Day of the Holy Trinity. Pentecost. Orthodox calendar for June 16

Pentecost
(Greek Κυριακη τυς Πεντηκοστης; lat. Pentecoste) is a church holiday, belongs to the Twelve.
Celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter (Sunday). Otherwise called Holy Trinity Day
.
The Feast of Pentecost is dedicated to the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles: on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (and on the tenth day after the Ascension), when the Apostles gathered together, “suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and it filled the whole house, where they were there.
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; see also below).

Pentecost is also the name given to the fifty days from Easter to the Feast of the Holy Trinity. On the first Sunday after Easter (the second Sunday of Pentecost), the appearance of the risen Jesus Christ to the apostles and the assurance of the apostle are remembered. Thomas (see John 20:24–29). On Tuesday of the second week, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the all-church commemoration of the dead - Radonitsa. The Third Sunday of Pentecost is dedicated to St. to the myrrh-bearing wives (see Mark 15:40-41; Mark 16:1-8). On the fourth Sunday, we remember Jesus Christ’s healing of the paralytic at the Sheep Pool (John 5:1-15). Fifthly, the meeting of Jesus Christ and the Samaritan woman (John 4:5-42). The sixth is dedicated to the remembrance of the healing of the blind man (John 9:1-38). On the fortieth day after Easter (Thursday of the sixth week) the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated. On the seventh Sunday, Sts. Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. Saturday of the seventh week is Trinity Parents' Saturday. On the fiftieth day, Sunday of the seventh week, the day of the Holy Trinity and the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles is celebrated; this day is also called the Feast of Pentecost. The Monday after Trinity is the day of the Holy Spirit. On the first Sunday after Pentecost, the memory of All Saints is celebrated. Peter's Fast begins on Monday of the second week after Pentecost. In the Russian Orthodox Church, on the second Sunday, the memory of All Saints who shone in the Russian land is celebrated. The services of Pentecost, Holy Spirit Day and All Saints Day are contained in the Colored Triodion.

history of the holiday

Besides Easter, only the holiday of Pentecost has its roots in the Old Testament. There, on the 50th day after Easter, the “Feast of Middle Easter” fell, so called because it fell 7 weeks after Easter and served as the “Feast of the Firstfruits of the Wheat Harvest” (Ex. 34:22; Deut. 16:10). It is strange that nowhere is there any mention that this holiday, which fell precisely on the day of the Sinai legislation, was dedicated to this such an important event, which laid the foundation of the Old Testament Church, theocracy, and contained so much parallelism with the memories of Christian Pentecost [1]. Even in pre-Christian times, this Jewish holiday received the name Pentecost (2 Mac. 12, 32. Josephus, Antiquities III. 10, 6). The expression of St. Luke: “When the day of Pentecost ended” (Acts 2:1) gives the impression that the Jews also called the entire period from Easter to this holiday that way.

The remark of the Apostle Paul: “I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost” and the remark of the Writer that the same apostle hurried to Jerusalem for Pentecost (1 Cor. 16:8; Acts 20:16), testifying to how much the apostle revered this holiday , can hardly speak as the St. wanted. Epiphanius and Bl. Augustine [2], about the celebration of the Christian Pentecost already at that time: a Jewish holiday may also be meant here. And from v. There is no reliable news about the existence of this holiday. This may be because, always falling on Sunday, Pentecost did not constitute a noticeable holiday and, because it stood in close connection with Easter, was implied with it.

But in the 3rd century. Pentecost is already surrounded by rituals and customs that required considerable preliminary development, and in general represents a widespread holiday.

Tertullian, with a sense of triumph over the pagans, says: “The pagan holidays are celebrated only once a year, but for you the resurrection is renewed every 7 days;
collect all the pagan holidays, arrange them in a row, and they will not be able to fill Pentecost” [3].
Elsewhere Tertullian says: “Easter is a more solemn holiday than Epiphany;
why does it cover a period of time much longer than the time of preparation for Baptism (40 days), during which the Resurrection of the Lord was repeatedly verified for the disciples and the grace of the Holy Spirit was promised.” [4].
Finally, in one place Tertullian speaks of the impermissibility of fasting and kneeling during the days of Pentecost” [5]. If in all these places Pentecost in Tertullian appears as a period of 50 days, then in one place he speaks of Pentecost as a specific holiday: “Pentecost, which is actually a holiday day”
[6].
0 Pentecost, as a separate holiday, is clearly said by Origen: “If anyone refers to our Sundays, or Fridays, Easter or Pentecost, then...”
[7].
In the “Apostolic Decrees,” a monument attributed by learned researchers in different parts to the period of the 3rd-5th centuries, it is said on behalf of the apostles: “Ten days after the Ascension, there is the fiftieth day from the first day of the Lord (Easter);
let this day be a great holiday; for at the third hour of this day the Lord Jesus sent the gift of the Holy Spirit. Celebrate Pentecost for one week” [8].
In another place in the Apostolic Decrees, among the days on which slaves should be free from work, after Easter and Ascension, Pentecost is also mentioned: “on Pentecost, slaves should be free from work for the coming of the Holy Spirit, given to those who believe in Christ”
[9].

Since the century, testimonies about Pentecost, both as a sacred period of 50 days, and as a special holiday, have become frequent, if not general, among church writers. Bl. Augustine mentions a night service (vigil), apparently combined with the liturgy, on Pentecost; “You saw at night,” he says to the newly baptized, the sacrament performed on the altar of the Lord”

[10]. The law of Theodosius the Younger prohibits public spectacles during the holidays of Easter and Pentecost, and the following two features of these holidays are indicated: 1) that neophytes take off their white clothes, which serve as a sign of the new birth of light in St. and the heavenly bath, and 2) that at this time the “apostolic sufferings” are read, i.e. The Acts of the Apostles in remembrance and confirmation of the Christian teaching about the Resurrection of Christ [11]. At St. John Chrysostom has a conversation on the question why the Acts of the Apostles are read on Pentecost, although what is described in them happened after Pentecost: because they contain many confirmations of the resurrection of Christ. John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian have conversations and words for the day of Pentecost. The latter calls it the day of the Holy Spirit: “almost the day of the Spirit” [12].

Epiphanius of Cyprus speaks of the impermissibility of fasting and kneeling on all days from Easter to Pentecost [13]. The same rule, in view of those who do not observe it, was approved by the 20th rule of the Council of Nicaea. But not all churches completely obeyed this rule and did not observe it as strictly on Pentecost as on Sunday. Bl. Augustine says: “I don’t know whether it is observed everywhere to pray standing on these days (Pentecost) and on all Sundays.”

[14]. John Cassian says that in the monasteries of Syria this rule about abandoning fasting and kneeling on Pentecost is not strictly observed, but in Egypt in some places both are strictly observed [15].

John Chrysostom mentions the custom of decorating houses with greenery on the day of Pentecost [16], Gregory the Theologian - about the custom of baptism on this day [17].

About the fate of the holiday of Pentecost in the East from up to the 7th century. no news survived. That the holiday was not forgotten here at this time is shown by the compilation of the kontakion and ikos of St. in honor of it. Roman the Sweet Singer (VI century).

Days spent with students

The Holy Gospel tells that after His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ remained among His disciples for forty days. He appeared to them many times, residing in a new, non-material body - the one that in the future all those who have acquired eternal life will gain. After forty days, the Savior ascended to heaven, doing this in front of his disciples. He made them witnesses of the miracle in order to further kindle faith in their hearts.

Leaving them alone for the time being, Christ commanded his disciples to remain inseparably in Jerusalem, pray and wait for His messenger, the comforter - the Holy Spirit. The apostles, with all their fervor taking into their hearts the words of the Teacher, nevertheless could not clearly enough understand what the Holy Spirit is. Nevertheless, all the following days they were filled with a feeling of approaching joy.

Divine service

A detailed description of the service on the day of Pentecost in the Jerusalem Church, given by one Western pilgrim (Sylvia or Egeria), has come down to us from centuries ago.

According to this description, on the night before Pentecost there was a regular Sunday vigil in the Church of the Resurrection, and the bishop read the Gospel of the Resurrection, as on every Sunday. At dawn, all the people went to the main church (Martirium), where there was a sermon and the usual liturgy was performed, which they tried to finish by the third hour of the day. After the dismissal, all the people led the bishop with songs to Zion; there, at the end of 3 (9) hours, a passage from the Acts about the descent of the Holy Spirit was read, there was a sermon about this and another liturgy was performed, at the end of which the archdeacon invited the people to gather on Olivet at 6 o'clock. Until this hour, people went home to eat. Having gathered at the Mount of Olives, the people (all of them) went to the Mount of Olives, where a litany was held at the very place of the ascension (Imvomon). There, readings were offered, songs and antiphons corresponding to the day and place were sung, interpolated prayers with the same content, the Gospel of the Ascension was read, the catechumens and the faithful were blessed. Then, already at 9 o’clock, there was a litany in the Church of the Cave, where Christ taught the apostles; there at 10 o'clock Vespers was celebrated with the usual prayer and blessing of the catechumens and the faithful. From there they went to Martyrium; they entered the city gates at night and there they greeted the litiya with many lamps; They arrived at Martyrium around 2 p.m. (=7 h.v.); there songs were sung and a prayer was read with a blessing on the catechumens and the faithful. The lithium was celebrated in the Church of the Resurrection, where the same thing was done. Finally, a litany was held for Zion, where readings were held, psalms and antiphons were sung, and a prayer was also said with the blessing of the catechumens and the faithful. It all ended around midnight; That. the service continued almost continuously throughout the day; something similar, the same multitude of lithiums, only happened on the night of Good Friday [18].

From the 7th century we have the most ancient rite of worship of Pentecost. This is in the recently opened Jerusalem Canonar (charter) in Georgian. This rank has the same lithiums as those described by Sylvia - Egeria. The monument, in addition to the extreme antiquity of the rite given by it, is especially important in that it gives the germs of the current 3 prayers and at the same Vespers of Pentecost in its 8 litias on this day.

In the 8th century holiday Gospel, written in gold letters and found in the Sinai monastery, the Gospel is placed among all the twelve holidays (excluding the weeks of Vai) and Pentecost. In the 8th century, the canons of Sts. were compiled for Pentecost. John of Damascus and Cosmas of Mayum.

From time immemorial we already have for the Eastern Church a complete order of worship on the day of Pentecost in the charter of the Great Church of Constantinople.

The miracle that happened in the Upper Room of Zion

The book “The Acts of the Apostles” tells how they gathered together every day in a special room - the Upper Room of Zion. It was under this name that it was included in the New Testament. Nearby was the house of the youngest and most beloved disciple of Jesus, the Apostle John. On the day of His agony on the cross, the Savior entrusted him with the care of His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since then, She constantly stayed in his house.

Having gathered together with the Most Pure Virgin and the Apostle John, the disciples of Christ indulged in prayers and reading the Holy Scriptures. This continued for ten days, until what Jesus predicted before His ascension happened. The New Testament very vividly and movingly describes the scene of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. When this happened is not difficult to calculate. It is known that the Lord ascended on the fortieth day after His Resurrection. Let's add here the ten days that the apostles spent in the Upper Room of Zion, and we get fifty - Pentecost!

What this is and how it happened, we learn in detail from the book “The Acts of the Apostles.” It says that on the day of the Jewish holiday of the first harvest, at the third hour of the day, suddenly a strong noise was heard in the air, as happens during a hurricane, and tongues of fire illuminated the upper room. But this was not an ordinary fire, but precisely the one that now descends before the Easter holiday in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Shining brightly, it did not burn or cause pain. It was not a material fire. Having shone above the heads of the apostles, amazed by the consciousness of the miracle, tongues of flame rested on each of them.

Decorating the Temple for the Feast of Pentecost

As mentioned above, St. wrote about the custom of decorating houses with greenery on the day of Pentecost. John Chrysostom, this custom spread to the Russian Church. It is worth understanding, however, that “decorating birch and other species with young trees is established not by church rules, but by folk custom. The Holy Synod prohibited (Decree of 1875, May 23) the use of young birch trees for this decoration, and allowed the use of flowers, artisanal and semi-artisanal plants and tree branches. The Novgorod Spiritual Consistory explained to the local clergy that the ancient custom of decorating churches and houses with greenery on the day of the Holy Trinity must be supported, and not be concerned about its complete cessation. Order of the Holy Synod “on the preservation of young trees from being used to decorate churches, residential premises, etc. on certain holidays.” The goal was not to destroy this custom, but only to prevent the unnecessary destruction of young birch trees, in view of public benefit, which, of course, did not mean areas where the very density of forest growth requires the cutting down of excess trees to free the growth of other trees.”

[19].

Birth of the Christian Church

The action of Grace, which descended on them along with the Holy Spirit, immediately made itself felt. The apostles felt an incredible surge of strength and energy. They were filled with a feeling of love for God and people, and a readiness to give all of themselves to apostolic service. To accomplish this, each of them miraculously received the gift of speaking in languages ​​hitherto unknown to him, which made it possible to carry the word of God to different peoples and countries.

United by the Grace of God that rested upon them, the apostles revealed themselves as a new, united church. Therefore, the Day of Holy Pentecost is considered to be the birthday of the Christian Church. From that day on, human souls flowed in an endless stream into her maternal arms. And it was from this day that the apostles began their ministry, bringing people the light of Divine truth.

Prayers

Troparion, tone 8

Blessed are You, Christ our God, who are all wise fishers of things, having sent down to them the Holy Spirit, and with them you have caught the universe, Lover of mankind, glory to You.

Kontakion, tone 8

Whenever the languages ​​of the Most High descended, dividing the tongues, and when the fiery tongues were distributed, we all called into unity, and we glorified the All-Holy Spirit in agreement.

Greatness

We magnify You, Life-Giving Christ, and honor Your All-Holy Spirit, Whom You sent from the Father as Your Divine disciple.

Church service on this holiday

The Pentecost service is always celebrated in churches solemnly and at the same time joyfully. On this day, the entire clergy appears in green vestments. This combines unusually organically with the greenery of the birch trees decorating the room. The parishioners stand holding flowers and bouquets of the same birch branches in their hands, and when at the end of the service they are raised above their heads for sprinkling, the temple turns into a living spring grove.

When is it celebrated?

Trinity Day is a moving holiday; it completely depends on Easter, like some others. Every year it falls on a different date. In order to determine it, you simply need to add 50 days to the date of the Resurrection of the Lord. Like most other celebrations, it is worth making some preparation. The most important thing is the spiritual state.

This holiday is no exception to the rules regarding worship. On this day the Divine Liturgy and Great Vespers are celebrated. Many believers limit themselves to food, and also visit church for confession and communion. It is important to spend the period of preparation and celebration in performing godly deeds. Most often it is helping the suffering and needy. You should not refuse alms and help to strangers. Depending on the date of the Holy Trinity holiday, you can improve the area.

Fun on the day of celebration will speak of a good mood and a guarantee of good mood for the whole next year. If you don’t skimp on your help, then everything will come back a hundredfold and ensure your well-being. You can use any products you like in cooking. This is due to the fact that there are no restrictions regarding the consumption of products.

Dear brothers and sisters! We invite you to visit the unique resource https://www.slovo-pomoshi.ru/. With its help, you can convey your aspirations to St. Petersburg churches, chapels, monasteries, and also contact the righteous at the place of their burial. We will write a note ourselves, take it to the temple and send you a photo report by email. Turning to God with the help of prayers has helped many people overcome grief, regain health and the joy of worldly life.

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