Holy Trinity Day: meaning, history and traditions of the holiday. Feast of the Holy Trinity Feast of the Holy Trinity what does it mean

On Sunday, May 27, Orthodox and Greek Catholics celebrate Holy Trinity Day. Archpriest ANDREY DUDCHENKO told Apostrophe what this holiday means, what traditions are customary to observe on it and what needs to be done on this day.

I congratulate all readers of "Apostrophe" on the great holiday of Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit and the day of the Holy Trinity! This holiday has several names in our tradition. Most people know the day of the Holy Trinity - this is a secondary name. The original name of the holiday is Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

Why Pentecost?

This is the fiftieth day after Easter. The Feast of Pentecost originates from the Old Testament. People who lived according to the laws of the Old Testament had the holiday of Pentecost, established by Moses after the exodus from Egypt. On the fiftieth day in the wilderness at Mount Sinai, the people received the law. God gave Moses commandments. This day of receiving the law, the fiftieth day after the exodus from Egypt, was celebrated as Pentecost.

In the New Testament, this day marks the event that became the birthday of the Christian Church. This is the Descent of the Holy Spirit. After the Ascension, Jesus commanded his disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait until what He promised from the Heavenly Father was fulfilled - to send them the Holy Spirit of the Comforter.

And then, 10 days after the Ascension, the holiday of Pentecost comes, when many people, fulfilling the law of the Old Testament, came to Jerusalem for the holiday. Because every believing Jew had the obligation to come to Jerusalem for such major holidays as Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles (which is celebrated in the fall).

And part of the Jewish diaspora, which was very large throughout the Roman Empire, not every year, but at least once in a while, made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the holiday.

And on this day in Jerusalem at Pentecost, the apostles received the Holy Spirit. What does it mean? As the book of the Acts of the Apostles describes, the Holy Spirit descended on them in the form of tongues of fire. That is, they heard, as it were, a noise from heaven, and the grace of the Holy Spirit descended on them in the form of a flame. And the result of this was that they received the gift of preaching in other tongues. This was necessary so that people who came from everywhere would hear the apostles preach in their language. After all, many of them no longer understood the language in which they read the holy books and spoke in Jerusalem.

On Pentecost, the Apostle Peter goes out in front of a large crowd of people and preaches. And he already boldly, fearlessly says that Jesus has risen, that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the King whom the Lord sent, he has risen and reigned over the world. And calls people to conversion. And on that day, several thousand people already joined the first community of the Christian Church, the apostles. Therefore, this day is the birthday of the Church.

Photo: lavra.ua

Why is Trinity Day?

In biblical history we see the relationship between God and humanity. Until this moment, we saw the action of God the Father, who revealed himself through the prophets, through Moses, who led the people of Israel, and so on, gave commandments through Moses, and gave certain instructions through the prophets. Then he sent his Son Jesus Christ, who preached, who died and rose again for us. And this is the third moment, when the third person of the Holy Trinity - the Holy Spirit - comes to people, to the Church. And here this revelation for man is the revelation of the third person of the Holy Trinity, God as Trinity.

Therefore, this holiday is popularly known as the Day of the Holy Trinity. For we knew the Father, we knew the Son, and now we have also known the Holy Spirit. Three persons: one Godhead, one glory, one kingdom. And we celebrate the birthday of the Church, the day of our joy. Because every Christian is a person who has fellowship with the Holy Spirit. And our personal Pentecost, our personal the acceptance of the Holy Spirit is when, after baptism, a person, becoming a Christian, accepts the anointing of the holy world, which is the sacrament of transmitting the reception of the Holy Spirit. When a person is anointed with myrrh after baptism, it is said: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.” That is, a person receives the Holy Spirit.

Traditions for the Holy Trinity

Pentecost ends a major holiday period. Actually, the main holiday period of the year: 50 days from the Resurrection of Christ to Pentecost is a continuous holiday. Before Easter there was a period of fasting, Lent. It was 7 weeks of special preparation. There is no fast before Pentecost, before Trinity, but, firstly, there is a special day - this is the Saturday before Trinity, the parental memorial Saturday of the Trinity, when people remember the deceased, when special funeral services are held, where everyone who died is remembered. Sometimes people come to remember those who are not remembered in church on the day of Trinity Memorial Saturday. That is, sometimes they come and ask whether suicides can be remembered on this day, or other questions arise.

Photo: lavra.ua

By the way, the church does not have a special day when one can remember suicides. And if a person, being conscious, really rejected the gift of life of his own will, his own choice, then such people are denied church burial, with special prayer accompaniment. Actually, I think more with pedagogical purpose. So that this is a definite obstacle for others. Not because man is deprived of God's mercy, because no man is deprived of God's mercy. The question is whether a person himself is ready to accept this gift of God's redemption and forgiveness. Does he need it? Is he asking for this? And this is such a mystery of the future fate of a person that we cannot penetrate with our minds or understand it. Therefore, we give it, as it were, into the hands of God.

But there is a memorial Saturday - this is such a special day. And when people prepare for Easter, it is known that many come to confession and communion during Lent. Some go to receive communion once a year exactly these days. And it would be very good if we do not forget that Pentecost is also a great holiday. Of course, Easter and Resurrection are the most important event. But Pentecost is also one of the greatest holidays in the church calendar. Because a very serious, unique event is being celebrated - the Descent of the Holy Spirit. And it would be very good if on these days people also prepared for confession and holy communion. It is not necessary to confess on this day. You can confess on Saturday or a few days before. And on this day come in order to partake of the Holy Mysteries.

The center of every church celebration is the Divine Liturgy. A service that reproduces what the Lord did at the Last Supper, the center of which is the communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord. This is the culmination of any church celebration. For example, not the consecration of paskas on Easter, not the consecration of willows on Palm Sunday, but the joint meal of the Body and Blood of the Lord is the culmination. And the rest is an addition, these are certain features that are characteristic specifically for this or that holiday. But the main moment, the peak or core of everything is when the cup with the Body and Blood of the Lord is taken out, and every believer is called to come to this meal. The Lord invites us all. Therefore, the best celebration would be if we all went on these days to receive the Holy Mysteries. That would be the Christian way.

Photo: lavra.ua

What you can and cannot do on Trinity

You can do good. You know, in the Gospel we see many examples of Jesus Christ healing people on Saturday. And according to Jewish law, which is God's law, you can't work on Saturday, because it's a special day when you can't do anything. And Jesus is reproached for this. Because he does it as if on purpose, demonstratively. Sometimes he doesn’t just heal with words, but takes, for example, saliva and mixes it with earth. And with such a mixture he would anoint the eyes of a blind man, for example. And this was a provocation for those who followed the law.

Why did this particular act take place? Before the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, they were in slavery. Their job was to mix the clay and prepare the bricks. They saw that Jesus made this mixture of earth and saliva as similar to mixing clay because it was slave labor. It was as if he was deliberately doing something that should not be done on Saturday. But the Lord does this to heal a person. He says: the Sabbath is for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, on this day you can do good.

There are people who work in jobs where they shouldn't refuse to work. Some work according to a schedule, and the working day falls on Saturday. Why shouldn't they work? Or do they sin when they work? They don't sin. Because it is their responsibility. On this day, for example, someone must drive vehicles, monitor safety, provide light, water, and so on.

Of course, there are some things that cannot be postponed, and homework, for example, can be done on another day. The point of celebration is not to not do something, but to dedicate this day to God. And each person can devote this day to God in a certain way. This does not mean that you need to spend the whole day in prayer, reading the Word of God, concentrating and contemplating some spiritual things. The moment of helping your neighbor is also very important. Acts of mercy towards others are also God's work, even more than any sacrifice, donations to the church or the number of prayers a person recites.

After all, it is through the attitude towards one’s neighbor that one’s love for God is tested. Therefore, you can do good to other people. You can, say, be a volunteer, help in a hospital, do something for the poor.

When a person, for example, is in a village, he works on the land six days a week. And he should dedicate this day to God, take a break from work. Break away from everyday life and make it a holiday. Spend this day with your family and children. Pay attention to the parents who have them alive. It will be a good celebration. And don’t do everything that can be put off. If something cannot be postponed, it will not be a sin if this work is aimed at good!

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The Orthodox holiday of Trinity (three holy faces) is a special day for believers. Its second name is Pentecost. It is explained by the fact that Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday. In terms of importance, the Trinity is surpassed only by Holy Easter. Even Christmas is given less significant significance. Trinity is one of the dozen most important Orthodox holidays. Therefore, it is very important to know what the holiday of Trinity means in Orthodoxy and for believers.

Celebrating the holiday of Trinity, Orthodox Christians honor the day when they learned about the most important dogma of their religion - the trinity of God as its true essence. Before this, believers thought that there was a separate God the Father and God the Son. But they did not know about Their Spirit at all. But the grace that descended on the fiftieth day after Great Easter revealed true knowledge to them, namely:

• God the Father is not begotten by anyone and cannot come from anyone;
• God the Son is born from God the Father eternally;
• God the Holy Spirit also emanates from God the Father from all eternity.

These three faces are inseparable from each other. God in Orthodoxy is one. He is the creator of the world. He provides for all things (living and nonliving), sanctifying them. Orthodox believers praise God in all His forms.

The history of the Orthodox holiday Trinity

Trinity has a very interesting history. According to the Gospel, Jesus Christ ascended to heaven on the fortieth day after his Resurrection. And it was then that he prophesied to the apostles that God’s Spirit would descend on them. It came true exactly ten days later. That is, on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ.

“Come, people, let us worship the three-component Deity!”

Trinity. Icons

One of the first in the iconography of the Trinity was the story of the appearance of three Angels to Abraham (“Hospitality of Abraham”), set out in the eighteenth chapter of the biblical book of Genesis. It tells how the forefather Abraham, the ancestor of the chosen people, met three mysterious wanderers near the oak grove of Mamre (in the next chapter they were called angels). During a meal in Abraham's house, he was given a promise about the coming miraculous birth of his son Isaac. According to the will of God, from Abraham a “great and strong nation” was to come, in which “all the nations of the earth will be blessed.”

Catacombs of Via Latina
Hospitality of Abraham. Santa Maria Maggiore. Mosaic of the Roman temple of Santa Maria Maggiore (1st half of the 5th century)
​Mosaic in the Temple of San Vitale. Ravenna (1st half of the 6th century)

In the second millennium, the custom arose of adding the words “Holy Trinity” to the plot “Hospitality of Abraham”: such an inscription appears on one of the miniatures of the Greek Psalter of the 11th century. In this miniature, the head of the middle Angel is crowned with a cross-shaped halo: it faces the viewer frontally, while the other two Angels are depicted in a three-quarter turn.

The same type of image is found on the doors of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Suzdal (c. 1230) and on the fresco of Theophanes the Greek from the Novgorod Church of the Transfiguration on Ilyin Street. The cross halo indicates that the central Angel is identified with Christ.

Trinity. Theophanes the Greek. 1378 Fresco in the choir chamber. Church of the Transfiguration on Ilyin Street, Novgorod
Zyryan Trinity. End of the 14th century Vologda State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve, Vologda

It is known that the iconographic version of the Trinity without forefathers existed even before Rublev in Byzantine art. But all these compositions are not independent in nature. Andrei Rublev not only gives the image a complete and independent character, but makes it a complete theological text. On a light background, three angels are depicted sitting around a table on which there is a bowl. The middle angel rises above the others, behind him is a tree, behind the right angel is a mountain, behind the left are chambers. The 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 outlines of the wings, according to 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 an atoning sacrifice is made. The Trinity of Andrei Rublev is a symbolic image of the trinity of the Divine, as already pointed out by the Council of the Hundred Heads. After all, the visit to Abraham by three Angels was not a manifestation of the Holy Trinity, but was only “a prophetic vision of this mystery, which over the course of centuries will gradually be revealed to the believing thought of the Church.” In accordance with this, in Rublev’s icon we are presented not with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but with 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.

Trinity. Andrey Rublev. 15th century
Trinity. XV century. Sergiev Posad State Historical and Art Museum-Reserve
Icon “The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles” Novgorod, 16th century
The descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. Athos, Dionysiat Monastery, XIV century
Trinity of the Old Testament. Mid-16th century Yaroslavl Art Museum, Yaroslavl
Trinity of the Old Testament. Second half of the 16th century. Moscow, State Tretyakov Gallery
The Holy Trinity. End of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries. Yaroslavl Art Museum, Yaroslavl
Trinity of the Old Testament. End of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries. Moscow, State Tretyakov Gallery
Trinity. End of the 14th century From the collection of N.P. Likhachev. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg

Trinity churches in Rus'

One of the first churches in Rus' was dedicated to the Trinity. It was built by Princess Olga in her homeland, Pskov. The wooden temple, erected in the 10th century, stood for about 200 years. The second temple was made of stone. According to legend, it was founded in 1138 by the holy noble prince Vsevolod (baptized Gabriel). In the 14th century, the vault of the temple collapsed and a new cathedral was built on its foundation. But it has not survived to this day - it was badly damaged in 1609 during a fire. The fourth cathedral, built on the same site and still bearing the name of the Holy Trinity, has survived to this day.

St. Basil's Cathedral, on Red Square in Moscow, was built on the site of the Trinity Church, near which there were seven more wooden churches - in memory of the Kazan victories, they were consecrated in the name of those holidays and memories of the saints when the decisive battles took place. In 1555-61. on the site of these temples, one stone temple was built - nine-altar. The central altar was consecrated in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, and one of the chapels was dedicated to the Trinity. Until the 17th century, the cathedral bore the popular name of Trinity.

The most famous Russian monastery is dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity - Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Having settled on Makovets in 1337, the Monk Sergius built a wooden Church of the Holy Trinity. In 1422, on the site of the former wooden church, the disciple of St. Sergius, Abbot Nikon, founded the stone Trinity Cathedral. During its construction, the relics of St. Sergius were discovered. The cathedral was painted by famous masters Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny. The famous image of the Old Testament Trinity was painted for the iconostasis.

In the name of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Trinity Markov Monastery was founded in Vitebsk. The foundation of the Markov Monastery presumably dates back to the 14th–15th centuries. There is a legend about the founder of the monastery, a certain Mark, who retired to a plot of land that belonged to him and built a chapel there. Soon he was joined by like-minded people. The monastery existed until 1576, after which it was abolished, and the Trinity Church was turned into a parish church. The monastery was reopened in 1633 by Prince Lev Oginsky, and closed in 1920. The police and other institutions were located on its territory for a long time. All buildings, except the Holy Kazan Church, were destroyed (including the Trinity Cathedral - one of the best examples of wooden Belarusian architecture). The Kazan Church was damaged during the Great Patriotic War, but then partially restored. This is the only church in Vitebsk that did not close in the post-war years. The main altar of the temple is consecrated in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, and the side chapel is in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh. The monastery was revived in 2000.

In honor of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Trinity (Troitsky) Monastery was founded in the city of Slutsk (Belarus). The time of foundation of the Holy Trinity Monastery is unknown. The first mention of it dates back to 1445. There was a monastery near the city, downstream of the Sluch River. People began to settle around the monastery, the suburb of Troychany was formed, and the street from the city to the monastery began to be called Troychany. The monastery had a charter from the Polish king, confirming its Orthodox status. Since 1560, there has been a theological school at the monastery, where theology, rhetoric, Slavic and Greek grammars were studied. It is also known about the small library of the monastery: in 1494 there were 45 books. In 1571, the abbot of the monastery was Archimandrite Mikhail Ragoza (d. 1599), the future Metropolitan of Kiev. An Orthodox seminary was opened at the monastery, which was headed until 1575 by the former abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra Artemy (? - early 1570s). At the beginning of the 17th century, the seminary no longer existed. It appears again in the 18th century. During the First World War there was an infirmary in the monastery. In the summer of 1917, the buildings of the monastery, where 13 monks and 13 novices lived, were transferred to the Belarusian gymnasium, the rector, Archimandrite Afanasy Vecherko, was expelled. On February 21, 1930, the monastery was closed, the relics were transferred to museums. The monastery buildings were finally destroyed in the 1950s. Subsequently, a military camp was located in its place. In 1994, a memorial cross was erected on the site of the monastery.

In 1414, on the banks of the Nurma River, not far from its confluence with the Obnora, in the territory of the modern Gryazovets district of the Vologda region, the Trinity Pavlo-Obnorsky Monastery was founded. The founder of the monastery was a disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh - Pavel Obnorsky (1317–1429). In 1489, the monastery received a charter from Grand Duke Ivan III allocating the monastery with forests, villages and exemption from taxes. The monastery's privileges were subsequently consolidated by Vasily III, Ivan IV the Terrible and their successors. The cathedral church of the Trinity was built in the monastery (1505–1516). In the middle of the 19th century, 12 monks lived in the monastery. In 1909, the monastery was damaged by a severe fire. The cross that St. Paul received from Sergius of Radonezh melted in the fire. Before the revolution, about 80 inhabitants lived in the monastery. The monastery was closed in 1924 by decision of the Gryazovets district executive committee of the RCP (b). In the 1920s and 30s, the Trinity Cathedral with adjacent temple buildings, the bell tower and the fence were destroyed. An experimental pedagogical station, a school, and an orphanage were located on the territory of the monastery. In 1945, a children's sanatorium was opened, then a regional sanatorium-forest school. Returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1994.

The Ulyanovsk Trinity-Stefanovsky Monastery was consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity. Located in the village of Ulyanovo, Ust-Kulomsky district of the Komi Republic. According to legend, the monastery was founded in 1385 by Saint Stephen of Perm (1340s - 1396) with the goal of spreading Christianity in the Upper Vychegda. But this building did not last long. According to local legends, the Ulyanovsk monastery was named after the girl Ulyaniya, who, not wanting to fall into the hands of the enemy, decided to drown herself in the river. A monastery was built opposite this place. During the years of Soviet power, the Ulyanovsk monastery was closed and its property was looted. Many monks were repressed. The Trinity Cathedral was completely destroyed, most of the outbuildings were in deplorable condition. Items seized from the Ulyanovsk Monastery were kept in the National Museum of the Komi Republic. In 1994, the monastery was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.

In the name of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Trinity Ipatiev Monastery was founded in Kostroma. The monastery was first mentioned in chronicles in 1432, but it may have been founded much earlier. According to the generally accepted version, the monastery was founded around 1330 by the Tatar Murza Chet, the founder of the Godunov and Saburov family, who fled from the Golden Horde to Ivan Kalita (c. 1283/1288 - 1340/1341) and was baptized in Moscow under the name Zacharias. In this place, he had a vision of the Mother of God with the upcoming Apostle Philip and Hieromartyr Hypatius of Gangra (d. 325/326), the result of which was his healing from the disease. In gratitude for the healing, a monastery was founded on this site. Initially, the Church of the Holy Trinity was built, then the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, several cells and a powerful oak wall. Residential and outbuildings were located around. All buildings were wooden. After the death of Prince Vasily and the abolition of the Kostroma principality, the monastery came under the patronage of the Godunov family, which rose to prominence in the mid-16th century. During this period, the monastery developed rapidly. After the October Revolution, in 1919, the monastery was abolished and its values ​​were nationalized. For many years there was a museum on the territory of the monastery, part of the exhibition of which is still there today. In 2005, the monastery was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.

In the name of the Trinity, the Stefano-Makhrischi Holy Trinity Monastery was founded. Located on the Molokcha River in the village of Makhra, Aleksandrovsky district, Vladimir region. Founded in the 14th century by Stefan Makhrischsky (d. July 14, 1406) as a monastery. From 1615 to the 1920s it was assigned to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Closed in 1922. Reopened in 1995 as a convent.

In the name of the Holy Trinity, the Trinity Anthony-Siysky Monastery was founded in 1520. The monastery was founded by the Monk Anthony of Siysk (1477–1556). In pre-Petrine times, the Siysky Monastery was one of the largest centers of spiritual life in the Russian North. From the monastery book collection come such unique manuscripts as the Siya Gospel of the 16th century and illustrated calendars. After the revolution, ancient documents were confiscated from the monks and transferred to the Arkhangelsk Regional Archive, from where in 1958 and 1966 they were transported to Moscow (now to the RGADA). The monastery was closed by a resolution of the Yemetsk Executive Committee dated June 12, 1923 and by a decision of the Presidium of the Arkhangelsk Provincial Executive Committee dated July 11, 1923. The territory was used for the needs of the labor commune and collective farm. In 1992, the monastery was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.

A monastery in Astrakhan was consecrated in the name of the Trinity. The history of the Trinity Monastery in Astrakhan begins in 1568, when Tsar Ivan the Terrible, sending abbot Kiril here, ordered him to establish a common monastery in the city of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. By 1573, Abbot Kiril had built: “the temple of the Life-Giving Trinity, to which was attached a meal about six fathoms, and a cellar about three fathoms, 12 cells, two cellars with dryers, a glen and a cookhouse.” All buildings were wooden. By the time of the death of Abbot Kiril in 1576, he had built two more wooden churches in the monastery: in honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The monastery itself, originally called Nikolsky, later received the name Trinity, in honor of the cathedral church of the Life-Giving Trinity. In the 90s of the 16th century, the new abbot Theodosius began rebuilding the monastery from wood to stone. On September 13, 1603, the new stone Trinity Cathedral was consecrated. A little later, a chapel was added to it in honor of the holy passion-bearers Princes Boris and Gleb. In addition, under Abbot Theodosius, the following were built: a stone bell tower with the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker under it and a wooden Church of the Origin of the Venerable Trees of the Holy Cross with a chapel in honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary. During the Soviet years, an archive storage facility was set up in the monastery, and the shrines were desecrated.

In the name of the Trinity, a monastery was founded in the city of Murom, Vladimir region. The monastery was founded in the second quarter of the 17th century (1643) by the Murom merchant Tarasy Borisovich Tsvetnov, according to a number of local historians, on the site of the so-called “old settlement”, where initially in the period of the 11th–13th centuries there was a wooden cathedral in honor of Saints Boris and Gleb, and later there was a wooden Holy Trinity Church. In 1923 the monastery was closed. In 1975, a wooden church in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh was brought to the territory of the monastery from the neighboring Melenkovsky district, which is a monument to wooden architecture of the 18th century. Opened in 1991. The main shrine of the monastery is the relics of the holy saints Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia, transported from the local museum on September 19, 1992. Until 1921, the relics rested in the city's Nativity Cathedral.

Also consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity are the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, the Zelenetsky-Trinity Monastery, the Klopsky Monastery, the Eletsky Trinity Monastery, the Belopesotsky and Trinity Boldin Monasteries, monasteries in Kazan, Sviyazhsk, Kalyazin, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Tyumen, Cheboksary and other cities.

In honor of the Holy Trinity, monasteries were founded in Serbia, Georgia, Greece, Palestine, Finland, and Sweden.

A temple in Veliky Novgorod was consecrated in honor of the Trinity. The temple dates back to 1365. Built by order of Novgorod merchants who traded with Ugra (Ural region). The Trinity Church suffered the greatest damage during the Great Patriotic War. Along with other monuments of Novgorod architecture, it was restored in 1975–1978, although in fact the work is still ongoing.

Also in honor of the Trinity, the Church of the Spiritual Monastery in Veliky Novgorod was consecrated. The Trinity Church with a refectory chamber was built around 1557 by order of Abbot Jonah. It is located almost in the center of the monastery territory. On the ground floor of the refectory there was a cookhouse, a bakery and two leaven cellars; on the second floor there is a refectory and a cellar room. The church was seriously damaged during the Swedish occupation of 1611–1617, as well as from a severe fire in 1685.

In the name of the Life-Giving Trinity, a temple in Moscow - in the Fields - was consecrated. It was first mentioned in 1493 in the Resurrection Chronicle. In 1565 a stone church was built. In 1639, next to the stone Trinity Church with the chapels of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and Boris and Gleb, built by the boyar M. M. Saltykov (cousin of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich), a wooden temple was built in honor of Sergius of Radonezh. Trinity Church was destroyed in 1934. The speed of demolition did not allow for a detailed study of the architectural monument. In its place a square was laid out, and a monument to the pioneer printer Ivan Fedorov was erected in place of the refectory.

A temple in Nikitniki (Moscow) was consecrated in the name of the Trinity. Back in the 16th century, there was a wooden church here in the name of the holy martyr Nikita (d. c. 372). In the 1620s, it burned down, and by order of the Yaroslavl merchant Grigory Nikitnikov, who lived nearby, a new stone church was built in the name of the Holy Trinity in 1628–1651. Sources mention construction work in 1631–1634 and 1653. The southern aisle of the temple was dedicated to Nikita the Martyr, and the revered icon of this saint was transferred to it from the burnt church. It served as the tomb of the temple builder and members of his family. In 1920, the temple was closed for worship and in 1934 transferred to the State Historical Museum. In 1991 the temple was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.

S. Kamen, Liepaja (Latvia), in the village. (Latvia), in the village. (Lithuania), city (Estonia), village. Wodzilki (Poland), Irie (USA).

Church of the Life-Giving Trinity DOC. Liepaja
Church of the Holy Trinity DOC. Kublishchino

In addition, the feast of the Holy Trinity is patronal for the Nikolo-Uleiminsky monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church and for the Holy Trinity monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church in the village. Kamenka, Zlynsky district, Bryansk region.

On the 50th day after Easter, Orthodox believers celebrate the Day of the Holy Trinity, or Pentecost. This is one of the 12 main Christian holidays. We talk about the history of Trinity, the meaning and traditions of this day.

Holiday date

Trinity Day is celebrated on the 50th day after the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ. Therefore, Pentecost is the second name of this day. Since the date of Easter is floating, Trinity also falls on different dates. In 2019, Trinity Day falls on June 16th.

Meaning and history

The holiday has been celebrated by believers since 381. It was then that at the second ecumenical church council of Constantinople the doctrine of the three hypostases of God was approved: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. On this same day the fullness of the Holy Trinity was also revealed.

According to the New Testament, before entering the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus Christ promised his disciples, the apostles, that he would send them from his Father, the Holy Spirit, as a consolation. After the Ascension of Christ, the apostles gathered daily in the Zion Upper Room in Jerusalem to pray and read the Holy Scriptures. On the tenth day after the Ascension of Christ (50th after the Resurrection), while in the upper room, at the third hour of the day, the apostles heard a noise. Tongues of fire appeared and rested on each of them. Thus, the disciples of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, preaching to representatives of different nations.

The day of the descent of the Holy Spirit is considered the day of the creation of the Christian church, which, through the efforts of the apostles, began to spread throughout the world.

Who's celebrating

Since the 14th century, for Catholics, the holiday of Trinity does not coincide with Pentecost, the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. In the Catholic Church it is celebrated a week later and is associated with the glorification of the Holy Trinity.

Orthodox celebration traditions

On the eve of Holy Trinity Day, an all-night vigil is held in churches. On the holiday of the Trinity itself, one of the most solemn and beautiful services of the year is performed in Orthodox churches. After the liturgy, Great Vespers is served, glorifying the descent of the Holy Spirit, and three prayers are read with the genuflection of the clergy and parishioners. This ends the post-Easter period, during which no kneeling or prostration is performed in churches.

On Trinity, there is a custom to decorate churches with branches and grass, which symbolize the renewal of people thanks to the Holy Spirit. Priests wear green robes. Green symbolizes the life-giving and renewing power of the Holy Spirit.

The day after Trinity is Spiritual Day, which is dedicated to the glorification of the Holy Spirit.

Trinity and folk rituals

Before the adoption of Christianity, the Slavic calendar celebrated Semik, or Green Christmastide, at the end of May - the transition from spring to summer. The holiday of Trinity adopted many of the rituals of this holiday. The main components were rituals associated with the cult of vegetation, girls' parties, and commemoration of the dead. During Trinity (Semitic) week, girls aged 7-12 broke birch branches and decorated the house outside and inside with them, children dressed up the birch tree, danced around it, sang songs, and had a festive meal.

On the Saturday before Trinity Day, it was customary to remember the departed. This day is called "stuffy Saturday", or parent's day.

Trinity Day is one of the most important holidays for every Orthodox believer. It is filled with a 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

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