This article is about the church celebration. For Slavic rituals, see Trinity Day.
The query "Descent of the Holy Spirit" redirects here; see also other meanings.
The request for "Pentecost" redirects here; for the Jewish holiday, see Shavuot.
| Day of the Holy Trinity | |
| El Greco. "Pentecost" | |
| Type | Christian, in a number of countries state |
| Otherwise | Holy Sunday of Pentecostia, Pentecost, Trinity Day, Trinity |
| Installed | in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the 50th day after Easter |
| Noted | by the majority of Christians in the world |
| date | 50th day (8th Sunday) after Easter, 10th day after Ascension |
| In 2020 | June 4 (Catholicism) May 22 (June 4) (Orthodoxy) |
| In 2020 | May 20 (Catholicism) May 14 (May 27) (Orthodoxy) |
| In 2020 | June 9 (Catholicism) June 3 (June 16) (Orthodoxy) |
| Celebration | worship services, festivals, folk celebrations |
| Associated with | Easter and Holy Spirit Day |
| Trinity Day at Wikimedia Commons | |
Day of the Holy Trinity
(abbr.
Trinity
),
Trinity Day, Pentecost
[1] (Greek Πεντηκοστή),
Pentecost
[2][3], (Greek Κυριακή της ἁγίας Πεντηκοστ ής[4]), sometimes
Spiritual Day
[5][6] - one of the main Christian holidays.
Orthodox churches celebrate Holy Trinity Day on Pentecost Sunday
- 50th day after Easter (Easter - 1st day). The holiday is one of the twelve holidays.
In the Western Christian tradition, Pentecost, or the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, is celebrated on this day, and Trinity Day itself is celebrated on the following Sunday (57th day after Easter).
In the New Testament
The descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the day of Pentecost (Shavuot) is described in the Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 2:1-18). On the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (the tenth day after His ascension), the apostles were in the Zion Upper Room in Jerusalem, “... suddenly a sound came from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled the whole house where they were. And cloven tongues as of fire appeared to them, and one rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
(Acts 2:2-4).
On this day, Jews from different cities and countries were in the city on the occasion of the holiday. Hearing the noise, they gathered in front of the house where the apostles were, and since “everyone heard them speaking in his own language”
(Acts 2:6), everyone was amazed.
Some of them mocked the apostles and “said, They are drunk of sweet wine”
(Acts 2:13). In response to this reaction:
Trinity for Catholics
Unlike people of the Orthodox faith, Catholics celebrate Spiritual Day not on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Jesus, but on the 57th day after this Great Event. In 2020, Catholics will celebrate Trinity on June 11. This is also a Sunday. In Catholicism, the descent of the Holy Spirit is elevated to the highest rank of church holidays and endowed with the status of a Divine triumph. There is no fixed date, as in Christianity, so Spiritual Day is considered a moving holiday.
Catholics associate Semik with a certain event. When the Holy Spirit descended from Heaven to the apostles, the radiance of its Divine Light touched the soul of every living creature on Earth. The disciples of Jesus saw the Holy Spirit in the form of a flame that had giant tongues of fire. The Holy Spirit once again showed the apostles the righteous path, following which they would be able to preach the teachings of the Lord.
After the event described, Christ’s disciples acquired an amazing gift - they began to speak all languages that they had never even heard of before. Thus, the teachings of Jesus were conveyed to absolutely all people living on Earth. The apostles addressed the people, calling on them to repent of their sins, which would allow them to receive salvation, make the soul immortal and gain the Kingdom of Heaven. After this, the disciples of Christ performed baptismal ceremonies. People who believed in the sermon took part in them.
Name and interpretation
The holiday received its first name in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, which Jesus Christ promised them before His ascension into heaven. The descent of the Holy Spirit indicated the trinity of God. What John Chrysostom writes about this:
| “And he filled the whole house.” The stormy breath was like a font of water; and fire serves as a sign of abundance and strength. This never happened to the prophets; it was like this only now - with the apostles; but with the prophets it is different. For example, Ezekiel is given a scroll of books, and he eats what he was supposed to say: “and it came to pass,” he says, “in my mouth it was as sweet as honey” (Ezek. 3:3). Or again: the hand of God touches the tongue of another prophet (Jer. 1:9). And here (everything is done) by the Holy Spirit himself and thus is equal to the Father and the Son[7] |
On the day of Pentecost, according to Bishop Alexander (Mileant), the universal apostolic Church was formed (Acts 2:41-47)[8].
The New Testament does not directly mention that the Mother of God was with the apostles at the descent of the Holy Spirit. The tradition of her presence in iconographic images of this event is based on the indication in the Acts of the Apostles that after the Ascension, the disciples of Jesus “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with certain women and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
(Acts 1:14).
On this occasion, Bishop Innokenty (Borisov) writes: “ Could the one who conceived and gave birth through His medium not be present at the moment of the coming of the Holy Spirit?
"
How to celebrate Trinity
Officially, Trinity has been celebrated since 381, when the Second Ecumenical Council was convened. We started celebrating Trinity after the Baptism of Rus'. On this day, they put things in order in the house, and decorated their homes with branches of birch, rowan and maple. This symbolized the prosperity of life and the arrival of the warm season.
Trinity Day is considered an official holiday. Tomorrow, June 8th, we will have a rest. Everyone is recommended to attend services in the temple. The Church symbolizes the Trinity as the trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People generally believe that Trinity is a good time to start a new life. Spend this day with family and friends at the same table. This is not a fast day; you can prepare various dishes that you like. And don't forget about the traditional loaf.
This is also a good day to spend in nature. You can go for a walk in the forest, gather with a group at the dacha, or have a picnic in a forest park. There are a lot of options. Fortunately, the weather is conducive to outdoor activities.
Divine service
In Orthodoxy
Trinity (icon of Andrei Rublev, early 15th century)
Name in liturgical books: “Sunday of Holy Penticostia”
(Church glory. Nedѣlѧ saints Pentikosti[2], Greek. Κυριακή της ἁγίας Πεντηκοστής[4]) On this day, one of the most solemn and beautiful services is performed in Orthodox churches per year.
The day before, on Saturday evening, a festive all-night vigil is served, at Great Vespers of which three proverbs are read: the first of them tells how the Holy Spirit descended on the righteous in the Old Testament (Num. 11:16-17 + Num. 11:24-29 ), the second (Joel 2:23-32) and third (Ezek. 36:24-28) proverbs, according to the faith of the Orthodox Church, are prophecies about the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost; for the first time after Great Lent, the famous stichera of the sixth tone to the Heavenly King is sung in stichera, which is repeated twice more after this at the matins of the all-night vigil; starting from this day, the prayer to the Heavenly King becomes the first prayer of the usual beginning of both church and home prayers. At Matins the polyeleos is served and the Gospel of John is read, the 65th conception (John 20:19-23); At Matins, two canons of this holiday are sung: the first was written by Cosmas of Mayum, the second by John of Damascus. On the holiday itself, a festive liturgy is served, at which the Apostle, 3rd Conception (Acts 2:1-11) is read and the composite Gospel of John, 27th Conception (John 7:37-52 + John 8:12) is read ). After the liturgy, the ninth hour and Great Vespers are served, at which stichera glorifying the descent of the Holy Spirit are sung; during Vespers, those praying three times, led by the priest, genuflect - they kneel, and the priest reads seven prayers (the first and second genuflections, the priest reads two prayers, and the third time - three prayers) for the Church, for the salvation of all those who pray and for the repose of the souls of all the departed (including those “ held in hell
”) - this ends the post-Easter period, during which no genuflections or prostrations are made in churches .
Troparion, kontakion and tribute on the Sunday of Holy Pentecost
| In Greek | In Church Slavonic (transliteration) | In Russian | |
| Troparion of the holiday, tone 8 (Ἦχος πλ. δ') | ? ? ένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι. | Blessed are you, Christ our God, who are all wise fishers of phenomena, having sent down to them the Holy Spirit, and with them you caught the universe: Lover of mankind, glory to you | Blessed are You, Christ our God, who made the fishermen wise, sent down the Holy Spirit to them, and through them captured the universe. Lover of humanity, glory to You! |
| Kontakion of the holiday, tone 8 (Ἦχος πλ. δ') | Ὅτε καταβὰς τὰς γλώσσας συνέχεε, διεμέριζεν ἔθνη ὁ Ὕψιστος· ὅτε το ῦ πυρὸς τὰς γλώσσας διένειμεν, εἰς ἑνότητα πάντας ἐκάλεσε, καὶ συμφ ώνως δοξάζομεν τὸ πανάγιον Πνεῦμα. | Whenever the languages of the Most High descended, dividing the tongues, and when the fiery tongues were distributed, we all called into unity, and we glorified the All-Holy Spirit in agreement. | When the Most High came down and confused languages, He divided the nations; when He distributed tongues of fire, He called everyone to unity, and we, in agreement, glorify the All-Holy Spirit. |
| Honorer of the holiday, voice 4 (Ἦχος δ') | “Χαίροις Ἄνασσα, μητροπάρθενον κλέος. Ἄπαν γὰρ εὐδίνητον εὔλαλον στόμα. Ῥητρεῦον, οὐ σθένει σε μέλπειν ἀξίως. Ἰλιγγιᾷ δὲ νοῦς ἅπας σου τὸν τόκον Νοεῖν ὅθεν σε συμφώνως δοξάζ ομεν" | Rejoice, Queen, mother-maiden glory, for every kindly, benevolent mouth cannot flow, It is worthy to sing to You, but every mind is amazed to understand Your Christmas. Moreover, we glorify Thee in agreement. | Rejoice, Queen, glory to mothers and virgins! For no moving eloquent lips, speaking, can praise You worthily; Every mind also becomes weak, striving to comprehend the birth of Christ from You; therefore we glorify You accordingly. |
According to Russian tradition, the floor of the church (and the houses of believers) on this day is covered with freshly cut grass, the icons are decorated with birch branches, and the color of the vestments is green, depicting the life-giving and renewing power of the Holy Spirit (other Orthodox Churches also use white and gold vestments). The next day, Monday, is Holy Spirit Day.
In Catholicism
Main article: Trinity Day (Roman rite)
In the Catholic Church and in Lutheranism, the celebration of Pentecost (the Descent of the Holy Spirit) and the day of the Holy Trinity is divided, the day of the Holy Trinity is celebrated on the following Sunday after Pentecost. In the Catholic tradition, the celebration of the descent of the Holy Spirit opens the so-called “Pentecost cycle”. It includes:
- Trinity Day (Sunday, 7th day after Pentecost)
- Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Thursday, 11th day after Pentecost)
- Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Friday, 19th day after Pentecost)
- Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary (Saturday, 20th day of Pentecost)
The holidays of the descent of the Holy Spirit and the day of the Holy Trinity have the highest status in the Roman liturgical calendar - celebrations. The colors of the vestments of the priests on the day of Pentecost are red, as a reminder of the “tongues of fire” that descended on the apostles; and on the day of the Holy Trinity - white, as on other great holidays. On the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit, two masses are celebrated according to different rites - the mass of the evening (on Saturday evening) and the mass of the day (on Sunday afternoon).
God, with the mystery of today’s holiday You sanctify Your Church, into which all nations are called. Send down abundant gifts of the Holy Spirit to the whole world and perform in the hearts of believers those miracles that You performed at the beginning of preaching the Gospel. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
— Collected Mass on the Day of Pentecost
In some Eastern European countries (Poland, Belarus) and in Catholic churches in Russia there is also a tradition of decorating the temple with tree branches (birch).
Day of the Holy Trinity. What do you need to know about the holiday?
The Day of the Holy Trinity, or Pentecost, will be celebrated by Orthodox Christians around the world on June 16, 2020. Sputnik recalls the history of the holiday and talks about the beliefs and signs associated with it.
Trinity Day is one of the most revered holidays among Christians, which has its roots in ancient times.
Holy Trinity Day: a brief history of the holiday
© Sputnik Mikhail Lukhanin
How mosaics by Silver Age masters were rescued from a Warsaw church
Believers always celebrate Trinity on the 50th day after Easter - the Resurrection of the Lord; in 2020 this great holiday fell on June 16. On this day, Christian believers remember the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, described in the New Testament. Why is this event so significant for Christianity and the history of the church?
Believers believe that after the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles went to people to preach - it was after this that the Christian community began to grow very quickly, and the teachings of Jesus began to gain more and more popularity among the people. Therefore, Trinity Day is also considered a kind of “birthday” of the church - it takes its origins from the event described above.
Jesus Christ himself said in the Scriptures: through his death and resurrection, his disciples will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit - he predicted this event, Christian believers are sure.
The Church teaches: on Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit revealed the care of all the persons of God for the world. Thus, God the Father creates the world, God the Son redeems people from slavery to sin and the devil, and God the Holy Spirit sanctifies the world through the Church and sermons. It is no secret that the dogma of the Holy Trinity is one of the foundations of Christianity.
Historically in Belarus, the holiday of the Trinity was called “Semukhov” - for our ancestors this day was very important and became the main religious holiday in June. Even before the advent of Christianity, these days young girls wove wreaths from birch branches and decorated them with ribbons - and whose wreath soon turns green, she will live long. Fortune telling on Trinity Day was also common. After the establishment of Christianity in our territories, this custom began to be forgotten.
What should and should not be done on Trinity?
© Sputnik Egor Litvin
I’ll go to a monastery: how nuns live in Bobruisk
Not only believers, but also churches prepare for the holiday of Trinity: they are usually decorated with birch branches, flowers, and freshly cut grass. You can decorate your apartment this way. Such decorations symbolize nature and spring. By the way, it is generally accepted that it is after Trinity that the real summer begins.
The Orthodox celebrate the Day of the Holy Trinity solemnly and magnificently, and all troubles and worries must be completed before the holiday. It is customary to attend evening or morning services on Trinity Sunday, and also spend a lot of time with your family.
According to the teachings of the Church, on Trinity Day you cannot think about bad things, wish bad things on your loved ones, or be offended by someone. Believers are sure: on this day there is a renewal in the world.
Weddings and weddings should not be held on Trinity Sunday - if possible, they should be postponed to other days. You cannot swim in rivers or lakes on Trinity Day - since pagan times these days have been called mermaid days: it is believed that swimming can be dangerous.
Of course, you cannot do household chores on this holiday - for example, embroidery or spinning.
Immediately after Trinity, Orthodox believers begin Trinity Week, or Continuous Week. During this week, you can only eat non-lenten foods on Wednesday and Friday, and the teachings remind you that gluttony is not encouraged. It is not recommended to work on the first day of Continuous Week - this time the holiday fell on a Sunday, so you can follow the instructions.
How Trinity is celebrated in Belarus
© Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko
Speaking gestures and darkened faces: at the National Art Museum they taught how to look at icons
Believers will be able to meet the Trinity with an all-night vigil in churches in Belarus.
The liturgy of Trinity Day will also be held in churches, after which Great Vespers is served - prayers in it are usually addressed to the Triune God. For the first time since Easter, priests and parishioners kneel in churches on Trinity Sunday.
Of the Minsk churches, two are dedicated to the Trinity - near the All Saints Church-monument and the temple in Sevastopol Square. However, believers can come to any of the capital’s churches on this holiday.
Iconography
For more information on this topic, see Orthodox iconography of the Trinity.
Descent of the Holy Spirit
(Gospel of Rabula, 6th century)
Dome of the Descent of the Holy Spirit
of the Cathedral of St. Stamp in Venice. Tongues of fire emanate from the etymasia with the dove; Below the apostles, between the windows, representatives of different nations are depicted
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
(icon from the Holy Spirit Church of the Novodevichy Convent, 18th century)
The development of the iconography of the holiday begins in the 6th century, its images appear in facial Gospels (Gospel of Rabula), mosaics and frescoes. Traditionally, the Upper Room of Zion is depicted, in which, according to the book of the Apostolic Acts, the apostles gathered. Books, scrolls are placed in their hands, or a blessing gesture is placed on their fingers (historically the gesture of an orator or preacher[9]).
The traditional characters in the scene of the descent of the Holy Spirit are:
- 12 apostles, and the place of Judas Iscariot is usually taken not by Matthias, but by Paul;
- sometimes - the Virgin Mary (known already from miniatures of the 6th century, then disappears in the Eastern tradition (preserved in the Western) and reappears on icons from the 17th century)[10].
The empty space between Peter and Paul (in compositions without the Virgin Mary) recalls the presence of the spirit absent from this second “Last Supper” of Jesus Christ[11]. The apostles, as a rule, are arranged in a horseshoe shape, which is also close iconographically to “Christ among the teachers.” The same composition, associated with the transfer to the plane of the traditional image of the Descent in the dome of the temple, will be repeated by the images of the Ecumenical Councils, since their task is to express the idea of conciliarity, community, clearly expressed here[10].
"The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles."
Archbishop's workshop in Veliky Novgorod. The turn of the XV-XVI centuries.
At the top of the icon, rays of light or flame are usually depicted. This descending fire is a way of depicting the descent of the Holy Spirit, based on the biblical description (Acts 2:3), along with which, especially in the Western tradition, the image of a descending dove, transferred from the description of the Baptism of the Lord, can be used.
In the lower part, inside the horseshoe-shaped composition, a dark space is left, indicating the first floor of a house in Jerusalem, under the upper room where the event took place. It may remain unfilled, thus associated with the empty tomb of Christ and the future resurrection of the dead, or with a world not yet enlightened by the apostolic preaching of the Gospel. Medieval miniatures here usually depicted (following the dome compositions) crowds of people from different countries who witnessed the descent of the Holy Spirit.[12] Later they are replaced (occasionally depicted with them[13]) by the figure of a king with twelve small scrolls on the canvas. There is an interpretation of this image as King David, whose prophecy about the resurrection of Christ was quoted by the Apostle Peter in his sermon (Acts) and whose grave is believed to be located on the first floor under the Zion upper room. Less common are interpretations of him as the prophet Joel, also quoted by Peter, Adam, the fallen Judas (cf. Acts 1:16), or Jesus Christ in the form of the Old Denmi, remaining with his disciples until the end of the age.[14]
Modern Greek icon of Pentecost. On the first floor, representatives of different nations are shown at a festival in Jerusalem; in the inset are David and Joel with the texts of the prophecies quoted by Peter.
A traditional, although late, interpretation is the understanding of the king as an image of the people to whom the gospel sermon is addressed and who is represented by the ruler.[10] In his hands, the king holds a stretched blanket on which 12 scrolls are laid - they symbolize the apostolic sermon (or, according to another interpretation, the totality of the peoples of the empire). In connection with this interpretation, the Greek inscription κόσμος - “world” [15] began to be placed next to the figure, according to which the image of the king received the name “Tsar-Cosmos” [16].
According to the philosopher Evgeny Trubetskoy, the image of the king on the icon symbolizes the Cosmos (Universe). In his work “Speculation in Colors” he wrote:
...down in the dungeon, under the arch, a prisoner is languishing - the “king of space” in the crown; and in the upper floor of the icon Pentecost is depicted: tongues of fire descend on the apostles sitting on thrones in the temple. From the very opposition of Pentecost to the cosmos and the king, it is clear that the temple where the apostles sit is understood as a new world and a new kingdom: this is the cosmic ideal that should lead the actual cosmos out of captivity; in order to give place within itself to this royal prisoner who must be freed, the temple must coincide with the universe: it must include within itself not only the new heaven, but also the new earth. And the tongues of fire above the apostles clearly show how the force that is to bring about this cosmic revolution is understood[17].
This interpretation, based on an expanded interpretation of the Greek word “κόσμος,” is also found among a number of art historians[18]. In the church environment, the concept of Tsar-Cosmos is used, but in the meaning of the world (Universe), without interpretations characteristic of secular philosophy[19].
Folk traditions
In Italy, in memory of the miracle of the descent of tongues of fire, it was customary to scatter rose petals from the ceiling of churches, and therefore this holiday in Sicily and other places in Italy was called Pasqua rosatum
(Easter of Roses).
Another Italian name, Pasqua rossa
, comes from the red color of the priestly robes of the Trinity.[20]
In France, during divine services, it was customary to blow trumpets, in remembrance of the sound of the strong wind that accompanied the descent of the Holy Spirit[20].
In the north-west of England, church and chapel processions, the so-called “Whit Walks” [21], were held on Trinity Sunday (sometimes on Spiritual Friday after Trinity). As a rule, brass bands and choirs took part in these processions; the girls were dressed in white. Traditionally, "Spirit Fairs" (sometimes called "Trinity Ales") were held. Trinity was associated with traditions of brewing beer, dancing the sea, organizing cheese races and archery tournaments[22].
According to a Finnish proverb, if you don't find a partner before Trinity, you will remain single for the entire next year.
In the Slavic folk tradition, the day is called Trinity or Trinity Day and is celebrated as a holiday either for one day (Sunday) or three days (from Sunday to Tuesday), and in general the period of Trinity holidays includes Midnight, Ascension, Semik, the week preceding Trinity, Trinity itself week, certain days of the week following Trinity, which are celebrated in order to avoid drought or hail or as a commemoration for unclean dead (primarily Thursday), as well as Peter's spell. Trinity completes the spring cycle, and after the next Peter's Fast, a new one begins - the summer season[6].
For more information on this topic, see Trinity Day.
See also: Maypole
Pentecost in different languages
| From Greek Πεντηκοστή "Pentecost" | |
| Latin | lat. Pentecoste (similar in most Western European languages) |
| Old Church Slavonic | Art.-slav. Pentecost, Pentecost |
| Bulgarian | Teenage girl |
| German | Pfingsten |
| Swedish | Pingst |
| Slovenian | Binkošti (borrowed from German) |
| Hungarian | Pünkösd (borrowed from German) |
| From Lat. Rosalia, Pascha rosata “Festival of Roses, Pink Easter” | |
| Italian | Pasqua rosatum, Pasqua rossa |
| Neapolitan | Pasca rusata |
| Greek | Greek Ρουσάλια |
| Romanian | Rusalii |
| Albanian | Rrëshajët, rrushajët |
| Old Russian | other Russian Rѹsaliѩ |
| From the old glory. Trinity | |
| Russian | Trinity, Trinity Day |
| Slovak | Turice |
| Vepsian | Stroicanpäiv |
| Mokshansky | Trinity |
| Mari | Troychyn |
| Udmurt | Trocin |
| From "Spirit" | |
| Serbian | Dukhovy |
| Croatian | Duhovi |
| Macedonian | Dukhovden |
| Amharic | Päracliṭos - from Greek. παράκλητος “Comforter (epithet of the Holy Spirit)” |
| From “White Sunday” (based on the color of the catechumens’ clothes) | |
| English | Whitsun - from White Sunday |
| Welsh | Sulgwyn - from (Dydd) Sul "Sunday" + gwyn "white, holy, blessed" |
| Faroese | Hvitusunna |
| Icelandic | Hvitasunnu-dagr |
| Other | |
| Finnish | Helluntai - from ancient Scand. hælgho dagher "holy days" |
| Latvian | Vasarsvētki "summer holiday" |
| Czech | Letnice |
| Ossetian | Kærdæghæssæn “grass transfer” |
Catholic Church in Yalta
The doctrine of the Catholic Church emphasizes the reality of the existence of Divine Persons who are truly distinguished from each other.
Although God is one, there are three Persons in Him, which are really different from each other. This means that “Father”, “Son”, “Holy Spirit” are not only three different names, but real Persons.
To define the unity of God and His trinity, the Church uses the concepts:
- nature (or essence, being, nature),
- person (otherwise, personality or hypostasis),
- internal interpersonal relationships.
According to the teachings of the Church, in God there is one nature (essence, being), and the Persons really differ from each other only in their relationships. “Everything is one in God “where there is no question of opposing relationships.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 255) In other words, everything is one and common in God with the exception of the relationship of the Father to the Son, the Son to the Father and the Holy Spirit to the Father and the Son.
The Divine Persons do not differ from each other in Their nature. “The Father is the same as the Son, the Son is the same as the Father, the Son and the Father are the same as the Holy Spirit, that is, one God by nature.” “Each of the three persons is this reality, that is, the Divine essence, being or nature.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 253) There is only one Divine Being common to all the Persons of the Holy Trinity.
When Jesus said: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), He meant the one Divine nature, which is common and one for all the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity. “The Divine Persons do not share a single Divinity, but each of Them is God as a whole.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 253)
The Father differs from the Son and from the Holy Spirit not by His Divine nature, but by the fact that He is not born or emanated from anyone. Only the Father gives birth to the Son, who became man for our salvation.
The Son of God is eternally born of God the Father, and in this way He really differs from Him and from the Holy Spirit. This is the only difference. Neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit is begotten as the Son. The holy evangelist John calls the Son of God the Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). In this Word, the Father eternally and completely expresses Himself, that is, gives birth to the Son.
The Church's faith in the true Divinity of the Son of God, begotten from eternity of the Father, is expressed by the Nicene-Constantinople Creed:
I believe “and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, unmade, consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things were created.”
The Holy Spirit differs from other Divine Persons in that He comes from the Father and the Son. The Nicene-Constantinople Creed expresses this with the words: “And in the Holy Spirit (I believe), the Lord who gives life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; To whom, together with the Father and the Son, is due worship and glory.” The Holy Spirit is Love, possessing His own personality, by which the Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father.
The Orthodox Church teaches that the Holy Spirit does not proceed from the Father and the Son (in Latin Filioque), but from the Father through the Son. According to the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, these two ways of understanding the procession of the Holy Spirit, the Eastern and Latin traditions, do not contradict each other, but are complemented.
“The Eastern tradition primarily reflects the nature of the first cause of the Father in relation to the Spirit. Confessing the Spirit as the One who “proceeds from the Father” (John 15:26), she affirms that the Spirit proceeds from the Father through the Son. Western tradition expresses first of all the consubstantial communion between the Father and the Son, saying that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (Filioque). She says this “in accordance with law and reason,” for the eternal order of the Divine Persons in their consubstantial communion implies that the Father is the first cause of the Spirit as the “beginningless beginning,” but also that, as the Father of the Only Begotten Son, He, together with Him, constitutes “the one beginning, from whom proceeds the Holy Spirit." This legitimate complementarity, if it does not become a subject of aggravation, does not affect the essence of faith in the reality of the same confessed mystery. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 248)
The Catholic Church believes that the Son, born from eternity from the Father, received from Him absolutely everything, and also that the Holy Spirit can proceed from Him, as He proceeds from the Father.
“The Latin tradition of the Creed professes that the Spirit proceeds “from the Father and the Son (Filioque).” The Council of Florence (1438) explains: “The being and being of the Holy Spirit proceeds simultaneously from the Father and the Son, and He eternally proceeds from One and the other as from one beginning and with one breath... And since everything that the Father has, the Father Himself has given to the Only Begotten Son, giving birth to Him - everything except His Fatherhood - insofar as the Son himself eternally receives this procession of the Holy Spirit from the Son from the Father, from Whom he is eternally born.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 246)
Really different from each other, the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity are inseparable, since They possess one single Divine nature. They are one God. “Because of this unity, the Father is wholly in the Son, wholly in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit wholly in the Father, wholly in the Son.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 255)
Where Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is present, the Father and the Holy Spirit are also present. This mystery of the inseparability of the Divine Persons was meant by Jesus when he said: “Believe Me, that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me” (John 14:11); “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30); “He who sees Me sees Him who sent Me” (John 12:45).
Notes
- Pechatnov, 2020, p. 89.
- ↑ 12
Triodion Colored - A clergyman's handbook. Volume 4. - Triodion of Lenten and Colored - Holy Trinity. Pentecost - Chapter 2. Sunday of Holy Pentecost. Day of the Holy Trinity. — P. 474.
- ↑ 12
ΠΕΝΤΗΚΟΣΤΑΡΙΟΝ (inaccessible link) - Katovich, Kruk, 2009, p. 105.
- ↑ 12
Agapkina, 2012, p. 320. - John Chrysostom. Commentaries on the book of Acts of the Saints. Conversation 4.
- Bishop Alexander (Mileant) “The Feast of the Holy Trinity is the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles” Birthday of the Church. Archived copy from June 2, 2020 on the Wayback Machine
- Dmitry Marchenko.
“Rocker goat” on Orthodox icons, or What is important to remember about gestures in iconography Archival copy dated May 12, 2013 on the Wayback Machine - ↑ 123
A. Moiseenkov Iconography of the Feast of Pentecost. How the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles was depicted in different eras - Alfredo Tradigo. Icons and Saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Getty Publications, 2006. P. 151. (English)
- Barbarians and Cynocephali symbolizing the apostolic witness “to the ends of the earth” in an Armenian miniature of the 13th century
- Iconography of the image “The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles”
- Erminia Dionisia Furnoagrafiota
- Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles (Pentecost, Trinity)
- Book E. Trubetskoy. Speculation in colors
- Ignashina E. V., Komarova Yu. B.
Russian icon of the 11th-19th centuries in the collection of the Novgorod Museum. Exhibition guide. - M.: Northern Pilgrim, 2004. - P. 98. - Archpriest Nikolai Pogrebnyak.
Birth of the Church of Christ. Notes on the iconography of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles (inaccessible link) // Moscow Diocesan Gazette. 2003. No. 4-5. - ↑ 1 2 Holweck F.
Pentecost (Whitsunday) // The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. - Whit Friday: Whit Walks Archived May 9, 2008 on the Wayback Machine
- 'Feasts and Festivals': 23 May: Whitsun Ales
Trinity 2020: when they note what can and cannot be done
Since ancient times, the Holy Trinity has been celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, and for this reason the holiday is often called Pentecost. Since the date of Easter changes every year, Trinity Day is always celebrated on a different day. So, in 2020, Trinity is celebrated on Sunday, June 7.
Trinity always occupied a separate place among our ancestors among other Orthodox holidays, and they prepared with special attention. After all, the Trinity symbolized for them not just the great miracle of the descent of the Holy Spirit to earth, but also marked the boundary between spring and summer, thereby becoming a day of joy, beauty and rebirth. The rules and customs of celebrating the Trinity have been formed over almost seven centuries - since the Day of the Holy Trinity became an Orthodox holiday in the 13th century - and have reached our times in their original form.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Pesnya
Church of the Holy Trinity in Nikitniki on Nikitnikov Lane
What you can and cannot do on Trinity
However, where there are customs and norms, there must always be prohibitions - otherwise traditions will have no power over a person. Likewise, a long list of signs and superstitions was associated with the holiday of Trinity in Rus', which will be discussed further.
On Trinity, as well as on other twelve holidays, it was forbidden to do difficult work. People believed that on Trinity Day the earth celebrates its birthday, and on a birthday, as you know, work can wait. Therefore, our ancestors did not chop wood on Trinity Sunday, did not work in the garden and, in general, tried not to bother themselves.
Otherwise, those who violated these ancient rules risked a lot: the plowman’s cattle could die, and the entire village could have its crops destroyed by hail and rain. Likewise, a wool shearer might have his sheep stolen by wolves and other predators, and so on.
© Sputnik / Alexander Pogotov
Celebration of Trinity in Rostov-on-Don
And yet, times change, and often our work does not depend on our desire, but is simply necessary. For example, a person may work in production, and the order must be submitted on time. The prohibitions do not apply to such cases.
The essence of this tradition is not that work on the Day of the Holy Trinity is unacceptable in itself, but that on Trinity a person should think about the spiritual and not allow himself to be distracted by secondary things. And if desired, everyone can find a free minute to break away from worldly life, pray for themselves and ask God for forgiveness.
Is it possible to go to the cemetery on Trinity Sunday?
It is not customary to go to the cemetery on Holy Trinity: you can remember the dead before the holiday, on Trinity Parents' Saturday. The reason is that the feast of the Holy Trinity represents life, beauty and love, and there is no room for sadness. Be sure to visit the church on this day, because the Trinity service is considered the most spiritually powerful and the most beautiful.
© Sputnik / Vitaly Denisov
Icon "Trinity"
Is it possible to swim on Trinity Sunday?
In Rus' there was a ban on swimming on Holy Trinity: people believed that anyone who went swimming in a river or lake could drown. What is important is that the ban on swimming applies for the entire Trinity week. You can take a bath, but only on the fourth day after Trinity.
Is it possible to get married on Trinity Sunday?
Definitely not possible. People are convinced that marriages concluded on the Holy Trinity will never be happy. But getting married on Trinity is not only possible, but even necessary - then family life will be full of love, mutual understanding, and there will be many children in the family.
© Sputnik / Alexey Malgavko
Celebrating Trinity in Russian cities
While observing all these rules, do not forget about spiritual life. Quarrels, shouting and tears on Trinity are unacceptable and, in general, avoiding negative emotions is important the rest of the time. On Trinity you cannot gossip, envy or use obscene language. Try to keep yourself within the limits of what is permitted, and the Holy Trinity will definitely reward you.
Folk signs for Trinity
- If you wash your face with dew on Trinity Sunday, you can prolong your health and preserve your beauty.
- Herbs collected on Trinity Day have healing powers. They can be boiled and treated with them for the rest of the year.
- A birch branch cut on Trinity Day should be placed on the windowsill as a talisman against evil spirits.
- Unmarried girls need to be friendly with everyone in order to get married sooner.
- You cannot swim on this day, otherwise the mermaids may drown.
- If the day turns out to be rainy, there will be a lot of harvest and mushrooms.
- Sunny weather for Trinity - summer will be hot and dry.
- Rainbow on Trinity - there will be happiness in the house.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Vdovin
Icon "Trinity"
Fortune telling for Trinity
It so happened that in Rus', parallel to Orthodoxy, there were ancient folk rituals. However, before you begin the rituals, remember that the Orthodox Church equates any fortune telling with witchcraft, which is considered a great sin.
The most common fortune telling for Trinity is weaving wreaths. On the eve of Trinity, the girls went into the forest and wove a wreath from the tops of a young birch tree. If the next day the wreath withered or developed, you shouldn’t expect family happiness just yet. But if it hasn’t faded, it means there will be a wedding soon.
The material is compiled from open sources.
Literature
- Trinity / T. A. Agapkina // Slavic antiquities: Ethnolinguistic dictionary: in 5 volumes / edited by. ed. N. I. Tolstoy; Institute of Slavic Studies RAS. — M.: Intl. relations, 2012. - T. 5: S (Fairy Tale) - I (Lizard). — P. 320–325. — ISBN 978-5-7133-1380-7.
- Katovich A., Kruk J.
Summer Saints. Book 1. Issued. - Mn.: Adukatsiya i vyakhavanne, 2009. - 368 p. — ISBN 978-985-6029-99-1. (Belorian) - Pentecost / Pechatnov V.V. // Motherwort - Rumcherod. - M.: Great Russian Encyclopedia, 2020. - P. 89-90. - (Great Russian Encyclopedia: [in 35 volumes] / chief editor Yu. S. Osipov; 2004-2017, vol. 28). — ISBN 978-5-85270-365-1.
