are associated with it, which are popular in turn, for example, such as rituals for attracting money and wealth, health and, of course, love.
The energy of the Trinity is truly unique, it is on this holiday that absolutely each of us can make our most cherished desire come true, that there be happiness and harmony in life, wealth and love, and also health. If you know exactly how to carry out the rites and rituals for the Trinity, which in turn were used by our ancestors, then you will definitely be able to achieve the desired result.
Ritual for a loaf
It is in the morning on the Feast of the Holy Trinity that you need to bake a rye loaf. Under no circumstances should you eat such a loaf right away; you must put it in the red corner for a while, and at the same time recite the “Our Father” prayer over it. According to absolutely all beliefs, such a Trinity loaf drives out evil spirits from a person, and also makes him kinder and very reasonable.
Remove damage to Trinity
For this ritual to remove damage on Trinity Day, you need to collect a fairly large bouquet of forty or more different types of flowers and go to the temple with it. Holding the bouquet in your hands, you must defend the morning and evening services, and after that you can begin the ritual.
The duration of this ritual for Trinity is 40 days, and by doing everything absolutely according to the rules, you will definitely be cleansed of the negative program.
Every day you need to take one flower from the bouquet, not paying attention to whether it is dried or not, put it in any container and water it with holy water. You need to dip your finger into the water collected in the glass and then apply it to the top of your head three times, and drink the remaining water. Then put one coin of any denomination in a box, which must be prepared in advance. Thus, you need to do everything so that in the end, after forty days, you have 40 identical coins in your hands.
After forty days have passed, you need to go to the temple and order a service for yourself about health. And don’t be lazy, be sure to listen to the entire prayer service, from beginning to end. And then you need to light one candle each for the following saints - Panteleimon, Cosmas and Damian, as well as Tryphon.
All forty coins that you have during this magical ritual on Trinity must be distributed to all the beggars you meet on the way home. This ritual is all over and now feel free to return to your normal daily life, the damage will be completely removed.
Ritual on the tablecloth
Absolutely always, according to all traditions, a cheerful festive dinner was held at Trinity, and guests and close relatives were invited. The festive table was covered with a beautiful white tablecloth, and after dinner the tablecloth was not washed at all, but was placed under the couple’s bed at night. This ritual on Trinity Sunday was performed to enhance the love feelings between husband and wife.
Round dance ritual
Round dances have always been considered a special ritual action, and Trinity round dances, in turn, have such magical power that can make a wish come true. In order to perform the ritual to fulfill a wish on Trinity, you need to hold hands (at least three people) clockwise and lead a round dance, while saying the following:
“I’m walking in circles around the sun,
I'm talking about my desire
I send you to the clear sky,
I wish you fulfillment."
The person who wants to fulfill his wish must, in turn, stand in the center of this Trinity round dance and pronounce his desire.
Trinity rituals with herbs and plants
Naturally, the most effective and efficient rituals and ceremonies for Trinity are carried out using a variety of green herbs, plants and flowers.
Love spell for Trinity
If a young woman wants to make a love spell, she needs to go to the service on Trinity Day and at the moment of the first kneeling, take absolutely any green grass from the floor, and you need to take as much as possible, since then you will need to weave a wreath from this greenery. You need to take it with your left hand and hold it until the very end of the service. After a woman leaves the temple, she must bow low enough to all four sides.
This woven wreath must be hung on the icon and placed under your pillow before going to bed.
Attract love to Trinity
If a woman wants to attract the attention of the opposite sex, improve relations with her beloved husband, give birth to a baby, or achieve mutual love, she needs to go to the field the day before the Trinity holiday and pick thyme. Afterwards, the collected thyme must be dried and placed in any corner of the room, maybe even sewn into a pillow or placed under it. This ritual will also help a woman get rid of nervous tension, insomnia, and make life more calm and balanced.
Trinity rituals with birch
Birch plays a fairly significant role in the conduct of rituals and ceremonies on Trinity. If you have a cherished desire, but it doesn’t come into action at all, then just sit down under a birch tree on Trinity Day and ask it for help, and you will notice how very soon your desire will come true.
In order to always have grace and happiness in your home, you need to pick birch branches and bring them home.
A special ritual for all representatives of the fairer sex is the weaving of wreaths from birch branches. As a rule, such wreaths are woven after lunch on Trinity Sunday, and as evening approaches, young girls throw them into the river and make wishes.
Having risen from sleep, I thank Thee, Holy Trinity, for for the sake of Thy goodness and long-suffering, Thou hast not been angry with me, lazy and sinful, nor hast Thou destroyed me with my iniquities; but you usually loved mankind and in the despair of the one who lay down, you raised me up to practice and glorify Your power. And now enlighten my mental eyes, open my lips to learn Thy words, and to understand Thy commandments, and to do Thy will, and to sing to Thee in heartfelt confession, and to sing Thy all-holy name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages. centuries. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow)
The Trinity of the Lord is Divine unity in three personal expressions - God the Father, God the Son - Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit.
The Trinity is a unity, a fusion, a union of three in one and, in turn, one in three. The middle element of the other two links into a completely unified order. It is a symbol of unity in its diversity.
The Trinity is endowed with three qualities, such as Hope, Love and Faith and, in turn, the following colors are dedicated to it - green, red and yellow. In Christianity, the Trinity is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, or Mary, Joseph and Jesus. And the symbols of the Holy Trinity are the hand - the symbol of the Father, the lamb - the symbol of the Son and the dove - the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Such three aspects as the three-dimensionality of place, time and space exist independently of each other, but still they represent one God. The symbol of the Trinity as one God is sometimes depicted as a triquest, woven, in turn, into a circle.
Other symbols of the Trinity are - the throne, the book and the dove, as the power of intellect and love; three intertwined fish or three fish with one head, one of them is Christ, and the other two are the zodiac sign of Pisces; three eagles or lions; three suns; a triangle with an eye inside or three stars; three joined triangles; trefoil or cross of three leaves, three hares with ears forming a triangle. One of the rather old symbols is an equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle, which, in turn, means not only the trinity, but also the eternity of God. Another of the most ancient symbols is three intersecting circles, where each in turn is absolutely perfect and complete, and the center formed by the circles forms, in turn, the common part.
The “image of the Holy Trinity” itself is the image of God the Father in the form of a bearded man, who, in turn, holds a cross with Christ in his hands, while the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove hovers above him.
It is on Trinity Day itself that you need to buy yourself 7 candles of only red wax in the temple. Next, place all the available 6 candles in front of the image of the All-Heavenly Queen, pronouncing a spell on each candle when lighting it. When lighting the seventh candle, also read the plot:
While the seventh candle is burning, wax should drip from it directly into your palm, so to speak, into the hole of life, namely into the center of your left hand. When the exact moment comes when half the candle burns out, you need to put it out on the wax that is in your left hand. Next, clench your fist and go home on foot, and you also need to remain silent all this time. Already at home, absolutely everything that you have in your hand must be carefully wrapped in a pure white small piece of fabric, while this made amulet for the Trinity must be absolutely always carried with you, and then you will be in absolutely no danger.
The remaining stub from the candle must be re-lit if there is a strong need for protection, with the following words:
And you need to hide it in the red corner of your house behind the icons.
Protective ritual for Trinity
This unique one needs to be performed only a few times a year, on these days: on Christmas - January 7, on your birthday or on the day of your Angel, on the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary and on Trinity. Its incredible magical power is quite large and effective. For this Trinity ritual, you need to prepare the following items in advance: blessed water, an icon of Jesus Christ, exactly 7 church candles, an icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, 2 mirrors, matches and Thursday salt.