When is Trinity Day. What is the Orthodox holiday of Trinity? Biblical background to the Orthodox church holiday

The Holy Trinity in 2016 is celebrated on Sunday, June 19. In 2017 on June 4, in 2018 on May 27, in 2019 on June 16, in 2020 on June 7. On the eve of Pentecost (on Saturday) the remembrance of the dead is performed. This is Trinity parent's Saturday, when God is asked to forgive sins and grant eternal bliss to the departed. On the Monday closest to Trinity, Orthodox Christians celebrate. This is the second day of the holiday. A week later (also on Monday) it begins.

Holy Trinity or Pentecost

The Feast of the Holy Trinity is called Pentecost, because, according to legend, it was on the fiftieth day after Easter that the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles. The holiday of Christian Pentecost is a double celebration: for the glory of the Most Holy Trinity and for the glory of the Most Holy Spirit. “The first day of Pentecost, i.e. Resurrection, the Church dedicates primarily to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity; and this day is popularly called Trinity Day, and the second, i.e. Monday is for the glory of the Holy Spirit, which is why it is called Spiritual Day. The Church begins the celebration of the Holy Spirit, as usual, with an evening service on Trinity Day.” (God's Law). “After the Liturgy of Trinity Day, Vespers follows, at which the priest reads three prayers addressed to the Triune God. At this time, everyone kneels for the first time since Easter.” (Alexander Men).

The Feast of Pentecost has passed into Christian Church from the Jewish, when they celebrated the Sinai legislation. On this day, the Mother of God, the apostles and believers were in the upper room in Jerusalem. Suddenly there was a sound like the sound of wind. It came from Heaven. Then tongues of heavenly flame flared up, which did not burn, but were very bright. It was the Holy Spirit who descended on the apostles to warm, cleanse and sanctify their souls. After that event, the apostles went out to the people who had arrived from different countries, and began to preach in their native languages. In the year 30, “Jerusalem was overflowing with pilgrims coming from all over the Roman Empire. Suddenly the attention of the people was attracted by a group of Galileans: overwhelmed by inspiration, they addressed the people with strange speeches. Some thought they were drunk, but others were amazed that these people from Galilee were understood even by those who did not know the Aramaic dialect. Then Peter, a disciple of Jesus, came out and said that the time had come for the fulfillment of the prophecies, when the Spirit of God would rest on all the faithful. … On the same day, thousands of Jews were baptized in the name of Jesus. …Those who only recently fled Gethsemane in fear begin the worldwide preaching of the Gospel. Neither the threats of the bishops, nor torture, nor prison will stop them. New generations will come after them.” (Alexander Men).

Forest Lake. Birches around

Whit Monday

The Orthodox celebrate Spirits Day on the first Monday after Pentecost. “The Church gives thanks to the Spirit of the Lord, who poured out his grace on her children.” (Alexander Men). The first week after Trinity is dedicated to the memory of all saints.

Petrov post

Peter's Fast (Apostolic) begins on Monday a week after the celebration of the Holy Trinity. Ends on the Day of Remembrance of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

How to celebrate Trinity

Trinity, the day of recognition of the “viviparous Spirit of God,” is usually sunny. It seems that both the air and every blade of grass are glowing. It’s not for nothing that Trinity is called the Green Christmastide; this holiday has been closely associated with seeing off spring and welcoming summer since pagan times. Temples and houses are decorated with flowers and birch branches. The floor of the church is covered with grass and wildflowers. This is a long-standing custom: in the Old Testament Church, synagogues and residential buildings were decorated with fresh flowers, believing that everything should be reminiscent of the blooming Mount Sinai, where “Moses received the tablets of the law.” According to legend, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, the Zion upper room on Pentecost was filled with flowers and tree branches.

What can't you do on Trinity?

Working for Trinity is considered a sin. Especially the one connected to the earth. It is believed that on this day one should not disturb Mother Earth or disturb the harmony in nature. It’s better to take a walk in the forest and chat with the birch trees. This is exactly the case when “work is not a wolf; it won’t run into the forest.” You need to rest on Trinity Sunday.

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Trinity Day is one of the most important holidays for every Orthodox believer. It's filled with deep sacred meaning: the events of gospel history, remembered on this day, played an important role in the formation of the Christian religion.

Trinity is a moving holiday: it is celebrated annually on the fiftieth day after the Holy Resurrection of Christ, which is why this event is also called Pentecost. At this time, the prophecy of Christ, which he gave to his disciples before his Ascension into heaven, was fulfilled.

History and meaning of the Feast of the Holy Trinity

According to the New Testament, before ascending to Heaven, Christ repeatedly appeared to the apostles, instructing them in order to prepare them for the descent of the Holy Spirit on them. This happened ten days after the Ascension. The apostles, who were in the room where their last meal with the Savior took place - the Last Supper - suddenly heard an inexplicable noise from heaven, like the sound of the wind. The sound filled the entire room, and after that fire was revealed: it divided into separate tongues of flame, and each of the apostles perceived it. From that moment on, the Savior’s disciples had the opportunity to speak all the languages of the world in order to bring the light of Christian teaching to all peoples. For this reason, the day of the Holy Trinity is also revered as the day of the founding of the church.

In honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit, the holiday received this name: this event denoted the trinity of God. The three hypostases of the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit - exist in unity, creating the world and sanctifying it with Divine grace.

The holiday was established at the end of the fourth century after the adoption of the dogma of the Divine Trinity. In Rus', the celebration was approved three centuries after Epiphany. Over time, Trinity Day became one of the most beloved and revered holidays among the people: in addition to church institutions, many folk traditions and customs appeared that became an integral part of this day.

Trinity Celebration

On the day of the Holy Trinity, a solemn festive service is held in churches, characterized by extraordinary pomp and beauty. According to the canon, priests conduct services in green robes: this shade symbolizes the life-giving, creative power of the Holy Trinity. For the same reason, birch branches are considered one of the main symbols of the holiday - they traditionally decorate churches and houses - and freshly cut grass, which is used to line the floors of churches. There was a belief that a bunch of branches used as church decoration could become an excellent amulet and protect the house from adversity, so they were often taken with them and stored throughout the year.

It was believed that herbs on the day of the Holy Trinity were endowed with special powers, so they collected medicinal plants at this time. There was even a custom of shedding tears on a bunch of grass while lighting a candle in honor of the holiday - so that the summer would not bring drought, and the soil would be fertile and delight with its gifts.

On the day of the Holy Trinity, it is customary to pray for the forgiveness of sins, as well as for the salvation of the souls of all the departed - including those who died an unnatural death. Prayers are read during church services, and believers accompany them with prostrations, which are again resolved after the completion of a series of Easter services. If it is not possible to visit the temple, you can pray at home in front of the icon: on the day of the Holy Trinity, any sincere words will certainly be heard.

By correctly celebrating this important holiday for all Christians, you can change your life for the better. May your every day be filled with joy. We wish you well-being and strong faith, and do not forget to press the buttons and

31.05.2017 06:10

Folk signs Trinity is frightening with its content. According to some beliefs, if you don't visit the cemetery in...

Trinity is one of the 12 main Orthodox holidays. It is celebrated annually on Sunday, the 50th day after Easter. In 2020, Trinity Sunday falls on June 7th. The official church name of the holiday is Holy Trinity Day. Pentecost. It was established in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Virgin Mary on the 50th day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The holiday symbolizes the unity of the Holy Spirit, God the Father and God the Son.

Contents of the article

History of the holiday

The holiday is dedicated to the events that occurred on the 50th day after Easter - the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Virgin Mary. At this time, the disciples of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God were in the Zion Upper Room in Jerusalem. At three o'clock in the afternoon they heard a loud noise, and the blessed fire descended on them. After this, the apostles received the gift of speaking different languages to preach the teachings of Christ to the nations of the world. This event is described in the Acts of the Holy Apostles.

Traditions and rituals of the holiday

Trinity has well-established church and folk traditions of celebration.

IN Orthodox Church it is celebrated for three days. The clergy dresses in green clothes, which symbolizes eternal life and life-giving. Temples are decorated with tree branches and the floor is covered with fresh grass.

On the eve of Saturday an all-night vigil is served. On the day of the holiday, the Gospel of John is read, and the festive liturgy is performed. The third day of Trinity is called the day of the Holy Spirit. On this day, it is customary for churches to bless water. People take the grass and branches that were used to decorate the temples and bring them home. They are dried and stored all year - they protect the house from diseases and troubles.

On holidays, people attend services in churches. On the eve of Trinity, they remember the dead: they go to cemeteries and leave treats for the spirits.

According to folk traditions, on the eve of the celebration, housewives carry out general cleaning of houses and courtyards. They prepare holiday treats, bake bread or loaf, which symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Houses and icons are decorated with tree branches and herbs. On the day of the Holy Trinity, after the service, it is customary to visit or invite close relatives and friends and give gifts. After the festive dinner, folk festivities are held. People go to nature, where they perform ritual dances, sing songs, and light fires.

Traditional healers collect herbs on this day. They believe that nature gives them special miraculous properties.

Fortune telling for Trinity

On the day of the Holy Trinity, young girls make fortunes about future events, marriage, love. When performing rituals, they use plants and water.

Fortune telling on a wreath. On the evening of the holiday, you need to make a wreath of birch branches and four types of grass: thyme, Ivan-da-Marya, burdock and bear's ear and leave it overnight in the yard. If it withers the next morning, then you can expect minor difficulties in the near future. A fresh wreath heralds a successful year.

Fortune telling by the river. The girl must weave a wreath, insert a lit candle into it and launch it down the river. If he drowns near the shore, then the relationship with the guy will be short and unsuccessful. If a wreath floats far down the river with a lit candle, then a fateful meeting awaits its owner. A wreath washed ashore marks this year's wedding.

Fortune telling for St. John's wort. In order to find out whether a young man has feelings for a girl, she must take a bunch of St. John's wort and twist it with such force that the juice flows out of it. If the juice is clear, then the love is unrequited, and if it is red, then the feelings are strong and mutual.

What can you eat on Trinity Sunday?

There is no fasting on this day, so you are allowed to eat any dishes and products.

How to decorate a house for Trinity

People use young branches of trees, meadow grasses and flowers to decorate their houses. The main symbol is the birch tree. Young green foliage symbolizes the cycle of life and youth. The white color of the branches represents the pure thoughts of believers. Branches of oak, linden, maple and rowan are designed to protect the house from evil spirits.

Among meadow herbs, people use cornflowers, lovage, thyme, fern, mint, lemon balm, and burdock. They weave wreaths from them and hang them on the door, make bouquets that they place on the table or near the icons. Unmarried girls put herbs under their pillow.

What not to do on Trinity

Trinity is great Orthodox holiday. On this day you should not engage in heavy physical labor or household chores. You should devote time to prayers and loved ones. You can’t quarrel and get angry with others. According to popular beliefs, on this day it is forbidden to swim in natural reservoirs. People believe that on Trinity, evil spirits take the form of mystical characters (mermaids, merman) and are capable of causing harm.

Signs and beliefs for Trinity

Rainy day - to good harvest mushrooms in autumn.
You should not have a wedding on this holiday, otherwise the marriage will be unsuccessful.
Arranging matchmaking on Trinity is a good omen. The future marriage will be strong and happy.
Pentecost is a good time to search for treasures. On this day, the earth is able to generously bestow wealth on a person.
It is considered a good sign to shed tears during the service. Mourning the grass symbolizes a bountiful harvest and wealth.

Trinity is a great Orthodox holiday, symbolizing the fullness of God's grace, when the third Holy Hypostasis - the Holy Spirit - appeared to people, celebrated on June 7 in 2020.

Before His ascension, resurrected and staying with his chosen disciples, the Apostles, Jesus commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit descended on them, after which he ascended to heaven.

Biblical Description of Pentecost

This holiday was named Trinity in honor of the fullness of God, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with whom the Creator baptized the Apostles on the fiftieth day from the Resurrection of the Lord. Hence the second name of this holiday - Pentecost.

Holy Trinity

The Apostles and faithful followers of Jesus Christ were in prayer and daily communion, among whom were:

students;
women who accompanied the teacher during His earthly life;
Mother Mary;
His brothers.

The Teacher did not say when the Holy Spirit would appear, or how it would be, he only said that everyone should be waiting.

The history of the holiday in Orthodoxy

From this day on, every Sunday, 50 days or seven weeks after, the Apostles and the Christians around them celebrated the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. The celebrations of the Week ended with the baptism of those added to the Church.

Quintus Tertullian, an early Christian theologian, writer of more than 31 preserved treatises, wrote in 220-230 that the holiday of Trinity eclipsed all pagan rituals of that time.

The Trinity in Orthodoxy means the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Pentecost received official recognition by the Church in 381 during the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople, at which a dogma was approved recognizing the equality of all three hypostases of the Holy Trinity.

At the Council, the Symbol of the Christian Faith was adopted - I Believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Creed
I believe in God the Father, the Almighty Creator, who created heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, the Savior of people, who was born of the Virgin Mary at conception by the Holy Spirit, was tortured during the time of Pontius Pilate, died by crucifixion, was buried and resurrected after descending into hell, ascended to Heaven, sat down at the right hand of the Most High, so that with Him to judge people, living and dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Universal Church, eternal life through forgiveness and resurrection. Amen.

Amen translated means the statement “So be it!”

Also see:

The Symbol of Faith is read in churches and at home prayers from Trinity to Easter.

The difference between Trinity and other holidays

Easter services end with Pentecost, after which the weeks in the church calendar are numbered as weeks after Trinity.

The Monday after the Feast of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is called the Day of the Holy Spirit. From there until Easter, the Creed is read, and after the Resurrection of Jesus and until the day of Pentecost, during church and home prayers, the hymn is read: “Christ rose from the dead, through death he overcame death, he rose alive from the grave,” which is not sung after the Day of the Holy Spirit.

The Trinity service begins with a prayer; it is read before the beginning at the end of any holiday or activity, when the Holy Spirit is invoked as a reliable helper.

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, abiding everywhere and filling everything, Source of blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell in us and cleanse us from all sin and save, O Good One, our souls.

The Venerable John of Damascus and Cosmas of Maium compiled the festive canons back in the eighth century; they were set out in the First Complete Byzantine Rule for the conduct of services on Trinity.

For information! At the evening service there is no kissing of the icon; parishioners venerate the Gospel.

At the all-night vigil before the holiday, the canon of Pentecost is read. The Morning Liturgy is replaced by the Feast of the Holy Spirit, during which prayers are read while kneeling.

The festive stichera helps to understand the meaning of this action. The Jewish people, among whom God the Son was born, are deprived of God's grace through their unbelief. Christians all over the world, pagans in the flesh, are filled with Divine light. Kneeling, as a symbol of a bowed heart, with deep faith we worship the third Hypostasis of the Divine Trinity - God the Spirit.

Composed the first prayers:

The first petition is dedicated to confessing sins to the Creator and asking for mercy in the name of the Sacrifice given to people by Jesus Christ, God the Son.
The second prayer is an appeal for the gift of the Holy Spirit to all people.
The third appeal to Christ, the Mission, God, who descended into hell and took the keys of life from Satan, to have mercy on our deceased relatives.

During the holiday the Troparion is performed:

Blessed are you, Christ our God, who gave wisdom to the fishermen, making them Apostles, sent them the Holy Spirit and helped to acquire the whole world, glory to you, God the Lover of Mankind.

Traditions of decorating temples and houses on the day of Pentecost

By folk tradition On Trinity Sunday, churches and houses are decorated with greenery; people call this holiday green Christmastide.

Decorating the church with greenery for the holiday of Trinity as a symbol of the flowering of the Christian soul

On the one hand, this is a historical basis. God appeared to Abraham in the form of three elders who were reclining under an oak tree.

On the fiftieth day after leaving Egypt, the Almighty, on the green Mount Sinai, gave the people 10 commandments, which are still the basis of Christianity.

According to custom, in honor of these events, all temples were decorated with greenery. Greenery on Pentecost symbolizes the flowering of the Christian soul, which was awakened by the Divine Spirit through the grace of God the Father and the Son.

Birch trees cut down on Trinity Day symbolize the power of grace. While the tree fed through its roots and grew in the ground, it lived, and as soon as it was cut down, it died. So the human soul lives as long as it is nourished by Divine power, but if a person leaves the Church, he immediately dies. Jesus is the Vine, and we are His branches, feeding on mercy, forgiveness through confession and communion.

For information! The week following Bright Week is fast; it ends with All Saints' Week, after which Peter's Fast begins.

The Almighty has shown himself to be triune in the Trinity, consubstantial and inseparable; you should not try to understand this dogma with your mind, or explain it human mind. Each Hypostasis of the Trinity has its own face, but these are not three Gods, but a single Divine essence.

Holy Trinity Day. Pentecost

Many Orthodox holidays are celebrated over several days. This year, 2019, Trinity falls on June 16 (exactly 50 days from the celebration of Easter). Therefore, the Trinity also has another name, “Pentecost” (precisely because of the number of days). This holiday always falls on Sunday. Accordingly, Spiritual Day falls in 2019 on Monday, June 17th.

People often have a question: how many days is Trinity celebrated? In fact, this celebration lasts for 3 days, and each day has its own special meaning.

How many days is Trinity celebrated?

So, on what day after Easter does Trinity come? Always on the fiftieth. But how many days is Trinity celebrated? church calendar, i.e. How many days does this celebration last?

In fact, the main events occur in the first two days:

Pentecost (Trinity) – Green (or Slaughter) Sunday.
Spiritual day - Holy Monday.
Bogoduhov Day ends with a celebration. According to tradition, girls dress in beautiful summer outfits and dance around the “poplar” - an unmarried friend. Her duties are very pleasant: the girls go with her from house to house and collect treats.

In this case, the entire week is considered a holiday, until the onset of Saturday. In church language they are called “6 days of after-feast” - i.e. 6 days that come after the main holiday Sunday.

One holiday – three names

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

Trinity Day (Holy or Most Holy Trinity Day, Trinity Day) – i.e. a holiday in honor of the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Pentecost - this word has exactly the same meaning. It simply reminds us that the descent of the Spirit took place on the 50th day after Easter. Therefore, the celebration always falls on a Sunday: June 16, 2019, June 7, 2020, etc.
Spirits Day, or the Day of the Holy Spirit - this name emphasizes the key event in honor of which this bright day is celebrated.

BY THE WORD SAYING

Sunday, when Trinity is celebrated, is sometimes also called Green Sunday. During the service, priests wear beautiful green clothes, and houses and churches are usually decorated with birch branches and wildflowers.

They symbolize the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit and the coming of a time of grace when every person can receive forgiveness simply by turning to God in prayer.

The main signs and customs of the Trinity holiday

People are often interested not only in how many days, but also how the Trinity is celebrated. It must be said that this holiday would have had enough traditions, perhaps, not for 3, but for all 365 days of the year. In the old days, they generally paid a lot of attention to all church celebrations. And Pentecost can be called, without exaggeration, a real summer holiday.

On this day, it was customary to dress in beautiful summer clothes, and the priests also wore robes of rich green and emerald shades.

They served and serve in churches divine liturgy- morning and evening. It is on Trinity that kneeling prayer is permitted, because before this time believers usually do not kneel. This is explained by the fact that all 50 days after Easter you need to rejoice at the miracle of the resurrection of the Savior, so it is better to stand on your feet even during prayer.

Well, young men and girls were walking around the villages. Representatives of the fair sex wove wreaths of wildflowers and fresh herbs. Temples and houses were decorated with these flower garlands. They also carried young birch branches there - a symbol of the onset of summer and good hopes.

Often unmarried girls and the women told fortunes about the suitors. For example, collected wreaths were sent down rivers to find out when the betrothed would meet on their way. If the wreath immediately floated confidently, this will happen very soon. If you stayed near the shore, you need to be patient and wait a while. Well, if you drowned, it means that some difficulties may arise in the near future.

Thus, there will be no sin in devoting not only 3 days, but the entire week, which is considered a holiday, to this significant event - Trinity Day.