Variants of the name of the holiday and their history
The holiday has two generally accepted names - Pentecost and Trinity Day. Both of them are associated with biblical events after the resurrection of Christ.
The risen Savior appeared before his disciples for 40 days. Rising into Heaven, the Lord assured the apostles that on the last day before the end of time he would return to earth. Until then, he will send the Comforter Spirit to the disciples. The apostles did not understand what these words of Christ meant, but they were looking forward to the event. For this purpose, they came every day to one of the houses located on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
In this house the apostles prayed and read sacred texts. Thus the prophecy came true that the first place where a Christian temple would appear would be Jerusalem.
On the 50th day after the resurrection and on the 10th after the Ascension of Christ, the Jews celebrated the beginning of the harvest. The apostles and the Mother of God were in the Zion house. Suddenly, in the middle of the day, there was a deafening noise, like a hurricane. Tongues of flame hung over the heads of those present; they shone, but did not burn. This was the very Spirit-Comforter promised by the Savior. Tongues of fire descended on the apostolic heads. At that same moment, Christ’s disciples received an extraordinary gift: they spoke in the languages of other nations. This ability gave them the opportunity to preach the gospel teaching in all lands.
The first name - Pentecost - was given to the church holiday, since the events described took place on the 50th day from the resurrection. And the second name - Trinity - marks the descent of grace on Christ's disciples, the manifestation of the Divine trinity. That is, the Trinity appeared before the apostles: the Holy Spirit descended from God the Father at the command of God the Son.
Prayer to the Holy Life-Giving Trinity
To the Most Holy Trinity, Consubstantial Power, all the good Wine that we will repay to You for everything that You have repaid to us, sinners and unworthy, before we were born, for everything that You have repaid to us. all the days and what you have prepared for all of us in the future the future? It is more appropriate to thank You for so much good deeds and generosity, not just words, but more than deeds, keeping and fulfilling Your commandments: but we, by our passions and evil customs, have been cast outwardly into countless ones from our youth. We hide sins and iniquities. For this reason, since we are unclean and defiled, not just before Your three-bright Face appear shamelessly, but below Your Most Holy Name, speak more appropriately for us, even if You Yourself had not deigned for the consolation of I want to proclaim that the pure and righteous are loving, and sinners who repent are merciful and kind accept. Look down, O Divine Trinity, from the height of Your Holy Glory upon us, many sinners, and accept our good will instead of good deeds, and give us the spirit of true repentance, so that we may hate all sin in purity and truly we will live until the end of our days, creating the most holy Thy will and glorifying Thy sweetest and most magnificent name with pure thoughts and good deeds. Amen.
The meaning of the holiday in Orthodoxy
The Holy Trinity is a significant Christian holiday. The descent of the Holy Spirit - the 3rd Divine hypostasis - became the birthday of the Christian Church. The descent of grace was witnessed by 3,000 people who were baptized immediately afterward. From the day of the appearance of the miraculous fire, Christianity began to spread throughout all nations.
Before Pentecost, the apostles, although disciples of Christ, were simple people, unprotected from human vices: fear, uncertainty, pride. Having received Divine grace, the apostles became fearless disseminators of Christ's Truth. They spread the gospel teaching throughout the world, fearing neither contempt, nor condemnation, nor even martyrdom.
In order for grace to be preserved in the church from century to century, the apostles ordained bishops, and they ordained their heirs. This is how generations of blessed church ministers pass by. And every priest, even in a small church on the outskirts of the world, carries within himself the grace that was once received by the apostles.
Almighty and Life-giving Holy Trinity...
Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity. Creation of Mark the monk
The Almighty and Life-giving Holy Trinity and the source of light, even every worldly and most peaceful creature, for one goodness from those who do not exist, brought, and provided for and supported. According to your other unspeakable good deeds for the earthly race, and granting repentance to us for the sake of carnal infirmity until death: do not leave us, accursed in our evil deeds, to die, lower than the evildoer and dependent It is a mockery for the destroyer and the destroyer. See, O Lord of Kindness, if he slanders us and enmity, it is our passion, weakness, and negligence. But do Thy inexhaustible goodness upon us, we pray, for every day and hour that angers Thy honest and life-giving commandments by crime. And all that has passed in our life, and until this hour, that we have sinned, in deeds, or in words, or in thoughts, forgive and forgive. Grant us the grace to end the rest of our lives in repentance, tenderness, and observance of Your holy commandments. If you have been deceived by sweetness, have sinned in many ways, or have been seduced by vile, unprofitable and harmful lusts; if you have been moved by anger and speechless rage, who will you then we will embrace our insult, or in the language of inevitable and obstinate and strong networks: if we embrace our feelings, or with all of them, willy-nilly or unwillingly , knowing or not knowing, from admiration or teaching we crept madly: if we defile our conscience with evil thoughts and vain things: or if we have committed sins in some other way, from enterprise and custom of tormenting evil: forgive us, and leave everything to the All-Bountiful, Most Blessed and Most Merciful: and Grant us other courage and strength to do Your will, which is good and pleasing and perfect: let the nightly and gloomy evil be replaced by luminous repentance, and as one who walks well in the days , and purified by Your love for mankind we will declare ourselves unworthy, praising You and magnifying You forever, Amen.
Worship in the church
On Trinity Day, Orthodox churches hold an unusually magnificent and one of the most complex services. The previous Saturday evening, parishioners gather for an all-night vigil; at vespers, 3 parables are read:
- the first tells the Old Testament story of how the Holy Spirit descended on the righteous;
- the second and third tell about the descent of the Comforter Spirit on the apostles;
- after the parables, it is necessary to sing the verse of the 6th tone - “To the King of Heaven.”
This verse is repeated 2 more times at Matins. From this day on, it becomes the first text when reading prayers both in church and at home. Next at Matins there follows the solemn singing of psalms, the 65th beginning of the Gospel of John is read, and the 2 canons of the holiday are sung.
The main event of the holiday is the liturgy, during which the 3rd beginning of the Apostle and the 27th beginning of the Gospel of John are read. The liturgy is followed by a service at the 9th hour, then Great Vespers. Poems are sung on it glorifying the descent of the Holy Spirit. All participants in the service kneel, meanwhile the priest reads 7 prayers: for the glory of the Church, for the salvation of the living and the repose of the spirits of the dead. This ends the period after Easter, during which genuflection is prohibited in churches.
Kontakion
When the tongues came together, the Most High separated the tongues. When we distribute the tongues of fire, we all call together and glorify the All-Holy Spirit in harmony.
When the Almighty descended and confused languages (Gen. 11), He divided the nations; when He sent tongues of fire, He called everyone to unity. And therefore we unanimously glorify the All-Holy Spirit.
At Matins two canons of the holiday are sung. The first of them was written by Saint Cosmas of Mayum; We present this canon here in Russian translation. The second canon, written by St. John of Damascus, we skip here due to lack of space.
The Canon of Saint Cosmas is a hymn in honor of the Holy Trinity and, in particular, in honor of the Holy Spirit. The canon glorifies the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles as visual evidence of the fulfilled promise of the Savior. Here we also recall the ancient prophecies about the sending of the Holy Spirit on all flesh, and God the Holy Spirit, the Third Hypostasis of the Most Holy Trinity, equal in everything to God the Father and God the Son, is glorified. The canon also sets out the main points of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and reveals the importance of this event.
Iconography of the holiday
The first icon depicting the Holy Trinity is called “Hospitality of Abraham”. According to the Old Testament story, the righteous Abraham met three strangers in the forest of Mamre, who turned out to be angels. They told him the happy news about the birth of an heir, Isaac, and also that the descendants of his son would “bless all nations.”
There are several icons that describe the event of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostolic heads in the Zion house. Typically, icon painters depict grace in the form of separate tongues of flame. Less often, the Holy Spirit appears on icons as a stream of heavenly light, divided into rays.
On some canvases, King David appears with a crown on his head, he holds a piece of cloth, and 12 scrolls lie on it. The royal image on the icons symbolizes humanity, all the peoples to whom the apostles turned with the gospel teaching. The king is a captive, a prisoner, but the Savior spoke to him through his apostolic lips and conveyed the Truth to him. On other icons, the scrolls are held by the apostles themselves, this symbolizes their readiness to bring the light of enlightenment.
The most famous icon depicting the Trinity was painted by Andrei Rublev in the 15th century.
Experts call it a full-fledged treatise, created not with words, but with images.
When an icon painter paints an empty area under the house of Zion, he depicts the tomb that remained empty when the Lord rose. The invisible presence of the Savior is indicated by the empty space between Paul and Peter. On early Christian icons of the Trinity there is an image of the Mother of God.
Texts of prayers for Trinity Day
Next are the canon, tone 4, and akathist to the Most Holy and Life-Giving Trinity.
Canon
Song 1
Irmos: The slow-tongued one is covered with Divine darkness, the convoluted God-written law: for he shook off the mud from the mind of the wise, sees the Being and learns the Spirit to understand, praising with Divine songs.
Rekosha pure and honest lips: there will be no separation for you, oh friends! Because on the Father’s High Throne of the neighbor, I will pour out the Spirit, to shine upon those who desire unenvious grace.
The limit, the most true Word, which has passed, quietly completes the heart: for having finished the work, others rejoiced, with the necessary breath and tongues of fire, Christ gave the Spirit, as promised.
Song 3
Irmos: Opening the wombs of the unsatisfied bonds, the unbearable vexation of the blessed, one prayer of the ancient prophetess Anna, bearing a broken spirit, to the Mighty One and the God of Minds.
The Most Divine One is incomprehensible: for the bookless ones, the wise fishermen, who suffocate with words and take away countless people from the depths of the night, reveal them, by the brilliance of the Spirit.
It was from the unborn Light that the omnipotent shining Light came forth, and His Son of the Father’s power now reveals a united illumination, a fiery voice in Zion with the tongue.
Sedalen, voice 8
Spas's diligence was filled with joy and boldness was received by those who were previously afraid: for the Holy Spirit has descended from above on this day to the house of the disciples, and another word was spoken to the people. The nations were scattered, visible like fire, and these were not burned, but rather than sprinkled.
Song 4
Irmos: To the King of kings, who came from the One Word, who came from the guiltless Father, Thy Spirit, who was equally powerful, was truly sent by the Apostle, as the Benefactor of those who sing: Glory to Thy power, O Lord. Having dissolved the Divine bath of rebirth of existence with a word, the folded nature, rain with me a stream from your imperishable perforated rib, O God’s Word, capturing it with the warmth of the Spirit.
They all bow down to the Comforter of the knee, to the Son of the Father, to the Father united, for in the Persons they have seen the three-jawed Being, true, inviolable, flightless, one: for the grace of the Spirit has risen to light.
May all be filled with the most divine, the servants of the Triple-Light Being: He does more than nature as a Benefactor, and Christ lights up for salvation, giving all the grace of the Spirit.
Song 5
Irmos: Decisive cleansing of sins, receive the fire-inspired dew of the Spirit, O radiant children of the Church: now from Zion has come forth the law, the tongue-fire-like grace of the Spirit.
As if it were autocratically pleased, the unpossessed Spirit proceeds from the Father, making the apostles wise among the nations, sealing the life-giving word, honorable, conformable to the speech of the Savior.
May the meaning heal from sin, and behold, having established the apostles, God the Word of All, the most pure house, in which the one and only powerful and essential one now infuses the light of the Spirit.
Song 6
Irmos: Christ purification and salvation for us, Master, you shone forth from the Virgin, and like a prophet from the beast of the sea Perseus Jonah, who snatched away all the fallen Adam from the aphids.
The true one who is right in our wombs eternally received the Spirit, so that you may renew the Father's Origin, and all together, the substances of the hated scorching filth, and the cleansing feces of meanings, to the Almighty. The desired property of the apostle, the Zionites who are waiting for Your coming, the knowledge of the Spirit of the Word, the cruel speech of pagan endearments is quickly shown, fire-inspiredly affirmed.
Kontakion, tone 8
When the tongues of fire descended, dividing the tongues of the Most High, and when the fiery tongues were distributed, we all called into unity, and accordingly we glorified the All-Holy Spirit.
Ikos
Give quick and well-known consolation to Your servant Jesus, never let our spirits become discouraged, do not be separated from our souls in sorrow, do not move away from our thoughts in circumstances, but always precede us. Draw near to us, draw near everywhere, as You have always been with Your apostles, unite those who desire You, O Generous One, so that we may unite with You and praise Your All-Holy Spirit.
Song 7
Irmos: The organ song, consonant with the noise, honors the golden-made soulless idol; The luminous grace of the Comforter is honored by crying out: Blessed are You, One Trinity, equal in strength, without beginning.
Not understanding the voice of the prophet, I spoke of the words of madness, wine-made drunkenness, hearing strange speeches from the apostles, but in piety we cry out to Thee divinely: Benefactor of all, blessed art thou.
The Divine teaching has risen up, seeing the visions of the Divine Joel, the Most Chief of God, to whom I will pour out rivers, like the Word, of My Spirit, crying out: Trivested Light Nature, blessed art thou. It was in vain to divide the Trinitarian grace, as if it would reveal three Hypostases, honor them in the simplicity of power, but in one now the days of the Lord, the Son, the Father and the Spirit are blessed.
Song 8
Irmos: Loosens the bonds and irrigates the flame of the tri-bright image of God, the youths sing, and all created creatures will bless the One Savior and All-Giver, as the Benefactor.
Christ arranges the memory of man-saving words, even from the Father, having heard the apostle speak, the Spirit arranges with a fiery vision of tongues, planting the blessedly adopted, stricken creature sings to You.
The savingly self-ruling One, the self-radiant Light, and the bestower of light, You came fulfilling the apostles, Honest as Your servant above, and You give the nourishing Spirit.
I will poyahu the prophet's spirit-filled lips, Your bodily, O King, coming, and the Spirit that came from the bosom of the Father, Uncreated, Created, is enthroned with You, the only honor of the incarnation of the faithful.
Song 9
Irmos: Rejoice, O Queen, mother-virgin glory: every kindly, benevolent mouth cannot speak, It is worthy to sing to You, but the mind is bewildered to understand Your Christmas. In the same way, we glorify Thee.
Sing in a manner befitting to the natural-living Maiden: One is the hidden Word in the womb of the ailing human nature. Who is now in the right lands of the Father, the ambassador of the Grace of the Spirit.
With the face of God-rich grace, luminous, brilliant, changed by a strange change, the most magnificent, equivalent to the unseen wisdom, we glorify the Tri-Light Being.
Akathist
Kontakion 1
Eternal King of the ages and Lord, of all creation, visible and invisible, Creator, Himself, in the Trinity of Holy Glorified God, every tribe bows to the heavenly, earthly and underworld; In the same way, we also, since we were baptized in Your Trisagion, even though we are unworthy, we dare to sing this praise to You; But You, as our Creator, Provider and Judge, listen to the voice of Your servant, and do not leave Your mercy from us, so that from the depths of our souls we call to You:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Ikos 1
The Archangels and Angels, Principalities and Powers, Thrones and Dominions, standing before the very Throne of Thy glory, are not sufficient to utter the greatness of Thy perfections: but the many-eyed Cherubim and the six-crested Seraphim, covering their faces, cry out to each other with awe and love: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; For we, who are the dust and ashes of Esma, if it is more convenient to love silence; but, let us not so much generosity, in creation and redemption poured out on us, we will appear unmemorably and ingratitude, imitating the heavenly praise, with faith and love we cry:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, the inscrutable heights of perfection and the unsearchable mysteries of the Puchino; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who art everywhere and fill all things, one and the same yesterday, today and forever.
Holy art thou, O Lord our God, who is all mighty, calling the things that do not exist as the things that exist, bringing them down even to hell and raising them up again; You are holy, Lord our God, you test the hearts and wombs of men, you count the stars and give names to them all.
Holy art Thou, Lord our God, Whose all paths are true and all destinies are justified and desired; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who transfer the sins of the fathers onto their children, and have mercy and reward throughout all generations.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 2
Seeing Thee on the Throne, high and exalted, Isaiah said: O accursed one, like a man of unclean lips, I saw the Lord of Hosts before my eyes. Whenever the burning coal carried from the Angel touched it with his mouth, he purely praised You, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the One God. For, O Most Holy Trinity, the fire of Thy Divinity has fallen upon thorns and our many iniquities, so that with a pure heart we cry out to Thee: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The great prophet Moses sought to understand the unreasonable mind, saying: Show me Thy face, that I may see Thee with understanding. But you come to him: You will see My behind, but My face will not appear to you; for a man will not see My face and live. But to us, even though we are unworthy, You have deigned to reveal Yourself in the person of Your Only Begotten Son: with the same gratitude we cry:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, O Lord our God, the fiery-burning Seraphim of Lyuba, and the luminous Wisdom of the Cherubim; Holy art thou, Lord our God, the most exalted King of Heavenly Thrones and all-true Lord of all worldly Dominions.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, the invincible Fortress of the highest powers and the almighty Ruler of the heavenly powers; Holy art thou, Lord our God, the all-joyful gospel of the archangels and the unceasing sermon of the angels.
Holy art thou, O Lord our God, the supreme All-beginning of the rational Beginnings, and the Sovereign Master of all other Heavenly ranks; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who alone has immortality and is alive in the unapproachable light, and converses with Thy chosen ones, as with friends, face to face.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 3
By the power of Your ineffable power You contain everything, With the Word of Your unsearchable wisdom You build everything, By the Spirit of Your lips You live and delight everything, O Trisun Almighty. Thou hast measured the heavens with a hand and the earth with a span, carrying and feeding all creation, calling upon everything by name, and the mighty one who can hide the mighty right hand and Thy gaze: for this reason, with all the powers above and below, with falling emotion, we call Thee: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Have every creature work according to Thy commandment, everywhere showing traces of Thy Providence and innumerable perfections: also Thy invisible and ever-present power and Divinity, conceived by the creatures, seeing, with surprise and joy we call:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, sovereign Creator of the visible and invisible, and loving Builder of the present and the future; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who composed creation from the four elements and crowned the circle of summer with four seasons.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, who commanded the sun to shine in the days and the moon and stars to enlighten the night; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who drive away the winds from treasures, clothe the sky with clouds and send rain and dew to cool the heat.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, girding the hills with joy and the valleys with gladness, decorating the villages and crowning the fields with clasps; Holy art thou, Lord our God, sending food to the chick of corvids, watering all the wild animals, and placing Thy bounty on all Thy deeds.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 4
Having a storm inside of soul-destroying heresies, the second Judas, the insane Arius, rejected You, the Son of God, the only One of the Divine Trinity to be; We, even if there is another person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit, say: but the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are One Divinity, equal in power, co-essential majesty with our hearts and lips we confess and, like three-sunlight in the illuminated font of baptism, the Father, and We worship the Son and the Holy Spirit, the One God, calling: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing the shepherd and teacher of the Holy Church, Arius, like a fierce beast, invading the verbal flock of Christ and rapt the sheep from the true confession of the Orthodox faith, convening in Nicaea at the Council, God, and not a creature, confessed Christ, and is equal to the Father with respect to the Son and the Holy Spirit, shouting loudly:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Soul, the One True God, and not three gods; Holy art thou, Lord our God, uncreated Father, uncreated Son, uncreated Holy Soul, One together uncreated, and not three individuals uncreated.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, the Father who gives birth eternally to the Son, the Son who is begotten without flight from the Father, the Holy Spirit, who came from God from all eternity, but was not born; Holy art thou, Lord our God, the Father, who called us from nothingness, the Son, who redeemed us fallen with His Cross, the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies and gives life to all with His grace.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, who was well-willed to establish in our spirit, soul and body a three-part tabernacle for His habitation and who did not allow it to be destroyed in us by sin; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who has placed the sign of His Trinitarian Creature in all the works of His hands, visible and invisible in the world.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 5
The Pre-Eternal and Omnipotent Trinity, having created us in Your image and likeness, You commanded us to do what is pleasing before You, but we, the wretched ones, have loved our evil will, rejected the vows of baptism, and darkened Your image; Now we again come running to You and pray: Grant us Your grace, snatch us from the hand of the enemy, visible and invisible, and save us in the image of our destinies, so that forever and ever we call to You: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing a mind that surpasses Your perfection and ineffable good deeds to the poor sons of Adamlim in You, the Triune God, a true believer, the dead in spirit are quickened, the defiled by conscience are cleansed, the lost are saved, with a grateful mind, a grateful heart, grateful lips, created from You, bending the knee, with the verb :
Holy, holy, holy art thou, O Lord our God, who in Thy Trinitarian Council destined to create man and into his body, taken from the dust, the breath of life from Thy lips breathed; Holy art Thou, Lord our God, in Thy image and likeness in the person of Adam honor us all and make us heirs of the sweetness of paradise.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, who by reason above all that is visible has exalted us and subjugated all creation under our nose; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who has given us the tree of life for food and enriched us with the gift of immortality.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, who did not forsake those who disobeyed the commandment of our forefathers after the fall, but who infused Eden directly with the hope of salvation; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who brought us forth from our mother’s womb and by the grace of the Gospel, upon birth, sanctified us.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 6
The preacher of righteousness and zealot of Thy Holy Name, the venerable Elijah, was called from the Angel who stood in Mount Horeb: but the spirit was strong, he overthrew mountains, he was a great coward and a scorching fire, but not in this form of You, and in the fire there was a thin voice of cold, and there is the Lord; having covered your face with mantle, you cried out with joy and fear: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Thou hast shone forth to enlighten the whole world, the radiance of Thy three-bright Divinity, Thou hast driven away all idolatrous delusions, Trinitarian God and Lord; You brought the entire human race from the long darkness of paganism into the wonderful light of the Gospel, and through illumination, we glorify Your all-powerful Providence for us, calling:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, who completely consumed the creation corrupted by sin with the flood waters and, in the person of Noah, renewed the entire human race; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who excommunicated the father of believers Abraham from confusion of tongue and founded the true Church in his descendants.
Holy art Thou, O Lord our God, who brought forth His people from Egypt, feeding them with manna in the desert and leading them into a land boiling with honey and milk; Holy art thou, O Lord our God, who raised up David, who filled the prophets with His Spirit, and preserved the faith of those among Israel in the Promised Redeemer.
Holy art thou, O Lord our God, who punished His people for their sins in the captivity of Babylon, and after His death He commanded Jerusalem to be rewarded; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who showed the Maccabees unshaken in the faith and tradition of their fathers until death, and kept the Church under the law, like a bride, until the coming of the beloved Bridegroom, intact.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 7
Although to show the greatness of Your love and mercy to the fallen human race, when the end of summer came, You sent Your Only Begotten Son, born of a Woman, who is under the law, so that He may redeem those under the law. Who, having lived on earth as a man and redeemed us with His Cross, ascended into Heaven, from nowhere, fulfilling the promise, sent down to us His Most Holy Spirit, so that we all call: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Thou didst show a truly marvelous and new miracle, marvelous in the highest, O Lord, when, after the sending of the Most Holy Spirit upon the chosen disciples and apostles, Thou didst bring them out to preach to the whole world, that they might proclaim the great name of the Most Holy Trinity and captivate all tongues into the obedience of faith: also, Marveling at the power and effect of their God-inspired words, we joyfully call:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, O Lord our God, who hath chosen the weak, the weak, and the violent of the world, that the mighty, the glorious, and the wise may be put to shame; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who has inspired countless hosts of martyrs, so that through the darkness of torment and death they may seal the truth of the Gospel and the power of the grace of Christ.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, who bowed the heart of Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine with the sign of the Cross and thus put an end to the fierce persecution of Christians; Holy art thou, Lord our God, Father of the seventh Ecumenical Councils of the God-bearing Ones, like the seventh pillars, protecting the Church and making it impregnable by heretical unrest.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, God-wise teacher and great ascetic of piety, like the bright stars in the firmament of the Church, granting to shine; Holy art thou, Lord our God, and the ruler of the Russian land, Vladimir, to the light of the true faith, and thereby freed our entire country from the delusion of polytheism.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 8
It is strange and wonderful, at the oak of Mamre, when Abraham saw Thee in the form of Three Men, as if speaking to one, saying: Lord, if I have found grace before Thee, do not diminish Thy servant. Three therefore, in the Three Persons who appeared to him, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the One God in being, bow down to the earth calling: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Thou art all everywhere and always, not precisely by the power of Thy innumerable power, but also by the richness of Thy all-powerful providence for all Thy creation: for us, as Thy Son said, all the chief powers have been deciphered from Thee, so that not one of them may fall without Thy will , also, trusting in Your Providence, we call with boldness and love:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, O Lord our God, who has pleased the whole human race to be divided into tribes and languages, and has indicated to each their place and time of residence; Holy art thou, O Lord our God, to whom the mighty write the truth, keeping thy elect as the apple of the eye.
Holy art Thou, Lord our God, from Whom comes all wisdom and understanding, all strength and strength, all health and beauty; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who brings and takes away battles, crowning the right weapon with victory, and predetermining the wrong, in the midst of victories, to destruction.
Holy art Thou, Lord our God, give signs in Heaven and on earth, send fire, plague and famine upon people, so that they may not completely stray from Your ways; Holy art thou, O Lord our God, lifting up the humble from the earth, so that He may make His people rulers, and casting down the proud, for there is no place for them.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 9
Every nature, high and low, unceasingly glorifies Thee, the eternal Creator and God: in heaven one holy, holy, holy day and night cry out, while friends lay their crowns at the footstool of Thy feet: we are on earth with all creation, as if adorned with the image of the everlasting Your glory, we pray to You and from You great and rich mercy with tea, calling: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The oracles of many things, even though they labor a lot in thought in testing about the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, but cannot understand how God is One by nature, in Three perfect Persons: we believe exactly this and confess, as we do not test, and innumerable good deeds to us We call upon each of the Three Divine Persons, who are good, with faith and thanksgiving:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, by Thy righteous judgment we are all brought into the land from which we were taken, to return and again, on the day of resurrection, from which we have set to rise; Holy art thou, O Lord our God, the sun, the moon and the stars have no time to darken, the earth and everything on it must be transformed by fire, so that instead of them a new heaven and a new earth will appear, in them truth lives.
Holy art thou, O Lord our God, who has set the day before all nations and nations will appear in judgment, that each one may receive according to his deeds; Holy art thou, O Lord our God, who on the day of reward shall say unto the righteous: Come, blessed of my Father, and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, from the unrepentant sinners will then hear with fear: Depart from Me, O curse, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angel; Holy art thou, O Lord our God, who has promised to preserve His Church unshakably until the end of the world, in order to keep it from being overcome and from the gates of hell.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 10
To save the world, you appeared on the Jordan River to the Most Holy and Divine Trinity: Father in a voice from Heaven, testifying to your beloved Son, Son, in the form of humanity, receiving Baptism from a slave, Holy Spirit, descending on Him who is being baptized in the form of a dove, also in the name of the One God, in Three Persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, having learned to enlighten through baptism every person coming into the world, calling: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Eternal King, shine your sun on the good and the evil, love the righteous and have mercy on the sinners, wash away our spiritual and physical filth, make your abode in us, even your unworthy servants, create good will, consume our unclean thoughts, blot out dissimilar deeds, direct the tongue Let us speak pleasingly before You, so that with a pure heart and lips we cry with tenderness:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, O Lord our God, about Him the apostolic face speaks in reality, to the Unman the prophetic council looks outward; Holy art thou, Lord our God, Whose martyr regiment professes God, and the venerable army glorifies the Most Holy Name.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, for Whom are the hermits sighing everlastingly, For Whom are the fastings the exploits are crowned; Holy art thou, Lord our God, to whom the saints and shepherds offer songs of thanksgiving, to whom the universal teachers philosophize for our salvation.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, accept the prayer for us and the intercession of all the saints, especially the Most Pure Virgin who extends her hand to you for us; Holy art thou, Lord our God, protect us with Thy holy angels and drive away from us the spirits of evil in the heavenly places.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 11
All singing is exhausted, striving to bring due thanksgiving to You, for everyone and for everything, in the Trinity, glorified God: for not a mind is found that can spread thought to the multitude of Your bounties on us, not a word that is worthy of uttering; Moreover, for everything that is visible to us and given to us, be to You, Most Holy Trinity, thanksgiving from us, honor and glory, for which You Yourself are worthy of Your Majesty and are pleasing to You; We, who worship You, call with humility and love: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
For You are a light-giver in Your promises as a lamp, appearing to us in the darkness of ignorance about our future lot, gratefully confessing, and until we desire to receive one of the beatitudes proclaimed by Your Only Begotten Son, we cry out with all-merciful faith:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, who has prepared blessings for His chosen ones, whom no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and whom no human heart has ever sighed; Holy art thou, Lord our God, Whom all who are pure in heart will see as He is, and know Him as they themselves know from Him.
Holy art thou, O Lord our God, in Him all who hunger and thirst for righteousness will find their ever-decreasing satiation; Holy art thou, O Lord our God, from the Unworthy the peacemakers, as imitators of Thy Only Begotten Son who pacified all, shall be called beloved sons.
Holy art thou, Lord our God, from the worthless the meek will inherit the earth and the poor in spirit will receive an endless Kingdom; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who has promised eternal mercy to those who have mercy and endless joy to those who mourn.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 12
Grant Thy all-powerful grace to us, Most Holy Trinity, accept the confession of our sins before the majesty of Thy glory, look upon our sighs, send down upon us the spirit of tenderness and generosity, so that, with purification of soul and heart, we will be worthy to call to You without condemnation on earth, as the angels cry in heaven : Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing Your all-human vision, we all glorify You, the Immemorial Trinity, we believe in One God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, other than You, the Lord, we fall down to You and pray to You crying out:
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, for our salvation, that we may not fear any evil, and for the defense of our belly, that we may not be afraid of any enemy; Holy art thou, Lord our God, who save sinners who repent; save us, too, many sinners.
Holy art Thou, Lord our God, multiply Thy mercy to everyone, multiply it on us and have mercy on us, for we are weak; Holy art thou, Lord our God, continue our age of repentance and do not condemn us to be cut with the barren fig tree.
Holy, art thou Lord our God, deliver us from the temptations found in the world, the flesh and the devil, and strengthen us in faith and love for You; Holy art thou, Lord our God, grant us to see Thee face to face and bring us into Thy bright chamber for the marriage of the Lamb.
Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy fallen creation, for the sake of Thy Holy One.
Kontakion 13
(Read three times, then 1st ikos and 1st kontakion).
O Most Holy, Life-Giving, Indivisible and All-Effective Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Soul, One true God and our Creator! Having received our present thanksgiving, send us grace and strength from the height of Your Holy Throne, so that, trampling all carnal lusts, we may live in all piety and purity until the end of our days, praising Your Most Holy Name and calling: Alleluia.
Prayer
To the Most Holy Trinity, Consubstantial Power, all the good Wines that we will repay You for everything that You have repaid us, sinners and unworthy, before you came into the world, for everything that You have repaid us every day and that You have prepared for us all forever coming? It is fitting, therefore, to thank Thee for so much good deeds and generosity, not just in words, but more so in deeds, in keeping and fulfilling Thy commandments: we, being aware of our passions and evil customs, have cast ourselves into countless sins and iniquities from our youth. For this reason, as unclean and defiled, do not just appear before Your three-bright Face without coldness, but below Your Most Holy Name, speak to us, even if You Yourself had deigned, for our joy, to proclaim that the pure and righteous are loving, sinners who repent are merciful and gracious accept it. Look then, O Divine Trinity, from the height of Your Holy Glory upon us, many sinners, and accept our good will, instead of good deeds: and give us the spirit of true repentance, so that, having hated every sin, in purity and truth, we will live until the end of our days , doing Your most holy will and glorifying Your sweetest and most magnificent name with pure thoughts and good deeds. Amen.
Orthodox traditions
On Holy Trinity, it is customary to hang green branches and tufts of grass inside churches as decoration: these are symbols of rebirth, the descent of blessed light. Church ministers wear green clothing, thereby demonstrating the healing and revitalizing power of the Holy Spirit.
The morning after Trinity, they celebrate the Day of the Spirits; believers glorify the Comforter Spirit who descended on Christ’s disciples. And the Saturday before Pentecost is dedicated to the commemoration of deceased parents; it is called the “suffocating day.”
Before the advent of Christianity, the Slavic lands celebrated the Green Christmastide on these days, when spring gives way to summer. The Orthodox Church adopted many Slavic rituals and organically integrated them into its holidays. This did not bypass Trinity either. Green Christmastide was associated with the cult of plants and the flowering of nature. During Trinity Week, 8-12 year old girls decorated their homes with birch branches, danced in circles in birch groves, adults sang songs, and held feasts.
The importance of the holiday
The celebration of the Day of the Holy Trinity is extremely important for all Christians, since it is a distinctive feature of the dogmas of the church. Recognition of the holiness of the Triune God, acceptance of Him as Three Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - is fundamental for a Christian.
The Holy Trinity
Many sects and heretical movements claim that one cannot worship this way because God is One (Islam speaks of this) or that Jesus does not have a divine nature (the position of Jehovah's Witnesses) and this distinguishes them from true Christianity.
Important! The Orthodox Church celebrates this day with special reverence, because it was then that the Holy Spirit appeared to the entire Christian community and people came to know the Heavenly Father in three forms. From now on they magnify Your name, Lord, as well as the Son and the Spirit together, as the Triune Creator!
This is how Orthodox Christians differ from sectarians, and this is why it is so important to celebrate the great day of Pentecost!
FAQ
We answer the questions that believers most often ask regarding the holiday of Trinity.
Why are birch branches used for decoration?
The explanation is connected with the story of the righteous Abraham, to whom three angels appeared with a message. This scene, depicted on the Trinity icon, took place in the forest in Mamvre. Mostly oak trees grew there, and the Slavs chose the more common birch trees for their celebration.
What is prohibited on Trinity Day?
Pentecost is a great holiday. Believers are prohibited from doing hard physical work or housework. The day should be spent in prayer and friendly communication with family. You cannot swim in natural bodies of water: according to legend, mermaids are especially naughty on this holiday.
How to spend parental Saturday before Trinity?
On this day, you need to focus on prayers for deceased relatives. Believers should visit the church, remember their loved ones who have passed away but remain in their hearts, and promise themselves and them to change for the better.
What food is allowed on Trinity?
You can eat everything. There is no fasting on this holiday.
