Orthodox holidays and fasts. Church holidays: calendar and meaning

There are many calendar dates in the year dedicated to sacred events, which are important holidays for the church. On these days, special services are held with the reading of prayers, special sermons and chants, in accordance with the Church Charter. Naturally, not all religious Christian holidays are equal in importance. Easter and the twelve celebrations should be classified as Great Holidays. They are marked in calendars with special red marks in the form of a cross placed in a circle. In addition to them, there are several more especially revered dates, which are also great for Christians.

Main Christian holidays:

Easter holiday.

The most important and favorite Christian holiday, undoubtedly, for all Orthodox Christians is Easter. Be careful, the date of the celebration always changes every year, because the Easter cycle depends on the lunar as well as solar calendar. In terms of timing, this celebration usually falls in the period from 7.04 to 8.05 according to the new style. It is not difficult to calculate the exact date; you need to take a calendar and find out when the spring full moon and Jewish Passover occur. Next Sunday will be Orthodox Easter. By the way, many other Christian holidays depend on this important date. To avoid mistakes, it is best to use Easter eggs - specially folded tables compiled by the church.

Twelfth great Christian holidays.

We will give the dates here to make it easier for a simple layman to navigate, according to the new style, but for clarity, we will insert the date of the old style in brackets.

September 21 (8.09) – Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
December 4 (11/21) – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple, which is a very large Christian holiday in December.
April 7 (03/25) – . It was then that the angels announced to the Virgin Mary about a great miracle - a sinless conception.
January 7 (December 25) – Nativity of Christ. The winter Christian holidays are a big fun series, so right after Christmas we will have several important dates.
February 15 (2.02) – . It was on this winter day that Elder Simeon the God-Receiver met little Jesus, whom his parents took to the temple on the 40th day to make a sacrifice to the glory of God for the birth of such a long-awaited first-born. The Holy Spirit revealed the truth to the sage and he saw the future Messiah in the baby.
January 19 (6.01) - Epiphany, which also has a beautiful second name: Holy Epiphany. Note that the eve of this significant Christian holiday (18.01) is the beginning of strict fasting.
August 19 (6.08) – Transfiguration of the Lord.
Palm Sunday, like some other major Christian holidays, can change the date on the calendar, but it is easy to calculate. The Lord's entry into Jerusalem should be celebrated on the Sunday that precedes Easter.
The date on which the Orthodox celebrate the Ascension of the Lord also changes in the calendar. This celebration always occurs on the 40th day after Easter Sunday.
Pentecost is a Christian holiday that has such a name for a reason. The Day of the Holy Trinity falls every year strictly on the 50th day from the Bright Resurrection of Christ.
In September there is another great holiday - the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, it should always be celebrated on the 27th (14.09)
The last Christian twelve great holiday on our list is the Dormition of the Mother of God, which falls on August 28 (08/16)

In addition to the most important church dates listed above, there are other equally important great and minor holidays, as well as other events that are important for the believing people. For example, a special Christian holiday in November is the honoring of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, which is an ancient and most valuable relic. We simply cannot list all these events due to the small format of the article, so we advise you to look for more detailed information in detailed liturgical calendars, where everything is systematized. This is especially important for people who get lost in the moving and non-moving dates of holidays or fasts that are directly dependent on the lunar and solar annual cycle.

All Orthodox holidays are special dates for all Christians. These days they devote themselves to the Lord, completely abandon the vanity inherent in everything worldly, reading prayers and performing the prescribed rituals. The most important church dates are the most important. These include the well-known Christmas and Easter.

History of church holidays

The main Orthodox church holidays and fasts date back to ancient times, from the period of the Old Testament. The traditions established in the New Testament are also explained by ancient rituals associated with certain saints. And today they try to strictly observe them, because they have come to us practically unchanged since ancient times.

The modern church has given each of these holidays a special status, which also has a special spiritual atmosphere, so revered by believers. These days, a special regime of life is often prescribed for ordinary people - you need to completely free yourself from everyday worries, setting aside time to serve God.

Since the 4th century, when the church was completely under the leadership of the Byzantine authorities, there were strict prohibitions against violating church order. Not only fun, but also work was equally unacceptable. Later, during the reign of Constantine, an additional ban on trading on Sundays was established.

In the modern world, church Orthodox holidays have changed somewhat, but even despite this, the traditions have remained unchanged. Moreover, some of the main dates have moved into the category of weekends with state status. This is enshrined in law in almost every country whose residents profess the Christian religion.

Church calendars

While some Orthodox holidays have fixed dates, others have floating dates from year to year. Church calendars were developed to track them.

The history of the main immutable dates dates back to the Julian calendar, which differs from the current Gregorian calendar by almost 2 weeks. Each of the established permanent holidays has a clearly defined date, which does not depend on the day of the week or other factors.

The peculiarity of the group of moving Orthodox holidays is that these dates shift in the calendar from year to year. The countdown is based on Easter. Its date is calculated based on the lunar calendar.

Not everyone knows that it is categorically unacceptable to celebrate Easter:

before the onset of the spring equinox;
together with the church of the Jews;
before the first full moon in spring.

In total, the halves of such a calendar of the main dates of the Orthodox Church form a complete cycle.

A year through the eyes of an Orthodox Christian

To take into account all Orthodox holidays of the summer or any time of year, as well as the fasts occurring during these periods, specialized calendars are compiled. In addition to the main dates, they always contain a detailed description and features of holidays and Orthodox fasts. Along with the information listed, good calendars record the most important moments of modern church life and days set aside as memorial days.

The year through the eyes of an Orthodox Christian is very eventful. It consists of many fasts that are established to prepare for certain holidays, one-day fasts. Such a large number of activities can be explained simply - people should not have too much time left for activities that do not please God.

Orthodox holidays and their features

Actually, celebration dates refer to celebrations that are of a church-wide nature. Within each such day, a certain sacred event is honored or simply remembered.

Each of these holidays is included in the weekly liturgical circle or in the annual one, valid for each Orthodox Church.

All Orthodox holidays of the year are tied to the commemoration of saints or events that happened earlier.

One way or another, the duty of any Orthodox Christian is to strictly observe and honor the most important dates and fasts. As preparation for most of them, it is recommended to read prayers, perform the rite of communion, observe the required fasts and other godly actions, including helping those in need.

The church calendar reflects the alternation of weekdays with Orthodox holidays. Here are all the dates that are recorded in church books. Particular attention is paid to each of the Sundays, which are called nothing less than Little Easter.

12 main Orthodox dates

Within Orthodox culture, there are a total of twelve most important holidays. Each of them corresponds to a certain significant event within the Old and New Testaments. The most important holiday among them is, of course, Easter.

Moving Twelfth Holidays

Those dates that are holidays in modern Christianity, but are not constant in the calendar from year to year, are called rolling twelve. Easter also falls into this category, as it is celebrated on different days every year.

Based on the date on which Easter falls, Orthodox holidays are determined in September and other months, including:

Palm Sunday, that is, the entrance to Jerusalem. It is celebrated exactly 7 days before Easter.
Ascension. This Orthodox holiday falls on the 40th day after Easter. It's always Thursday. This date corresponds to the appearance of Jesus to the Lord.
The holiday falls on the 50th day after Easter and symbolizes the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles.

Easter holiday

This is the main celebration in the Orthodox calendar. It symbolizes victory over death. The day is tied to those events of the past on which the very doctrine of Christianity as such is built.

The shed blood at the crucifixion of the Savior then washed away original sin. This is a full-fledged celebration of life relative to death. It is not surprising that this is the most important holiday among other holidays.

Entrance to Jerusalem

This holiday is better known among us as Palm Sunday. This is an equally significant event within the framework of Christian teaching as such. It correlates with the arrival of the Savior in the city and denotes the voluntariness of the suffering Christ accepted.

This date is determined annually based on Easter, more precisely, exactly a week before it.

Pentecost

Not everyone knows what Orthodox holiday is called Pentecost. Popularly called Trinity Day.

It is associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles. In addition, this particular date is associated with the discovery of the third hypostasis of the Trinity, after which the triune principle of God was immortalized within Christianity.

Permanent twelfth holidays

Most of the main dates within the Orthodox calendar are constant; each of them has a certain day of the year, and they in no way depend on Easter. This category includes:

The Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the date of her ascension, falling on August 28. It is preceded by a large and important Assumption Fast. This is explained by the fact that the Mother of God herself adhered to abstinence and prayed unceasingly until the end of her days.
Introduction of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This event falls on December 4th. The date corresponds to when her parents completely dedicated the child to God.
Baptism. Celebrated on January 19. The date corresponds to the moment when John the Baptist washed the Savior in the Jordan. Then he spoke about his great mission, but for this message he was later killed. The holiday of Epiphany is also observed.
Annunciation. Every year it falls on the date, which corresponds to the arrival of Gabriel to the Mother of God, who informed her about her special child and his purpose.
Birth of the Virgin Mary. The date falls on September 21, it was on this day that the Savior’s mother was born. The modern church considers this no less significant event in teaching than all others. After all, her parents did not have their own children for many years. The Virgin Mary became a gift from above for them. It is generally accepted that the conception had a blessing from above.
Exaltation of the Cross. On September 27, the discovery of the life-giving cross took place. Back in the 4th century, Queen Helena, who ruled Palestine at that time, began searching for him. Of the three crosses, the only one identified was the Lord’s; it was he who brought healing to a terminally ill person.
Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. This date is known to every person, even if he does not belong to the category of Christian believers. On this day, the earthly birth of Jesus took place, who appeared in the flesh from the Virgin Mary.
Candlemas falls on February 15th. This is the date when the newborn baby was first brought into the temple. The word translated from Old Church Slavonic sounds like “meeting”.
The Transfiguration is celebrated every year on August 19th. On this day, Jesus prayed with his disciples when the prophets spoke about his impending death, accompanied by much torment, and his subsequent resurrection after several days. Then Jesus himself learned about his great mission, so the date became one of the main twelve holidays.

Each of these dates is of great importance in modern Christian teaching. For every believer, these are special days when it is important to attend church and pray, and in some cases also perform certain rituals.

Orthodox calendars

To know exactly what Orthodox holiday is today, you will need to look at the church calendar. It indicates absolutely all holidays, combination days, all long and short fasts, and other information.

A special place in such calendars is occupied by days for the veneration of saints. It will contain a prayer for each of them.

Features of the main Orthodox holidays

Church celebrations are characterized by:

Dressing ministers in light-colored clothing, which symbolizes God's Kingdom and its greatness.
Conducting liturgy and chants for the holiday.
Church attendance is compulsory for parishioners. Today, there are no strict rules regarding this requirement, but all believers strive to give up any activities and set aside time to attend church.

Another feature of church holidays is that their number is quite large. Therefore, sometimes it happens that several significant dates occur on one day.

Here are some facts regarding the observance of holidays by believers:

Today, Orthodox holidays from the twelfth category involve not only direct celebration, but also pre-celebration along with giving.
All-night vigils are held on every great date.
Before a number of dates, it is necessary for all Christian believers to observe fasting, so many, knowing which Orthodox holiday is coming soon, think about their diet.
Usually three days are spent on the pre-celebration, with the exception of Epiphany (four days) along with Christmas (five days).

Today, everyone sacredly honors all established holidays and observes fasts, as prescribed by teaching. The Orthodox calendar serves as an assistant and hint for them.

In Orthodoxy, there are twelve most significant holidays - these are a dozen especially important events of the church calendar, in addition to the main holiday - the great event of Easter. Find out which holidays are called twelve and are most solemnly celebrated by believers.

Twelfth Moving Holidays

There are fickle holiday numbers in the church calendar, which turn out to be different every year, just like the date of Easter. It is with this that the transition of an important event to another date is associated.

Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Orthodox Christians most often call this event Palm Sunday and celebrate it when there is a week left before Easter. It is connected with the coming of Jesus to the holy city.
Ascension of the Lord. Celebrated 40 days after Easter ends. Falls annually on the fourth day of the week. It is believed that at this moment Jesus appeared in the flesh to his heavenly Father, our Lord.

Day of the Holy Trinity. Falls on the 50th day after the end of Great Easter. 50 days after the resurrection of the Savior, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles.

Twelfth Feasts

Some especially important days in the church calendar remain fixed and are celebrated at the same time every year. Regardless of Easter, these celebrations always fall on the same date.

Birth of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. The holiday is celebrated on September 21 and is dedicated to the birth of the earthly mother of Jesus Christ. The Church is convinced that the birth of the Mother of God was not an accident. She was initially assigned a special mission to save human souls. The parents of the Heavenly Queen, Anna and Joachim, who could not conceive a child for a long time, were sent by providence from Heaven, where the angels themselves blessed them to conceive.
Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Orthodox Christians celebrate the day of the Virgin Mary's ascension into heaven on August 28th. The Assumption Fast, which ends on the 28th, is timed to coincide with this event. Until her death, the Mother of God spent her time in constant prayer and observed the strictest abstinence.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Christians celebrate this event associated with the discovery of the Life-Giving Cross on September 27. In the 4th century, the Palestinian queen Helen went in search of the Cross. Three crosses were dug up near the Holy Sepulcher. They truly identified the one on which the Savior was crucified, with the help of a sick woman who found healing from one of them.
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple, celebrated on December 4. It was at this time that her parents made a vow to dedicate their child to God, so that when their daughter was three years old, they would take her to the Jerusalem Temple, where she stayed until her reunion with Joseph.
Nativity . Orthodox Christians celebrate this godly event on January 7th. The day is associated with the earthly birth of the Savior in the flesh, from his mother the Virgin Mary.

Epiphany. The event falls on January 19 every year. On that very day, John the Baptist washed the Savior in the waters of the Jordan and pointed out the special mission that was destined for him. For which the righteous man subsequently paid with his head. The holiday is otherwise called Epiphany.
Meeting of the Lord. The holiday takes place on February 15th. Then the parents of the future Savior brought the divine baby to the Jerusalem Temple. The child was received from the hands of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph by the righteous Semeon the God-Receiver. From the Old Church Slavonic language the word “meeting” is translated as “meeting”.
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Celebrated on April 7 and dedicated to the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. It was he who announced to her the imminent birth of a son who would perform a great deed.
Transfiguration of the Lord. The day falls on August 19th. Jesus Christ read a prayer on Mount Tabor together with his closest disciples: Peter, Paul and James. At that moment, two prophets Elijah and Moses appeared to them and informed the Savior that he would have to accept martyrdom, but he would resurrect three days later. And they heard the voice of God, which indicated that Jesus had been chosen for a great work. This twelfth Orthodox holiday is associated with such an event.

Each of the 12 holidays is an important event in Christian history and is especially revered among believers. These days it is worth turning to God and visiting church. Take care of yourself and your loved ones and don't forget to press the buttons and

15.09.2015 00:30

Orthodox Trinity is a great holiday for Christians. This holiday is as important as Christmas and Easter. ...

Great Orthodox holidays: list with dates, explanations and traditions.

In addition to Easter as the main Christian holiday, in our culture there are 12 more great Orthodox holidays, called the twelve. What are these holidays and how are they traditionally celebrated? You will learn about this from this article.

Hierarchy of holidays in Orthodox Christianity

Easter - a sign of the eternal victory of life over death - is one step above the rest in this hierarchy of holidays. This is the most important holiday in the Christian tradition. Further along the hierarchy follow the non-twelfth great and twelfth Orthodox holidays. In total, 17 holidays fall into the category of great ones. The non-twelfth great dates include the following:

The Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a holiday that falls on October 14 in the Orthodox world. Associated with the vision of Constantinople Saint Andrew the Fool. At the hour when Constantinople was under siege, the Mother of God appeared to Andrew, spreading a veil from her head over the city, the city was saved.
Circumcision of the Lord - while we celebrate the last New Year holidays on January 14, a service is being held in the church in memory of this event, as well as in honor of Basil the Great, one of the so-called Fathers of the Church.
The Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist (Forerunner) on July 7 - this is the day that we know as Ivan Kupala. It is associated with the miraculous birth of John the Baptist six months before Jesus.
The Day of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul, which is popularly known simply as Peter's Day, is celebrated on July 12. Officially, on the Day of Peter and Paul, the memory of the martyrdom of the apostles is honored, but for the common people this day symbolizes the complete transition to summer.
The beheading of John the Baptist is celebrated in Russian tradition on September 11th. On this day, they remember the martyrdom of John the Baptist, and also remember the soldiers who died in the battle for the fatherland.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In the Orthodox tradition, the birth of the Virgin Mother is celebrated on September 21. Her parents, Joachim and Anna, had already come to terms with the idea of not leaving offspring - it is believed that both were already over 70 when Maria was born. Her birth is associated with Joachim’s stay in the desert, where he retired to ask the Lord for continuation of the family. An angel appeared to him in a dream and announced that he would soon have a daughter. And it’s true - returning to the city, Joachim met Anna, hurrying towards him with good news.

This holiday is intended to glorify the Mother of God as the protector and intercessor of all people before God. In the folk calendar it is associated with the arrival of autumn, harvesting and the end of all summer work.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This holiday is associated with one of the main Christian symbols - the cross on which the Son of God passed the test of death. And its appearance was facilitated by the Byzantine Empress Helen in the middle of the 4th century. Already at a fairly advanced age (according to historians, she was about 80 years old), the mother of Emperor Constantine decides to go to Jerusalem in search of lost Christian relics. As a result of excavations on Mount Golgotha, they found not only a cross, but also a cave in which Christ was buried.

The date of celebration was set in September 335 - after the Church of the Resurrection of Christ was consecrated in Jerusalem. The Orthodox world celebrates September 27 by observing strict fasting and not engaging in hard work. People also believe that it is from this day that birds begin to fly south, and snakes begin to crawl into holes for the winter.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple

The Orthodox holiday of Entry into the Temple is celebrated on December 4th. It is dedicated to an episode from the life of the Virgin Mary - at the age of three, pious parents brought her to the Jerusalem Temple to fulfill God's covenant - to devote the life of their daughter to God. In all interpretations of this story, they say that little Mary entered the temple with unusual confidence, as if she already knew that she would play a great role in this religion. Maria never returned home to her parents - she lived in the temple until she was 12 years old, until the angel Gabriel brought her news of the extraordinary fate that had been granted to her.

In folk tradition, this holiday is called Introduction. It was associated with the arrival of winter - it was from this day that winter festivities and sleigh rides began. It was also worth forgetting about field work until spring - the peasants believed that it was better not to disturb the land after the Introduction.

Nativity

Of all twelve, the great Orthodox holiday of Christmas is considered the most significant. In the Western tradition it is customary to celebrate it on December 25, but in our country it is celebrated on January 7.

The birth of Jesus took place in the city of Bethlehem, Joseph's hometown. He arrived here with the pregnant Maria, but there was no room for them in the hotel. The travelers had to camp in a cave. When Mary felt the birth approaching, Joseph hurried to find a midwife. He managed to find a woman named Salome, and together they went back to the cave. The first thing they saw in the cave was a bright light filling the entire space. Gradually the light faded away - and Mary appeared with a baby sitting in her arms. At this time, a star of extraordinary brightness rose over Bethlehem, notifying the world of the arrival of the Son of God.

It is believed that every great Orthodox holiday gives birth to kindness in the heart, but Christmas especially. On Christmas Eve, it is customary for the whole family to gather around the festive table - in folk tradition, there should be twelve dishes on it.

Historians believe that it is not known for certain at what time of year Jesus was born. It is believed that the date of the great Orthodox holiday of Christmas is connected with more ancient holidays dedicated to the winter solstice (December 21 or 22). This holiday is preceded by a forty-day fast, starting on November 27.

Epiphany

The second most important great holiday of the Orthodox Church after Christmas is Epiphany. It is celebrated on January 19 - we all know about the folk tradition of swimming in an ice hole on this day. However, the church and historians unanimously claim that this tradition is not as ancient and primordial as it seems, but only acquired a mass character in the 80s - as a symbol of the country’s return to religion.

This celebration is associated with an episode in the life of Christ, which is traditionally considered the beginning of his ministry. At the age of 30, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. The man who baptized God's Son was John the Baptist. When Christ came ashore, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the guise of a dove, and the voice of God the Father was heard from heaven, announcing the appearance of God the Son. Thus, the Lord revealed himself in his trinity. Therefore, Epiphany, among the great holidays of the Orthodox Church, is also known as Epiphany. In the Catholic tradition, Epiphany is associated with Christmas and the offering of the Magi.

Presentation of the Lord

From the Old Church Slavonic language, Meeting can be interpreted as the word “meeting” - the church believes that it was on this day that humanity met Jesus Christ. This great Orthodox holiday is celebrated on February 15 - forty days after Christmas. On this day, Mary and Joseph brought little Jesus to the temple for the first time, where Saint Simeon the God-Receiver received him. There is a separate legend about Simeon - he was one of the seventy scholars who translated the Holy Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek. The entry about the Virgin, who should conceive and give birth to a son, confused Simeon, he decided to correct the mistake of the unknown copyist: it was the Wife who should give birth, not the Virgin. But at that moment an angel appeared in the room and said that this would really happen one day. The Lord will not allow the old man to die until he sees this miracle with his own eyes. When the day finally came to meet the baby Jesus, Simeon was already about 360 years old - all his life the righteous old man had been waiting for a meeting with the human incarnation of God.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Annunciation is a symbol of hope and expectation. On this day, April 7, they celebrate the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel by Mary, who brought her good news with the words: “Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women,” this line was subsequently included in many prayers dedicated to the Mother of God. As a moving holiday, the Annunciation is often wedged into the number of Orthodox holidays during Lent. In this case, those who fast are incredibly lucky - in honor of the holiday, a small indulgence in the form of animal food is allowed (not meat, but fish).

Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

There is still a week left until Easter, and the world is already beginning to celebrate and honor the memory of the deeds of Christ during this week. This date is popularly known as Palm Sunday - a great Orthodox holiday. On this day, Jesus solemnly entered Jerusalem, choosing a donkey as a riding animal - as a sign that he had arrived in peace. The people greeted him as the Messiah, laying palm branches on the road - they later became the main symbolism of this holiday. Since palm trees do not grow in our latitudes, the branches were replaced with willow ones.

Many folk traditions are associated with this day. It was customary to consecrate willow branches in the church and then keep them in the house all year so that good luck and prosperity would not leave it. They also lightly hit each other with the willow, saying: “I don’t hit, it’s the willow that hits.” Since these Orthodox holidays during Lent are celebrated modestly, the main dish of the feast could be fish, but not meat.

Ascension of the Lord

When Easter is over and another forty days have passed, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Ascension. This day is one of the great twelve holidays of the Orthodox Church. The image of Christ ascending to heaven recalls the predominance of the ideal divine nature over the imperfect human nature. Up until this day, you can congratulate all Orthodox Christians on the holiday of Great Easter with the words “Christ is Risen!”, but after the end of the Ascension Feast, the church prohibits making Christ.

Having resurrected, Jesus Christ preached for another forty days, and then gathered his disciples-apostles and ascended into heaven, bequeathing that he would appear a second time (this is considered a promise of the second coming) and that the Holy Spirit would also descend on the apostles - this happened ten days later.

Day of the Holy Trinity

Another ten days pass after the Ascension and fifty after Easter, when the Orthodox world celebrates the next great Orthodox holiday. Simply put, it is also called Trinity, Pentecost. The event that led to the appearance of this holiday was the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. When all twelve were assembled, a gust of wind suddenly came and enveloped the apostles in flames. The Holy Spirit declared itself so clearly. From that day on, Jesus’ disciples gained the ability to understand hitherto unknown languages and dialects, and most importantly, to speak them. This blessing was given to them in order to spread the word of God throughout the world, so the apostles went to preach throughout the countries.

In folk tradition, Trinity completed the series of spring holidays - after it the summer season began. They prepared thoroughly for this holiday - a few days before it, housewives cleaned the house, trying to get rid of unnecessary things, and the garden and vegetable garden were cleared of weeds. They tried to decorate their home with bunches of herbs and flowers, as well as tree branches - it was believed that this would bring good luck and prosperity to all its inhabitants. In the morning they went to church for services, and in the evening the festivities began. Young people these days were instructed to be careful - after all, mermaids and Mavkas came out of forests and fields to lure guys into their nets.

Transfiguration

The Feast of the Transfiguration is associated with a small episode from the life of Christ. Taking with him three disciples - James, John and Peter - Jesus ascended Mount Tabor for conversations and prayers. But as soon as they reached the top, a miracle happened - Jesus ascended above the earth, his clothes became white, and his face shone like the sun. Next to him, the images of the Old Testament prophets Moses and Elijah appeared, and the voice of God was heard from heaven, announcing a son.

The Transfiguration is celebrated on August 19. This great Orthodox holiday in folk tradition is called the Apple Savior (second after Honey). It was believed that from this day autumn begins to come into its own. Many customs of this day are associated with the harvest of apples and fruits in general - before the Savior, the fruits were considered unripe. Ideally, the harvest should have been blessed in the church. Then apples could be consumed without restrictions.

Dormition of the Virgin Mary

The celebration of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is associated with the end of the earthly life of the Virgin Mary and the ascension of her soul and body to heaven. The word “dormition” can be interpreted more as “sleep” than “death” - in this regard, the name of the holiday reflects the attitude of Christianity towards death as a transition to another world and testifies to the divine nature of Mary herself.

This great Orthodox holiday is celebrated on August 28, although it is not known for sure in what year and on what day the Virgin Mary passed away into another world. In folk tradition, this day is called Obzhinki - it is associated with the end of the harvest.

The righteous Joachim and Anna lived in the city of Nazareth. Both of them lived to old age, but had no children. They fervently prayed that the Lord would give them a son or daughter, and made a promise that if a child was born to them, they would dedicate him to serving God at the temple. The Lord heard their prayer: they had a daughter, whom they named Mary.
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 21(8).

Troparion, voice 4th:
Your Nativity, Virgin Mary,
joy to proclaim to the whole universe:
from You has arisen the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God,
and having broken the oath, I gave a blessing,
and having abolished death, he gave us eternal life.

Kontakion, voice 4th:
Joachim and Anna reproach childlessness,
and Adam and Eve were freed from mortal aphids,
Most Pure One, in Your holy Nativity.
This is what Your People celebrate,
having freed yourself from the guilt of sins, always call Ti:
The Mother of God and the nourisher of our life gives birth to barren fruits.

2. Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple

(Introduction). When the Virgin Mary was three years old, Joachim and Anna fulfilled their promise and brought Her to the Jerusalem Temple. The High Priest met the Virgin Mary at the entrance and, at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, led Her into a special place, the Holy of Holies, where he himself could only enter once a year. The Virgin Mary remained to live at the temple and spent most of her time in prayer and reading holy books.
The Blessed Virgin Mary lived at the temple until she was 14 years old. After this, according to the law, She had to return to her parents or get married. But Joachim and Anna had already died by this time, and the Virgin Mary did not want to get married, since she had promised to remain a virgin. Then the priests betrothed Her to a distant relative, the eighty-year-old elder Joseph, so that he would take care of Her as his daughter. Joseph lived in Nazareth: he was a poor man and was engaged in carpentry.
The Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated on December 4 (November 21).

Troparion, voice 4th:
Today of God's favor the transfiguration
and preaching the salvation of men:
in the temple of God the Virgin clearly appears,
and proclaims Christ to everyone,
We too will cry out loudly:
Rejoice, fulfillment of the Lord’s vision.

Kontakion, voice 4th:
The Most Pure Church of the Savior,
the valuable palace and the Virgin,
sacred treasure of the glory of God,
today he is brought into the house of the Lord,
co-leading grace, even in the Divine Spirit,
The Angels of God are singing:
This is the village of heaven.

3. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38)

(Annunciation). When the Virgin Mary lived with Joseph, the Archangel Gabriel was sent to Her by God to tell her the good news about the birth of the Savior of the world from Her. He appeared to Her with these words: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with You, blessed are You among women.” The Virgin Mary was embarrassed and thought: what does this greeting mean? The Archangel continued: “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God; You will give birth to a Son and call Him Jesus.” The Virgin Mary asked in bewilderment: “How can this be when I am not married”? The Archangel answered Her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon You and the power of the Most High will overshadow You, therefore the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.” The Virgin Mary said with humility: “I am the servant of the Lord, let it be done to me according to Your word.” And the angel departed from Her.
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on April 7 (March 25).

Troparion, voice 4th:
The day of our salvation is the greatest,
and the manifestation of the sacrament from the ages,
The Son of God is the Son of the Virgin,
and Gabriel preaches grace.
In the same way, we will cry out to the Mother of God:
Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Kontakion, voice 8th:
The elected Voivode is victorious,
like having gotten rid of the evil ones,
Let us sing thanksgiving to Thy servants, O Mother of God:
but as having an invincible power,
free us from all sorts of troubles,
Let us call You: Rejoice, Unbrideless Bride.

4. Christmas (Luke 2:1-21)

(Christmas). The Roman Emperor Augustus ordered a national census to be taken in the land of Judea under his control. To do this, every Jew had to go and register in the city where his ancestors lived. Joseph and Mary went to the city of Bethlehem to register. Here they could not find a place in the house, since a lot of people had gathered in Bethlehem on the occasion of the census, and they stopped outside the city in a cave where shepherds drove cattle into a poor pagoda. Here at night the Blessed Virgin gave birth to a Baby, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger.
On the night of the Nativity of Christ, the Bethlehem shepherds grazed their flocks in the field. Suddenly an angel appeared to them. The shepherds were afraid. But the angel told them: “Do not be afraid! I bring you great joy: on this night the Savior of the world was born, and this is a sign for you: you will find a Child wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” At this time, many angels appeared in heaven, praising God and singing: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
When the angels disappeared, the shepherds began to say: “Let us go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.” They came to the cave and found Mary, Joseph and the Child lying in a manger. They worshiped Him and told Joseph and Mary what they had seen and heard from the angels. On the eighth day after His birth, He was given the name Jesus.
Christmas is celebrated on January 7 (December 25).

Troparion, voice 4th:
Your Nativity, Christ our God,
The rise of the world, the light of reason,
there are servants of the stars in it
I follow a star
I bow to you to the Sun of Truth
and I lead you from the heights of the East:
Lord, glory to You!

Kontakion, voice 3:
The Virgin is giving birth today to the Most Essential,
and the earth brings the den to the Unapproachable:
Angels and shepherds praise,
The wolves travel with the star:
For our sake, the Young Child, the Eternal God, was born.

5. Presentation of the Lord (Luke 2:22-39)

(Candlemas). The Jews had a law that on the fortieth day after his birth the first son should be brought to the temple to be dedicated to God. In this case, they sacrificed: the rich - a lamb and a dove, and the poor - two pigeon chicks. When Jesus Christ was forty days old, the Virgin Mary and Joseph brought Him to the Jerusalem Temple and, since they were poor, they sacrificed two doves. On the same day, Elder Simeon came to the temple, who was predicted that he would not die until he saw Christ the Savior. He met Mary and the Child and, taking Him in his arms, said: “Now I can die in peace, because my eyes have seen the Savior of the world.”
In the temple there was the widow Anna the prophetess, 84 years old, who told those present that this Child is the Savior of the world.
The Presentation of the Lord is celebrated on February 15 (2).

Prayer of St. Simeon the God-Receiver,(sung at Vespers, 1st part of the All-Night Vigil):
Now dost thou release thy servant, O Lord,
according to Your word, in peace;
for my eyes have seen Your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all people,
light in the revelation of tongues
and the glory of Your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32).

6. Baptism of the Lord (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:32-34)

(Baptism). When Jesus Christ turned 30 years old, He went to the Jordan River to John the Baptist to be baptized by him. John at first refused, saying: “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered him: “Leave it, we need to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John baptized Him. When Jesus Christ emerged from the water, the heavens suddenly opened above Him and the Spirit of God descended on Him in the form of a dove, and the voice of God the Father was heard from heaven: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Since the Holy Trinity appeared during the Baptism of the Lord, this holiday is also called Epiphany.
The Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated on January 19 (6). On this holiday, in the church, water is blessed twice. The first time after the Liturgy, which is served on the day before the holiday. This water is called “Evening Water”. For the second time on the day of the holiday after the Liturgy, a procession of the Cross takes place, which is called “Walking to the Jordan.” During this procession of the Cross, water is blessed, which is called “Epiphany Water.”

Troparion, voice 1st:
In the Jordan I am baptized to You, Lord,
Trinitarian worship revealed:
Your parents' voice bears witness to You,
calling your beloved son:
and the Spirit, in the form of a dove,
your worded statement:
appear Christ God,
and the world of enlightenment, glory to You.

Kontakion, voice 4th:
You appeared today to the universe,
and Your light, O Lord, shines upon us,
in the mind of those singing Ty:
You have come and you have appeared as an unapproachable Light.

7. Transfiguration of the Lord (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36)

(Transfiguration). Shortly before His suffering, Jesus Christ took with Him three of His disciples: Peter, James and John and went up with them to Mount Tabor to pray. While He was praying, the disciples fell asleep. When they woke up, they saw that Jesus Christ had been transformed: His face shone like the sun, and His clothes were white as snow, and Moses and Elijah appeared to Him in glory and talked with Him about the suffering and death that He had to endure in Jerusalem . When Moses and Elijah left Jesus Christ, Peter exclaimed: “Lord! we feel good here; We will make three tents: one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and they heard a voice from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; Listen to him." The disciples threw themselves to the ground in fear. Jesus Christ approached them, touched them and said: “stand up, do not be afraid”! The disciples stood up and saw Jesus Christ in his usual form.
The Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated on August 19 (6).

Troparion, voice 7th:
You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God,
showing to Your disciples Your glory, as to a man:
may Your ever-present light shine upon us sinners,
through the prayers of the Mother of God, Light-Giver, glory to Thee.

Kontakion, voice 7th:
You appeared on the mountain,
and as a place that contains Thy disciples,
I have seen Your glory, O Christ God:
Yes, when they see You crucified,
suffering will then be understood as free,
they preach to the world,
for You are truly the Father's radiance.

8. Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-19; Luke 19:29-48; John 12:12-19)

(Palm Sunday). Six days before Easter, Jesus Christ left Bethany for Jerusalem. Halfway along the road, at his request, the disciples brought a donkey and a colt to him so that he could ride on them. They covered them with their clothes and Jesus Christ sat down and rode to Jerusalem. And as He rode, a multitude of people came out to meet him from Jerusalem. Some took off their clothes and spread them along the road; others cut palm branches, carried them in their hands or threw them along the road, and everyone loudly exclaimed: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest! The children especially diligently and joyfully greeted the Savior and even in the temple shouted to Him: “Hosanna to the Son of David”!
The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is celebrated on Sunday, a week before Easter. During the service, willow trees (instead of palm branches) are blessed and distributed. This happens during Lent, before Holy Week. On this day, students usually receive communion with their parents and teachers.

8a. Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12) (John 20:1-18; Corinthians 15:3-5)

(Resurrection of Christ. Resurrection. Easter of Christ). On the first day after Saturday, early in the morning, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. At the same time there was a strong earthquake. An angel of the Lord descended from heaven; his appearance was like lightning, and his robe was white as snow. He rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb and sat on it. The warriors standing guard fell to the ground out of fear and became as if they were dead, and then, having come to their senses, they fled. Some of them came to the high priests and told what had happened. The high priests gave them money and taught them to say that at night, while they were sleeping, the disciples of Jesus Christ came and stole His body.
Feast of Feasts, Resurrection of Christ, Easter, celebrated on the first Sunday after the first spring full moon between April 4 (March 22) and May 8 (April 25). At midnight (Saturday to Sunday) Easter Matins is served, followed by the Liturgy. After these services, Lent ends and you can break your fast (eat modest meals, not fast). Easter is celebrated for seven days.

Stichera at the beginning of Matins, voice 6th:
Your Resurrection, O Christ the Savior,
Angels sing in heaven:
and vouchsafe us to the earth
glorify You with a pure heart.

Troparion:
Christ is risen from the dead,
trample down death by death,
and to those in the tombs life was given freely.

9. Ascension of the Lord (Mark 16:15-19; Luke 24:46-53; Acts 1:2;4-26)

(Ascension). On the fortieth day after the resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to His disciples and told them to stay in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit. Then He led them out of the city to the Mount of Olives and, raising his hands, blessed them, and when he blessed them, he began to ascend into heaven. Finally, a bright cloud hid Jesus Christ from the sight of the disciples. They looked at the sky for a long time. Suddenly two angels in white robes appeared to them and said: “Men of Galilee! Why are you standing and looking at the sky? This Jesus, who has ascended into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him ascend into heaven.” The disciples bowed to the ascended Lord and joyfully returned to Jerusalem.
The Ascension of the Lord is celebrated in the fortieth day after Easter, always on Thursday.

Troparion, voice 4th:
Thou art exalted in glory, O Christ our God,
joy created by the student,
the promise of the Holy Spirit,
the former blessing notified to them:
for You are the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Kontakion, voice 6th:
Having already looked after us,
and uniting those on earth with those in heaven,
You are exalted in glory, O Christ our God,
not leaving at all, but remaining persistent,
and cry out to those who love Thee:
I am with you, and no one else is with you.

10. The descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles (Acts 2;14:23)

(Holy Trinity. Trinity. Pentecost). On the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the apostles with the Mother of God and other believers were together and prayed. In the third hour from the beginning of the day, suddenly a noise was heard from heaven, as if from a strong wind, and filled the whole house where they were, and tongues of fire appeared and rested 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.
In Jerusalem at that time there were many Jews who came from different countries on the occasion of the Feast of Pentecost. Hearing the noise, they gathered near the house where the apostles were, and were surprised that simple, unlearned people spoke different languages. Then the Apostle Peter spoke and explained to the people that they had received the Holy Spirit from Jesus Christ, who was crucified but rose from the dead. Those who heard this sermon were touched in their hearts and asked Peter: “What should we do?” Peter answered them: “Repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And on that day about three thousand people were baptized.
The descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles signifies the end of the New Testament and the beginning of the apostolic preaching and the history of the Christian Church. The events before the Descent of the Holy Spirit are described in the Gospel, and the Descent itself and after it are described in the book of the Apostle.
The descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles is celebrated on fiftieth day after Easter and is called the day of the Holy Trinity or Pentecost. The Holy Trinity always happens on Sunday and is celebrated for three days. There is no fasting throughout the week, that is, Wednesday and Friday are not fasting; that's why it's called "solid".

Troparion, voice 8th:
Blessed are you, Christ our God,
Like the wise fishers of phenomena,
sending down the Holy Spirit upon them,
and with them catch the universe,
Lover of humanity, glory to Thee.

Kontakion, voice 8th:
When the tongues merged,
dividing the languages of the Most High:
when the fiery tongues were distributed,
in connection with the whole appeal:
and accordingly we glorify the All-Holy Spirit.

11. Dormition of the Mother of God

(Assumption). After the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God lived in Jerusalem in the house of the holy Apostle John the Theologian. She was notified of her dormition three days in advance by the Archangel Gabriel. Then, according to Her desire, all the apostles, except Thomas, were miraculously gathered to Jerusalem by the power of God. At the hour of her death, an extraordinary light illuminated the room where the Mother of God was; The Lord Jesus Christ Himself appeared and received Her most pure soul, and Her apostles buried Her body in the Garden of Gethsemane, in the cave where the bodies of Her parents and righteous Joseph rested. Three days later, the Apostle Thomas arrived and wished to venerate the body of the Mother of God. But when they opened the cave, they did not find a body there. The apostles stood in bewilderment. Suddenly the Mother of God Herself appeared to them and said: “Rejoice! I will always be your prayer book before God.”
The Dormition of the Mother of God is celebrated on August 28 (15).

Troparion, voice 1st:
You preserved your virginity at Christmas,
in the Dormition you did not forsake the world, O Mother of God,
You reposed to the belly, Mother of the Being of the Belly,
and through Your prayers You deliver our souls from death.

Kontakion, voice 2:
In prayers the never-sleeping Mother of God,
and in intercession there is immutable hope,
the coffin and death cannot be withheld:
like the Belly Mother,
Place it in the womb of the ever-virgin One who is infused into the Belly.

12. Exaltation of the Holy Cross

(Exaltation). The first Christians were ancient Jews and experienced great persecution from Jewish leaders who did not follow Jesus Christ. The first Christian martyr, the Holy Protomartyr Stephen, was stoned to death for preaching Christianity. After the fall of Jerusalem, many times more terrible persecution of Christians began from the pagan Romans. The Romans were against Christians, since Christian teaching was the complete opposite of the customs, morals and views of the pagans. Instead of selfishness, it preached love, put humility in place of pride, instead of luxury, taught abstinence and fasting, eradicated polygamy, promoted the emancipation of slaves, and instead of cruelty called for mercy and charity. Christianity morally elevates and purifies a person and directs all his activities towards good. Christianity was prohibited, severely punished, Christians were cruelly tortured and then killed. This was the case until 313, when Emperor Constantine not only freed Christians, but also made Christianity the state faith.
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated on September 27 (14).

The Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, the last of the twelve feasts, is described in the textbook on the Law of God as follows:
Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The persecution of Christians continued for about three hundred years, and ended only under Emperor Costantine the Great, who himself accepted the Christian faith. His mother, the pious Queen Helena, went to Jerusalem to find the cross on which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified.
It was pointed out to the queen that the cross of Christ was buried in the ground, and a pagan temple was built in that place. When, by order of Elena, they broke down the building and began to dig the ground, they found three crosses and next to them a tablet with the inscription: “Jesus Christ of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”
To find out which of the three Crosses of the Lord they began to place on the deceased. No miracle happened from the two crosses, but when they laid the third cross, the dead man was resurrected, and thus they recognized the cross of the Lord.
Everyone who was there wanted to see the holy cross. Then the Patriarch of Jerusalem Macarius and Queen Helena stood on an elevated place and erected a cross, and the people bowed to him and exclaimed: “Lord, have mercy!”

Troparion(Tone 1)
God bless your people,
and bless Your inheritance,
victories by an Orthodox Christian
granting to the resistance,
and preserving Your residence by Your Cross.
In Russian(translation by ANM)
God bless your people,
and bless Your inheritance,
victory for Orthodox Christians
grant on enemies
and preserving Your residence by Your Cross.
Kontakion(Tone 4)
Ascended to the Cross by will,

Orthodox Christians rejoice in Your power,
giving them victories for comparison,
benefit to those who have, Your weapon of peace,
invincible victory.
In Russian(translation by ANM)
Ascended to the Cross by will,
your namesake new residence
Grant Thy compassions, O Christ God:
make the Orthodox Christians glad in Your power,
give them victories over their enemies,
benefit to those who have, Your weapon of peace,
invincible victory.