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

Trinity Holiday - what is it?

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

Why is the feast of Trinity called Pentecost?

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

The answer to this question is very simple.

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

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

How did the Holy Spirit appear on Earth?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why did the Holy Spirit descend to earth?

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

How is Pentecost celebrated?

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

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

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

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

What does the word Trinity mean in the Bible?

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

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

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

The doctrine of the Trinity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to understand the doctrine of the Trinity?

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

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

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

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

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

Since when is Trinity celebrated?

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

Conclusion

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

Signs on the Trinity

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

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

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

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

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

How to celebrate Trinity (Pentecost)

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

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

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

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

How to guess on the Trinity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Films on the theme of the Trinity holiday

Not many films have been made about the Trinity, but nevertheless, you can find the following films on the Internet:

Film by Metropolitan Hilarion "Trinity";

Film "Holy Trinity"

Genre: Documentary

Trinity. Icons

One of the first in the iconography of the Trinity appeared the plot of the appearance of three angels to Abraham (“Hospitality of Abraham”), set out in the eighteenth chapter bible book Genesis. He tells how the forefather Abraham, the ancestor of the chosen people, met three mysterious wanderers near the oak forest 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 was to come "a great and strong nation", in which "all the peoples of the earth will be blessed."

In the second millennium, a custom arises to add the plot of "Hospitality of Abraham" with the words "Holy Trinity": such an inscription is on one of the miniatures of the Greek Psalter of the XI century. In this miniature, the head of the middle Angel is crowned with a cross-shaped nimbus: 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 in Suzdal (c. 1230) and on the fresco of Theophan the Greek from the Novgorod Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior on Ilyin Street. The cross halo indicates that the central angel is identified with Christ.

It is known that the iconographic version of the Trinity without forefathers existed before Rublev in Byzantine art. But all these compositions are not independent. Andrei Rublev not only gives the image an integral and independent character, but makes it a complete theological text. Against a light background, three angels are depicted sitting around a table on which a bowl stands. The middle angel rises above the rest, a tree is depicted behind him, a mountain behind the right angel, and chambers behind the left. The heads of the angels are bowed silent conversation. Their faces are similar, as if the same face is depicted in three versions. The whole composition is inscribed in a system of concentric circles, which can be drawn along the halos, along the outlines of the wings, along the movement angel hands, and all these circles converge to 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 Deity, as already pointed out by the Stoglavy Cathedral. After all, the visit of Abraham by the three Angels was not a manifestation of the Most 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 Rublev icon, we are presented not with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, but with three Angels, symbolizing the Pre-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 churches in Russia

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

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 Kazan victories, they were consecrated in the name of those holidays and the memory of saints, when decisive battles took place. In 1555-61. on the site of these temples, one stone temple was built - a nine-altar one. The central altar was consecrated in honor of the Intercession Holy Mother of God, and one of the aisles was dedicated to the Trinity. Until the 17th century, the cathedral bore the popular name of Trinity.

The most famous Russian monastery is also dedicated to the Holy Trinity - Trinity Sergius Lavra. Settling on Makovets in 1337, Saint Sergius built a wooden Church of the Holy Trinity. In 1422, on the site of the former wooden church, a student St. Sergius, hegumen Nikon, laid the stone Trinity Cathedral. During its construction, the relics of St. Sergius were found. The famous masters Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny painted the cathedral. 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 secluded himself on a plot of land belonging to him and built a chapel there. Soon like-minded people joined him in spirit. The monastery existed until 1576, after which it was abolished, and the Trinity Church was turned into a parish. The monastery was restored in 1633 by Prince Lev Oginsky, and closed in 1920. For a long time, the police and other institutions were located on its territory. All buildings, except for the Holy Kazan Church, were destroyed (including the Trinity Cathedral - one of the best examples of Belarusian wooden architecture). Kazan Church during the Great Patriotic War was damaged, but then partially restored. This is the only church in Vitebsk that did not close in the post-war years. The main throne of the temple was consecrated in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, and the side chapel - in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh. The monastery was revived in 2000.

In honor of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Trinity (Troychansky) Monastery was founded in the city of Slutsk (Belarus). The time of the 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 river Sluch. People began to settle around the monastery, a suburb of Troychany was formed, and the street from the city to the monastery began to be called Troychanskaya. The monastery had a charter from the Polish king confirming its Orthodox status. Since 1560, there has been a theological school at the monastery, in which theology, rhetoric, Slavic and Greek grammar were studied. It is also known about the small library of the monastery: in 1494 there were 45 books. In 1571, Archimandrite Mikhail Ragoza (d. 1599), the future Metropolitan of Kiev, was the abbot of the monastery. An Orthodox seminary was opened at the monastery, which was headed until 1575 by the former abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra Artemy (? - the beginning of the 1570s). At the beginning of the 17th century, the seminary no longer existed. It reappears in the 18th century. To the first world war the monastery had an infirmary. In the summer of 1917, the construction of the monastery, where 13 monks and 13 novices lived, was transferred to the Belarusian gymnasium, the rector, Archimandrite Athanasius 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, in its place was a military town. 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 Obnora, on the territory of the modern Gryazovetsky district Vologda region 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 from the Grand Duke Ivan III a letter of granting the monastery with forests, villages and exemption from taxes. The privileges of the monastery were subsequently secured Basil III, Ivan IV the Terrible and their successors. The cathedral church of the Trinity (1505-1516) is being built in the monastery. In the middle of the 19th century, 12 monks lived in the monastery. In 1909 the monastery suffered from a severe fire. The fire melted the cross received by the Monk Paul from Sergius of Radonezh. 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. The territory of the monastery housed an experimental pedagogical station, a school, Orphanage. 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 aim of spreading Christianity in 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 a deplorable state. Items seized from the Ulyanovsk Monastery were 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 the city of Kostroma. The monastery was first mentioned in chronicles in 1432, but it was probably founded much earlier. According to conventional version, the monastery was founded around 1330 by the Tatar Murza Chet, the ancestor 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 Mother of God with the forthcoming Apostle Philip and Hieromartyr Hypatius of Gangra (d. 325/326), which resulted in his healing from illness. In gratitude for the healing, a monastery was founded on this place. Initially, the Church of the Holy Trinity was built, then the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, several cells and a powerful oak wall. Surrounded by residential and commercial buildings. 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, who rose to prominence in the middle of the 16th century. During this period there is a rapid development of the monastery. After October revolution, in 1919, the monastery was abolished and its values ​​were nationalized. On the territory of the monastery for many years there was a museum, part of the exposition 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-Makhrishchi Holy Trinity Monastery was founded. It is located on the Molokcha River in the village of Makhra, Aleksandrovsky District, Vladimir Region. Founded in the XIV century by Stefan Makhrishchsky (d. July 14, 1406) as a monastery. From 1615 to 1920 he was assigned to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Closed in 1922. It was reopened in 1995 as a nunnery.

In the name of the Holy Trinity in 1520, the Trinity Anthony-Siya Monastery was founded. Founded a monastery Reverend Anthony Sisky (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 16th-century Siysk gospel and illustrated calendars. After the revolution, the old documents were confiscated from the monks and transferred to the Arkhangelsk regional archive, from where they were transported to Moscow in 1958 and 1966 (now - to the RGADA). The monastery was closed by the decision of the Yemetsky Executive Committee of June 12, 1923 and the decision of the Presidium of the Arkhangelsk Gubernia Executive Committee of July 11, 1923. The territory was used for the needs of the labor commune, the 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 build a common monastery in the city of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. By 1573, hegumen Kiril had built: “the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, to which a meal of six fathoms was nailed, and a Kelar one of three fathoms, 12 cells, two cellars with dryers, a crest and a kitchen.” All buildings were wooden. By the time of the death of Abbot Kiril in 1576, he built two more wooden churches in the monastery: in honor of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos 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 to rebuild 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 martyrs Princes Boris and Gleb. In addition, during the reign of Abbot Theodosius, a stone bell tower with the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker under it and a wooden church of the Origin were built. Honest Trees Cross of the Lord with a chapel in honor of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos. IN Soviet years an archive depository was arranged 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 originally 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 from the neighboring Melenkovsky district, which is a monument of wooden architecture of the 18th century, was brought to the territory of the monastery. Opened in 1991. The main shrine of the monastery is the relics of the holy faithful 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, in the name of the Holy Trinity, the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, Zelenetsky-Troitsky Monastery, Klopsky Monastery, Yeletssky Trinity Monastery, Belopesotsky and Trinity Boldin monasteries, monasteries in Kazan, Sviyazhsk, Kalyazin, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Tyumen, Cheboksary and other cities were consecrated.

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 Yugra (Urals). The Trinity Church received 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 Dukhov Monastery in Veliky Novgorod was consecrated. The Church of the Trinity with a refectory was built around 1557 by order of Abbot Jonah. It is located almost in the center of the territory of the monastery. On the ground floor of the refectory there was a kitchen, a bakery and two kvass cellars; on the second floor - a refectory and Kelarskaya. The church was seriously damaged during the Swedish occupation of 1611-1617, as well as from a strong fire in 1685.

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

A church in Nikitniki (Moscow) was consecrated in the name of the Trinity. As early as the 16th century, there was a wooden church 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 in the name of the Holy Trinity was built 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 from the burnt church was transferred to it. 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.

Zhukivtsi, Vinnytsia region. Belokrinitsky parishes in Romania in, p. Pascani (Romania) and the city of Vaslui also celebrate the temple feast.

The community of the Russian Old Orthodox Church in (Romania) celebrates a temple holiday today.

Many Pomeranian churches are dedicated to the Holy Trinity: in

Trinity - very beautiful holiday, and as you know, one of the main Christian holidays. This day is considered a public holiday, and millions of people celebrate it with joy. But not everyone thinks about the history and origin of this great holiday - the Holy Trinity. The editors of our site will acquaint you with the history of the traditions of this holiday and signs on the day of the Trinity.

• The history of the Trinity holiday
• Traditions, signs, what needs to be done on the Trinity
• How to decorate a house for Trinity?
• Signs on the Trinity

So, Trinity in 2018 falls on May 27th. And on May 28, on Monday, all Ukrainians will receive an additional day off, because this is the second day of the Trinity. The Day of the Holy Trinity has rich traditions and signs.

It is believed that on this day (May 27) all Orthodox and Greek Catholics around the world will celebrate the Day of the Holy Trinity. This holiday also has another name “Pentecost”, which indicates that the Trinity is celebrated exactly 50 days after Easter.

At this holiday Orthodox Church recalls the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. The Trinity symbolizes the image of God - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

This big religious holiday brings liberation from everything bad and sinful in human soul. According to the Gospel, it was on the fiftieth day after Easter that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the form of sacred fire, which endowed them with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and they spoke in different languages ​​of the world and gave strength to equip the Holy Church on earth in order to convey the Words of God to every person . Therefore, the Trinity is also considered the birthday of the Christian church.

Icon of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles

The history of the Trinity holiday

The Orthodox are very fond of the Trinity, although not everyone knows the reliable history of the holiday.

There are different legends about the origin of this holiday. By one legend, on the Trinity, God created the earth and sowed it with greenery. Another legend tells that on this day Jesus, together with the apostles Peter and Paul, sat down to rest under green tree hence the three-day holiday. Yet one version of the emergence of the Trinity Christ rejoiced at the way the poor people in Jerusalem greeted him with green branches.

However, there is also the most main legend, which is considered the main one: the trinity of the holiday is associated with God the Father (Sunday), God the Son (Monday) and God the Holy Spirit (Tuesday).

It was by the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles that the perfecting activity of the third person of the Most Holy Trinity was revealed, and the teaching of Jesus Christ about the Triune God reached perfect clarity and completeness. God the Father creates the world, God the Son redeems people from enslavement to the devil, God the Holy Spirit sanctifies the world through the founding of the Church and the worldwide preaching of faith.

Trinity is the second oldest Christian holiday, on which the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. According to legend, on the site of the Zion Upper Room, where the apostles stayed on the day of Pentecost, the first Christian church was built, which survived even during the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman legionaries in the year 70. One fragment from the writings of Hieromartyr Irenaeus of Lyon contains a mention of the feast of the New Testament Pentecost (end of the 2nd century). In ancient times, it was also called the feast of the descent of the Holy Spirit. On this day the Church was born. Since that time, the Holy Spirit has been gracefully present in the life of the Church and performs all her sacraments.

On Trinity, dead relatives are commemorated for three days. In particular, this is the only day in the whole year when, according to Orthodox traditions, it is possible to light a candle in churches and offer prayers for suicides and the unbaptized.

Icon of the Holy Trinity

Church literature says that in the evening before the Trinity, the Holy Spirit descends to Earth. He sanctifies and blesses everything around, he fills the human soul with goodness, love, faith, patience.

Even during His life on earth, the Lord told His disciples many times that He would never leave people and create His own big family which he will call His Church: "I will build My Church, and never shall the gates of hell prevail against It." We are all members of this Church...

Traditions, signs, what needs to be done on the Trinity

Since ancient times, the Slavic peoples have associated the Trinity with the tradition of meeting summer and called this day Earth Day. On Trinity Day, it is customary to decorate houses and temples with green birch branches, fragrant calamus and flowers. The custom of decorating the temple with branches, flowers and grass dates back to ancient times. The Old Testament Pentecost was the feast of the gathering of the first fruits. In the courtyard of the Temple, people brought the first fruits of the harvest and flowers. In the New Testament time, the trees and plants in the temple symbolize the renewal of people by the power of the descended Holy Spirit.

For example, each region has its own peculiarities of celebrating Green Christmas, but everywhere plants play a key role. So, Ukrainians generously decorate their homes with calamus (this plant is also called calamus root, Tatar potion or flat cake).

How to decorate the house on this bright holiday?

According to tradition, before the celebration of the Trinity, it is necessary to hold general cleaning in the House. What is important - you need to get rid of trash and especially those items that are associated with negative memories.

The hostesses decorate the rooms with flowers, young grass and green branches, which symbolizes the coming spring, prosperity and the continuation of life. Most often, branches of birch, oak, mountain ash, maple, calamus grass, mint, lemon balm, etc. are used for decoration.

On the day of the Trinity in the morning attend a festive church service. On this day, very simple bouquets of swamp grass, wild flowers, etc. should be dedicated in the church. After the service in the church, you need to bring them home and decorate the house with them. This can be dried and protected for a whole year as a talisman against evil eye random guest.

By the way, on the Trinity in the temples, two festive services rule: in the morning and in the evening.

It was a great sin not to decorate the house. Ancestors believed that on Trinity the souls of dead relatives fly to the living and hide in the branches. All attention was paid to doors, walls of houses and shutters - they were densely covered with linden branches.

For a festive dinner they invite close people and relatives, treat them with a loaf, egg dishes, pancakes, pies, jelly and give each other funny gifts.

You can also get out into nature, organize a picnic - after all, Trinity 2018, like in other years, is celebrated on a day off. The tradition of folk festivals has been preserved to our time. In many cities, cultural mass events, concerts, fairs are held on this day.

There are also signs for Pentecost.

If they marry the Trinity, and marry the Intercession, then the life of these spouses will be long, happy, in love and harmony.

If on Trinity Day it's raining, then in the course of the summer there will be a lot.

Rain on Trinity - a lot of mushrooms, to warm weather.

From the Trinity to the Assumption, they don’t dance round dances.

Swim my wreath to that shore, who, catching my wreath, wakes up the groom.

Customs and beliefs for the feast of the Trinity

By tradition, the Trinity (in 2018 it falls on May 27) is celebrated for three days, and preparations for the holiday begin in advance. The houses and the yard are carefully cleaned, and the rooms are decorated with fresh tree branches (linden, willow, birch, maple), the floor is lined with fragrant herbs and flowers.

Such a ritual for the Trinity means awakening and the beginning of a new life cycle. On this day, people went out into the streets dressed up with songs and dances, danced round dances, the girls guessed at the betrothed and performed certain rituals.

Collected field herbs were brought to the church and consecrated, C-ib.ru reports. This was done so that the summer would be generous with rains and give people a rich harvest.

Saturday before Trinity - memorial. On this day, dead relatives are remembered in churches.

Trinity Day (Green Sunday) is considered the day of the appearance of various mythical evil spirits (mermaids, mermen, goblin). It is to protect against it that the room is decorated with green branches and wildflowers.

They also say that you can’t swim on the Trinity, since mermaids or water ones came out of the reservoirs and, having acquired a human appearance, took men and women away.

After the holiday, the greenery was not thrown away, but was used to treat various diseases, as it had tremendous healing power.

On the second day of the Trinity (Klechalny Monday), the priests went out into the fields to bless the future harvest.

On the third day (Holy Spirit's Day), an unmarried girl was decorated with ribbons, flowers, wreaths of wild flowers and herbs and taken around the yards. To meet her on the street was considered a great success.

Signs and conspiracies on the Trinity

On Trinity, people carefully listened to folk signs, because the future harvest and the upcoming summer depend on the weather for the holiday. Here are the most common ones:

• According to signs, rain on the Trinity - to a rich harvest and a warm summer;
• A fine drizzle, after which a bright sun peeped out - also to a rich harvest of berries, cereals and mushrooms;
• On Trinity the sun - the summer will be dry and very hot;
• The heat on Trinity was considered a bad omen. She meant a bad harvest year;
• To see a rainbow on a holiday is a great happiness in the house;
• If you swim in the rain on the Trinity, then you can get rich;

• Since ancient times, at dawn, people left their houses for fields, gardens and crumbled bread on the ground, thereby calling on nature to give them a good harvest;
• In order to have a good hayfield and it rains, birch branches are stuck into the ground;
• Before the Trinity, it was necessary to finish planting the garden, because then the heat set in and the plants were poorly received due to lack of moisture.

According to popular belief, the dew that fell on the Trinity gave health, youth, beauty

What not to do on Trinity

On one of the biggest twelfth holidays, the land is the birthday girl, so there are many restrictions on work on this day. You can not plow, dig the ground, dig, plant plants and trees, mow the grass. In general, all work that is connected with the land cannot be done.

You can not cut and chop trees

Works related to trees are prohibited on this day, as young plants are used to decorate houses on a holiday. You can not cut trees, saw, chop wood, break branches.

Taboo on any hard work

On this day, it is forbidden to perform any hard work in the garden, since on this day the earth is born again and, like on any birthday, you need to celebrate, not work. Taboo for work in the field and garden.

It has long been believed that if you do not adhere to this sign, any unfavorable situation can happen: weather conditions will destroy the crop, livestock will die out or be destroyed by predators.

These rules do not apply to work in production, because it does not depend on our desire, but is necessary and inevitable.

However, you can collect all kinds of herbs and dry them. You can prepare brooms for a bath, they will be endowed with a special healing power.

The herbs collected for the Trinity have magical healing powers. Tinctures and decoctions are prepared from them to heal from ailments.

You can not sew, bake, do housework

As on other Orthodox holidays, on Trinity you can’t do cleaning, sewing, and any other housework. You can only decorate the room, cook food, perform only vital work.

Everyone who works on this day will face various misfortunes. In general, it is better not to take risks, but to celebrate!

Taboo on any work on earth

It is impossible to work on the earth on the Trinity, but you can look for treasures in it. Try it, perhaps the treasure hidden somewhere has already been waiting for you.

no fence repair

You can not build or repair a fence (fence) on this day. Such work can bring trouble and illness to the family.

Tune in to the positive

Observing all the above signs on the Trinity, do not forget about the spiritual side.

It is forbidden to be angry at the Trinity, think about the bad, envy or get angry!

Be friendly and joyful on this day, then nature will reward you in full good harvest and well-being.

Several centuries before his son Jesus Christ was crucified on earth, the Lord through the prophets announced to people that the Holy Spirit would be sent to help them:

“I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my commandments and keep and do my statutes” (Ezekiel 36:27).

Jesus Christ also promised his disciples:

“But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I have told you” (John 14:26).

Therefore, the apostles, together with the Blessed Virgin Mary, after Christ did not go home, but remained in Jerusalem, waiting for the fulfillment of the promise.
They were in the Upper Room of Zion, where they all prayed to the Lord together. In this room, after His Resurrection, the Savior has twice appeared to His disciples.
When fifty days had passed after the Resurrection of Christ, on the tenth day after His Ascension, the words of the Master were fulfilled. On this day there was a big Jewish holiday - God gave the Ten Commandments to the prophet Moses, which he received on Mount Sinai, so there were a lot of people in Jerusalem. Pilgrims came not only from Judea itself, but also from other countries.
In the morning

“Suddenly there was a noise from heaven, as if from a rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were” (Acts 2:2).

Following this, fiery flames appeared in the air, which froze over each of the apostles. The fire of these tongues shone, but did not burn. The prophecy of St. John the Baptist about the fiery baptism of the apostles came true:

"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11).

This wonderful property happens every year and is currently on the Convergence Holy Fire in Jerusalem. On Great Saturday, on the eve Orthodox Easter- during the first few minutes, the fire really shines, but does not burn.
Each of the apostles felt an extraordinary surge of spiritual strength - this is God, through the fiery tongues of flame, transferred power to the apostles so that they could preach and glorify the teachings of Christ.
Hearing a loud noise, pilgrims began to gather at the Zion Upper Room, and the apostles went out to the people and

“began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4)

It was a miracle that each of the people heard speech in their own language, so the people were very surprised at this phenomenon.
Many knew the apostles as ordinary poor people who were not trained in the sciences and, accordingly, were not trained in oratory.

The assembled people tried to explain what had happened by saying that the apostles “ drunk sweet wine”and in response to this accusation, the most ardent in character, the apostle Peter, unexpectedly for everyone and, above all for himself, began the first sermon in his life.
Now, through the mouth of the simple poor Peter, the Holy Spirit Himself spoke to people. The apostle preached to them about the life of Jesus Christ and His martyrdom. The words of the Apostle Peter sunk deep into the souls of those gathered.

"What should we do?" they asked him. “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37-38).

After his preaching, about three thousand people believed and became Christians.
Thus, the Lord gave His disciples 9 special gifts:
the gift of wisdom and knowledge, the gift of prophecy, the ability to discern spirits, the gifts of shepherding, faith, healing and miracles, the gifts of knowledge and the interpretation of tongues.

The apostles were literally reborn - they became people of strong faith, unusual fortitude. From their Teacher, they knew that their life would not be easy, each of them had their own cup of suffering ahead of them, their life would be full of ridicule, bullying, beatings and imprisonment. Indeed, almost all of them died or were executed.
To overcome these sufferings, the ascended Jesus Christ sent His messengers the Holy Spirit the Comforter. And now neither crucifixion, nor burning at the stake, nor death under a hail of stones could make God's apostles-messengers stop in preaching the Divine teaching throughout the world.
Zion's Upper Room, after the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Mother of God who were in it, began to be considered the first Christian church. And this day began to be called the feast of the Holy Trinity, in honor of the fact that the Lord revealed himself to people in three forms - God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit.

SIGNIFICANCE AND MEANING OF THE TRINITY HOLIDAY

Holy Trinity Day is one of the Great Orthodox holidays. On this day, the Holy Spirit descended to earth and people were shown the Triune image of God: God the Father - the creator, God the Son - Jesus Christ, who appeared to people to atone for sins and God the Holy Spirit. This day of the Trinity is considered the feast of the birth of the earthly Church.
Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ, because of this it is also called Holy Pentecost. The holiday itself consists of two parts. Sunday (the first day) is the Day of the Most Holy Trinity, and the second day (Monday) is the day of the Holy Spirit.
« Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit… ”- any Christian repeatedly uttered these solemn words, while doing, the first three fingers folded together express our faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as a consubstantial and inseparable Trinity.

And what can be more reliable for a person than faith in God, in his protection and patronage:
“My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit: Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.”

The Feast of the Trinity is a bright holiday that is permeated with sunlight, the birth of life in nature after winter, when it seems to us that God's grace is spreading everywhere and everywhere, in every ray of the sun and in every green leaf, when everything around blooms, blossoms, comes to life and begins new round of life!
On this day, churches are decorated with flowers, greenery - this is a symbol of the birth of life in spring, as a symbol of the birth of the Church.

Special reverence is associated on this day, primarily with the birch, the flowering of greenery which falls on the feast of the Trinity. Among the people, it is associated with goodness, with protection from evil spirits and with a tree that banishes diseases (birch sap, birch buds and, of course, bath brooms).
Since ancient times, temples and churches in Russia have been decorated with its branches, as well as young trees.

People who come to the festive service bring with them and hold birch twigs and flowers in their hands, which are consecrated during the service.
In honor of this Great Feast, priests usually dress in green phelonions, and church utensils are often decorated with light green fabrics and ribbons.
On the Day of the Holy Trinity, during special prayers, everyone in the temple is supposed (as far as possible) to kneel. Trinity is considered the first permissive day after Easter for kneeling prayers in the temple. This kneeling is a liturgical feature, the highlight of this holiday.

Magnification

We magnify Thee, Life-Giver Christ, and honor Thy All-Holy Spirit, Whom from the Father Thou hast sent as Thy Divine Disciple.

VIDEO FILM

The Church holiday of the Day of the Holy Trinity will be celebrated by the entire Christian world in 2019 on June 16 - on the fiftieth day after the Holy Resurrection of Christ, which is why it is also called Pentecost.

This is one of the 12 main church holidays, which is dedicated to an event from the Gospel - the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the glorification of the Holy Trinity.

The essence of the church holiday

The church holiday was established by the apostles in honor of the Holy Trinity. Every year, the disciples of the Savior themselves celebrated the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit and bequeathed it to all Christians.

The first Christian temple was the Zion chamber, in which the Holy Spirit descended in the form of fiery tongues on the apostles.

Since ancient times, the Trinity has been considered the day of the founding of the New Testament Church on earth, since the Holy Spirit endowed the apostles with special power so that they could preach the Gospel throughout the world and bring the message of Jesus to everyone as the Savior of all mankind.

The holiday in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit marked 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.

In the Apostolic Decrees there is an indication of this, although they officially established the church holiday of the Trinity at the end of the 4th century, after they accepted the dogma of the Divine Trinity.

The roots of the holiday in Russia date back to pagan times, therefore, in addition to church ones, many folk customs and traditions that have become an integral part of the Holy Trinity Day.

Church holiday traditions

They prepared for the Day of the Holy Trinity in advance - the housewives began a general cleaning in the house and in the yard a day or two before the holiday. According to tradition, people freed the house from unused things, especially those that resembled unpleasant moments in life.

They cleared their garden and garden of weeds. According to tradition, weeds were pulled out with roots and stuck into the ground with the top. Such a sign indicated that these plants would no longer litter the land.

Houses and churches, according to tradition, were decorated with flowers, grass and branches for the church holiday of the Trinity. various trees, since young plants symbolize wealth, prosperity and the continuation of life.

The whole family on the church holiday Trinity in the morning went to the temple, where a festive service was held. According to signs, nothing can be asked of the Holy Spirit on this day - it is only important to thank him for being the savior and faithful protector of human souls.

After the temple, they returned home and arranged a rich festive feast. The church holiday was not a fast day, so any dishes were served on the table - pancakes, cereals, all kinds of pies, kissels and decoctions. On the Trinity, according to tradition, they went to visit and gave gifts.

Among the old traditions is a visit to the cemetery on this day - people commemorated their deceased relatives and left them refreshments.

In the villages, real festivities began in the late afternoon - they arranged round dances, danced, sang songs, and performed ritual ceremonies. Fairs were organized, with various entertainments that lasted as much as a whole week.

The Trinity, according to tradition, was also celebrated in forests, fields, gardens - they sang songs, played funny Games. On this day unmarried girls fortune-telling on wreaths, woven with their own hands. Wreaths were thrown into the water and songs were sung, and if the wreaths converged, this was a sure sign that the girl would be married this year.

On the banks of rivers and lakes, according to tradition, bonfires were burned for several nights in a row to protect themselves from the evil spirits that the fire scared away. In the old days, people believed that mermaids these days went ashore and lured guys.

Signs on the Trinity

Marriage on a holiday was considered a good omen. People believed in the old days, if they marry the Trinity, and get married to the Intercession, then the spouses will live a long time in love and harmony.

Flowers and herbs plucked on the Trinity, according to signs, were considered healing and capable of curing any ailment, and the dew collected at dawn had a special power - it could heal and give strength.

Rain on Trinity is a good omen, which indicated that the year would be fruitful and warm.

The hot weather on Trinity was considered a bad omen, which meant that the whole summer would be dry.

After the Trinity, according to signs, the weather was set and sunny days came.

Giving small change to the poor on the Trinity church holiday is a good sign that will help protect yourself from illness and adversity.

Material prepared on the basis of open sources