The Trinity holiday has an interesting history and is of great importance in the life of Orthodox Christians. The Holy Trinity. history of the holiday

On the 50th day after the end, the Holy Trinity comes - one of the largest and most revered church holidays in Orthodoxy. Since Jesus ascended to heaven, the tenth day has already come, or otherwise - the fiftieth day since the Resurrection of Christ.

Holy Trinity: the history of the holiday

The Jews at one time widely celebrated a holiday called Pentecost, in honor of the legislation of Sinai. In one room, in a small room located in Jerusalem, the disciples of Jesus Christ, his mother the Virgin Mary and a small number of believers gathered. According to the records that have come down to our times, it tells about the events that occurred at the third hour of the day according to the Jewish account.

A strong noise is described that came from somewhere in the sky, as if from a strong, hurricane wind. This strange noise filled the room of the chamber, where the disciples and the Mother of God were. Tongues of flame appeared, which stopped at each of those present, everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and after that they began to glorify the name of God in numerous languages, which they did not even know about before.

Orthodox holiday Trinity: sacred fire

The fiery tongues were nothing but the Holy Spirit of our Savior, who, with the help of them, gave a good sign that from that moment on, all the apostles had the opportunity to spread the teachings of God throughout the Earth, preach and talk about the Savior. Also, fire personifies a great force that destroys evil, cleansing the world from sin, as well as illuminating the path and warming in bad weather.

History of the Holy Trinity: the sermons of the Apostles

At the same time, a feast was held in Jerusalem, at which there were many Jews living in different countries of the world. All the disciples of Christ - the apostles - chose the Jews to conduct their first sermons, and in their native languages. The audience was so impressed by what they heard that many strongly believed in the Savior and began to ask the Apostles about what they should do next.

The Apostle Peter invited the Jews to repent in the name of our Savior, for the sake of the forgiveness of all sins, and in this case they would receive the same Gift of the Holy Spirit. Those who strongly believed in Jesus Christ were immediately baptized, and thus the number of all who received the new faith was about three hundred people. It was from this time that the Church of Christ or Christianity began to spread on Earth.

Orthodox holiday Trinity: church rites

After the celebration of the Liturgy, Vespers commemorates the coming of the Spirit of the Comforter upon the Holy Apostles. During the church service on the Trinity, kneeling prayers are read for the descent to Earth of the Holy Spirit or the All-Wise Spirit, the Spirit of God's Mind. The prayers of the Church of Christ are aimed at praising the gift of the grace of the Holy Spirit, as well as commemorating our dead fathers, brothers and all those who are related to us by flesh and blood. So that having gone to the kingdom of heaven, their world was arranged.

The day of the Holy Trinity does not have an exact date - it is customary to celebrate it on the 50th day after Easter. Thanks to this, an important church holiday has a second well-known name - Pentecost. Where did this holiday beloved by Christians come from, and what are its traditions?

History of occurrence

Pentecost is an ancient Old Testament holiday, traditionally celebrated on the 50th day after the Jewish Passover. The Jews attributed this day to three great celebrations, closely linking it with the acquisition by the people of Israel of the Sinai law, received 50 days after the day of the exodus from Egypt. The celebration of Pentecost has always been accompanied by mass joy, general rejoicing and sacrifices.

Orthodox Pentecost, also known as the Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, is celebrated on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ, this great holiday personifies the beginning of a new era for the existence of mankind among Christians. Moreover, an important date is considered the day of the foundation of the Christian church. But the most important thing is that on this day the Holy Spirit descended on the 12 apostles and revealed to them that God is one and three at the same time. This is how things unfolded, according to the Bible.

On the day of the celebration of the Jewish Pentecost, 12 followers of Jesus retired from the mass fun in one of the Zion upper rooms. The disciples of Christ met daily at the request of their mentor. Even during the life of the Savior, they knew about the coming event and were waiting for a new miracle. The Son of God informed them of the coming of the Holy Spirit before he died on the cross. On the 50th day after the Resurrection of the Savior, the participants heard a heartbreaking noise that filled a small house like a hurricane. Then fiery tongues appeared, they touched everyone present and seemed to separate those who were nearby.

The Holy Spirit descended upon the followers of Jesus in the form of God the Father (Divine Mind), God the Son (Divine Word), and God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). This Holy Trinity is the fundamental basis of Christianity, on which the Orthodox faith is firmly held. The Holy Trinity is one God who is also trinity. God the Father is devoid of beginning and creation, God the Son is begotten by the Father, and the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father.

People who approached the house, from which incomprehensible sounds were heard, were very surprised that the apostles spoke among themselves in different languages. At first they doubted the sobriety of those who were inside, but the apostle Peter dispelled the doubts of involuntary witnesses of the miracle. He said that the Holy Spirit descended on them, and through them it will touch every Christian. God specially gave the chosen ones the opportunity to speak in previously unknown languages and dialects so that they could go to different countries and tell their inhabitants the Truth about Christ. It is believed that the Holy Spirit descended to the apostles in the form of a purifying and enlightening fire.

The preachers chosen for an important mission scattered around the world. They preached Christianity in different parts of the world, easily communicating with the inhabitants of unfamiliar cities in their native languages. The disciples of Christ reached the countries of the Middle East and Asia Minor, baptized people in India, in the Crimea and in Kyiv. Of the 12 apostles, only one survived - John, the rest were executed by opponents of the new faith.

Features of the celebration of the Holy Trinity Day

Pentecost always falls at that wonderful time of the year when nature generously gives fragrant herbs and fragrant flowers. Green leaves do not yet have time to be covered with road dust and enliven the young twigs of trees. They decorate churches and dwellings, thereby demonstrating the flowering of the human soul and the renewal of people. The aroma of herbs mixes with the smell of incense, creating a festive mood and causing joy. And the faces of the saints, surrounded by fresh greenery, look like they are alive.

In the temples, the Trinity is celebrated with special reverence. This is the most important and one of the most beautiful holidays. On the eve of Pentecost, the universal parental Saturday is celebrated, commemorating those who could not be buried according to Christian customs, including those who drowned and disappeared without a trace. On the night before the celebration, a night service is held in the churches.

On the Day of the Holy Trinity, Sunday hymns are not performed; instead, special holiday songs are heard. The solemn service takes place according to a special festive rite. The liturgy is followed by vespers, during which the descent of the Holy Spirit is glorified and three special prayers are read. Priests on Trinity always wear symbolic emerald robes. Parishioners come to the temple in high spirits with flowers and birch twigs.

The week after Pentecost does not have a fast on Wednesday and Friday, and immediately after the holiday follows an important and closely related to the Trinity holiday - the Day of the Holy Spirit.

The Russians began to celebrate the Holy Trinity Day only in the 14th century - 300 years after the Baptism of Russia. The holiday was introduced by St. Sergius of Radonezh.

Trinity, Trinity Day - a folk holiday among the Slavs. There was a day or two from Sunday to Tuesday. But three were also celebrated. It was called differently - Midlife (Feast of Living Water), Ascension, Semik, Green Saints, Mermaid Week. Even in Russia itself, it was called in its own way: in Voronezh, for example, Wreaths, Gulino - in Kostroma, Birch Day - in Siberia, and so on. The Belarusians have the Trinity, in Galicia - Turitsa, the Bulgarians - the Spirits of the day, the Serbs - the Spirits, the names of different peoples can be continued. However, for all that, the Trinity meant the end of the spring cycle in nature and the beginning of the summer cycle. Perhaps this is one of the most colorful holidays of the year, when gardens and flowers in the front gardens bloom, the air is filled with the captivating aromas of the beginning of summer. People's clothes also change. Winter has been in chests for a long time, in spring, still warm, it gets hot, bright sundresses, floor-length silk dresses, multi-colored ribbons adorn light hats, and the guys change into blouses, bloomers tucked into chrome boots, flaunt fashionable caps or even go without headdresses, and the spring wind fervently plays with their curly forelocks.

The Jewish Trinity

The people of Israel call it Pentecost. It is celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Jewish. (In Christianity, it also does not have a fixed date: it comes on the fiftieth day after the Bright Resurrection of Christ). According to popular Jewish belief, the people of Israel on this day received the Sinai law. In other words, the prophet Moses on Mount Sinai gave his people the Law of God, and the greatest event took place on the fiftieth day after the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Since then, the Trinity among the Jews is called Pentecost (Shavuot) and is celebrated annually. It is also the first harvest festival. Israel is a southern country, and by this time its markets are full of greenery, freshly ripened vegetables, berries in the beds, cherries and cherries in the orchards. The Sinai law allows mass celebrations, a wide variety of entertainment, and sacrifices on this significant day. It is also known that once the apostles, who retired to celebrate the Jewish Pentecost, the Savior promised to show a miracle - the coming of the Holy Spirit. And it, this miracle, happened. On the fiftieth day after the Resurrection, the apostles heard an incredible noise, saw a bright flame. Then the Holy Spirit really descended on them, and revealed three hypostases - God the Father (Almighty, Creator), God the Son (Divine Word) and God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). The Trinity is the basis of Christianity, and the Christian faith is firmly supported on it. The Holy Trinity is One God!

At the same time, the people who were near the upper room where the apostles had gathered also heard the noise. To their surprise, the apostles spoke different languages. Such a gift was given to the disciples of Jesus. As well as the ability to heal, preach, prophesy in the same different dialects, that is, they received the opportunity to carry the Word of God to all corners of the world. The apostles went to the Middle East, to the Crimea, Kyiv, Asia Minor, India. And all were executed by the opponents of Christianity, except for one disciple of Jesus - John. Nevertheless, the Trinity, or, as it is also called, Pentecost, has spread widely throughout the world.

It appeared only three hundred years later - after the Baptism of Russia. And before that, it was a pagan holiday, according to the canons of which three deities ruled mankind: Perun - the defender of truth and the warrior: Svarog - the Creator of the Universe and Svyatovit - the keeper of light and human energy. From a pagan holiday, the Trinity was born. Officially, Trinity Day was established in Russia by the Orthodox Church in the nineteenth century. And it also meant the end of the spring cycle and the beginning of the long-awaited summer season. The holiday was widely spread in the fourteenth - sixteenth centuries, thanks to Sergei of Radonezh - a saint deeply revered by the people. He considered serving the Trinity the meaning of his whole life. And in 1337 he founded a monastery, which today is called the Trinity-Sergeev Lavra. The idea of uniting all Russian lands into one whole is expressed in the monastery.

Three Trinity Days in Russia

First day called Green Sunday. Special prayers were read. Icons and birches were decorated. People went for a walk in the fields, forest glades, danced there. Naturally, everyone dressed up in the brightest festive clothes as an example of awakening nature. Girls threw wreaths into the river, ponds, and other bodies of water. Thus, they wondered what fate awaits them in the coming year. The commemoration of the dead was obligatory. They performed rituals that drove out evil spirits, all evil spirits. At night, according to legend, prophetic dreams came to people.

Second day It was called Klechalny Monday, in the morning we went to church together. After her - in the fields. The priests blessed the land plots. To protect the future harvest from bad weather - drought, excessive rainfall, hail.

Third day was Bogodukhov. And Happy Girls' Day. The most beautiful was decorated with wreaths, dressed in greenery, and she played the role of Poplar. They took her home, gave her gifts and treats.

The birch was the symbol of the holiday. She was dressed up. They danced around. The first leaves were dried from the evil eye. The rite of birch curling exists in Russia to this day, especially in the outback - villages and villages. At the same time, they wished health to parents, relatives and relatives. And the beautiful girls thought about their betrothed, conveyed their hidden thoughts to them. Then the birch was cut down. They surrounded a village or a village with it, thereby attracting good luck. With the onset of evening, ribbons and other birch decorations were burned - a kind of sacrifice. The branches were buried in the field for a rich harvest. The trunk itself was drowned in a river, pond or other body of water to protect it from evil spirits. In the morning, dew was collected on Trinity, considering it the best cure for any ailments. On Trinity, it was strictly forbidden to work around the house or in the garden. Everything was done before the holiday. And on the solemn day itself, it was not forbidden to decorate the dwellings, cook various goodies for the festive table. Swimming in the reservoirs was strictly forbidden, they say, the mermaids will drag them to the bottom. And if anyone escapes this fate, he will certainly become a sorcerer. On Trinity Day, it was impossible to sew, cut your hair, dye your hair. Advised not to think about the bad. Moreover, to be offended by anyone or to swear. There were other restrictions as well. And on Trinity there were brides of the bride. The festivities of the girls along the main streets are in full view. As for the church holiday, it began in the morning. The dressed-up families went to worship. After him - home for a solemn dinner on this occasion. They also visited. And they were invited. They gave each other gifts.

parent saturday

The day before the Trinity, good Christians were supposed to visit graveyards. To remember the dead. There was also a memorial dinner. Cutlery was placed on the table for the deceased. They were invited to the memorial service. It was customary to heat the bath. And not only bathe and wash yourself, but also leave a broom and everything you need for the dead. Suicides were commemorated on parental Saturday. Prayed for the repose of their souls. True, it was not allowed to do this in the temple: suicides will not find rest forever and ever. So it was possible to remember them only in home prayers.

Signs of the Trinity

Heat on Trinity - wait for a dry summer. To attract wealth to the house - cover several graves in the cemetery. Rain on Pentecost - to close warmth and an abundance of mushrooms. If the birch is fresh on the third day of the holiday - to a wet hayfield. There are still a lot of signs. They used to say: "The Trinity is being built for three days - from the Trinity to the Dormition." The red maidens especially rejoiced at the holiday. They went out to the bank of the river, let a wreath into it and said, "Swim, my wreath, to that bank. Whoever catches my wreath - waking up the groom!" The girls left their tears on the branches of birches and maples in temples - deliverance from drought and crop failures.

All week mermaid

Thursday is especially dangerous - mermaids just want to lure the careless into the water. Therefore, in the evenings, not a foot from home! In general, you can not swim throughout the week. And it is best to carry grass with you - wormwood, the best remedy for all evil spirits. In order to completely protect themselves from mermaids, they made a scarecrow, danced round dances around it, and then tore it into small pieces. Before going to bed, they ran through the streets with a broomstick to protect themselves from mermaids. At the same time, the water ones woke up. They were scared away from themselves by kindling fires along the banks of the reservoirs. In modern life, views on rituals, signs, customs on the Trinity have changed somewhat. But some ancient traditions are still followed. Especially the fair sex. Mostly young people. Girls. They carry brightly woven wreaths to the banks of rivers and other reservoirs. They launch into the water. Where the wreath floated - from there to wait for the betrothed. Suddenly stuck to the shore - the groom is not to be seen for a year! And in Russia, the Trinity was called - the Blessed Virgin, Spirits Day, Water - the birthday girl, Grass - the birthday girl. At the same time, we emphasize once again that the Trinity or Pentecost is one of the most desired, brightly decorated holidays, which means the end of spring and the onset of the long-awaited summer!

Trinity in poetry and cinema

The holiday was and is dearly loved by all the people. Poets were no exception. They admired and admired him, in particular, Ivan Bunin: "The altar is shining and decorated with flowers, illuminated by the amber sheen of candles and the sun!" Or the well-known Nekrasov lines from his poem, which are learned by heart at school: "Green noise is coming - Green noise is coming, Green noise - Spring noise!" Or the famous Pushkin: "On Trinity Day, when the people, yawning, listen to a prayer service, touchingly on a beam of dawn they dropped three tears ..."

About the Trinity, Pentecost, feature and documentary films were shot - "The Angel's Limit", "The Savior under the Birches", which are still popular with the viewer. Among the documentary films, one can note "The Holy Trinity", released for hire in Russia in 1992. The announcement for the film emphasizes that the Day of the Holy Trinity is the birthday of the Church of Christ. On this day, more than a thousand years ago, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples of Christ. And today, as then, the Lord preserves and builds up His Church through the hands of the priests through the sacraments of the Church. Even earlier, in 1988, the film studio "Lennauchfilm" released a documentary film "Ascension to the Holy Trinity", which tells about the famous icon of the fifteenth century "Trinity", which was painted by the great Russian artist Andrei Rublev. You can learn more about the world-famous painter from the feature film "Andrei Rublev" (1966), filmed by the talented Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky, which starred popular actors - Anatoly Solonitsyn, Ivan Lapikov, Nikolai Grinko, Mikhail Kononov, Irina Tarkovskaya and others. The film reflects the events in Russia of the fifteenth century, far from us. The country is torn apart by princely civil strife. A painter appears, as they say, from God. The film is dedicated to his life and work and, in particular, to the famous icon "Trinity". A talented film before and now is watched with great interest both in Russia and far beyond its borders.

The Feast of the Trinity is one of the most beautiful holidays in Orthodoxy. It always falls at a time when the first leaves on the trees begin to bloom. Therefore, people decorate houses and churches on this holiday with green branches of birch, maple, mountain ash.

Trinity does not have a fixed date for celebration. It is appointed on the fiftieth day after Easter. The Bible says that it was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. Students

received the ability to preach the word of Christ. Therefore, this holiday is otherwise called Pentecost or the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Only in the XIV century did they begin to celebrate the feast of the Trinity in Russia. Customs and traditions on this day have been observed since ancient times. The founder of the holiday was St. Sergius of Radonezh.

The Old Testament feast of Pentecost is a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 50th day after the Jewish Passover. According to legend, on this day the people of Israel received the Law of Sinai. Traditionally, in honor of the celebration, entertainment for the people, mass celebrations, and sacrifices are organized. Prophet Moses on Mount Sinai gave his people the Law of God. This happened on the fiftieth day after the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Since then, Pentecost (or Shavuot) has been celebrated every year. In Israel, on the same day, the feast of the first harvest and fruits is celebrated.

When did the Trinity appear in Christianity?

The customs and traditions of the celebration originate from the Old Testament Pentecost. The apostles retired to celebrate the Jewish Pentecost. The Savior, before his martyrdom, promised them a miracle - the coming of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, every day they gathered in one of the Zion upper rooms. On the 50th day after the Resurrection, they heard a noise that filled the small space of the house. Flames appeared, and the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. He showed them three hypostases - God the Father (Divine Mind), God the Son (Divine Word), God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). This trinity is the basis of Christianity, on which the Christian faith stands firmly. People who were not far from the upper room heard a strange noise - the apostles spoke different languages. The disciples of Jesus received amazing abilities - to heal, prophesy and preach in different dialects, which allowed them to carry the word of God to all corners of the world. The apostles visited the Middle East, India, Asia Minor. We visited the Crimea and Kyiv. All the disciples, except for John, were martyred - they were executed by opponents of Christianity.

The Holy Trinity is the only God.

The customs of the church holiday began in the morning. The whole family went to church for worship. After that, people returned home. They arranged a gala dinner, went to visit, congratulated acquaintances on a bright holiday, gave gifts.

In our country, the feast of the Trinity began to be celebrated only 300 years after the baptism of Russia. Prior to this, the Slavs were pagans. But even today there are rituals, signs that originated in those days. Before Trinity, this day was considered the border between spring and summer. Its name is Semik (Green Week), or Triglav. According to pagan religion, three deities ruled over all mankind - Perun, Svarog, Svyatovit. The latter is the keeper of light and human energy. Perun is the defender of truth and warriors. Svarog is the creator of the universe. In Semik, people arranged merry festivities, danced round dances. The houses were decorated with the first greenery, from which medicinal tinctures and decoctions were then prepared. So from the pagan celebration arose a church holiday - the Trinity.

Customs, signs of those ancient times are still relevant among the people. For example, the greenery with which the church was decorated on Pentecost was taken home and dried. It was sewn up in canvas bags. Such a sachet served as a talisman at home .

Celebration traditions

How is the feast of the Trinity? The customs of most holidays begin with cleaning the house. Only after the room sparkled with cleanliness, women decorated the rooms with green branches and flowers. They are a symbol of fertility, wealth. The hostesses prepared a festive table - they cooked pies and gingerbread, cooked jelly. There is no fasting on this day, so any food is allowed for the Orthodox. In the churches on the Trinity, the Divine Liturgy is performed, and immediately after it - the evening.

During it, kneeling prayers are read. The clergy ask for the bestowal of grace on all those present, for the sending down of wisdom and reason to believers.

After the service, people sit down at the festive table, invite guests, give gifts and congratulate each other. According to tradition, it was customary to marry on this day. It was believed that if the matchmaking took place on the Trinity, and the wedding on the Pokrov, a happy life awaited the young family.

How is Trinity celebrated elsewhere in the world?

Traditions, customs, rituals of different countries are united by festive worship. And in England, religious processions are even held on this day. In Italy, rose petals are scattered from under the ceiling of the temple. In France, during worship, trumpets are blown, which symbolizes the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Folk customs on Trinity

According to popular legend, mermaids wake up on Pentecost.

In this regard, the villagers have several customs. In the villages they made a stuffed mermaid, danced round dances around him during the festivities. Then it was torn into small pieces and scattered across the field. Before going to bed, women ran through the village with a broom to protect themselves from mermaids. One girl was dressed as a mermaid, taken out into the field and thrown into a rye. Then everyone fled to their homes.

What other folk practices is the Trinity famous for? Traditions, customs, rituals were to drive away evil spirits from the gates of the house. According to legend, on this day the water man woke up, and the villagers burned fires along the coast to ward off evil spirits.

Folk customs on Trinity

Much attention was paid to the decoration of the house. Only branches of maple, birch, mountain ash, oak could protect people, give them strength and health. Another custom was to irrigate with your tears the branches and flowers that were in the temple. Girls and women tried harder to cry so that drops of tears fell on the greenery. This method helped the ancestors to get rid of the summer drought and autumn crop failure. All festivities were divided into 3 days.

The first was called Green Sunday. On this day, the icons were decorated with birch branches, a special prayer was said for the Trinity. Folk festivals were held in forests and fields.

People danced, played, sang songs. The girls wove wreaths and lowered them down the river.

Such fortune-telling helped to find out what fate awaits in the coming year.

People commemorated deceased relatives. At the cemetery, crosses and monuments were swept with a birch broom - to ward off evil spirits. They left treats for the dead on the graves.

That night, according to folk tales, prophetic dreams were dreamed.

Second day Klechalny Monday- the second day of the celebration of Pentecost. People have been rushing to church since morning.

After the service, the priests walked through the fields with blessings. This was done in order to protect the crop from drought, rain and hail.

Third day Bogodukh day girls are the most noted. They arrange festivities, games, fortune-telling. According to folk tradition, fun is held - "Drive the Poplar". The most beautiful girl was dressed up, decorated with greenery and wreaths - she played the role of Poplar. Then the youth took Topolya home, and each owner presented her with a delicious treat or a gift. In Russia, it was customary to honor a birch on the feast of the Trinity.

The practices of Pentecost are closely associated with this tree. Around the birch there were girlish round dances. Houses were decorated with it, the first leaves were dried to protect against the evil eye. Until now, there is a rite of curling birch.

Cumulation on the Semik-Trinity. 19th century

During the process, the girls wished good health to their mother and other relatives. Or, during the curling of the birches, they thought about the young man they fell in love with - thus tying his thoughts and thoughts to themselves. trinity holiday customs signs During the festivities, a small birch was decorated with ribbons, flowers flew into it.

After round dance chants, they cut it down and began a triumphal procession through the village. An elegant birch was carried around the whole village, attracting good luck to its inhabitants. In the evening, ribbons were removed from the tree and a traditional sacrifice was held. The branches were "buried" in the field, and the birch itself was drowned in a pond. So people asked for a plentiful harvest and protection from the spirits. Early dew was collected on Trinity - it was considered a strong medicine against ailments and ailments. Such rituals existed among our ancestors. Some of them can be found even today.

What was forbidden to do on Pentecost

On this holiday, it was strictly forbidden to work in the garden or around the house. Therefore, zealous housewives carried out a general cleaning before the Trinity. And on the holiday itself, they only decorated the house and prepared a plentiful treat.

What other restrictions exist? What can not be done on Trinity? All repairs around the house are best left for another day. Can't sew. Do not wash, cut or dye your head. On this day, you can not think about the bad or talk about someone in a negative way. It is forbidden to swim - otherwise, in the near future, the disobedient will die (according to one of the versions, mermaids will tickle him). And the one who remained alive after swimming on the Trinity was declared a sorcerer. Do not be offended, swear on this day - the Trinity is a bright holiday. Signs and customs (what is not and what can be done) - it all comes down to prayer and kind words. Trinity is a celebration of the renewal of life, so only positive should surround yourself on this day.

parent saturday

The day before Trinity, parental Saturday began. People went to the cemetery, commemorated the deceased relatives.

From ancient times, a memorial dinner was prepared on parental Saturday - cutlery was placed for the deceased. The deceased was invited to a meal. On this day, the bath was heated. And after the whole family had washed, they left water and a broom for the deceased. On Trinity parental Saturday, suicides are commemorated, they ask for repose for their souls. A memorial prayer for the Trinity is read. But the Holy Church claims that this is a delusion - suicides will not be able to find rest after death. Therefore, only in home prayer can you ask for them.

Signs for Pentecost

The Trinity is rich in beliefs and signs. The customs and traditions of the holiday carry many omens that have been proven over the centuries. Rain on Pentecost - to an abundance of mushrooms and close warmth. If the birch is fresh on the third day after the holiday - to a wet hayfield. They marry the Trinity, they marry Pokrov - to love and harmony in the family. To attract wealth to the house, it is necessary to cover several graves in the cemetery. Heat on Trinity - to a dry summer. The whole week of celebration was called Mermaid Week.

Thursday was considered especially important - on this day the mermaids tried to lure people into the water. Therefore, in the evenings, people tried not to leave the house. It was forbidden to swim all week. And you should definitely carry wormwood with you - this grass scared away evil spirits. Today, in nature, with songs and fun, the Trinity holiday is celebrated. Customs, signs of ancient times become irrelevant and gradually disappear. But until now, people decorate their homes with greenery so that peace, tranquility, happiness, health and prosperity reign in it.

And the girls carry the wreaths to the reservoirs and, holding their breath, let them into the water: where the wreath floats, from there they will wait for the betrothed, and if it comes to the shore, it’s not destiny to get married this year ...

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One of the largest and most revered holidays in Christianity is the feast of the Trinity, but few people know and understand what kind of holiday it is and what the name Trinity means, which is also used in the ordinary life of Christians.

Trinity Holiday - what is it?

The Trinity holiday (another name for Pentecost) is dedicated to the memory of the descent of the Holy Spirit to Earth. It was on this day that the Lord God appeared to the world in his third incarnation of the Holy Spirit, descending to Earth and appearing in this third incarnation before the disciples of Christ, i.e. in fact, in front of his disciples, since in Christianity the Holy Spirit, Christ and God are one whole entity.

Why is the feast of Trinity called Pentecost?

Icon. Andrei Rublev. Trinity. Around 1422-1427 A minimum of symbols: three angels (Trinity), a cup (Atonement), a table (the Lord's meal, the Eucharist. Of the recognizable realities - an oak (Mamre), a mountain (here is the sacrifice of Isaac, and Golgotha) and a building (Abraham's house? Church?) .

The answer to this question is very simple.

The descent of the Holy Spirit to Earth and the appearance of Christ to his disciples took place exactly on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ (Easter) or on the 10th day after the Ascension of Christ (Ascension).

Hence the name of this holiday - Pentecost. At the same time, this Pentecost holiday should not be confused with another Jewish holiday that has exactly the same name Pentecost and is celebrated on the same day, but dedicated to another event - the holiday in memory of the Sinai legislation (the holiday of Moses receiving the commandments of the Lord on Mount Sinai).

How did the Holy Spirit appear on Earth?

The manifestation of the Holy Spirit happened unexpectedly and was attended by a limited number of people.

On the tenth day after the ascension of Christ to heaven, the Jews, as always, celebrated their ancient and great holiday in memory of the Sinai legislation.

On this day, all the apostles, together with the Mother of God and with other disciples of Christ and other believers, were in the same upper room in Jerusalem. “It was the third hour of the day, according to the Jewish account of hours, that is, in our opinion, the ninth hour of the morning. Suddenly there was a noise from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled the whole house where the disciples of Christ were. And fiery tongues appeared and rested (stopped) one on each of them. Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to praise God in different languages, which they did not know before.

So the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles as a sign that He gave the apostles the ability and strength to preach Christ's teaching to all peoples; he descended in the form of fire as a sign that he has the power to scorch sins and purify, sanctify and warm souls.

In Jerusalem at that time there were many people who came from different countries for the holiday. The apostles went out to them and began to preach in their native languages. The sermon had such an effect on those who listened that many believed and began to ask: “What should we do?” Peter answered them, "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Those who believed in Christ willingly accepted baptism, there were about three thousand people that day. This is how the Church of Christ began to be established on earth.

It was on this day that the beloved children of the Lord, united with Him by the Holy Spirit, left the walls of the Zion Upper Room to fearlessly preach Christ's doctrine of love.

Why did the Holy Spirit descend to earth?

The main reason why the Holy Spirit descended to earth was the reason to encourage the disciples to build the Church of Christ: "...to perfect the saints, for the work of service, for the building up of the Body of Christ." It is the poet who considers Pentecost to be the birthday of the Christian Church.

How is Pentecost celebrated?

On Pentecost, immediately after the Divine Liturgy, Vespers is served in the churches in remembrance of the descent of the Spirit of the Comforter upon the holy apostles. During the service, kneeling prayers are read for sending us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of reason and the fear of God.

The Church prays for the grace of the Holy Spirit to be given to all those present, as well as to the formerly deceased relatives in the flesh, so that they too can be arranged to be participants in the Kingdom of Glory in the land of the living - “for not a single one is clean before God from filthiness, if only one day of his life is lower” ( kneeling prayer after "Vouchee, O Lord, this evening").

Orthodox Christians on this day decorate houses and churches with green birch branches and flowers. This custom comes from the Old Testament Church, when houses and synagogues were decorated with greenery on Pentecost in memory of how everything bloomed and turned green at Mount Sinai on the day when Moses received the tablets of the law.

The Upper Room of Zion, where the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, at that time, according to the general custom, was also decorated with tree branches and flowers. On the feast of the Trinity, the appearance of the Trinity to Abraham in the Mamrian oak forest is also remembered, so the temple decorated with greenery also resembles that oak forest. And the flowering branches remind us that under the influence of the grace of God, human souls bloom with the fruits of virtues.

What does the word Trinity mean in the Bible?

The very word "Trinity" of non-biblical origin was introduced into the Christian lexicon only in the second half of the 2nd century, two hundred years after the ascension of Christ, by Bishop Theophilos of Sioy.

In his treatise "Against Autolycus" Theophilus wrote: "The three days [of creation], which were before [the creation of] the luminaries, are the images of the Trinity: God, His Word and His Wisdom." This work has survived to this day only in one manuscript of the 11th century and was probably written no earlier than 180 AD. e., as it mentions the death of the emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Neither in the Old nor in the New Testaments is the concept of "Trinity" directly used, and according to Bible scholars, there are only a few hints in Scripture indicating the trinity of God, but no more.

The doctrine of the Trinity

Non-canonical icon. Holy Trinity with angels and saints. Master from Meskirch, early 16th century.

The doctrine of the Triune God comes down to three propositions:

1) God is trinity and trinity consists in the fact that there are three Persons (hypostases) in God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

2) Each Person of the Most Holy Trinity is God, but They are not three Gods, but the essence of a single Divine Being.

3) All three Persons differ in personal or hypostatic properties.

All three Persons of the Holy Trinity have the same Divine dignity, between them there is neither senior nor junior; just as God the Father is true God, so God the Son is true God, so the Holy Spirit is true God. Each Person bears in itself all the properties of the Divine.

Since God is one in His essence, then all the properties of God — His eternity, omnipotence, omnipresence, and others — belong equally to all three Persons. In other words, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit are eternal and omnipotent, like God the Father.

They differ only in that God the Father is neither born nor emanates from anyone; The Son of God is born from God the Father — eternally (timeless, beginningless, infinite), and the Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father.

How to understand the doctrine of the Trinity?

Any educated Christian is well aware that the main dogma and cornerstone of the Christian church is the dogma of the Most Holy Trinity, and without its correct understanding there is neither faith nor the Christian church.

The dogma of the Trinity tells believers the following: God is one in essence, but trinity in persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity is consubstantial and indivisible.

In other words, there is a God who has three essences, none of which is the main one and none of them can be divided.

Believers must clearly understand that the dogma of the Holy Trinity is incomprehensible, it is a mysterious dogma, incomprehensible at the level of reason. For the human mind, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is contradictory, because it is a mystery that cannot be expressed rationally.

It is no coincidence that Pavel Florensky called the dogma of the Holy Trinity "a cross for human thought." In order to accept the dogma of the Most Holy Trinity, the sinful human mind must reject its claims to the ability to know everything and rationally explain everything, i.e., in order to comprehend the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, it is necessary to turn away from one’s own thinking.

Since when is Trinity celebrated?

Christian Pentecost as a feast of the Holy Trinity has been celebrated since the 4th century, when the dogma of the Trinity was finally approved at the II Council of Constantinople, in which the one God began to officially exist in three persons - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

The Feast of the Trinity is not only the feast of the appearance of the third Person of the Godhead in a visible way, but also the birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that the day will come when God will complete the formation of His Church here on earth, and She will be taken from the earth in order to be with God forever. This moment is also called the second coming of Christ or the rapture of the Church, when God will return for those in whom His Holy Spirit lives.

Signs on the Trinity

There are many signs and superstitions regarding things that cannot be done on this day.

So, on the Trinity it is better not to appoint a wedding day. Allegedly, those who tied the knot on this day will have an unhappy family life. It is better to get married on Trinity and prepare for the wedding.

The ancient Slavs believed that on the day on which Christians later appointed the Trinity, fabulous creatures appear - mavkas and mermaids. Therefore, it was not worth walking alone in the forests and fields, because they can take away a lone traveler and tickle to death.

According to ancient beliefs, it was forbidden to swim, because mermaids will surely drag you to the bottom. There is a superstitious legend that there will definitely be a drowned man on Trinity, so you should avoid any bodies of water and not tempt fate. One of the largest and most revered holidays in Christianity is the feast of the Trinity, but few people know and understand what kind of holiday it is and what the name Trinity means , which is used in the ordinary life of Christians.

From time immemorial, Trinity was considered a bad omen to play weddings.

How to celebrate Trinity (Pentecost)

On Pentecost, houses, apartments and churches are decorated with greenery and flowers, as well as birch branches, because it was the birch in Russia that was the main symbol of this holiday.

Before the Trinity, it is customary to clean up the house and visit the cemetery to pay tribute to the dead.

In the morning on Trinity, people go to the temple, sanctify birch branches, greenery and flowers. It is generally accepted that the greens lit on the Trinity can be stored throughout the year - in Russia, the greens consecrated on this day replaced people with an amulet that protected the home from evil spirits and troubles.

On the Trinity, girls often guessed at the future groom.

How to guess on the Trinity

Of course, the church does not welcome fortune-telling, but this tradition stretches to the present day from antiquity.

It is customary to guess at the Trinity from Thursday to Sunday.

Fortune-telling on wreaths is considered the most common on the Trinity - with their weaving and their further letting through the water.

On this day, irresponsible Christians tell fortunes using other objects - rings, chains, etc.

Fortune-telling by a wreath consisted in the fact that the girl weaved a wreath and wished on the groom, after which she went to the river and, with a tilt of her head, threw the wreath into the water.

Ideas for the behavior of the wreath and guessed at the betrothed:

If the wreath floated calmly, then his mistress expected a calm year

If the wreath floated under water or sank, then the girl needed to be afraid of illness, death of loved ones or other troubles.

If the wreath was untwisted, then this promised the girl parting with the sweet

If the wreath quickly floated away, then this promised the bridegroom's girl from the far side

A wreath stuck by the shore meant that the bridegroom could not be expected until the next Pentecost.