Upcoming holidays. Church holidays: dates, explanations and traditions
taking into account the law of December 24, 2004 "On Amendments to Article 112 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation."
from 1 to 5 January (non-working days) - New Year holidays
January 7 (non-working day) - Christmas
January 12 - Day of the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation
January 13 - Russian Press Day
January 21 - Engineering Troops Day
January 25 - Day of Russian Students
January 27 - Day of military glory of Russia. Day of lifting the blockade of the city of Leningrad (1944)
February 2 - Day of military glory of Russia. Day of the defeat of the Nazi troops by the Soviet troops in the Battle of Stalingrad (1943)
February 8 - Russian Science Day
February 23 (non-working day) - Defenders of the Fatherland Day. Day of military glory of Russia. Day of the victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser troops of Germany (1918).
March 8 (non-working day) - International Women's Day
Third Sunday in March- Day of workers of trade, consumer services of the population and housing and communal services
March 27 - Day of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation
April 2 - Day of Unity of Peoples
First Sunday of April- Geologist's Day
April 12 - Cosmonautics Day
Second Sunday in April- Day of the country's air defense forces
April 18 - Day of military glory of Russia. Day of the victory of Russian soldiers of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the German knights on Lake Peipus (Battle on the Ice, 1242)
April 26 - Day of Remembrance for those killed in radiation accidents and disasters
April 30 - Fire Protection Day
May 1 (non-working day) - Spring and Labor Day
May 7 - Radio Day, a holiday for workers in all branches of communications
May 9 (non-working day) - Day of military glory of Russia. Victory Day of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 (1945)
Last Sunday in May- Chemist's Day
May 24 - Day of Slavic Literature and Culture
May 27 - All-Russian Day of Libraries
May 28 - Day of the border guard
June 6 - Pushkin Day in Russia
June 12 (non-working day) - Day of the adoption of the Declaration on State Sovereignty of the Russian Federation
Second Sunday in June- Day of Light Industry Workers
Third Sunday in June- Medical Worker's Day
Last Saturday in June- Day of the inventor and innovator
June 22 - Day of Memory and Sorrow (Day of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945)
June 27 - Youth Day
First Sunday of July- Day of workers of the sea and river fleet
July 10 - Day of military glory of Russia. Victory day of the Russian army under the command of Peter the Great over the Swedes in the Battle of Poltava (1709)
Second Sunday in July- Day of the fisherman Day of Russian mail
Third Sunday in July- Metallurgist's Day
Last Sunday in July- Navy Day
First Sunday of August- Railroad Day
August 6 - Day of the Railway Troops of the Russian Federation
August 9 - Day of military glory of Russia. The day of the first naval victory in Russian history of the Russian fleet under the command of Peter the Great over the Swedes at Cape Gangut (1714)
August 12 - Air Force Day (festival events dedicated to the Air Force Day are held on the Day of the Russian Air Force)
Second Saturday in August- Athlete's Day
Second Sunday of August- Builder's Day
Third Sunday in August- Russian Air Force Day
August 22 - Day of the State Flag of the Russian Federation
August 23 - Day of military glory of Russia. Day of the defeat by the Soviet troops of the German - fascist troops in the Battle of Kursk (1943)
Last Sunday in August- Miner's Day
August 27 - Cinema Day
1 September is the day of knowledge
September 3 - Day of Solidarity in the fight against terrorism
First Sunday of September- Day of Oil and Gas Industry Workers
September 8 - Day of military glory of Russia. Day of the Borodino battle of the Russian army under the command of M.I. Kutuzov with the French army (1812)
September 11 - Day of military glory of Russia. Victory Day of the Russian squadron under the command of F.F. Ushakov over the Turkish squadron at Cape Tendra (1790)
Second Sunday in September- Day of tankmen
September 21 - Day of military glory of Russia. Victory Day of the Russian regiments led by Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy over the Mongol-Tatar troops in the Battle of Kulikovo (1380)
Third Sunday in September- Day of Forest Workers
Last Sunday of September- Engineer's Day
October 1 - Day of the elderly
October 4 - Day of the Military Space Forces
October 5 - Teacher's Day
October 25 - Day of the customs officer of the Russian Federation
Second Sunday in October- Day of the worker of agriculture and processing industry
Last Sunday in October- Day of workers of road transport and road facilities
October 30 - Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repressions
November 4 (non-working day) - National Unity Day
November 7 - Day of the October Revolution of 1917.
November 10 - Police Day
Third Sunday in November- Day of the Rocket Forces and Artillery
Last Sunday in November- Mothers Day
December 1 - Day of military glory of Russia. Victory Day of the Russian squadron under the command of P.S. Nakhimov over the Turkish squadron at Cape Sinop (1853)
December 5 - Day of military glory of Russia. Day of the beginning of the counter-offensive of the Soviet troops against the German - fascist troops in the battle of Moscow (1941)
December 12 - Constitution Day of the Russian Federation
December 17 - Day of the Strategic Missile Forces
December 20 - Day of the worker of the security agencies of the Russian Federation
Third Sunday in December- An energy worker's day
December 24 - Day of military glory of Russia. The day of the capture of the Turkish fortress Izmail by Russian troops under the command of A.V. Suvorov (1790)
December 27 - Rescuer Day
Public holidays are holidays officially established by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation. Some public holidays are contained in the Labor Code of the Russian Federation and are non-working days. The other part of the holidays is working, but nevertheless, various festive events of an entertaining nature are officially held these days.
Official holidays in Russia, including public holidays, are enshrined in the Labor Code of the Russian Federation. So, in article 112. of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation non-working holidays are listed, which include:
January 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 - New Year and New Year holidays;
January 7 - Christmas;
February 23 - Defender of the Fatherland Day;
March 8 - International Women's Day;
May 1 - Spring and Labor Day;
May 9 - Victory Day;
June 12 - Day of Russia;
November 4 - National Unity Day.
Public holidays in Russia - a brief description.
January 15 -
Peter I, referring to the inconvenience in relations with the European peoples, issued a decree to celebrate the New Year from the day of the Nativity of the God-man, i.e. January 1 instead of September 1. It was forbidden to celebrate the New Year on September 1st.
In our time, this date is enshrined in the Labor Code of the Russian Federation (Labor Code of the Russian Federation) dated December 30, 2001 N 197-FZ, as amended. Federal Law of December 29, 2004 N 201-FZ. New Year holidays last from 1 to 5 January.
New Year is one of the most solemn and beloved by all holidays. The main attribute of this wonderful winter holiday is considered to be a New Year tree, usually installed at home, as well as in places of festivities. Speaking about the attributes and features of the New Year, one cannot help but recall such a fabulous character of primordially Russian folk art as Santa Claus. The New Year's address of the head of state a few minutes before the new year has also become traditional. A common fun on New Year's Eve is the use of various pyrotechnics: sparklers, firecrackers, Roman candles, rockets and various firecrackers.
Jan. 7 -
Christmas is rightfully considered one of the most important Orthodox holidays. This solemn day is dedicated to a great event for believers, the birth of Jesus Christ. In terms of significance for the church, this most holy holiday is immediately after another bright holiday - Easter. On the night of Christmas, solemn services are held in the temples. One of the main symbols of the Nativity of Christ is the Christmas tree. Despite the fact that Christmas is a purely religious holiday, this holiday is firmly entrenched in the minds of people as a pleasant day that can be spent in a warm family atmosphere. At Christmas, as well as at New Year, it is customary to give gifts to relatives and friends.
February 23 -
Existed in the days of the USSR.
On February 10, 1995, the State Duma of Russia adopted the federal law "On the Days of Russia's Military Glory". In it, this day is named as follows: "February 23 - Day of the victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser troops of Germany in 1918 - Defender of the Fatherland Day."
Previously, this wonderful holiday was called the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy. In addition to changing the name, the holiday has undergone a change in content. Despite the fact that officially this is the day of all defenders of the Fatherland, both male and female, today, Defender of the Fatherland Day is increasingly perceived as the day of all men, being a kind of analogue of March 8 for men.
March 8 -
For the first time, "international" women's day was celebrated in 1911 in four countries - Austria, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland, but on different days. In Russia, International Women's Day was first celebrated in 1913, but only in one city, and in 1914 - throughout the country.
1975 was declared by the United Nations the "International Year of Women", and on March 8, at the suggestion of the USSR delegation, by decision of the same UN, it received the official status of "International Women's Day".
International Day of All Women, celebrated in many countries as the day of women's struggle for their rights. Historically, this holiday was the result of a number of marches and strikes of the beautiful half of humanity against discrimination at work, for a reduction in the working day, for an increase in wages. Due to the fact that today the need for the struggle of women for their rights has practically disappeared, March 8 has become a solemn holiday dedicated to all women. On this wonderful day, it is customary to congratulate and give gifts to absolutely all women: mothers, grandmothers, wives, beloved ladies of the heart and simply wonderful work colleagues.
1st of May -
For the first time on the territory of the Russian Empire, he appeared in 1890-1891. The original name is International Workers' Day. In the Soviet Union, the holiday was often called simply by the number - May 1 (May Day).
A holiday formerly known as International Workers' Day. Almost immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the holiday was renamed the Spring and Labor Day. Along with the name change, the general perception of this day has also changed. Once the main day when one could express one's concern over a number of social and political problems, it has become more and more perceived as a glorious warm spring holiday at the beginning of the last month of spring, when you can relax with your family at home or in the country.
9th May -
Victory Day is a holy holiday for each of us, which has been celebrated since 1945.
At the same time, a solemn and bitter celebration of the victory of Soviet troops over the invader in the Great Patriotic War. On this significant day, it is customary to congratulate veterans and celebrate the merits of the Soviet people, who took upon themselves all the hardships of wartime for the future of their Motherland. On May 9, meetings of veterans are traditionally held, a parade of troops and military equipment is held, flowers are laid at the places of Military Glory. The importance and solemnity of this day is emphasized by the festive fireworks roaring in many Russian cities. On Victory Day, people sincerely rejoice at the victory in this difficult war and honor the masculinity and extraordinary stamina of the Soviet people.
It is on May 9 that we especially strongly feel our responsibility for preserving the true history of our country, we feel pride in our long-suffering people and we want to believe that the horrors of the war will not happen again.
12 June -
Russia Day or Independence Day of Russia, as this holiday was called until 2002, is one of the “youngest” public holidays in the country.
In 1994, the first President of Russia Boris Yeltsin, by his decree, gave this day a national significance - the Day of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia. And since 2002 - June 12 is celebrated as the "Day of Russia".
Celebrated since 2005.
This is not a new holiday, but a return to the old holiday after a long break (from 1917 to 2005).
The alleged reason for the approval of the holiday was the cancellation of the Day of the Great October Socialist Revolution. November 7 was replaced by National Unity Day, which is celebrated on November 4 and is officially a non-working holiday. On December 16, 2004, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted simultaneously in three readings amendments to the federal law "On the Days of Military Glory (Victory Days of Russia)". One of the changes was the introduction of a new holiday - National Unity Day. There was an actual transfer of the state holiday from November 7 (was the Day of Accord and Reconciliation) to November 4 (Became - the Day of National Unity).
The 25th of January: Holiday - Day of Russian Students
The 25th of January: Holiday - Tatyana's day
January 27: Day of military glory of Russia. Lifting the blockade of Leningrad
January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27: Holiday - World Customs Day
January 30: World Leprosy Day
Russian holidays in February
Russian holidays in March
Russian holidays in May
July holidays
August holidays
August 1: All-Russian day of the collector
August 1 is the All-Russian day of the collector. Collectors are people on whom the reliability and safety of money and material assets largely depend. The work of a collector is extremely difficult. He must be, as they say, a jack of all trades: not only an experienced security guard, but also a cashier who knows all the forms of documents necessary for the transfer of valuables, stamps, details. And he is also a specialist in working with complex banking equipment (ATMs of various designs, electronic exchange offices) and, finally, a loader. After all, packed valuables can be very heavy, weighing up to 50 kilograms (for example, coins - the proceeds of car fleets or precious metal ingots) or, conversely, fragile (cassettes in ATMs). In 1988, the service acquired the status of an independent legal entity subordinate to the Bank of Russia and being its structural unit. The duties of collectors include the collection, protection and delivery of cash and other valuables to the bank's cash desk. The word "collection" itself comes from the Italian incassare, which means "to put in a box."
Logistics Day of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
August 2: Day of the Airborne Troops of the Russian Federation
Railroad Day
August 6: Day of the Railway Troops of the Russian Federation
8 August: Athlete's Day
August 9: Day of military glory of Russia. Battle of Cape Gangut (1714)
Builder's Day
12th of August: Day of the Air Force of the Russian Federation
August 14: The origin (wearing) of the honest trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. Beginning of Dormition Fast
August 15: Archaeologist's Day
Despite the fact that the history of this holiday is not associated with any events and discoveries, and this is not a state or official holiday, archaeologists celebrate it as a professional one. Archeology is a completely separate science. All historical events are established either according to written sources or according to archeological data. Very, very few written messages are preserved, and everyday material is sometimes more than one can imagine. In Russia, this science began to develop from the middle of the 19th century, when Count Alexei Sergeevich Uvarov became interested in archeology. At first, he had no idea about the technology of excavation. But it was his research that formed the basis for the further development of the science of antiquities.
August 16: Russian Air Force Day
August 19: Transfiguration
August 22: Day of the State Flag of Russia
August 23: Day of military glory of Russia. Battle of Kursk (1943)
August 27: Day of Russian Cinema
August 28: Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 30: miner's day
September holidays
1 September is the day of knowledge
On September 1, Russia celebrates an exciting and wonderful holiday - the Day of Knowledge. In all ages, people have strived for knowledge, studied, taught, and only on September 1, 1984, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR officially established September 1 as a holiday - the Day of Knowledge. September 1 is a holiday for all of us, which every year brings together people of different generations, different professions.
September 2: Day of the Russian Guard
September 3: Day of Solidarity against Terrorism
September 3 is a tragic date in the calendar of Russian holidays. September 3 is one of the memorable dates in Russia, which is called the Day of Solidarity in the Fight against Terrorism. The Day of Solidarity in the Fight against Terrorism was established by the federal law "On the Days of Military Glory of Russia" dated July 6, 2005. This date is connected with the tragic events in Beslan on September 1-3, 2004.
4 September: Nuclear Specialist Day
6 September: Day of Oil and Gas Industry Workers
8 September: International Day of Solidarity of Journalists
Day of military glory of Russia. Battle of Borodino (1812)
11 September: The Beheading of the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John
Day of military glory of Russia. Battle of Cape Tendra (1790)
September 13: Tankman's Day
Day of Remembrance for Victims of Fascism
The Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Fascism is the Day of Remembrance of tens of millions of people who perished as a result of a gigantic, inhuman experiment. These are the millions of soldiers that the fascist leaders pushed against each other, but even more - civilians who died under the bombs, from disease and from hunger. There is no country that would benefit from the rule of the Nazis, there is no such nation that would be enriched materially or spiritually as a result of their rule. Since 1962, every second Sunday in September has been considered the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Fascism. This day was determined precisely in September, since this month there are two dates associated with the Second World War - the day of its beginning and its complete end. This was one of the reasons for establishing a day of mourning for September Sunday.
Programmer's Day
Programmer's Day is an unofficial holiday of programmers, celebrated on the 256th day of the year. The number 256 (two to the eighth) was chosen because it is the number of numbers that can be expressed in one byte. In leap years, this holiday falls on September 12, in non-leap years - on September 13.
September 18: Secretary's Day
There is no official professional holiday for secretaries in Russia. But an initiative group of secretaries from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Taganrog, Rostov-on-Don, Novosibirsk and Perm and the editors of the Secret @ r.RU magazine decided to correct this injustice and establish the Secretary's Day holiday, which is proposed to be held every third Friday of September.
September 20:
Months: January, February, March, April
January
1st of January. New Year.
6th January. Christmas Eve.
Jan. 7. Nativity.
January 11th. World Thank You Day.
January 11th. Day of reserves and national parks.
January 12th. Day of the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation.
13th of January. Russian Press Day.
January 14th. Old New Year.
January 14th. Day of creation of Russian pipeline troops.
January 15. Day of formation of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.
January 17. Day of children's inventions.
January 18th. Epiphany Christmas Eve.
January 19. The Baptism of the Lord (Holy Theophany).
January 21. Engineering Troops Day.
January 21. International hug day.
The 25th of January. Student's Day (Tatiana's Day).
The 25th of January. Naval Navigator's Day.
January 26th. International customs day.
January 27th. Day of military glory of Russia (Day of lifting the blockade of the city of Leningrad, 1944).
January 27th. Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust.
28 January. International Day for the Protection of Personal Data.
January 31st. Jeweler's Day
January 31st. Birthday of Russian vodka.
February
February 2. Day of military glory of Russia (the defeat of the Nazi troops near Stalingrad, 1943).
February 2. Groundhog Day.
February 5th. International Boy Scout Day.
February 5th. Chinese New Year. The date of the holiday is unique for each year.
February 6. International bartender day.
February 8th. Day of Russian Science.
February 8th. Day of the military topographer.
February 9th. International Dentist Day.
February 9th. Russian Civil Aviation Day.
February 10th. Aeroflot Day. The holiday is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of February.
February 10th. Day of the diplomatic worker.
11 February. World Day of the Sick.
February 13. World Radio Day.
The 14th of February. Valentine's Day (Valentine's Day).
February, 15. Day of Remembrance of soldiers-internationalists.
February 17. A day of spontaneous acts of kindness.
February 17. Day of fuel service of the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
18th of Febuary. Presidents Day. The holiday is celebrated on the 3rd Monday of February.
18th of Febuary. Transport Police Day.
February 21st. World Tour Guide Day.
February 21st. International Mother Language Day.
February 23. Defender of the Fatherland Day.
February 27. Special Forces Day.
March
March 1. World Civil Defense Day.
March 1. Day of the forensic expert of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
March 1. World Cat Day.
March 1. First day of spring.
March, 3rd. International Children's Television and Radio Day. The holiday is celebrated on the 1st Sunday of March.
March, 3rd. World Writer's Day.
March 4th. Maslenitsa. The date of the holiday is unique for each year.
March, 6. Day of the theater cashier.
March, 6. Day of the dentist.
March 7th. Broad Thursday. The date of the holiday is unique for each year.
March 8. International Women's Day.
9th of March. World DJ Day.
10th of March. Day of workers of geodesy and cartography. The holiday is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of March.
10th of March. Forgiveness Sunday. The date of the holiday is unique for each year.
10th of March. Archives Day.
11th of March. Day of the worker of bodies of drug control.
March 12th. Day of workers of the penitentiary system of the Ministry of Justice of Russia.
March 15th. World Consumer Rights Day.
March 16th. Day of the formation of economic security units in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
March 17. Day of workers of trade, public services of the population and housing and communal services. The holiday is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of March.
March 17. St.Patrick 's Day.
March 17. International day of planetariums. The holiday is celebrated on the nearest Sunday to the day of the spring equinox.
March 19 Day of the sailor-submariner.
20th of March. International Day of Happiness.
20th of March. International day of the astrologer.
21 March. World Poetry Day.
21 March. International puppet day.
21 March. Nowruz.
March 22. International Taxi Day.
March 23. Day of workers of the hydrometeorological service of Russia.
March 25. Day of the worker of culture of Russia.
March 27th. Day of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
March 27th. National Guard Day.
March 27th. World Theater Day.
March 29. Day of the military lawyer.
April
April 1st. Day of laughter.
2 April. International Children's Book Day.
2 April. Day of unity of the peoples of Belarus and Russia.
April 3rd. Water Day (Waterpole).
April, 4. International Internet Day.
April 6th. Day of the employee of the investigating authorities.
April 7th. Geologist Day. The holiday is celebrated on the 1st Sunday of April.
April 7th. Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos.
April 7th. World Health Day.
April 7th. Runet's birthday.
April 8th. Day of employees of military commissariats.
April 10th. Day of brothers and sisters.
12th of April. World Day of Aviation and Cosmonautics.
April 13th. World Rock and Roll Day.
14th of April. Air Defense Troops Day (Air Defense Day). The holiday is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of April.
15 April. Day of the specialist in electronic warfare.
April 17th. Day of veterans of internal affairs bodies and internal troops.
April 17th. International coffee day.
April 18th. World Amateur Radio Day.
April 18th. International Day of Monuments and Historic Sites.
April 18th. Day of military glory of Russia (Battle on the Ice, 1242).
19 April. Day of the scrap processing industry.
19 April. Snowdrop Day.
19 April. Day of employees of the employment service.
20 April. World Circus Day. The holiday is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday of April.
20 April. Day of the donor of Russia.
April 21. Palm Sunday (Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem). The date of the holiday is unique for each year.
April 21. Catholic Easter. The date of the holiday is unique for each year.
April 21. Day of local self-government.
April 21. Day of the chief accountant (Day of the chief accountant).
22 April. International Earth Day.
23 April. World Book and Copyright Day.
23 April. English Language Day.
April 24th. World Secretary Day. The holiday is celebrated on the Wednesday of the last full week of April.
April 24th. International Day of Youth Solidarity.
25th of April. Pure Thursday. The date of the holiday is unique for each year.
26 April. International Intellectual Property Day.
26 April. International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Radiation Accidents and Catastrophes.
April 27th. Day of Russian parliamentarism.
April 27th. International Veterinary Day.
April 27th. Notaries Day in Russia.
April 28th. Easter. The date of the holiday is unique for each year.
April 28th. World day of labor protection.
29 April. International Dance Day.
April 30. International Jazz Day.
April 30. Fire Department Day.
These holidays fall into two categories:
Fixed (non-movable) holidays: they always fall on a strictly defined day of the month, regardless of the day of the week, which changes annually. These include nine twelfth church holidays:
Twelfth fixed holidays
| Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary | September 21 |
| †Exaltation of the Holy Cross (40 days from the Transfiguration) | September 27 |
| Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary | December 4 |
| †Nativity | Jan. 7 |
| January 19 | |
| †The Presentation of the Lord (40 days AD) | February, 15 |
| Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos (9 months BC) | April 7 |
| †Transfiguration | August 19 |
| Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | August 28 |
Movable (movable) holidays. The movable part of the church calendar moves along with the date of celebration, which changes from year to year. All "mobile" holidays are counted from Easter and move in the space of the "secular" calendar along with it.
The Twelfth Passing Holidays:
The twelfth feasts each have one fore-feast day, with the exception of the Nativity of Christ, which has 5 days of fore-feast, and Theophany, which has 4 pre-feast days.
The number of afterfeast days is not the same - from 1 to 8 days, depending on the greater or lesser proximity of some holidays to others or to the days of fasting.
Some of the Lord's feasts, moreover, are preceded and concluded by special Saturdays and weeks (Sundays).
The services of the twelfth feasts of the fixed circle are in menstruation. Services of the twelfth holidays of the moving circle are located in Lenten and Colored.
In Russia, until 1925, the Twelfth Holidays were both church and civil.
Great non-twelfth holidays:
At the feasts of the Nativity and the Beheading of John the Baptist, the Circumcision of the Lord, the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Holy Primate Apostles Peter and Paul, there is no fore-feast, after-feast and no giving.
- Bishop Alexander Mileant
- Y. Ruban
- Holidays of the Christmas cycle Y. Ruban
- Twelfth holidays arch. Alexander Men
- Troparion of the Twelfth Feasts
Christian holidays
Christian holidays- certain days of the church calendar, celebrated with divine services that have an individual liturgical character. This is fixed in the names of the holidays and "penitent times", the dates and order of their celebration, as well as in the content of the texts performed during the service. Their purpose and meaning is the remembrance, glorification and theological interpretation of the key stages in the history of Salvation, which is embodied mainly in the events of the earthly life of Jesus Christ (the Savior), and the Virgin Mary, the real accomplice of this divine-human process. Hence - an exceptional place in the calendar of holidays dedicated to Them.
The holidays are distributed within two overlapping annual cycles - (menaion) and (triode, or Easter-Pentecost). Celebrations and memorable events of the first cycle are strictly fixed only by the days of the month (for the dates of the Julian calendar in relation to the modern civil one, an amendment is necessary: n - 13 days, - for the XX-XXI centuries). The holidays of the second are fixed only by the days of the week, being rigidly correlated with Easter, which is the starting point for the entire moving annual cycle. The date of the latter moves within 35 days (“Easter limits”): from April 4 (March 22, O.S.) to May 8 (April 25, O.S.).
The most important holidays of the modern Orthodox calendar are called "twelfth", or "twelve" (from the Slavic twelfth - "twelve") (see). , as "holidays holiday", is outside this classification.
The second step in the festive hierarchical ladder is occupied by holidays, which are called “great” in liturgical word usage. These include: the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos (October 1/14), the Circumcision of the Lord and the memory of St. Basil the Great (January 1/14), the Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24/July 7), the memory of the supreme app. Peter and Paul (June 29 / July 12), the Beheading of John the Baptist (August 29 / September 11), and also, according to some old calendars, the repose (death) of St. John the Theologian (September 26/October 9), commemoration of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Mir of Lycia (December 6/19) and the transfer of his relics from Mir to the Italian city of Bari (May 9/22).
All other numerous holidays are dedicated to incorporeal forces (the common holiday is the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, November 8/21), Old Testament and Christian saints, commemoration of significant events in Sacred Biblical and Christian history, the appearance of miraculous icons, the discovery of relics.
The constant canonization of new saints means the continuous replenishment of the Christian calendar.
The Church Charter (Typicon) provides for the gradation of all holidays into five categories according to the degree of solemnity of their worship, which is fixed by special signs (the sixth category has no sign). The patronal feast of any church (whose name it bears) is equated for it in the liturgical aspect with the Twelve Feasts. The same degree of solemnity can be inherent in "locally honored" holidays, even those that have a modest liturgical status at the general church level.
Holidays common to all Christians are, first of all, Easter and Christmas (the latter, as a special calendar celebration, does not have the Armenian and other Monophysite churches). The most important annual holidays are mostly the same for Orthodox and Catholics (because they are based on the same events of sacred history), but differ in dates, often in names and semantic nuances, as well as in the nature of the celebration.
Many saints of the one Church are equally revered: eastern ones in the West, western ones in the East (Basil the Great - Ambrose of Milan, etc.). But the saints of one Church who lived after the division of the Churches (1054) can be venerated in another Church mainly at the local level, with the permission of the church authorities. The official Catholic calendar, for example, includes the names of Sts. Cyril of Turov (May 11), Anthony of Pechersk (July 24), Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga and Vladimir (July 27 and 28), Boris and Gleb (August 5), Sergius of Radonezh (October 8); the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is also commemorated (September 7).
Protestants, rejecting the veneration of the Mother of God, saints, relics and icons, do not have their respective holidays in their calendars.
The study of holidays in the context of the general process of the formation of the church calendar is engaged in (lit. "holiday studies") - an auxiliary historical discipline, one of the sections of academic liturgy.
Liturgical texts are contained in the Service Book, in 12 volumes (for fixed feasts), Lenten and Colored (for movable feasts), the Festive Menaia, as well as in numerous editions of services for individual feasts, often containing historical references, commentaries, notations, and other appendices.
“How to celebrate the holiday? We celebrate an event (to delve into the greatness of the event, its purpose, its fruit for believers) or a person, such as: the Lord, the Mother of God, Angels and Saints (to delve into the attitude of that person towards God and humanity, into his beneficial influence on the Church of God , at all). It is necessary to delve into the history of an event or person, to approach the event or person, otherwise the holiday will be imperfect, unpleasing. Holidays should have an impact on our lives, should enliven, kindle our faith (hearts) in future blessings and nourish pious, good morals.
