Holy Trinity: the history of the holiday

Every year an increasing number of Russians call themselves believers - these are the results of many years of observations and research of various sociological institutions, foundations and other similar organizations. However, the public's interest in the church is clearly visible to the naked eye: television and newspaper news detail about the holidays or other vivid events of Orthodoxy.

Holy Trinity: the history of one of the main holidays of Russia

However, even here there were skeptics who doubted the true faith of all those who, on Easter eve, besieged the temples with the goal of consecrating cakes and eggs, and in the event of the arrival of a holy relic or a myrrh-bearing icon from a distance, To see the shrine. The inquisitive minds of our time, with their characteristic distrustfulness, appealed to the same sociologists and with their help they found out something. As it turned out, a considerable number of Russians who carry the cross and keep the Lent regularly can not tell about the history of the most important church holidays, such as the Protection of the Blessed Virgin, Ascension, Annunciation and Trinity. The history of the holiday, whatever it is, should be known to those who celebrate it. Otherwise, we have to doubt: is not it a simple tribute to fashion all that is given by many Russians for their religiosity?

History of the Holy Trinity

Despite the long-suffering biography of our country, the observance of many religious and other traditions is forever preserved among Russians. One of the most significant holidays of the Orthodox calendar is the Trinity. The history of the holiday and its origin turned out to be somewhat unexpected. Few people know that this holiday "stepped" into Orthodoxy ... from ancient religions! And not only Slavic, but also Hebrew!

In both beliefs of our distant ancestors it was customary to celebrate the day of the end of spring field work. Among the ancient Gentile Slavs, this day was called Semik, and among the worshiping many gods of Jews who celebrated the beginning of the harvesting of bread in Palestine, Pentecost. Later, when the Jews believed in one God and became Jews, the feast of Pentecost acquired a new meaning - the worshipers announced that this day was marked by the presentation of Moses tablets, which occurred on the famous Mount Sinai. And the Slavs who became Orthodox began to celebrate the Trinity in memory of the day when, according to tradition, the Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles. Until that moment people appeared to God only in their two hypostases - father and son. The very name of the Trinity, as we know, is connected with the triune God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. By the way, the Jewish name of the Trinity - Pentecost - can often be heard in Russia, because the Holy Spirit appeared to the apostles on the 50th day after Easter.

Leave the descendants

Truly people who care for their culture and religion try to provide future generations with all the knowledge that has been accumulated so far. However, modern life, and this should be admitted, leaves less time for studying the spiritual heritage of the people. Therefore, historians, culturologists and religious scholars do not consider it possible to let the process of this knowledge into its own right. In school curricula, culture and religion are now being given special attention, and indifferent teachers are trying hard to instill interest in this area of knowledge for children. And since one of the most important (but not as popular as Christmas and Easter) Orthodox dates is, in particular, the Trinity, the history of the holiday for children is often presented in an entertaining way. So, in some Russian schools an annual costume performance is dedicated to this holy day. And many parents, not without spirituality, bringing their children to the Tretyakov Gallery, do not forget to tell that one of the greatest Orthodox paintings - the icon of Andrei Rublev written by him in the 15th century - is the "Trinity".

The history of the holiday, whatever it is, is always important and interesting, and therefore we appeal to all: celebrating this or that celebration - ecclesiastical or secular - ask how, when and why humanity began to regard this date as a holiday.