In 2022, Trinity Sunday falls on Sunday 12 June. This is one of the most important Christian celebrations, which is always celebrated on the 50th day after Easter (and the countdown begins precisely from Bright Resurrection - this is the first day).
The history of this holiday goes back more than one century, so many traditions have developed in connection with it - both church and folk. That is why it is useful to understand what is done on Trinity Sunday according to Orthodox and everyday beliefs, and to understand how to properly celebrate this holiday.
What to do on Trinity Sunday in church
Of course, each holiday involves the performance of a special solemn service. It is interesting that Trinity can be considered the most beautiful celebration - on this day the priests dress in special green clothes, which symbolize the revived nature and the descent of the Holy Spirit to earth. In general, in the temple you can see an unusually large number of decorations made of fresh and artificial greenery.
Thus, the first thing to do on Trinity Sunday is to be sure to go to church for worship. By the way, it is on this day that you can take part in kneeling prayer.
This ritual is a manifestation of special respect and reverence for God. Kneeling, believers ask the Lord for his grace and mercy, which he granted to everyone with the help of the Holy Spirit.
The history of the origin of this tradition goes back to ancient times. There is evidence that the first kneeling prayers were performed already in the 3rd-4th centuries. Moreover, decorating the church with branches and fresh greenery also dates back to this time.
WHEN NOT TO KNEEL
Prayers in a bowed state are not performed from Easter until the day of the Holy Trinity. The fact is that these are the most joyful and bright days of the year, when all believers come into contact with the ancient traditions associated with the celebration of Bright Resurrection.
Sadness, resentment and feelings of regret have no place at such a time. However, of course, each of us can ultimately act according to our conscience - praying on our knees in itself is in no way a sin.
Symbols
The uniqueness of the Trinity lies in the unity, connection, merging of three into one whole, and at the same time one in three. Therefore, in all symbols the connection of the middle element with all parts is visible, which confirms a single order, that is, symbolizes unity in its diversity.
Trinity symbol
An ancient symbol is considered to be an equilateral triangle, which is inscribed in a circle, which denotes both the trinity and God’s eternity. You can also find a symbol in the form of three intersecting circles.
More common are modern symbols where the hand symbolizes the Father, the lamb symbolizes the Son, and the dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
No less interesting are the qualities with which the Trinity is associated. These are Hope, Love, Faith, which correspond to green, red and yellow.
What do people do at home on Trinity Sunday?
After attending a solemn service in honor of the Feast of the Holy Trinity, you should figure out what to do at home. Usually in church people bless birch branches or any other fresh greenery, just as they bless willow branches on the eve of Palm Sunday. This ritual belongs more to the folk than to the church, but it is not forbidden to bring twigs or even a bouquet of modest wildflowers to the temple.
After the consecration, you can weave a wreath from them or do it in advance. The flower arrangement and blessed branches should definitely be brought home. They can be placed next to the icon, which usually stands in a kind of bright corner of the house. Popular beliefs say that such a wreath should be kept throughout the year - it brings happiness, health and prosperity.
In fact, such a tradition is not spelled out in church canons - therefore it can be conditionally considered pagan, although there is no sin in consecrating greenery. If a person has doubts about how exactly to spend Trinity Day, and what needs to be done at home, it is better to consult with a priest on the eve of this holiday.
Signs
There is a fairly common sign that connects the rain on Trinity with the tears that flow for all the dead. But the rain also promises a rich harvest and good weather.
Rain on Trinity
But the heat for the holiday does not bode well. This means that there will be drought in the summer and you should not expect a good harvest.
Trinity Day: what is customary to do
Trinity Sunday always falls on a Sunday, as does Easter. It is celebrated exactly 7 weeks after Easter Sunday, so the celebration usually falls in May or June. Then the first foliage already adorns the trees, and everything indicates the final onset of the warm season.
In this regard, Trinity is also often called Green Sunday - on this day it is customary to decorate houses and churches with birch branches, freshly cut grass and other greenery. However, the essence of the Holy Trinity is reflected in the name of the next day - Monday. It is called an interesting phrase - Spiritual Day, or the Day of the Holy Spirit.
In general, in the minds of the people, Trinity and Spiritual Day are actually one and the same holiday. And this statement is very close to the truth - after all, Trinity is celebrated for three whole days: on Sunday itself, Monday and Tuesday. And the essence of Holy Pentecost is connected precisely with the Holy Spirit.
Interestingly, the image of the Holy Spirit has since been associated with a burning tongue of flame, which symbolizes the spiritual power of man and his ability to work miracles and prophesy.
Prohibitions and prohibited matters
When Trinity comes in 2022, it is better to remember not pagan rituals, but those covenants that the church teaches. And first of all, it is worth asking what activities are prohibited.
As on all Great Holidays, homework cannot be done on this day. Therefore, it is better to worry about decorating your home and the festive table in advance.
A special prohibition applies to all work on land. She should not be disturbed on the Holy Day. Therefore, it is better to postpone any planting or weeding until another day.
It is not customary to celebrate weddings on Trinity. A family created on such a day will face trouble, and not a single priest will marry the couple.
And most importantly, you need to try to keep your thoughts as pure as the holiday itself. On this day there is no place for envy and anger.
What to do on Trinity: folk customs
Folk customs and church rules do not always coincide on the issue of what to do on Trinity. However, one thing is clear: every person can greet this spring or summer day with all his heart in order to tune in to the warm summer wave - literally and figuratively.
Here are some interesting folk traditions that have survived to this day:
- The week after Pentecost is called Green. And on such days, the girls always went to the temple, consecrated a wreath of wild flowers or ordinary greenery, birch branches. And on the second or third day they floated wreaths on the water with lit church candles. It will be a good omen if the wreath floats far away, which means the wait for the betrothed will not be long. It will wash ashore - you still have to wait. If you drown - a warning: perhaps you should reconsider something in your life.
- Another interesting tradition is associated with the fact that on Trinity Sunday it is customary to decorate the home with fragrant wildflowers and freshly cut greens. The smell of summer attracts good luck and fills the house with a very unusual atmosphere. And girls can also make their deepest wish - but it’s better to do it in private and after visiting church.
- In the evening, it is traditional to have a rich, beautiful feast with summer dishes (salads, okroshka), fresh herbs and pies. But you shouldn’t get carried away with alcohol - it darkens the holy spirit. And besides, it would be nice to save energy for a walk in a girl’s company. It is interesting that for many centuries in the villages, cheerful companies organized round dances, danced and sang songs.
- Another thing they do on Holy Trinity Day is to light bonfires near bodies of water. Actually, round dances are held around them - in this sense, the celebration is somewhat reminiscent of the holiday of Ivan Kupala. Girls hide in birch groves next to rivers and lakes and imagine themselves in the form of attractive mermaids who are waiting for their betrothed.
Of course, in any ritual the essence is primary, and specific forms and material symbols are secondary. Each of us, in fact, can understand for himself what he needs to do on Trinity.
One thing is obvious: a person should definitely tune in to good changes and literally connect to a new emotional wave. And how to make your wish - here you can trust your imagination and the language of signs, which our destiny often speaks.
Celebration traditions
Since ancient times, housewives have tried to prepare their homes for the holiday. Therefore, a couple of days before Trinity, they cleaned the house, after which they began to decorate it. For this purpose, exclusively natural materials were used, namely flowers, herbs and green branches.
The day began with a visit to the Temple, where a festive service is held. After visiting the church, a festive meal was held. People go to visit, congratulate their relatives and friends on the Trinity.
Girls let out wreaths
And in the evening the festivities begin. Few people here remember the Christian roots of the holiday, as pagan customs come to the fore. Along with round dances and festive chants, you can also find quite ancient rituals with the throwing of wreaths and lighting bonfires.
What to do on Trinity: the opinion of the church
Of course, people have their own ideas about what to do on Trinity. At the same time, it is useful to learn another point of view. The clergy not only talk about what is customary to do on Trinity, but also why certain traditions exist.
First of all, it is interesting to understand why it is customary to consecrate birch branches and fresh greenery in general on this day. It is clear that Pentecost coincides with that blessed time when warm spring gradually gives way to hot summer.
However, another point of view is also expressed, which, however, does not contradict the main one, but complements it. The fact is that we can find the first mention of the image of the Trinity in the Bible long before the appearance of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit.
One day, three angels appeared to Abraham, the progenitor of the Jewish people, personifying the triune God. They promised him that exactly one year later the long-awaited heir would be born into the family. It must be said that Abraham at that time was no less than 99 years old.
Be that as it may, a miracle happened - after 12 months the family actually got a child. And since the meeting with the angels took place in an oak forest, in memory of those events, of the miracle created by God, it is indeed customary to consecrate birch branches and other greenery in the Temple.
What event is Trinity dedicated to?
During his lifetime, Jesus Christ told his followers about a great miracle - the descent of the Holy Spirit, which should happen after his crucifixion and resurrection.
The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles
Therefore, the apostles spent all 50 days after the Resurrection in prayer in anticipation of this miracle. On the appointed day, they gathered and witnessed an alluring and bewitching spectacle. The sky burst into flames, and an incredible roar arose around, as if in a strong storm.
Divine fire descended from heaven directly onto the heads of the apostles, which brought the disciples a feeling of bliss and peace. This is how the Holy Spirit promised by the Teacher descended. After this, the apostles received the gift of healing, as well as the ability to understand the languages of other nations. This enabled the apostles to spread the teachings of Christ far beyond the borders of Israel. Therefore, on the Day of the Holy Trinity the birth of the Christian Church is celebrated.
Trinity (Pentecost) - all about the holiday
One of the largest and most revered holidays in Christianity is the holiday of the Trinity, but few people know and understand what kind of holiday this is and what the name Trinity, which is also used in the ordinary life of Christians, means.
Icon. Trinity Old Testament
Trinity Holiday - what is it?
The holiday of Trinity (another name for Pentecost) is dedicated to the memory of the descent of the Holy Spirit to Earth. It was on this day that the Lord God appeared to the world in his third hypostasis of the Holy Spirit, descending to Earth and appearing in this third hypostasis before the disciples of Christ, i.e. essentially in front of his disciples, since in Christianity the Holy Spirit, Christ and God are one whole entity.
Why is the holiday of Trinity called Pentecost?
Icon.
Andrey Rublev. Trinity. Around 1422-1427 Minimum symbols: three angels (Trinity), a cup (Atoning sacrifice), a table (the Lord's table, the Eucharist. Among the recognizable realities - an oak tree (Mamre), a mountain (here is the sacrifice of Isaac, and Golgotha) and a building (Abraham's house? Church?) The answer to this question is very simple .
The descent of the Holy Spirit to Earth and the appearance of Christ to his disciples occurred exactly on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ (Easter) or on the 10th day after the Ascension of Christ (Ascension).
This is where the name of this holiday came from - Pentecost. At the same time, this holiday of Pentecost should not be confused with another Jewish holiday, bearing exactly the same name Pentecost and celebrated on the same day, but dedicated to another event - the holiday in memory of the Sinai legislation (the holiday of Moses receiving the commandments of the Lord on Mount Sinai).
How did the Holy Spirit appear on Earth?
The painting depicts the Apostle Peter preaching to the people of Ancient Judea and next to him all the Apostles.
The establishment of the Church of Christ by Apostle Peter and other Apostles (12 in total) on the 50th day after Easter (the Resurrection of Christ) and on the 10th day after Christ’s Ascension to Heaven. The appearance of the Holy Spirit happened unexpectedly and was attended by a limited number of people.
On the tenth day after Christ's ascension into heaven, the Jews, as always, celebrated their ancient and great holiday in memory of the Sinai legislation.
On this day, all the apostles, together with the Mother of God and with other disciples of Christ and other believers, were in the same upper room in Jerusalem. “It was the third hour of the day, according to the Jewish clock, that is, in our opinion, the ninth hour of the morning. Suddenly a sound came from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled the whole house where the disciples of Christ were. And tongues of fire appeared and rested (settled) one 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.”
So the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles as a sign that He gave the apostles the ability and strength to preach Christ’s teaching to all nations; He descended in the form of fire as a sign that he has the power to scorch sins and cleanse, sanctify and warm souls.
In Jerusalem at that time there were many people who came from different countries for the holiday. The apostles came out to them and began to preach in their native languages. The sermon had such an effect on those listening that many believed and began to ask: “What should we do?” Peter answered them: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, then you too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Those who believed in Christ willingly accepted baptism; there were about three thousand of them that day. This is how the Church of Christ began to be established on earth.
It was on this day that the beloved children of the Lord, united with Him by the Holy Spirit, came out of the walls of the Zion Upper Room to fearlessly preach Christ’s teaching about love.
Why did the Holy Spirit descend to earth?
The main reason why the Holy Spirit descended to earth was to motivate the disciples to build the Church of Christ: “...for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the building up of the Body of Christ.” It is for this reason that Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Christian Church.
How is the Feast of Pentecost celebrated?
Icon.
Old Testament Trinity On Pentecost, in churches immediately after the Divine Liturgy, Vespers is celebrated in memory of the descent of the Comforter Spirit on the holy apostles. During the service, kneeling prayers are read for the sending down to us of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of reason and the fear of God.
The Church prays for the granting of the grace of the Holy Spirit to all those present, as well as to previously deceased relatives in the flesh, so that they too may become participants in the Kingdom of Glory in the land of the living - “not a single one is clean before God from filth, even if there is only one day in his life” ( kneeling prayer after “Grant, O Lord, this evening”).
On this day, Orthodox Christians decorate their houses and churches with green birch branches and flowers. This custom comes from the Old Testament Church, when houses and synagogues were decorated with greenery on Pentecost in memory of how everything bloomed and turned green at Mount Sinai on the day when Moses received the tablets of the law.
The Zion Upper Room, where the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, at that time, according to general custom, was also decorated with tree branches and flowers. On the feast of Trinity, the appearance of the Trinity to Abraham in the Mamvrian oak grove is also remembered, so the temple decorated with greenery also resembles that oak grove. And the flowering branches also remind us that under the influence of God’s grace, human souls blossom with the fruits of virtues.
What does the word Trinity mean in the Bible?
Icon.
New Testament Trinity The very word “Trinity” is of non-biblical origin and was introduced into the Christian lexicon only in the second half of the 2nd century, two hundred years after the ascension of Christ, by Bishop Theophilus of Sioia.
In his treatise “Against Autolycus,” Theophilus wrote: “The three days [of creation], which were before [the creation of] the luminaries, are images of the Trinity: God, His Word and His Wisdom.” This work has survived to this day only in one manuscript of the 11th century and was probably written no earlier than 180 AD. e., since it mentions the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Neither in the Old nor in the New Testaments is the concept of “Trinity” directly used, and according to biblical scholars, there are only isolated hints in Scripture indicating the trinity of God, but nothing more.
Doctrine of the Trinity
Non-canonical icon.
Holy Trinity with angels and saints. Master from Messkirch, early 16th century. The doctrine of the Triune God comes down to three points:
1) God is trinity and trinity consists in the fact that in God there are Three Persons (hypostases): Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
2) Each Person of the Holy Trinity is God, but They are not three Gods, but are one Divine being.
3) All three Persons differ in personal, or hypostatic, properties.
All three Persons of the Holy Trinity have the same Divine dignity, between them there is neither elder nor younger; just as God the Father is true God, so God the Son is true God, so the Holy Spirit is true God. Each Person carries within itself all the properties of the Divine.
Since God is one in His being, then all the properties of God - His eternity, omnipotence, omnipresence and others - belong equally to all three Persons. In other words, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit are eternal and omnipotent, like God the Father.
They differ only in that God the Father is not born from anyone and does not come from anyone; The Son of God is born from God the Father - eternally (timeless, beginningless, infinite), and the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father.
How to understand the dogma of the Trinity?
Any educated Christian is well aware that the main dogma and cornerstone of the Christian church is the dogma of the Holy Trinity, and without its correct understanding there is neither faith nor a Christian church.
The dogma of the Trinity tells believers the following: God is one in essence, but threefold in persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity is consubstantial and indivisible.
In other words, there is a God who has three essences, none of which is the main one and none of them can be divided.
Believers must clearly understand that the dogma of the Holy Trinity is incomprehensible, it is a mysterious dogma, incomprehensible at the level of reason. For the human mind, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is contradictory, because it is a mystery that cannot be expressed rationally.
It is no coincidence that Pavel Florensky called the dogma of the Holy Trinity “a cross for human thought.” In order to accept the dogma of the Most Holy Trinity, the sinful human mind must reject its claims to the ability to know everything and rationally explain, that is, in order to understand the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, it is necessary to turn away from its own thinking.
Since when is the holiday of Trinity celebrated?
Christian Pentecost as a holiday of the Holy Trinity has been celebrated since the 4th century, when at the Second Council of Constantinople the dogma of the Trinity was finally approved in which one God began to officially exist in three persons - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
The Feast of the Trinity is not only the celebration of the appearance of the third Person of the Divine in a visible way, but also the birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that the day will come when God will complete the formation of His Church here on earth, and She will be taken out of the earth to be with God forever. This moment is also called the second coming of Christ or the rapture of the Church, when God will return for those in whom His Holy Spirit lives.
Signs for Trinity
There are many signs and superstitions regarding things that should not be done on this day.
So, it is better not to set a wedding day on Trinity. Allegedly, those who tied the knot on this day will have an unhappy family life. It’s better to get wooed on Trinity and prepare for the wedding.
The ancient Slavs believed that on the day on which Christians later designated Trinity, fairy-tale creatures - Mavkas and mermaids - appeared. Therefore, you shouldn’t walk alone in forests and fields, because they can take a lonely traveler with them and tickle you to death.
According to ancient beliefs, it was forbidden to swim, because mermaids would definitely drag you to the bottom. There is a superstitious legend that there will definitely be a drowned person on Trinity Sunday, so you should avoid any bodies of water and not tempt fate. One of the largest and most revered holidays in Christianity is the holiday of the Trinity, but few people know and understand what kind of holiday it is and what the name Trinity means , which is also used in the ordinary life of Christians.
From time immemorial, it was considered a bad omen to play weddings on Trinity Sunday.
How to celebrate Trinity (Pentecost)
On Pentecost, houses, apartments and churches are decorated with greenery and flowers, as well as birch branches, because the birch tree was the main symbol of this holiday in Rus'.
Before Trinity, it is customary to clean up the house and visit the cemetery to pay tribute to the deceased.
On the morning of Trinity Sunday, people go to the temple and consecrate birch branches, greenery and flowers. It is generally accepted that greenery illuminated on Trinity can be stored throughout the year - in Rus', greenery blessed on this day replaced people with a talisman that protected their home from evil spirits and troubles.
On Trinity Sunday, girls often wondered about their future groom.
How to tell fortunes about the Trinity
Of course, the church does not welcome fortune telling, but this tradition has been going on since ancient times.
It is customary to guess on Trinity from Thursday to Sunday.
The most common thing on Trinity is fortune telling with wreaths - with their weaving and then floating on water.
On this day, irresponsible Christians tell fortunes using other objects - rings, chains, etc.
Fortune telling by wreath consisted of the girl weaving a wreath and making a wish for the groom, after which she went to the river and tilted her head to throw the wreath into the water.
Ideas based on the behavior of the wreath and fortune telling about the betrothed:
- if the wreath floated calmly, then its owner expected a calm year
– if the wreath floated under water or sank, then the girl had to be afraid of illness, death of loved ones or other troubles
- if the wreath unraveled, then this promised the girl separation from her beloved
- if the wreath quickly floated away, then this promised the girl a groom from the far side
- a wreath stuck near the shore meant that there was no need to wait for the groom until the next Pentecost.
Films on the theme of the Trinity holiday
Not many films have been made about the Trinity, but nevertheless on the Internet you can find the following films:
– Metropolitan Hilarion’s film “Trinity”;
- film "Holy Trinity"
Year: 1992
Genre: Documentary
Country Russia
Duration: 19:04
Contents of the film “The Most Holy Trinity”: The film “The Most Holy Trinity” tells about the Day of Pentecost (the day of the Holy Trinity), which is considered the birthday of the Church of Christ.
