The tradition of the feast of the Trinity. That can be on the Trinity?

Seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, His disciples were waiting for a new, incomparable joy — the descent of the Holy spirit the Comforter. This is to make the promises given to them by the Teacher before His ascension into Heaven. Now, filled with God's Grace, they become the Foundation of a new Catholic and Apostolic Church, trampling the gates of hell and opened the way to eternal life.

Pentecost Orthodox and Jewish

The Feast established in honor of this event — the Orthodox Trinity is often referred to as the Holy Pentecost. The explanation for this name several. In addition, the descent of the Holy spirit occurred exactly on the fiftieth day after Easter, which served as the basis for its name, it was also a day Jewish holiday, also called Pentecost. It was established in memory of the giving of the Jewish Law written on the tablets and received them from the hands of the prophet Moses on the fiftieth day after their release from slavery in Egypt — the Jewish Passover.

About him we learn from the works of many ancient authors. One of them, Josephus, talking about the holiday associated with the beginning of wheat harvest, calls it Pentecost. A similar name occurs in the extant writings of the Greek and Byzantine historians.

The type of the New Testament

Thus, the old Covenant the Lord made with the Jews on the fiftieth day after Passover and called Sinai, was a type of the New Covenant in Zion's Room of the descent of the Holy spirit upon the apostles. This expresses the inseparable connection of the New Testament with the old. Of all the holidays established by the Holy Church, only the Holy Pascha and Pentecost have old Testament roots.

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New Testament explanation of the holiday

To understand fully, which means the feast of the Trinity, should refer to the texts of the New Testament. It follows that death ruled over mankind since the original sin, but Jesus Christ with his suffering on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead has given life eternal. The gate it was the Christian Church born on the day of the descent of the Holy spirit upon the apostles.

In the second Chapter of the book of Acts describes how the disciples of Christ during the ten days that followed his miraculous ascension, dwelt in Jerusalem, and together with the virgin gathered daily in the upper room, which was called Zion. All their time was filled with prayer and thoughts of God. On the tenth day according to the Scriptures, suddenly a noise was heard similar to that is born from the wind gusts. Behind him over the heads of the apostles, a flame, which described a circle in the air, rested on each of them.

The Gifts of the Holy spirit

This immaterial fire was the visual image of the Holy spirit. With Them, the apostles were reborn to a new life. Now their minds were opened to comprehend the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. But, in addition, by the Grace of God they were given the power and ability needed to preach the true doctrine among the most various peoples. Their mouths now broadcast in the languages of the first alien and not known to them. Such a miracle has resulted in confusion in the witnesses their first sermons. With the greatest astonishment, and the natives learned their speech sounds of their native language.

Since then established the Apostolic succession. Each generation of priests through the sacrament of ordination has found grace, which gave them the opportunity to perform the sacraments, without which the path to eternal life is impossible. That's why it is a joyful occasion — the Orthodox Trinity is considered to be the birthday of Christ's Church.

Features of worship at Trinity

The feast of the Holy Trinity is accompanied by one of the most beautiful and memorable Church services of the Orthodox yearly cycle. At great Vespers performed a solemn hymn glorifying the Holy spirit and his descent upon the apostles and upon their completion, the priest reads a special prayer, asking God for the blessing of His Holy Church, the salvation of all her children and resting souls. Service on the Trinity also includes a special petition, pray about those whose souls before the last judgment are in hell. While reading these prayers all those in Church are kneeling and heed the words of the priest.

The Tradition of the feast of the Trinity is extremely rich and poetic. Since ancient times, made that day the floors in the temples and houses covered with fresh grass, and in our Church buildings to put a specially cut down for the holiday birch. Icons usually decorated with a piece of birch branches, and during the service, all clergy are required to be in the vestments of green, which symbolizes life-giving power of the Holy spirit. Interior view of the temples to this day is the appearance of spring grove, where all the glory of the Creator in His ineffable wisdom.

Folk tradition and rituals

Folk traditions of the feast of the Trinity has its roots in pre-Christian times. It so happened that often in the deep consciousness of people, Christian and pagan coexisted side by side.Especially clearly it appears in the old customs. The day of Pentecost is no exception. Tradition of this celebration, one of the most important of the Eastern Slavs include the so-called Semitsky Trinity cycle. It includes Thursday and Saturday in the week preceding the holiday, and also directly himself the day of Pentecost. In General it is popularly called “Green tide”.

Folk traditions of the feast of the Trinity is closely associated with the rituals of remembering the dead, especially drowned. In addition, they reflected the ancient cult plants and everything to do with a girlish divination, festivals and all sorts of initiations. If we add adopted by the Slavs sendoff spring and the summer meeting, it will be clear, however diverse in their semantic shades this holiday.

Week before the holiday

The week before the holiday was perceived as his joyful anticipation. These days young girls 8-12 years of age went for birch branches to decorate their homes. On Thursday, it was decided to go get some eggs, symbolizing the summer sun. In the forest, the children performed a special ritual — curled birch. It is pre-decorated with ribbons, beads and flowers, and then wove its branches into a braid, tying them in pairs. Around dressed this way birches danced - as it is done around the Christmas tree.

The Saturday before Pentecost, was a day of remembrance of the dead. In ancient times it was called Parental Saturday. So it is called in our days. The Orthodox Church has included it among the days of special remembrance. In addition to the prayer of remembrance in Church and at home, Saturday made a visit to the cemeteries, care of graves and just pray those who died, but remained near and dear to us. The Holy Church teaches that there is no God of the dead, so for those who have gone to eternal life, our remembrance will be as congratulations to the Holy Trinity.

Feast day

The Saturday before Trinity, with its quiet sadness for the deceased, turned into a joyous day of celebration. After a solemn service in the Church youth went into the woods to the birches, which were curled on the Trinity (semitsky) week. Now supposed to develop them, or birch could "be offended". Again the dances were performed, songs were sung, greetings were made to the Holy Trinity. Ended all with a festive meal. The birch was cut down. Their songs carried through the village, and finally allowed to sail on the river. It was believed that their life force will go to the first shoots of a new harvest.

The Tradition of the feast of the Trinity took away the rivers and lakes a special role. On this day, girls were made to guess about what will happen in the near future their personal life. To see these exciting secrets of young hearts, wreaths of spring flowers and dropped them in the river flow. If the wreath sank, it meant that the girl will have to have patience and to wait for his mate until the following spring. If he stayed on the water, especially when swimming against the tide, it was possible with confidence to prepare the wedding dress — the groom somewhere nearby.

Limitations prescribed in the days of the festival

But, according to ancient beliefs, all the waters in the days when there was a celebration of the Trinity, was fraught with special danger. It was observed that on the day of Pentecost mermaids left their usual waters in and out of the water. Hiding in the foliage of the willows, they laugh and cunning lured unwary passers-by, and sadakata them to death, drags in the water depth. For this reason, to bathe in the Holy Trinity was considered complete madness.

In General this holiday was accompanied by many limitations. In addition to swimming, are not recommended to walk alone in the forest as devils too anything good did not have to wait. Throughout Trinity weeks it was impossible to knit birch twigs, which is understandable, given the sacred role of the birch in the day of the festival. Still considered that those who will be in Semitsky a week to build a fence or repair of the harrow, the cattle will bring an ugly offspring. It's hard to say what the connection is but if it is impossible - means, it is better not to risk it. And, of course, as in every feast, it was impossible to work with.

The feast of the Trinity yesterday in our days

Among the researchers are of the opinion that only in the time of St. Sergius was fully celebrated in Russia, the feast of the Holy Trinity. Traditions and customs inherent in Semitsky first week, gradually moved to the Trinity that were not uncommon in history. A striking illustration of the Orthodox Christmas, is traditionally accompanied by numerous rites that have come down to us from pagan times.

Saying that means the celebration of the Trinity in our days, and what he meant to our ancestors, it is necessary to allocate the main thing — then and now this celebration of life, given to us by the Savior. Today we approach it in a more meaningful way. Due to the opportunities that have opened before us a century of technical progress, to each become available in the writings of the Holy fathers and popular theological articles. Much of what he believed in bygone generations of Slavs, became for us a poetic folklore. But the great humanism of Christ's teachings opened for ourunderstanding in all its strength and beauty.