Each of us must have heard the phrase "patronal feast" at least once in his life. The word "holiday" is clear to us. But the word "throne" is somehow not very. What does it mean? Let's try to figure it out.
Patrine feast - what does it mean?
All Orthodox churches were built either in memory of some significant gospel event, or in honor of a revered saint. For example, the Church of the Transfiguration was built in memory of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Church of St. Nicholas - in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Temple arrangement
But where did the word "throne" come from and what does it mean? In order to understand this, you need to know the structure of the temple. Any Orthodox church is divided into three parts:
- Altar part.
- The middle part of the temple.
- Pretend
The altar is the main part of the temple. Only clergy (bishop, priest and deacon) and some clergy (sextons) can enter it. In the altar is the main Orthodox attribute - St. The throne, that is, the holy place where Christ Himself sits. On St. The great sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated on the throne, and in the Tabernacle are St. Gifts of Christ.
It is known that St. The throne is the main item of church utensils. That is why the main temple holiday is called the patronal. So, we continue to understand further.
Patrine feast - what does it mean? You can learn about this from the temple icon. Usually it is located in the lower right corner of the iconostasis. Most often, she can be seen on the kliros, where choristers sing. Sometimes a temple icon can be placed in a kivot - in a beautiful large frame with a stand. It is known that patronal feasts in August may be the day of the Transfiguration or the Assumption.
Customs and traditions on the temple day
Temple or patronal day is a special day of the year when the entire church parish and parishioners of other churches gather for a festive liturgy for joint prayer. A particularly revered event or a particularly revered saint is commemorated in the temple. For example, it may be the day of memory of St. Panteleimon. Therefore, they prepare for it very carefully and in advance: they clean the church and the surrounding area. Sometimes the ruling bishop visits the patronal feast.
After the liturgy, a prayer service is performed with a procession. All the clergyclergy, parishioners and guests go around the temple three times with banners and icons. At the same time, the priest usually sprinkles believers with holy water. At the end of the service, “many years” is sung, that is, a wish to all those present for long years of life with God. According to the good old Russian custom, after prayers, all those present are invited to a meal (treat).
Classification of Orthodox holidays
In addition to the temple feast of St. The Church prescribes to celebrate divine services on great, middle and small holidays. There is not a single day in the church calendar when some event or saint is not remembered. Christian holidays of 2017, reflected in the month-word, can be divided into groups according to the following criteria:
- Importance of events (large, medium, small).
- Celebration time (mobile and stationary).
- Place (general, temple).
- Type (Lord's, Mother of God, Saints).
Let's talk more about each group.
Classification by importance
In terms of importance, the Christian holidays of 2017 are divided into:
- Great (Easter, Twelfth and Great).
- Average.
- Small.
Great or big holidays.
Easter or the bright Resurrection of Christ is the most important Christian event, when Christ, by His death, conquered spiritual death, opened the gates of paradise, made it possible for all of us to be partners in eternal bliss.
The Twelfth (from the number 12) are 12 major Orthodox holidays in the Christian calendar, which reflect the most important events in the life of Christ or the Mother of God.
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. On this holy day, Mary was born, who was destined from above to become the Mother of God.
- Ex altation of the Cross. The ex altation or raising of St. Helena and St. Constantine of the Cross of the Lord for the worship and healing of those who believe in Him. They found the Holy Cross several centuries after Christ's Resurrection.
- Entering the Holy Mother of God into the Temple. We remember the day when the Righteous Joachim and Anna consecrated their three-year-old daughter Mary to God. The Virgin Mary lived at the temple until the age of 12.
- Christmas. I remember the birth of the Christ Child in Bethlehem, as well as the appearance of a new star in the sky, the worship of the shepherds and the Magi.
- Baptism or Epiphany. We solemnly remember the acceptance of holy baptism by the Lord at the hands of John the Baptist. The event was so great that the appearance of St. Trinity.
- The Presentation of the Lord. Simeon the God-bearer waited for the Savior to come into the world and met Him in the temple.
- Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. On this day, through the Archangel Gabriel, God informed the Virgin Mary about the great mission - to become the Mother of God.
- Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday. It is celebrated a week before Easter and speaks of the event when Christ solemnly entered Jerusalem on a donkey. All those assembled greeted Him with cries of "Hosanna,blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” they spread their clothes and branches of vayi (palm branches) before him. Palm trees do not grow here, so believers bring decorated willow branches to temples. Hence the name of the holiday.
- Ascension of the Lord. On this day, the Lord ascended to heaven, but promised to send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to the disciples. The next coming of Christ will be terrible: He will come to judge the living and the dead.
- Trinity or Pentecost. On this great day, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, the birth of the Christian Church took place. From that moment on, the disciples of Christ began to fearlessly preach about Christ throughout the world.
- Transfiguration of the Lord. On Mt. Tabor, Christ showed His disciples His Divine essence. He was transformed, that is, he changed before the eyes of the astonished apostles. His clothes became snow-white, a bright light emanated from the Divine Face, and He Himself stood on a cloud and talked with the Old Testament prophets Moses and Elijah. God the Father has once again confirmed the Deity of Jesus Christ.
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. A festive day when the blessed death or the dream of the Virgin is remembered. Christ Himself, together with a host of angels, took Her holy soul to heavenly abodes. Subsequently, the Lord also took the body of the Mother of God, so there is no Her grave on earth.
Several important events from the life of the Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos, John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul belong to the great holidays.
Time classification
Depending on Easter holidays are mobile and fixed orpassing and non-transferring.
Fixed or non-moving - these are holidays that are celebrated on the same day every year.
Mobile or moving are holidays that are celebrated every year at different times and depend on the day of Easter.
Classification by place
Temple, patronal feast - what does it mean? The church calendar highlights the patronal or temple holidays, the days of especially revered icons of the Virgin or saints. They are celebrated with special solemnity and pomp.
Common holidays are the events that are remembered by the entire Church, regardless of the country, city and size of the temple.
Classification by type
The entire annual church circle in the Christian calendar is divided into three parts according to the following type:
- Master's. Dedicated to the most important events in the life of Christ.
- Theotokos. They talk about important moments in the life of the Mother of God.
- In honor of the holy and incorporeal forces. This group includes the holy angels, archangels and all the host of heaven, which stands at the Throne of God. The Holy Church also commemorates all the glorified saints who showed their ardent love for God and an example to follow in their lives. For example, August 9 is the day of memory of St. Panteleimon. In this group there are days of our heavenly patrons, whose names we bear - the days of the Angel.
Let's summarize. Patronal feast, what does it mean? This is one of the festivities in the annual church circle, in honor of which the temple was built or consecrated. Therefore it is calledalso a temple holiday.
Every Christian must know and honor Orthodox holidays.
