Orthodoxy celebrates many holidays. Believers, of course, know about such a holiday as the Day of the Holy Trinity , it has a long history and certain customs.
The Church celebrates this feast on the Day of Pentecost - on the fiftieth day after Easter . Any Orthodox person knows when to celebrate this holiday and what is the history of the Day of the Holy Trinity. The history of the birth of the feast of the Trinity goes back to the times of Jesus Christ. Then, on the fiftieth day after Christ's Resurrection, the apostles of the Holy Spirit descended to earth. The apostles understood what the role of the third Person of the Trinity is and why God is threefold.
History of the Day of the Holy Trinity
After the Ascension the apostles were constantly present in the Zion room and prayed. Suddenly, they heard a noise in the sky, and before them appeared tongues of fire, which fell on their heads. Thus the Holy Spirit entered the bodies of the apostles. The Holy Spirit bestowed on the apostles the knowledge of unknown languages so that they could spread the Christian faith throughout the world. The Orthodox holiday of the Trinity was proclaimed by the apostles, if history is to be believed. After the described case, every Pentecostal Christians began to celebrate this holiday, it is considered one of the most important in the Orthodox world.
Later, Basil the Great composed certain prayers that were necessary to read on this day. This tradition continues to this day. The day of the Holy Trinity in the whole Orthodox world is considered the birth of a Christian church, which was created by God.
In Orthodoxy, the Day of the Holy Trinity and the Day of Pentecost are united, which can not be said of the Catholic Church. Catholics celebrate Holy Trinity on the following Sunday after Pentecost.
Icons telling about the descent of the Holy Spirit began to be written in the 6th century. They usually can see the Zion's upper room and the apostles with books. Thus between the apostles Peter and Paul there is an empty space, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Over the heads of the apostles are the flames.
The history of the origin of the Trinity holiday is very ancient, it originates from the Ascension of Jesus Christ. Orthodox people know this and therefore celebrate the holiday especially widely - they necessarily attend services on the day of Pentecost.
History tells us about some traditions and customs that are observed during the Trinity holiday to this day. The floors of temples and houses must be covered with freshly mown grass, and the icons are decorated with birch branches symbolizing the power of the Holy Spirit. On Saturday before the Day of the Trinity, Orthodox go to the cemetery to honor the memory of deceased relatives, this day is called "parental". To decorate houses and churches, birch branches are used, this tradition has developed historically.
Some customs of the holiday of the Holy Trinity from history migrated in our time - churches are decorated with birch branches, the girls weave wreaths, the Orthodox always go to the cemetery on the parental Saturday. This holiday is very joyful and cheerful - in the morning it is necessary to visit the temple, and afterwards conduct roundelays and sing songs. One of the traditional dishes at the Trinity - a loaf, often invite guests and celebrate this holiday together. People's festivities on the Trinity do not lose their popularity.