Every year more and more Russians call themselves believers - these are the results of many years of observations and studies of various sociological institutions, foundations and other similar organizations. However, the interest of the population in the church is clearly visible to the naked eye: in television and newspaper news, they talk in detail about the holidays or other outstanding events of Orthodoxy.
Holy Trinity: the history of one of the main holidays in Russia
However, even here there were skeptics who doubted the true faith of all those who, on the eve of Easter, besiege temples in order to consecrate Easter cakes and eggs, and if holy relics or a myrrh-streaming icon arrive in a city from afar, they stand many days queues to see the shrine with your own eyes. The inquisitive minds of our time, with their characteristic incredulity, turned to the same sociologists and with their help found out something. As it turned out, a considerable number of Russians wearing a cross andregularly holding Great Lent, cannot tell about the history of the emergence of the most important church holidays, such as the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Ascension, the Annunciation and the Trinity. The history of the holiday, whatever it may be, should be known to those who celebrate it. Otherwise, one has to doubt: is it not a simple tribute to fashion, everything that many Russians pass off as religiosity?
History of the Holy Trinity
Despite the long-suffering biography of our country, Russians have preserved many religious and other traditions forever. One of the most significant holidays of the Orthodox calendar is Trinity. The history of the holiday and its origins were somewhat unexpected. Few people know that this holiday "stepped" into Orthodoxy … from ancient religions! And not only Slavic, but also Hebrew!
In both beliefs of our distant ancestors, it was customary to celebrate the end of spring field work. Among the ancient pagan Slavs, this day was called Semik, and among the Jews who worshiped many gods and celebrated the beginning of the harvesting of bread in Palestine, it was called Pentecost. Later, when the Jews believed in one God and became Jews, the feast of Pentecost acquired a new meaning - the clergy announced that this day was marked by the handing over of the tablets to Moses, which took place on the famous Mount Sinai. And the Slavs who became Orthodox began to celebrate the Trinity in memory of the day when, according to legend, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. Until that moment, the Lord appeared to people only in his two hypostases - father andson. The very name of the Trinity, as you know, is associated with the trinity of God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. By the way, the Jewish name of the Trinity - Pentecost - can often be heard in Russia, because the Holy Spirit appeared to the apostles exactly on the 50th day after Easter.
Leave for posterity
Truly caring for their culture and religion, people strive to provide future generations with all the knowledge that has been accumulated so far. However, modern life, and this should be recognized, leaves less and less time for studying the spiritual heritage of the people. Therefore, historians, culturologists and religious scholars do not consider it possible to let the process of this knowledge run by itself. In school curricula, culture and religion are now given special attention, and caring teachers are trying their best to instill in children an interest in this area of knowledge. And since one of the most important (but not as popular as Christmas and Easter) Orthodox dates is, in particular, the Trinity, the history of the holiday for children is often presented in an entertaining way. So, in some Russian schools, an annual costume performance dedicated to this holy day is practiced. And many parents who are not devoid of spirituality, bringing their children to the Tretyakov Gallery, do not forget to tell that one of the greatest Orthodox canvases - the icon of Andrei Rublev, painted by him in the 15th century - "Trinity".
The history of a holiday, whatever it may be, is always important and interesting, and therefore we call on everyone: celebrating this or that celebration - church or secular -ask how, when and why mankind began to consider this date a holiday.
