What does the Trinity holiday mean in Orthodoxy? Trinity holiday which means, essence, history, meaning in Orthodoxy: display in icon painting

The Feast of the Holy Trinity is one of the most interesting and, perhaps, the most unusual church celebrations. He, like Easter, is also always celebrated on Sunday - namely, 50 days after this day (the Holy Trinity is also called Pentecost).

At the same time, for the most part, we know much more about the Bright Resurrection or Christmas than about the day of the Holy Trinity. That is why it will be interesting to figure out what kind of holiday it is, why it has several names, and what is the sacred meaning of this date. And most importantly - how to properly celebrate the Great Trinity?

Feast of the Trinity in Orthodoxy: meaning and names

First of all, let's figure out the names. There are simple cases when everything is clear: Christmas is Christmas, and Easter is Easter (or the Bright Resurrection of Christ). But with Trinity, the situation is a little different - the holiday has several names at once:

1. Trinity Day (Day of the Holy or Most Holy Trinity, Trinity Day) - i.e. a holiday in honor of the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. Pentecost is the word that has exactly the same meaning. It just reminds us that the descent of the Spirit took place on the 50th day after Easter. Therefore, the celebration always falls on Sunday as well: May 27, 2018, June 16, 2019, etc.
3. Spirits day, or the day of the Holy Spirit - this name emphasizes the key event in honor of which the holiday is celebrated.

All these names for the feast of the Trinity can be found in various sources - for example, in Wikipedia, Orthodox magazines and others. By the way, the Day of Spirits falls on Monday, and Pentecost itself falls on Sunday. But at the same time, what do the three days of the Trinity mean? They symbolize the same holiday, it is simply celebrated for three days.

Holy Trinity: what a holiday

So, what is the meaning of this interesting holiday? Why is it considered one of the great Christian celebrations along with Easter, Christmas, Epiphany and other significant dates? Answers to these questions can be obtained if you learn something about those events of two thousand years ago, which laid a good tradition to celebrate this date.

The history of the feast of the Trinity dates back to the last days of Jesus' life on earth. Shortly before his death, he promised that exactly 50 days after that, God would send a Comforter who would invisibly help all his followers.

Indeed, after 40 days the Savior ascended to heaven, and a decade later, Christ's disciples gathered together in one of the houses of Jerusalem. And at that moment a very strong noise was heard in the sky, as if a hurricane wind swept over the city.

It turned out that these were not streams of air, but a miraculous event: at the same moment, tongues of flame were lit over the heads of the disciples-apostles. People began to speak in all languages ​​and dialects that were used at that time by local peoples. Then the holy apostles-followers of Christ began to teach people, preaching to them salvation and God's love.

However, what does the holiday of the Trinity mean for us - people living in modern times, 2000 years later? It turns out that the relevance of those events was preserved in their original form, because the descent of the Holy Spirit is directly related to all the inhabitants of the planet.

His coming to earth means the onset of a graceful time when we have a direct connection with heavenly forces. Every person today can simply pray, ask for forgiveness and receive it.

And in the old days, complex rituals were performed for this, sacrifices were made, fires were kindled. In short, forgiveness was acquired at a very high price. Now the connection with the Almighty is established in such a way that any of us can turn to him.

It turns out that the Holy Spirit is a kind of communication channel between man and God. Moreover, he is God himself, his third person. Therefore, the Orthodox holiday of the Trinity symbolizes the Triune Lord, who has revealed himself in all his fullness.

WHY IS THE HOLY SPIRIT A COMFORTER?

Let's rewind events 20 centuries ago and imagine such a picture. The Lord died but was resurrected. There is no limit to the joy of believers - even today the echoes of this event are echoing in the hearts of billions of believers when they say: “Christ is risen! Truly resurrected! " What happened after?

The Savior went to heaven, as expected, on the 40th day. Probably, many people had the feeling in their hearts that they were orphaned or lost their right wing. But now - only 10 days have passed, and the Holy Spirit descended on the earth.

It turns out that from then until today God himself is invisibly next to us, and at any moment we can turn for his help. It was for this purpose that the Comforter was sent to our planet.

How the Orthodox celebrate the Holy Trinity

Among church holidays, the Day of the Holy Trinity is perhaps the most beautiful event of the year. Priests put on green clothes, temples and icons of the Holy Trinity are decorated with birch branches, wildflowers, leaves. The floor in the temples is covered with fresh grass.

The green tone serves as a symbol of life-giving faith, the rebirth of nature after a long winter, but most importantly - the liberation of the human soul from sin.

That is why on this day it is customary to consecrate birch branches (after all, a birch tree is a real symbol of Russia) and bring them into the house. Legend has it that this peculiar bouquet will bring good luck for the whole year, if it is kept until the next Trinity.

Green branches of other plants - oak, linden, maple and mountain ash - are also used to decorate the Trinity dwelling. They are designed to protect the house from evil spirits. From meadow grasses, they take cornflowers, lovage, thyme, fern, mint, lemon balm, burdock, weave wreaths from them and hang them on the door, make bouquets that are placed on the table or near icons.

On the eve of Great Trinity Saturday, an all-night vigil is served. On the day of the feast of the Holy Trinity, the Gospel of John is read, a festive liturgy is celebrated.

The third day of the Trinity is called the day of the Holy Spirit. On this day, it is customary in churches to consecrate water. People take the grass and branches that decorated the temples and bring them home. They are dried and stored all year round - they protect the house from diseases and troubles. Healers recommend collecting herbs on this day - it is believed that nature endows them with special miraculous properties.

Priests do not recommend doing heavy work on these holidays. physical work, visit the cemetery, plan some global affairs (for example, cleaning the house, working in the country, large purchases, etc.). It is best to find time for festive services - go to church for services, attend the liturgy in honor of the Most Holy Trinity, feel the spirit of the light ones, tune in to the festive wave.

And the rest of the day you can spend with your loved ones, help your relatives, visit old friends. There is no fasting on the feast of Holy Pentecost, so the festive table is supposed to be rich and plentiful, with a variety of meat dishes, pies, and fresh herbs.

Also, after a festive dinner, traditional folk festivals are organized - people strive to nature, where they perform ritual dances, sing songs, and light fires. And you can also make the most of such a holiday cherished desire- if you tune in to the fulfillment of a dream, it will certainly come true.

So, what is this - the holiday of the Great Trinity? This is the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit, when God manifested himself in all three persons and revealed himself as the triune Supreme.

And it is also the day of the revival of the human soul, when it can receive the invaluable gift of salvation, simply by repenting of its sins and entrusting all experiences to the Lord. Such is she - the bright Holy Trinity.

In terms of the popularity of Christian holidays in Russia, Trinity is on a par with Christmas and Easter. But not everyone can tell about the meaning, meaning and traditions of remembering the 50th day after Christ's Resurrection. What kind of holiday is this - Trinity?

Learning from the New Testament

The Old Testament Jews had such a holiday - Pentecost or Shavuot. It was celebrated on the 50th day after Passover and was established in memory of the giving of the Torah to the Jews on Mount Sinai during the Exodus from Egypt. The holy apostles gathered for Pentecost in the upper room of Zion, on the upper floor of the house, where before Christ performed with the disciples The last supper... The room was filled with noise from the sky, similar to gusts strong wind... Tongues of fire appeared before the disciples of Christ, which "They rested one on each of them" (Acts 2: 3)... Thus, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, and Christ's disciples got the opportunity to preach God in a variety of dialects. Obviously, the devout Jews who gathered in Jerusalem that day saw the descent of the Holy Spirit, as they began to flock to the Upper Room of Zion.

“The Parthians, and the Medes, and the Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya adjacent to Cyrene, and those who came from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them ours in tongues that speak of the great [works] of God "(Acts 2: 9-11).

Apparently, the apostles hastened to leave the upper room and inform people about the unusual event, as well as begin the preaching of the Gospel. Skeptics from the crowd did not even get through the visual manifestation of God's intervention in the life of mankind, and the apostles were accused of drunkenness. The apostle Peter objected to the attack, confirming the gift of polyphony with the words from the book of the prophet Joel:

“And it will be in last days, says God, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy ... And on My servants and on My handmaidens in those days I will pour out My Spirit, and they will prophesy ”(Acts 2: 17-18).

"I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh"- speaks of the completeness of the gifts that God can give to every believer. The gifts of the Holy Spirit, for example, are love, wisdom, knowledge, faith, miracles, teaching, etc., that is, those skills that allow a Christian to serve for the good of people and the Church. After the preaching of the Apostle Peter, 3,000 people were baptized in Jerusalem.

Pentecost became the birthday of the Orthodox Church, the day when God breathed into her His Spirit, which is invisibly transmitted to the clergy through ordination and to all believers during their participation in the sacraments.

Holiday traditions

One of the most striking visual features of the Trinity is the decoration of Orthodox churches with grass and young birches. In the Russian people Pentecost was called "green Christmastide", the time of seeing off spring and meeting summer. Branches of a tree, by analogy with blessed willow, sometimes on the day of Trinity they bring home, and deliver next to the icons. Monday, the day of Spirits, following the resurrection of Pentecost, was also considered to be a continuation of the holiday. The week after Trinity, according to the Church's charter, is considered continuous; fasting on Wednesday and Friday is canceled. This period is also the time of preparation for the upcoming Peter's Lent, which ends on July 12, on the day of the Apostles Peter and Paul. In the agrarian Russian tradition, the land on the day of Trinity was called the birthday girl, and it was not accepted to work on Monday either. Pentecost is preceded by Trinity parental Saturday, the day of special commemoration of the departed.

Birthday of the Church

Translated from Greek the word "Church" means "The Assembly." The Lord designated to all striving for eternal life the center of attraction - the Holy Church, the imprint of the Heavenly Kingdom on earth. Humanity received the opportunity to become citizens of God's Fatherland thanks to baptism and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is in baptism, the “gateway” to the Heavenly Kingdom, that new, unique opportunities are sent down to a person, which he is called to develop and put into the work of serving God and people. The apostles, being timid people of little faith, but seeking the Lord, after the descent of the Holy Spirit became bold and fiery preachers. They fearlessly went to death for God, not afraid of torture and painful death. The Holy Spirit opened their inner sight to them, and it was on the day of Pentecost that the apostles finally understood the meaning of all the events that happened to them during Christ's stay on earth.

The cycle of church holidays is enclosed in an annual circle. From year to year we celebrate Christmas and Epiphany in winter frosts, joyfully and in a spring-like way we shout "Christ is Risen!" on Easter, we play weddings after the Assumption and on Pokrov. "One and the same" - in the hearts of a stranger will wave his hand. And we will shift the popular "repetition - the mother of doctrine" to our church life. Having received the gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism, from year to year we improve in spiritual life and go out into the harvest of good fruits, noticing how every year we change little by little. God's Spirit purifies, gives strength, knowledge, opportunities, creates and helps us in life in all our endeavors. It is not for nothing that the prayer "Heavenly King" is raised before the beginning of each business according to the church tradition.

Seraphim of Sarov said that the acquisition of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the main goal of a Christian's life. And Isaac the Syrian asserted that God approaches us as much as a person strives for him. God is not an illusion, but the reality of our life. All subconscious searches of the human soul for freedom, love, brotherhood, tranquility, harmony can be satisfied only in God. The Holy Spirit with His unlimited power and love will help us.

The Christian holiday Trinity is one of the Orthodox twelve-year holidays, which is celebrated 50 days after Easter, on Sunday. The churches of the Western tradition celebrate on this day the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, Pentecost, and the Trinity itself - on the following resurrection.

The meaning of the feast of the Trinity

The Bible says that the grace given to the apostles by the Holy Spirit descended on them on this very day. Thanks to this, people were shown the third person of God, they joined the sacrament: the unity of God is manifested in three persons - Father, Son and Spirit. From that day on, the message is preached throughout the earth. In general, the meaning of the Trinity as a holiday is that God reveals to people in stages, and not immediately. In modern Christianity, the Trinity means that the Father, who created all living things, sent people the Son, Jesus Christ, and then the Holy Spirit. For believers, the meaning of the Holy Trinity is reduced to the praise of God in all his guises.

Trinity Celebration Traditions

The Holy Trinity, whose celebration history goes back thousands of years, is also widely celebrated today. The people celebrate Trinity for three days. The first day is Klechalny or Green Sunday, when people had to be extremely careful because of the aggressiveness of mermaids, mavoks, rubbers and other mythical evil spirits. In the villages, the holiday of the Russian Trinity is celebrated in accordance with traditions and certain rituals. The floor of churches and houses was decorated with grass, icons - with birch branches. Green symbolized the renewing and life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. By the way, in some Orthodox Churches the same meaning is endowed with golden and white colors... Girls on Green Sunday read fortune with braided wreaths. If the wreaths put on the water come together, then this year the young woman will be matched. On this day, deceased relatives were commemorated in the cemeteries, leaving treats on the graves. And in the evenings, buffoons and mummers entertained the villagers.

Klechany Monday comes in the morning. After the service in the church, the clergy went to the fields and read prayers, asking the Lord for protection for the future harvest. Children at this time participated in interesting games, fun.

On the third day, Bogodukhov day, the girls “took Poplar”. Her role was played by the most beautiful unmarried girl... She was adorned beyond recognition with wreaths and ribbons, and she was taken to country courtyards for the owners to treat her generously. The water in the wells on this day was sanctified, getting rid of the unclean spirit.

Christian western tradition

Lutheranism and Catholicism share the holidays of Trinity and Pentecost. The cycle opens with Pentecost, a week later Trinity is celebrated, on the 11th day after Pentecost - the feast of the Blood and Body of Christ, on the 19th day - the Sacred Heart of Christ, on the 20th day - the feast of the Immaculate Heart of St. Mary. In Poland and Belarus, Catholic churches in Russia these days, temples are decorated with birch twigs. Public holiday The Trinity is considered to be in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Iceland, Luxembourg, Latvia, Ukraine, Romania, Switzerland, Norway and France.

Trinity and modernity

Today, Trinity is especially celebrated in the countryside. Before this day, the hostesses usually put things in order both in the house and in the courtyard, and prepare festive dishes. Flowers and grass collected early in the morning decorate rooms, doors and windows, believing that they are in the house evil spirits will not be allowed.

In the morning, festive services are held in the temples, and in the evening you can attend concerts, festivities, and take part in fun competitions. Most of the traditions, unfortunately, have been lost, but the holiday is still one of the most important for believers.

Day of the Holy Trinity - the history of the holiday

Many holidays are celebrated in Orthodoxy. Believers are certainly aware of such a holiday as the Day of the Holy Trinity; it has a long history and certain customs.

The church celebrates this holiday on the Day of Pentecost - on the fiftieth day after Easter. Any Orthodox person knows exactly when to celebrate this holiday and what is the history of the Day of the Holy Trinity. The history of the origin of the feast of the Trinity dates back to the time of Jesus Christ. Then, on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ, the apostles of the Holy Spirit descended to earth. The apostles understood the role of the third person of the Trinity and why God is triune.

History of the Day of the Holy Trinity

After the Ascension, the apostles were constantly present in the Zion Upper Room and prayed. Suddenly they heard a noise in the sky, and tongues of fire appeared in front of them, which fell on their heads. Thus, the Holy Spirit entered the bodies of the apostles. The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the knowledge of hitherto unknown languages ​​so that they could spread the Christian faith throughout the world. The Orthodox holiday of the Trinity was proclaimed by the apostles, according to history. After the described incident, Christians began to celebrate this holiday every Pentecost, it is considered one of the most important in the Orthodox world.

Later, Basil the Great composed certain prayers that were necessary to read on that day. This tradition continues to this day. The day of the Holy Trinity is considered a birth throughout the Orthodox world christian church which was created by God.

In Orthodoxy, the Day of the Holy Trinity and the Day of Pentecost are combined together, which cannot be said about the Catholic Church. Catholics celebrate Holy Trinity Day the next Sunday after Pentecost.

Icons telling about the descent of the Holy Spirit began to be painted in the 6th century. They usually show the Zion chamber and the apostles with books. At the same time, there is an empty space between the apostles Peter and Paul, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Flames are above the heads of the apostles.

The history of the emergence of the feast of the Trinity is very ancient, it originates from the Ascension of Jesus Christ. Orthodox people know this and therefore celebrate the holiday especially widely - they must attend services on the day of Pentecost.

History also tells us about some of the traditions and customs that are observed during the feast of the Trinity to this day. The floors of temples and houses should be covered with freshly cut grass, and icons should be decorated with birch branches, symbolizing the power of the Holy Spirit. On the Saturday before Trinity Day, Orthodox Christians go to the cemetery to honor the memory of deceased relatives, this day is called “parental”. Birch branches are used to decorate houses and temples; this tradition has developed historically. Moreover, it is believed that Holy Trinity Day without birch decorations is the same as Christmas without a New Year tree. Before Trinity, they must carry out a general cleaning, bake pies, make wreaths (again, from birch and flowers). This holiday is especially loved by girls since ancient times, because they could dress beautifully and go to the bride. Matchmaking on Trinity is considered a good omen, and the wedding is already being played in the fall.

Some customs of the feast of the Holy Trinity have migrated from history to our time - churches are decorated with birch branches, girls weave wreaths, Orthodox Christians must go to the cemetery in parent's saturday... This holiday is very joyful and cheerful - in the morning it is necessary to visit the temple, and after that they lead round dances and sing songs. One of the traditional dishes on Trinity - a loaf, often invite guests and celebrate this holiday together. Folk festivities on Trinity do not lose their popularity.

What does the feast of the Holy Trinity mean? When is it celebrated? History of the holiday?

And what does the trinity have to do with it? The Bible does not contain the doctrine of the Trinity. It appeared more than 320 years after the end of writing the Bible. Jesus recalled 1 commandment - About ONE true God, and not about the Trinity introduced by pagan religions into Christianity. - 3 years ago

Aaleksey

Trinity is usually celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter and on the tenth day after the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ. You can learn about this day from the Bible. On this day, about two thousand years ago (according to historians in May 30 AD) the apostles were sitting in a room in one of the Jerusalem houses on Mount Zion. And suddenly there was a noise from heaven and filled the whole house, and all the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages that they didn’t know before. There were many pilgrims in Jerusalem at that time from different countries hearing the noise, they hurried to the house of the apostles. They were surprised when they heard the apostles speak in different languages... For each of them, the sermon of the apostles sounded on his native language... The time has come not only for God the Father (who was in the time of the Old Testament), not only for God the Father and the Son (times of the New Testament), but the time for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Esther

The Feast of the Holy Trinity means that we have a Triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And also on this day, Christians around the world celebrate the birth of the church, not the building of the church, but people. The church is believing people. And where two or three are gathered in the name of God, there is God among them. In 2016, the feast of the Holy Trinity is on June 19, and in 2017 - on June 4. Happy Holidays!

In Orthodoxy the feast of the Trinity falls on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ when, according to the Gospel, the Third Person of the Trinity - The Holy Spirit - descended on the Apostles in the form of tongues of flame, after which they were able to preach in different languages ​​the Word of God to different nations, not only to the Jews. So another name for the holiday is Pentecost.

In Catholicism and Lutheranism, the holidays of the Trinity and Pentecost do not coincide: Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit is also celebrated on Sunday on the 50th day after Easter; Trinity is celebrated a week later, next Sunday.

In Protestantism, it is Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ, is a great triumph. For example, the denomination of Pentecostal evangelicals celebrates this day no less vigorously than Easter, and usually spends on this day the baptism of the Holy Spirit of neophytes in water bodies.

Mychange

The history of the origin of the feast of the Trinity is set forth in the Apostolic Acts. On the 50th day after Easter, the apostles were waiting for the fulfillment of the promise given by Christ, which was fulfilled - the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, they were given grace-filled help to preach Christianity throughout the world. Thus, the Christian church was born.

It is very symbolic that the first New Testament Pentecost was on the day of Pentecost of the Old Testament, that is, on the day when God gave the commandments of God to people, the apostles and all Christians received help to fulfill the commandments, and the apostles received grace to perform the sacrament of the Eucharist and other sacraments.

This holiday is always celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, on Sunday.

Kritikspb

The Orthodox holiday of the Trinity was proclaimed by the Apostles, on the fiftieth day after the Ascension, when the Holy Spirit entered their bodies and gave them the knowledge of many languages ​​so that they could preach Christianity and carry it into the hearts and souls of people around the world.

Kitsune tenko

Feast of the Holy Trinity, or Pentecost, is one of the main Christian holidays, which is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter.

The Orthodox Church refers it to the so-called twelve feasts, the meaning of which is in the glorification of the Holy Trinity.

The second name is Pentecost- I received this day because the Holy Spirit descended to the Apostles on the 50th day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the form of tongues of fire. With this sign, the Holy Spirit made it clear that the apostles have the strength and ability to preach the teachings of Christ to other nations. On that day, many people believed in Jesus Christ and were baptized.

For this holiday, it is customary for Orthodox Christians to decorate houses with fresh green birch twigs and fragrant flowers.

Ivan Markin

The descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the day of Pentecost is described in the Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 2: 1-18). On the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ (the tenth day after the Ascension), the apostles were in the upper room of Zion in Jerusalem, “... suddenly there was a noise from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled the whole house where they were. And divided tongues appeared to them, as it were, of fire, and rested, one on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance ”(Acts 2: 2-4).

On this day, Jews from different cities and countries were in the city on the occasion of the holiday. Hearing the noise, they gathered in front of the house where the apostles were, and when they heard what was being said inside in different dialects, they were amazed. Some of them mocked the apostles and “said they drank sweet wine” (Acts 2:13). In response to this reaction:

The holiday received its first name in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, which Jesus Christ promised them before His ascension into heaven. The descent of the Holy Spirit pointed to the trinity of God - “God the Father creates the world, God the Son redeems people from slavery to the devil, God the Holy Spirit sanctifies the world through the dispensation of the Church” [source not specified 311 days]. On the day of Pentecost, the universal apostolic church was formed (Acts 2: 41-47).

The corresponding text in Catholicism is the prayer Veni Sancte Spiritus. Veni per Mariam.

The New Testament does not directly mention that the Mother of God was with the apostles at the descent of the Holy Spirit. The tradition of her presence in the iconographic images of this event is based on the indication in the Acts of the Apostles that after the Ascension the disciples of Jesus “were unanimous in prayer and supplication, with some wives and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:14). In this regard, Bishop Innokenty (Borisov) writes: "Could at the moment of the coming of the Holy Spirit not be present the one who conceived and gave birth through Him?"

As a theological term "charisma" is 9 special gifts of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out on the apostles in the Jerusalem temple at the feast of Pentecost. These gifts are: wisdom, knowledge and the ability to discern spirits; faith, miracles and healing; prophecies, glossolalia and the interpretation of tongues.

What is Trinity?

What are they doing? How is it celebrated?

Orina

The Trinity is also called Pentecost, because it is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. This holiday takes place in honor of the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). It is believed that on this day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. On Trinity Sunday, the Apostle Peter baptized and converted 3,000 people to Christianity. This day is the birthday of the Christian church, but not only the Orthodox, but also the Catholic.

On these days, there is a whole summer cycle of holidays. If after the New Year we celebrate the winter Christmastide, then in the summer we celebrate the Green Christmastide. In the old days, they also dressed up as animals, mermaids, and other evil spirits on "green Christmastide".

Trinity churches have always been decorated with wildflowers and meadow flowers, birch twigs and other plants. Fresh plucked green grass was sprinkled on the floor. It was believed that this herb has healing properties... Those who kept the cattle took this herb home. It was believed that animals that were fed church grass would not get sick, and cows would give a lot of high-quality milk.

Everyone went to church on Trinity with twigs of birches and bunches of flowers. Plants that have been in the church were dried and stored behind icons.

After church, the girls put wreaths on their heads and walked to a birch tree decorated with ribbons and flowers. The birch was cut down. A procession with a felled tree went around the whole village. Then the birch was stuck into the ground and a round dance was led around it. In the evening, they took off all the decorations from the tree and went to the river to drown it.

On the same day, the girls threw their wreaths into the water and, as a rule, wondered something about the suitors. If the wreath sank, then the girl will not marry this year. If the wreath adhered to the shore, then expect happiness.

Many years ago there was a custom to bury the dead on Trinity, who for some reason had not been buried within a year. The reason could be an epidemic or a famine year. Then all the bodies fell into a common pit. In the week before Trinity and in Trinity itself, the dead were placed in coffins and buried as expected.

Dolfanika

Trinity is a holiday with a rolling date, every year the date of the celebration of the Trinity is celebrated on different days, depending on the date of Easter. One thing is invariable, Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. Knowing the date of the celebration of Easter, we can calculate the day of the celebration of the Trinity.

The holiday is celebrated in honor of the Holy Trinity

The first God the Father, the creator of everything living and inanimate, visible and invisible in our world. After the creation of peace on earth, God the Father sent the Son to earth as a messenger of the bright path. Then the Holy Spirit descended to earth, he is next to every person.

The second God is the Son, he is born of God the Father.

The third God is the Holy Spirit, it comes from God the Father.

For unbelievers, the Trinity has a meaning as a symbol of the onset of something new, joyful and light.

Believers go to church on this day, observe traditions.

The holiday of Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter, but this figure appeared for a reason. For 40 days after the Resurrection, Jesus was still on earth with his wasps and his disciples, and only on the fortieth day ascended. But at the same time he told the disciples that in ten days the Holy Spirit would descend upon them, and they would receive the knowledge and strength to carry Christianity to the people. And so it happened, exactly 10 days after the Ascension, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and they went to preach the teachings of Christ. It is this event that is celebrated on this day. In fact, this is the beginning of the Christian church, its birth. Therefore, this is one of the greatest holidays in Christianity.

This is a holiday of the fiftieth day after Easter ... the day of the condescension of the holy spirit on the apostles, who bestowed them with numerous abilities, is celebrated. And it is celebrated from year to year simply - this holiday always happens on Sunday, so the day before, on Saturday, they visit the cemetery, remembering their dead relatives, then attend the evening service in the church, and on Sunday morning. The church and the house are decorated with herbs, birch branches preparing a festive stock.

Already told

Also in ancient Russia celebrated the holiday of the Trinity, it was called "green Christmastide", "mermaid week". At that time, it was dedicated to the awakening of mother earth, the beginning of the lush growth of plants, it was dedicated to the Slavic goddess Lada.

After the arrival of Christianity in Russia, two holidays were mixed into one, but in many villages Trinity is still called "green week" or "heartfelt commemoration" (source "Narodnaya Rus", 1901, Apollo of Corinth).

Among Orthodox Christians, Trinity is celebrated seven weeks after Easter, on the fiftieth day, therefore it is also called "Pentecost". This holiday is dedicated to the Descent of the Holy Spirit:

The church celebrates two days: the first day is Sunday, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and Monday is dedicated to the Holy Spirit, otherwise the people call it Spirits Day.

As in antiquity, today there is a tradition to decorate everything around with birch branches on this day.

The Feast of the Trinity is also called Pentecost in another way, all because it is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. This holiday is rolling, it has no fixed date. People call this holiday "emerald" or "green". Because it symbolizes the renewal of life. Priyanto for this holiday and decorate their homes with birch, maple or lilac branches. It is also customary to put wreaths of flowers on the water on Trinity.

Lelishna

The Feast of the Holy Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. Otherwise, the holiday is called Pentecost. The Trinity is understood as the unity of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity has been widespread in Russia since the fourteenth century thanks to the efforts of St. Sergius of Radonezh. On this day, it is customary to clean houses, decorate the house with green branches, as a symbol of spring and life.

Holy Trinity Day is one of the main Orthodox holidays... It is rolling, associated with the date of the celebration of Easter, as it is always held seven weeks after it on Sunday. On this day, people walk, attend services and festivals. The service, which is performed on this day in Orthodox churches, is considered the most beautiful of all services held throughout the year.

The Feast of the Holy Trinity is one of the most important Christian holidays. Orthodox believers celebrate it on Sunday, the 50th day after Easter. This holiday got its name in honor of the great event - the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, as Jesus Christ promised them before his ascension to heaven. This descent indicated the triplicity of God.

The Orthodox holiday of the Trinity is celebrated 50 days after church holiday Easter. It is celebrated on Sunday. Also, accordingly, the holiday is called Pentecost. It is believed that the descent of the Holy Spirit took place on this day. Hard work is not recommended on this day, it is better to visit church, devote time to family and spiritual development.

Holy Trinity Day, Pentecost, Descent of the Holy Spirit- one of the main Christian holidays, included in Orthodoxy among the twelve holidays.

The holiday received its first name in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, which Jesus Christ promised them before his ascension into heaven. The biblical legend says that after Christ's Resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended on His disciples-apostles. On this day, the universal apostolic church was formed. The Day of the Holy Trinity is celebrated by the Church on the fiftieth day after Easter, therefore it is also called Pentecost.

❧ “When the day of Pentecost came, all of them (that is, the apostles) were unanimously together. And suddenly there was a noise from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled the whole house where they were. And divided tongues appeared to them, as it were, of fire, and rested, one on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. "

By the Holy Spirit, the apostles received the gift of speaking in different languages. The people with whom the apostles began to talk, when they left the Zion chamber, were amazed - where did yesterday's ordinary fishermen have such abilities. And everyone asked each other in surprise: "How do we hear each of our own dialects in which we were born?"

Of course, this gift was not given by the Lord to his disciples by accident. The fact is that from now on they became God's messengers. They had to go to all ends of the earth to preach the Word of God, to establish the Church of God on earth, so that every person could be saved. “As the Father sent Me, so I am sending you,” said the Lord. - To whom you forgive sins will be forgiven; on whom you leave, on that they will remain. "

The apostles were entrusted, as good shepherds (shepherds), to gather all the sheep of Christ - all God's people - into one flock. Everyone who strives for the Truth could become a member of a single whole - the Church of Christ. After all, the very word "church" means a council, an assembly.

That is why Christians consider the day of Pentecost to be the birthday of our Holy Church. On this birthday of the Church, we all congratulate each other today!

Christ's apostles, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, became the first priests of the new church. They passed on the grace of the priesthood to their successors, and those to theirs, and so it has been for two thousand years to this day. This means that the current priests of the Orthodox Church are the successors of the first apostles, and the Holy Spirit will rest on them, just as on the apostles.

Note: The Holy Spirit descended on Christ's disciples in the form of tongues of fire. Why is it so? Why does the Third Person of the Trinity manifest Himself as fire? Here's why. This is a symbol of the fire that should kindle in the soul of every believer - kindled with love for God. This is a sign that the whole person must be reborn, become new, become a real Christian.

The day after Trinity is dedicated to the Holy Spirit. And therefore it is called Spiritual Day. In prayers, the Holy Spirit is addressed as the Comforter. He appeared to the apostles and filled their hearts with joy.

On this day, one of the most solemn and beautiful services of the year is performed in Orthodox churches. After the Liturgy, Great Vespers is served, at which stichera glorifying the descent of the Holy Spirit are sung, and the priest reads three special prayers for the Church, for the salvation of all those praying and for the repose of the souls of all the departed (including those "held in hell"). While reading these prayers, everyone, including the clergy, kneels. This ends the post-Easter period, during which no kneeling or bowing to the ground is performed in churches.

According to the Russian tradition, the floor of the church (and houses of believers) on this day is covered with freshly cut grass, icons are decorated with birch branches, and the color of vestments is green, depicting the life-giving and renewing power of the Holy Spirit. In other Orthodox churches, vestments of white and gold are also used.

Why exactly birch branches are used on this day to decorate houses and temples? This tree is considered blessed in Russia. It is not for nothing that so many poems and songs are dedicated to him. The holiday of the Trinity without a birch is the same as Christmas without a tree. And nature itself on this day, on the eve of violent flowering, resembles a young girl on the verge of adulthood.

But Russia is a big country with different climatic conditions Apparently, this can explain the fact that in some areas the festive trees were oak, maple, and mountain ash.

Trinity passes noisily and cheerfully. In the morning everyone rushes to the festive service. And after it they arrange folk fun with round dances, games, songs. Loafs were definitely prepared. Guests were invited to a festive dinner, gifts were made to each other. In some areas, fairs were held.

With the revival of faith in Russia, the traditions of celebrating Orthodox holidays are being revived. And already in our time, folk festivals with games, performances, songs are organized in the cities of the country.

How Trinity is celebrated in other countries

In Austria the symbols of the holiday are the dove, fire and water, which are associated with many ancient customs. For example, in some places in Austria, on Saturday before Trinity, wells are decorated with flowers and ribbons, and in churches during the festive mass, pigeons are released.

In Cyprus Orthodox Christians celebrate the Holy Trinity on the same day as in Russia. The Day of Water is also associated with this day - a memory of the Universal Flood and the salvation of Noah, or, as the Cypriots call it, Cataclysm.

In Germany this day is accompanied by wreath-making, fortune telling, swinging and boating. Before the holiday, the house and garden are cleaned up. Early in the morning they collect wildflowers, as well as blossoming green branches of trees, birch is especially appreciated.

From the history of the holiday

In Russia, Trinity merged with the ancient Slavic holiday - Semik. It marked the end of spring and the beginning of summer and fell on Thursday (seven) of the seventh week after Easter. On this day, it was customary to lead round dances. Our ancestors believed that with a round dance they help the sun to bring summer closer. In Semik, it was customary to curl birch branches into a wreath, making plans for fate. They looked at Trinity to see what happened to the wreath. If the branches have not developed, the one on whom it was guessed will have long life... Women and girls through a birch wreath "idolized" - they kissed each other and became friends.

The celebration in honor of the Most Holy Trinity is one of the favorite among the people. In the Holy Trinity-Seraphim-Diveyevo nunnery - this is exactly how the complete official name The Diveyevo monastery is a patronal holiday. He is solemnly greeted, remember the history of the holiday and reverently revere the image of the Holy Trinity, captured on the icon. Let us remember the history and see how they prepare for the feast of Trinity in Diveevo.

Day of the Holy Trinity - the history of the holiday

The feast in honor of the Holy Trinity and the Day of the Holy Spirit (celebrated the next day after Trinity) was established by the apostles, and they commanded to celebrate the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit to all Christians annually (1 Cor. 16.8; Acts 20:16). The ancient Christians celebrated the Trinity in a special way: there was a custom to baptize the catechumens on this day, just as three thousand people were baptized after the apostolic sermon.

The feast of the Trinity was widespread among the first Christians and in Byzantium. But in Russia they did not immediately find out about him. Only thanks to the efforts of St. Sergius of Radonezh, who dedicated the very first church in his monastery to the Most Holy Life-giving Trinity, the veneration of this holiday began to acquire a mass character. This event served as a starting point - monasteries and temples in honor of the Life-Giving Trinity began to appear in Russia.

Feast of the Trinity as a symbol of spiritual spring

There is always a lot of greenery and flowers on Trinity, although it is a rolling holiday. And this is not a coincidence. Here is what is written about this in A. Strizhev's brochure - "Flowers and a Temple".

“Greenery and flowers symbolize the spiritual spring, the Church of Christ itself, which, through the manifestation of the grace of the Holy Spirit, flourished“ like a krin ”. The fragrance of flowers signifies the fragrance of spiritual gifts given to the souls of believers by the Spirit of Truth, the Life-giving Lord. "

And this connection, earthly spring with spiritual spring is felt in a completely inexplicable way. Ancient customs are also associated with it. For Trinity, they never worked in the field - it was believed that on this day the earth was resting and should not be touched. On this day, the weather was also monitored - if there was a heat, and there was not even a little rain - this was a terrible harbinger of a very hot summer. But as a rule, on this good holiday, the Lord sent His mercy - rain on Trinity, albeit small, but it happens.

Another interesting custom was to keep Trinity grass. The one that covered the floors in the church for the holiday. The herb was considered medicinal, and also helped against rodents and insects in the house.

Who is depicted in the icon of the Holy Trinity, and what does it mean?

The history of iconography knows examples of icons depicting the Trinity in Byzantine church art. But it was Andrei Rublev who managed to give the image an integral and independent character.

Rublevskaya Trinity is so unique that it can be compared to a complete theological text. Here's what you can read in the description of the icon:

“Three angels are depicted on a light background, sitting around a table with a bowl on it. The middle angel rises above the rest, behind him is a tree, behind the right angel - a mountain, behind the left - chambers. Angels' heads are bowed in silent conversation. Their faces are similar, as if the same face is depicted in three versions. The entire composition is inscribed in a system of concentric circles that can be drawn along the halos, along the outline of the wings, along the movement of angelic hands, and all these circles converge at the epicenter of the icon, where a bowl is depicted, and in the bowl is the head of a calf. Before us is not just a meal, but a Eucharistic meal in which the atoning sacrifice is performed.

The Trinity of Andrei Rublev is a symbolic image of the Trinity of the Divine, as already indicated by the Hundred-Glav Cathedral. Indeed, the visit of Abraham by three Angels was not a manifestation of the Holy Trinity, but was only "a prophetic vision of this mystery, which over the centuries will gradually be revealed to the believing thought of the Church." In accordance with this, and in the icon of Rublev, not the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit appear before us, but three Angels, symbolizing the Eternal Council of the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity. The symbolism of the Rublev icon is somewhat akin to the symbolism of early Christian painting, which hid deep dogmatic truths under simple but spiritually significant symbols. "