History and traditions of the Trinity holiday. Folk festivities on Trinity Sunday
There is such an icon - the Holy Trinity, and everyone has probably looked at it more than once, trying to understand its meaning.
This icon depicts God the Father himself, God the Son - Jesus Christ and God - the Holy Spirit, the same Comforter whose descent Jesus Christ promised to his disciples when he ascended to heaven. The Holy Trinity means that God exists in three persons, or hypostases. Why this is so, perhaps, is not worth understanding yet, you just need to believe and admit that this is so and that the image of God in three hypostases on icons is called the Holy Trinity.
A great church holiday is dedicated to the Holy Trinity - the Feast of the Holy Trinity, or simply Trinity. It is also associated with Easter and the Ascension, therefore it does not have a permanent day, but is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter on the tenth after the Ascension. That is why it is also called Pentecost. This holiday is dedicated to the memory of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles-disciples of Christ. This day is called Trinity, because on this day we glorify all the faces of the Triune God: God the Father, who created the world, God the Son, who suffered in the name of human salvation and delivered people from enslavement to the devil, and God the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies peace through the founding of the church, which is why Trinity Day is also called the birthday of the Christian church.
On the tenth day after the Ascension, all the apostles, as always, were together in the house, and suddenly there was a loud noise, as if a gust of strong wind had burst into the room. The noise filled the whole house, and then a fiery tongue stopped over each apostle (as the first disciples of Christ were called), and suddenly they spoke in different languages that they did not know before: Latin, and Greek, and Arabic, and -Persian, and in other languages that were in the world.
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The apostles realized that the Holy Spirit had descended on them. Then they went out into the square and began to tell people who had come to Jerusalem from all sides to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Pentecost, about Jesus Christ, how he died, then rose again and ascended into heaven. And despite the fact that the people were from different places and spoke different languages, they understood everything perfectly and asked the apostles:
- What should we do, brothers?
The apostles answered them:
- Repent of your sins, be baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and your sins will be forgiven, and you will receive forgiveness.
And then the apostles went to different lands: to the north, and to the south, and to the west, and to the east, to tell all the people about Jesus Christ and his good deeds.
It is known from the Holy Scriptures that then about 3 thousand people were immediately baptized, and the apostles went further across the earth and introduced more and more people to their faith.
Trinity Day is a very beautiful holiday. On this day, churches are decorated from the inside with birch branches, freshly cut grass and wildflowers are spread on the floor. All believers with green birch branches in their hands go to church, there during the service these branches are blessed, and they are kept in everyone’s home, bringing happiness, prosperity and health.
Who are the apostles?
Apostles (from the Greek word “apolstolos” - sent) in the Bible are those who accompanied Jesus Christ in his wanderings, and then were sent to preach Christianity throughout the world.
According to the books. In the Bible, Jesus Christ had twelve disciples. However, in the future, to them. Several more saints were added.
What do clergy wear during services?
You, of course, have seen the beautiful clothes embroidered with gold that the priest wears during the service. These lush and colorful clothes help to give everything that happens in the church a solemnity and majesty. They look especially beautiful in the light of flickering candles. The priests are very smart and educated people, they know history well and many languages.
The main book for all priests and believers is the Bible, the most famous book on the entire globe. It has been translated into 1800 languages of the world, and if a person knows only one of his native languages, he can still read the Bible.
One of the largest and most revered holidays in Christianity is the holiday of the Trinity, but few people know and understand what kind of holiday this is and what the name Trinity, which is also used in the ordinary life of Christians, means.
Trinity Holiday - what is it?
The holiday of Trinity (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 hypostasis of the Holy Spirit, descending to Earth and appearing in this third hypostasis before the disciples of Christ, i.e. essentially in front of his disciples, since in Christianity the Holy Spirit, Christ and God are one whole entity.
Why is the holiday of Trinity called Pentecost?
Icon. Andrey Rublev. Trinity. Around 1422-1427 Minimum symbols: three angels (Trinity), a cup (Atoning sacrifice), a table (the Lord's table, the Eucharist. Among the recognizable realities - an oak tree (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 occurred exactly on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ (Easter) or on the 10th day after the Ascension of Christ (Ascension).
This is where the name of this holiday came from - Pentecost. At the same time, this holiday of Pentecost should not be confused with another Jewish holiday, bearing exactly the same name Pentecost and 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 appearance of the Holy Spirit happened unexpectedly and was attended by a limited number of people.
On the tenth day after Christ's ascension into 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 clock, that is, in our opinion, the ninth hour of the morning. Suddenly a sound came from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled the whole house where the disciples of Christ were. And tongues of fire appeared and rested (stopped) one on each of them. Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to glorify God in different languages that they did not know before.”
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 nations; He descended in the form of fire as a sign that he has the power to scorch sins and cleanse, sanctify and warm souls.
In Jerusalem at that time there were many people who came from different countries for the holiday. The apostles came out to them and began to preach in their native languages. The sermon had such an effect on those listening 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, then you too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Those who believed in Christ willingly accepted baptism; there were about three thousand of them 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, came out of the walls of the Zion Upper Room to fearlessly preach Christ’s teaching about love.
Why did the Holy Spirit descend to earth?
The main reason why the Holy Spirit descended to earth was to motivate the disciples to build the Church of Christ: “...for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the building up of the Body of Christ.” It is for this reason that Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Christian Church.
How is the Feast of Pentecost celebrated?
On Pentecost, churches immediately after the Divine Liturgy celebrate Vespers in remembrance of the descent of the Comforter Spirit on the holy apostles. During the service, kneeling prayers are read for the sending down to us of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of reason and the fear of God.
The Church prays for the granting of the grace of the Holy Spirit to all those present, as well as to previously deceased relatives in the flesh, so that they too may become participants in the Kingdom of Glory in the land of the living - “not a single one is clean before God from filth, even if there is only one day in his life” ( kneeling prayer after “Grant, O Lord, this evening”).
On this day, Orthodox Christians decorate their 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 Zion Upper Room, where the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, at that time, according to general custom, was also decorated with tree branches and flowers. On the feast of Trinity, the appearance of the Trinity to Abraham in the Mamvrian oak grove is also remembered, so the temple decorated with greenery also resembles that oak grove. And the flowering branches also remind us that under the influence of God’s grace, human souls blossom with the fruits of virtues.
What does the word Trinity mean in the Bible?
The very word “Trinity” is of non-biblical origin and 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 Theophilus of Sioia.
In his treatise “Against Autolycus,” Theophilus wrote: “The three days [of creation], which were before [the creation of] the luminaries, are 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., since it mentions the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Neither in the Old nor in the New Testaments is the concept of “Trinity” directly used, and according to biblical scholars, there are only isolated hints in Scripture indicating the trinity of God, but nothing more.
Doctrine of the Trinity
Non-canonical icon. Holy Trinity with angels and saints. Master from Messkirch, early 16th century.
The doctrine of the Triune God comes down to three points:
1) God is trinity and trinity consists in the fact that in God there are Three Persons (hypostases): Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
2) Each Person of the Holy Trinity is God, but They are not three Gods, but are one 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 elder nor younger; just as God the Father is true God, so God the Son is true God, so the Holy Spirit is true God. Each Person carries within itself all the properties of the Divine.
Since God is one in His being, 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 not born from anyone and does not come from anyone; The Son of God is born from God the Father - eternally (timeless, beginningless, infinite), and the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father.
How to understand the dogma of the Trinity?
Any educated Christian is well aware that the main dogma and cornerstone of the Christian church is the dogma of the Holy Trinity, and without its correct understanding there is neither faith nor a Christian church.
The dogma of the Trinity tells believers the following: God is one in essence, but threefold 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 Most Holy Trinity, the sinful human mind must reject its claims to the ability to know everything and rationally explain, that is, in order to understand the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, it is necessary to turn away from its own thinking.
Since when is the holiday of Trinity celebrated?
Christian Pentecost as a holiday of the Holy Trinity has been celebrated since the 4th century, when at the Second Council of Constantinople the dogma of the Trinity was finally approved in which 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 celebration of the appearance of the third Person of the Divine 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 out of the earth 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 for Trinity
There are many signs and superstitions regarding things that should not be done on this day.
So, it is better not to set a wedding day on Trinity. Allegedly, those who tied the knot on this day will have an unhappy family life. It’s better to get wooed on Trinity and prepare for the wedding.
The ancient Slavs believed that on the day on which Christians later designated Trinity, fairy-tale creatures - Mavkas and mermaids - appeared. Therefore, you shouldn’t walk alone in forests and fields, because they can take a lonely traveler with them and tickle you to death.
According to ancient beliefs, it was forbidden to swim, because mermaids would definitely drag you to the bottom. There is a superstitious legend that there will definitely be a drowned person on Trinity Sunday, so you should avoid any bodies of water and not tempt fate. One of the largest and most revered holidays in Christianity is the holiday of the Trinity, but few people know and understand what kind of holiday it is and what the name Trinity means , which is also used in the ordinary life of Christians.
From time immemorial, it was considered a bad omen to play weddings on Trinity Sunday.
How to celebrate Trinity (Pentecost)
On Pentecost, houses, apartments and churches are decorated with greenery and flowers, as well as birch branches, because the birch tree was the main symbol of this holiday in Rus'.
Before Trinity, it is customary to clean up the house and visit the cemetery to pay tribute to the deceased.
On the morning of Trinity Sunday, people go to church and consecrate birch branches, greenery and flowers. It is generally accepted that greenery illuminated on Trinity Day can be stored throughout the year - in Rus', greenery blessed on this day replaced people with a talisman that protected their home from evil spirits and troubles.
On Trinity Sunday, girls often wondered about their future groom.
How to tell fortunes about the Trinity
Of course, the church does not welcome fortune telling, but this tradition has been going on since ancient times.
It is customary to guess on Trinity from Thursday to Sunday.
The most common method for Trinity is fortune telling with wreaths - with their weaving and then floating on water.
On this day, irresponsible Christians tell fortunes using other objects - rings, chains, etc.
Fortune telling by wreath consisted of the girl weaving a wreath and making a wish for the groom, after which she went to the river and tilted her head to throw the wreath into the water.
Ideas based on the behavior of the wreath and fortune telling about the betrothed:
If the wreath floated calmly, then its owner expected a calm year
If the wreath floated under water or sank, then the girl had to be afraid of illness, death of loved ones or other troubles
If the wreath unraveled, then this promised the girl separation from her beloved
If the wreath quickly floated away, then this promised the girl a groom from the far side
A wreath stuck near the shore meant that there was no need to wait for the groom until the next Pentecost.
Films on the theme of the Trinity holiday
Not many films have been made about the Trinity, but nevertheless on the Internet you can find the following films:
Film by Metropolitan Hilarion “Trinity”;
Film "Holy Trinity"
Genre: Documentary
In terms of popularity as Christian holidays in Russia, Trinity is on a par with Christmas and Easter. But not everyone can talk about the meaning, meaning and traditions of remembering the 50th day after Christ’s Resurrection. What kind of holiday is this - Trinity?
We learn from the New Testament
The Old Testament Jews had such a holiday - Pentecost or Shavuot. It was celebrated on the 50th day after Passover and was established in memory of the giving of the Torah to the Jews on Mount Sinai during the Exodus from Egypt. The holy apostles gathered for Pentecost in the Upper Room of Zion, on the top floor of the house where Christ had previously celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples. The room was filled with noise from the sky, similar to gusts of strong wind. Fiery tongues of flame appeared before the disciples of Christ, which “they rested one on each of them” (Acts 2:3). Thus, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, and Christ’s disciples were able to preach God in a variety of dialects. It is obvious that the descent of the Holy Spirit was also seen by the devout Jews gathered in Jerusalem that day, as they began to flock to the Upper Room of Zion.
“Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjacent to Cyrene, and those who came from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them with our speaking with tongues the great things of God” (Acts 2:9-11).
Apparently, the apostles hastened to leave the upper room and inform people about the unusual event, and also begin preaching the Gospel. Skeptics in the crowd were not convinced even by the visual manifestation of God's intervention in the life of mankind, and the apostles were accused of drunkenness. The Apostle Peter objected to the attack, confirming the gift of multiplicity with words from the book of the prophet Joel:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy... And on my servants and on my handmaids in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy” (Acts. 2:17-18).
“I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh”- speaks of the fullness of the gifts that God can give to every believer. The gifts of the Holy Spirit, for example, are love, wisdom, knowledge, faith, miracles, teaching, etc., that is, those skills that allow a Christian to serve for the good of people and the Church. After the preaching of the Apostle Peter, 3,000 people were baptized in Jerusalem.
Pentecost became the birthday of the Orthodox Church, the day when God breathed into it His Spirit, which is invisibly transmitted to clergy through ordination and to all believers during participation in the sacred sacraments.
Holiday traditions
One of the most striking visual features of the Trinity can be called the decoration of Orthodox churches with grass and young birch trees. The Russian people called Pentecost “green Christmastide,” a time of seeing off spring and welcoming summer. Branches of the tree, by analogy with the consecrated willow, are sometimes brought home on Trinity Day and placed next to the icons. Monday, the Spiritual day following the resurrection of Pentecost, was also considered to be a continuation of the holiday. According to the Church Charter, the week after Trinity is considered continuous; fasting on Wednesday and Friday is canceled. This period is also a time of preparation for the upcoming Lent of Peter the Great, ending on July 12, the day of the apostles Peter and Paul. In the agrarian Russian tradition, the land was called the birthday girl on Trinity Day; it was not customary to work on Monday either. Pentecost is preceded by Trinity Parent Saturday, a day of special remembrance of the dead.
Birthday of the Church
Translated from Greek, the word “Church” means “Assembly”. The Lord designated a center of gravity for everyone striving for eternal life - the Holy Church, the imprint of the Heavenly Kingdom on earth. Humanity received the opportunity to become citizens of God's Fatherland through baptism and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is in baptism, the “entrance gate” to the Kingdom of Heaven, that new, unique opportunities are sent down to a person, which he is called upon to develop and put into service to serve God and people. The apostles, being timid people of little faith, but seeking the Lord, after the descent of the Holy Spirit became bold and fiery preachers. They fearlessly went to death for God, without fear of torture or painful death. The Holy Spirit opened their inner vision, and it was on the day of Pentecost that the apostles finally understood the meaning of all the events that happened to them during Christ’s stay on earth.
The cycle of church holidays is contained in an annual circle. Year after year we celebrate Christmas and Epiphany in the winter frosts, joyfully and like spring we shout “Christ is Risen!” on Easter, we play weddings after the Dormition and on Intercession. “It’s the same thing,” an outsider will wave his hand in their hearts. And we will transfer the popular “repetition is the mother of teaching” to our church life. Having received the gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism, we improve in spiritual life from year to year and go out to harvest good fruits, noticing how every year we change little by little. God's Spirit cleanses, gives strength, knowledge, opportunities, creates and helps us in life in all our endeavors. It is not for nothing that before the start of each task, according to church tradition, the prayer “To the Heavenly King” is offered.
Seraphim of Sarov said that acquiring the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the main goal of a Christian’s life. And Isaac the Syrian argued that God approaches us as much as a person strives for him. God is not an illusion, but the reality of our lives. All the subconscious searches of the human soul for freedom, love, brotherhood, peace, harmony can be satisfied only in God. The Holy Spirit with His boundless power and love help us.
Trinity Day does not have an exact date - it is usually celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. Thanks to this, this important church holiday has a second known name - Pentecost. Where did this holiday beloved by Christians come from, and what are its traditions?
History of origin
Pentecost is an ancient Old Testament holiday, traditionally celebrated on the 50th day after the Jewish Passover. The Jews attributed this day to three great celebrations, closely linking it with the acquisition by the people of Israel of the Sinai Law, received 50 days after the day of their exit from Egypt. The celebration of Pentecost has always been accompanied by mass fun, general rejoicing and sacrifices.
Orthodox Pentecost, also known as the Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, is celebrated on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ; this great holiday represents for Christians the beginning of a new era of human existence. Moreover, an important date is considered the day of the creation of the Christian church. But the most important thing is that on this day the Holy Spirit descended on the 12 apostles and revealed to them that God is one and three at the same time. This is how events unfolded according to the Bible.
On the day of the celebration of Jewish Pentecost, 12 followers of Jesus retired from the mass fun in one of the Zion upper rooms. The disciples of Christ gathered together daily at the request of their mentor. Even during the life of the Savior, they knew about the coming event and were waiting for a new miracle. The Son of God informed them of the coming of the Holy Spirit before he died on the cross. On the 50th day after the Resurrection of the Savior, the participants heard a heartbreaking noise that, like a hurricane wind, filled a small house. Then tongues of fire appeared, they touched everyone present and seemed to separate those who were nearby.
The Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus in the form of God the Father (Divine Mind), God the Son (Divine Word) and God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). This Holy Trinity is the fundamental basis of Christianity, on which the Orthodox faith firmly rests. The Holy Trinity is one God who is also trinity. God the Father is without beginning and creation, God the Son is born of the Father, and the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father.
People who approached the house from which incomprehensible sounds were heard were very surprised that the apostles spoke to each other in different languages. At first they doubted the sobriety of those who were inside, but the Apostle Peter dispelled the doubts of the unwitting witnesses to the miracle that had taken place. He said that the Holy Spirit had descended on them, and through them it would touch every Christian. God specifically gave the chosen ones the opportunity to speak in previously unknown languages and dialects, so that they could go to different countries and tell their inhabitants the Truth about Christ. It is believed that the Holy Spirit descended to the apostles in the form of a cleansing and enlightening fire.
The preachers chosen for an important mission scattered throughout the world. They preached Christianity in different parts of the world, easily communicating with residents of unfamiliar cities in their native languages. The disciples of Christ reached the countries of the Middle East and Asia Minor, baptized people in India, Crimea and Kiev. Of the 12 apostles, only one survived - John; the rest were executed by opponents of the new faith.
Features of the celebration of Holy Trinity Day
Pentecost always falls at that wonderful time of year when nature generously gives fragrant herbs and fragrant flowers. The green leaves do not yet have time to become covered with road dust and enliven the young branches of the trees. They decorate churches and homes, thereby demonstrating the flourishing of the human soul and the renewal of people. The aroma of herbs mixes with the smell of incense, creating a festive mood and evoking joy. And the faces of the saints, surrounded by fresh greenery, look as if they were alive.
In churches, the Trinity is celebrated with special respect. This is the most important and one of the most beautiful holidays. On the eve of Pentecost, the universal parental Saturday is celebrated, commemorating those who could not be buried according to Christian customs, including those who drowned and disappeared. On the night before the celebration, a night service is held in churches.
On the Day of the Holy Trinity, Sunday hymns are not performed; instead, special holiday songs are sung. The solemn service takes place according to a special festive rite. After the liturgy, Vespers follows, during which the descent of the Holy Spirit is glorified and three special prayers are read. Priests always wear symbolic emerald robes on Trinity Sunday. Parishioners come to the temple in high spirits with flowers and birch branches.
The week after Pentecost does not have fasting on Wednesday and Friday, and immediately after the holiday there follows an important holiday closely associated with the Trinity - the Day of the Holy Spirit.
Russians began to celebrate Holy Trinity Day only in the 14th century - 300 years after the Baptism of Rus'. The holiday was introduced by St. Sergius of Radonezh.
The Christian holiday of Trinity is one of the Orthodox twelve holidays, which is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, on Sunday. Churches of the Western tradition celebrate on this day the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, Pentecost, and the Trinity itself on the following resurrection.
The meaning of the holiday of Trinity
The Bible says that the grace given to the apostles by the Holy Spirit descended on them on this very day. Thanks to this, people were shown the third face of God, they joined the sacrament: the unity of God is manifested in three persons - Father, Son and Spirit. From that day on, the message was preached throughout the entire earth. In general, the meaning of Trinity as a holiday is that God reveals himself to people in stages, and not all at once. In modern Christianity, the Trinity means that the Father, who created all living things, sent the Son, Jesus Christ, and then the Holy Spirit to people. For believers, the meaning of the Holy Trinity comes down to the praise of God in all his forms.
Traditions of celebrating Trinity
The Holy Trinity, the history of which dates back thousands of years, is also widely celebrated today. The people celebrate Trinity for three days. The first day is Klechalny or Green Sunday, when people had to be extremely careful because of the aggressiveness of mermaids, moths, terrapins and other mythical evil spirits. In villages, the holiday of the Russian Trinity is celebrated in compliance with traditions and certain rituals. The floors of churches and houses were decorated with grass, icons were decorated with birch branches. Green color symbolized the renewing and life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. By the way, in some Orthodox Churches, golden and white colors are endowed with the same meaning. Girls tell fortunes on Green Sunday using wicker wreaths. If the wreaths floating on the water come together, then the young woman will be wooed this year. On this day, deceased relatives were remembered in cemeteries, leaving treats on the graves. And in the evenings, buffoons and mummers entertained the villagers.
It's Clue Monday in the morning. After the church service, the clergy went to the fields and read prayers, asking the Lord for protection for the future harvest. At this time, the children participated in interesting fun games.
On the third day, Bogodukhov Day, the girls “took Topolya.” Her role was played by the most beautiful unmarried girl. She was decorated beyond recognition with wreaths and ribbons, and was taken around rural yards so that her owners would generously treat her. The water in the wells was sanctified on this day, getting rid of the unclean spirit.
Christian Western tradition
Lutheranism and Catholicism share the holidays of Trinity and Pentecost. The cycle opens with Pentecost, a week later they celebrate Trinity, on the 11th day after Pentecost - the feast of the Blood and Body of Christ, on the 19th day - the Sacred Heart of Christ, on the 20th day - the feast of the Immaculate Heart of St. Mary. In Poland and Belarus, Catholic churches in Russia these days, churches are decorated with birch branches. Whitsuntide is considered a public holiday in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Iceland, Luxembourg, Latvia, Ukraine, Romania, Switzerland, Norway and France.
Trinity and modernity Nowadays, Trinity is especially celebrated in rural areas. Before this day, housewives usually clean up both the house and the yard and prepare festive dishes. Flowers and grass collected early in the morning are used to decorate rooms, doors and windows, in the belief that they will not allow evil spirits into the house.
In the morning, festive services are held in churches, and in the evening you can attend concerts, folk festivals, and take part in fun competitions. Most of the traditions, unfortunately, have been lost, but the holiday still remains one of the most important for believers.
Holy Trinity Day - the history of the holiday
Orthodoxy celebrates many holidays. Believers certainly know about such a holiday as Trinity Day; it has a long history and certain customs.
The Church celebrates this holiday on the Day of Pentecost - the fiftieth day after Easter. Any Orthodox person knows exactly when to celebrate this holiday and what is the history of Trinity Day. The history of the Trinity holiday dates back to the time of Jesus Christ. Then, on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ, the apostles of the Holy Spirit descended to earth. The apostles understood the role of the third Person of the Trinity and why God is triune.
History of Trinity Day
After the Ascension, the apostles were constantly present in the Zion Upper Room and prayed. Suddenly they heard a noise in the sky, and tongues of fire appeared in front of them and descended on their heads. Thus the Holy Spirit entered the bodies of the apostles. The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the knowledge of hitherto unknown languages so that they could spread the Christian faith throughout the world. The Orthodox holiday of Trinity was proclaimed by the apostles, if history is to be believed. After the described incident, Christians began to celebrate this holiday every Pentecost; it is considered one of the most important in the Orthodox world.
Later, Basil the Great composed certain prayers that were necessary to be read on this day. This tradition continues to this day. The Day of the Holy Trinity throughout the Orthodox world is considered the birth of the Christian Church, which was created by God.
In Orthodoxy, the Day of the Holy Trinity and the Day of Pentecost are combined together, which cannot be said about the Catholic Church. Catholics celebrate Trinity Day on the Sunday after Pentecost.
Icons telling about the descent of the Holy Spirit began to be painted in the 6th century. On them you can usually see the Upper Room of Zion and the apostles with books. Moreover, between the apostles Peter and Paul there is an empty space, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. There are tongues of flame above the heads of the apostles.
The history of the Trinity holiday is very ancient, it dates back to the Ascension of Jesus Christ. Orthodox people know this and therefore celebrate the holiday especially widely - they are sure to attend services on the day of Pentecost.
History also tells us about some traditions and customs that are observed during the Trinity Day to this day. The floors of churches and houses should be covered with freshly cut grass, and the icons should be decorated with birch branches, symbolizing the power of the Holy Spirit. On the Saturday before Trinity Day, Orthodox Christians go to the cemetery to honor the memory of deceased relatives; this day is called “parental day.” Birch branches are used to decorate houses and temples; this tradition has developed historically. 
Moreover, it is believed that Trinity Day without birch decorations is the same as Christmas without a New Year's tree. Before Trinity, they always do a general cleaning, bake pies, and make wreaths (again, from birch and flowers). Since ancient times, this holiday has been especially loved by girls, because they could dress beautifully and go to the bride. Matchmaking on Trinity is considered a good omen, and the wedding is already taking place in the fall.
Some customs of the Holy Trinity holiday have migrated from history to our time - churches are decorated with birch branches, girls weave wreaths, Orthodox Christians always go to the cemetery on Saturday. This holiday is very joyful and cheerful - in the morning it is obligatory to visit the temple, and afterwards they dance in circles and sing songs. One of the traditional dishes for Trinity is loaf; guests are often invited and celebrate this holiday together. Folk festivities on Trinity Day do not lose their popularity.
What does the Feast of the Holy Trinity mean? When is it celebrated? History of the holiday?
What does the trinity have to do with it? The Bible does not contain the doctrine of the Trinity at all. It appeared more than 320 years after the Bible was written. Jesus recalled the 1st commandment - ABOUT THE ONE true God, and not about the Trinity introduced by pagan religions into Christianity. - 3 years agoAaleksey
Trinity Sunday is usually celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter and on the tenth day after the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ. You can learn about this day from the Bible. On this day, about two thousand years ago (according to historians in May 30 AD), the apostles were sitting in a room in one of the Jerusalem houses on Mount Zion. And suddenly a noise came from heaven and filled the whole house, and all the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages that they did not know before. There were many pilgrims from different countries in Jerusalem at that time; hearing the noise, they hurried to the house of the apostles. They were surprised to hear that the apostles spoke different languages. For each of them, the sermon of the apostles sounded in his native language. The time has come not only for God the Father (who was in the times of the Old Testament), not only for God the Father and the Son (in the times of the New Testament), but the time of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Esther
The Feast of the Holy Trinity means that we have the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And also on this day, Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of the church, not the church building, but people. The Church is believers. And where two or three are gathered in the name of God, there God is among them. In 2016, the feast of the Holy Trinity is June 19, and in 2017 it is June 4. Happy Holidays!
In Orthodoxy The holiday of Trinity falls on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ when, according to the Gospel, the Third Person of the Trinity is The Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles in the form of tongues of flame, after which they were able to preach the Word of God in different languages to different peoples, not only the Jews. That's why another name for the holiday is Pentecost.
In Catholicism and Lutheranism, the holidays of Trinity and Pentecost do not coincide: Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, is also celebrated on Sunday on the 50th day after Easter; Trinity is celebrated a week later, on the following Sunday.
In Protestantism, it is Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ, that is a great triumph. For example, the Evangelical Pentecostal denomination celebrates this day no less vigorously than Easter, and usually on this day baptizes neophytes with the Holy Spirit in reservoirs.
Mychange
The history of the origin of the holiday of Trinity is set out in the apostolic acts. On the 50th day after Easter, the apostles waited for the fulfillment of the promise given by Christ, which was fulfilled - the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, they were given grace-filled help to preach Christianity throughout the world. Thus, the Christian Church was born.
It is very symbolic that the first New Testament Pentecost was on the day of the Old Testament Pentecost, that is, on the day when God gave the commandments of God to people, the apostles and all Christians received help to fulfill the commandments, and the apostles received grace to perform the sacrament of the Eucharist and other sacraments.
This holiday is always celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, on Sunday.
Kritikspb
The Orthodox holiday of the Trinity was proclaimed by the apostles on the fiftieth day after the Ascension, when the Holy Spirit entered their bodies and bestowed knowledge of many languages, so that in them they could preach Christianity and bring it to the hearts and souls of people around the world.
Kitsune tenko
Feast of the Holy Trinity, or Pentecost, is one of the main Christian holidays, which is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter.
The Orthodox Church classifies it as one of the so-called twelve holidays, the meaning of which is to glorify the Holy Trinity.
Second name - Pentecost- received this day because the Holy Spirit descended to the Apostles on the 50th day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the form of tongues of fire. With this sign, the Holy Spirit made it clear that the apostles had the power and ability to preach the teachings of Christ to other nations. On that day, many people believed in Jesus Christ and were baptized.
On this holiday, it is customary for Orthodox Christians to decorate their houses with fresh green birch branches and fragrant flowers.
Ivan Markin
The descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the day of Pentecost is described in the Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 2:1-18). On the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ (tenth day after the Ascension), the apostles were in the Zion Upper Room in Jerusalem, “... suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled the whole house where they were. And cloven tongues as of fire appeared to them, and one rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:2-4).
On this day, Jews from different cities and countries were in the city on the occasion of the holiday. Hearing the noise, they gathered in front of the house where the apostles were, and when they heard that they were speaking different languages inside, they were amazed. Some of them mocked the apostles and “said, They are drunk of sweet wine” (Acts 2:13). In response to this reaction:
The holiday received its first name in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, which Jesus Christ promised them before His ascension into heaven. The descent of the Holy Spirit indicated the trinity of God - “God the Father creates the world, God the Son redeems people from slavery to the devil, God the Holy Spirit sanctifies the world through the dispensation of the Church” [source not specified 311 days]. On the day of Pentecost, the universal apostolic Church was formed (Acts 2:41-47).
The corresponding text in Catholicism is the prayer Veni Sancte Spiritus. Veni per Mariam.
The New Testament does not directly mention that the Mother of God was with the apostles at the descent of the Holy Spirit. The tradition of her presence in iconographic images of this event is based on the indication in the Acts of the Apostles that after the Ascension, the disciples of Jesus “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with certain women and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:14). On this occasion, Bishop Innokenty (Borisov) writes: “Could the one who conceived and gave birth through His medium not be present at the moment of the coming of the Holy Spirit?”
As a theological term, “charisma” is the 9 special gifts of the Holy Spirit poured out by him on the apostles in the Jerusalem Temple at the Feast of Pentecost. These gifts are: wisdom, knowledge and the ability to discern spirits; faith, miracles and healing; prophecies, glossolalia and interpretation of tongues.
What kind of holiday is Trinity?
What are they doing? How do they celebrate?
Orina
Trinity is otherwise called Pentecost because it occurs on the fiftieth day after Easter. This holiday occurs in honor of the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). It is believed that on this day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. On Trinity Sunday, the Apostle Peter baptized and converted 3,000 people to Christianity. This day is the birthday of the Christian Church, but not only the Orthodox, but also the Catholic.
A whole summer cycle of holidays takes place on these days. If after the New Year we celebrate winter Christmastide, then in the summer we celebrate “green Christmastide”. In the old days, people also dressed up as animals, mermaids, and other evil spirits for “green Christmastide.”
Churches on Trinity were always decorated with wild and meadow flowers, birch branches and other plants. The floor was sprinkled with freshly picked green grass. This herb was believed to have healing properties. Whoever kept livestock took this grass home. It was believed that animals fed church grass would not get sick, and cows would give a lot of high-quality milk.
Everyone went to church on Trinity Sunday with birch branches and bouquets of flowers. Plants that had been in the church were dried and stored behind the icons.
After church, the girls put wreaths on their heads and walked to a birch tree decorated with ribbons and flowers. The birch tree was cut down. The procession with the felled tree went around the entire village. Then they stuck the birch tree into the ground and danced around it. In the evening, they removed all the decorations from the tree and went to the river to drown it.
On the same day, girls threw their wreaths into the water and wished for something, usually about the grooms. If the wreath sank, it means that the girl will not get married this year. If the wreath stuck to the shore, then expect happiness.
Many years ago there was a custom on Trinity Sunday to bury the dead who, for some reason, were not buried during the year. The cause could be an epidemic or a hungry year. Then all the bodies fell into a common pit. In the week before Trinity and on Trinity itself, the dead were placed in coffins and buried as expected.
Dolfanika
Trinity is a holiday with a moving date; every year the date of the celebration of the Trinity is celebrated on different days, depending on the date of Easter. One thing is constant, Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. Knowing the date of Easter, we can calculate the day of Trinity.
The holiday is celebrated in honor of the Holy Trinity
The first God is the Father, the creator of everything living and nonliving, visible and invisible in our world. After the creation of peace on earth, God the Father sent the Son to earth as a messenger of a bright path. Then the Holy Spirit descended to earth, he is next to every person.
The second God is the Son, he is born from God the Father.
The third God is the Holy Spirit, he comes from God the Father.
For non-believers, the Trinity has meaning as a symbol of the onset of something new, joyful and bright.
Believers go to church on this day and follow traditions.
The Feast of the Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter, but this figure did not appear just like that. For a full 40 days after the Resurrection, Jesus still remained on earth together with his disciples, and only on the fortieth day did he ascend. But at the same time, he told the disciples that in ten days the Holy Spirit would descend on them, and they would receive knowledge and strength to bring Christianity to the people. And so it happened, exactly 10 days after the Ascension, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and they went to preach the teachings of Christ. This is the event that is celebrated on this day. In essence, this is the beginning of the Christian church, its birth. Therefore, this is one of the greatest holidays in Christianity.
This is the holiday of the fiftieth day after Easter... the day of the descent of the holy spirit on the apostles is celebrated, giving them numerous abilities. And it is celebrated from year to year simply - this holiday always happens on Sunday, so on the eve, on Saturday, they visit cemeteries, remembering deceased relatives, then attend the evening service in the church, and on Sunday - the morning one. The church and house are decorated with forbs and birch branches, and a festive feast is prepared.
Everything has already been said
Even in ancient Rus', the holiday of the Trinity was celebrated, it was called “green Christmastide”, “mermaid week”. At that time, it was dedicated to the awakening of Mother Earth, the beginning of the wild growth of plants, and it was dedicated to the Slavic goddess Lada.
After the arrival of Christianity in Rus', the two holidays were mixed into one, but in many villages Trinity is still called “green week” or “soulful wake” (source “People's Rus'”, 1901, Apollo of Corinth).
For Orthodox Christians, the holiday of Trinity is celebrated seven weeks after Easter, on the fiftieth day, which is why it is also called “Pentecost”. This holiday is dedicated to the Descent of the Holy Spirit:
The Church celebrates two days: the first day is Sunday, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and Monday is dedicated to the Holy Spirit, otherwise it is popularly called Spirits Day.
As in ancient times, the tradition remains today of decorating everything around with birch branches on this day.
The Feast of Trinity is also called Pentecost, all because it is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. This holiday is moving, it does not have a permanent date. People call this holiday “emerald” or “green”. Because it symbolizes the renewal of life. It’s nice to decorate your houses with branches of birch, maple or lilac on this holiday. It is also customary to float wreaths of flowers on water on Trinity Sunday.
Lelishna
The Feast of the Holy Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. Otherwise the holiday is called Pentecost. The Trinity means the unity of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity has been widespread in Rus' since the fourteenth century thanks to the efforts of St. Sergius of Radonezh. On this day, it is customary to clean houses and decorate the house with green branches as a symbol of spring and life.
Trinity Day is one of the main Orthodox holidays. It is movable and is associated with the date of Easter, as it is always held seven weeks after it on Sunday. On this day, people walk, go to services and festivals. The service that is performed on this day in Orthodox churches is considered the most beautiful of all those held during the year.
The Feast of the Holy Trinity is one of the most important Christian holidays. Orthodox believers celebrate it on Sunday, the 50th day after Easter. This holiday received its name in honor of the great event - the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, as Jesus Christ promised them before his ascension into heaven. This descent pointed to the trinity of God.
The Orthodox holiday of Trinity is celebrated 50 days after the church holiday of Easter. It is celebrated on Sunday. The holiday is also appropriately called Pentecost. It is believed that on this day the descent of the Holy Spirit took place. Hard work is not recommended on this day; it is better to attend church, devote time to family and spiritual development.