The doctrine of the Catholic Church emphasizes the reality of the existence of Divine Persons, 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.” 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 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.” There is only one common Divine Being for all 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).
Catholic holiday of Mary Queen of Peace
In 2018 it is celebrated on January 1
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The Roman Catholic Feast of Mary is a permanent date. It is considered a special memorable day and, according to tradition, visiting the temple is mandatory. The history of this holiday is very rich and even the date has often changed, which is why traditionalists celebrate it on November 11, and January 1 for them is the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord. In ordinary Catholic churches they remember the Virgin Mary, her story, and read the scriptures that tell about her. For Catholics, the Virgin Mary has a special meaning and is a symbol of purity and kindness.
Catholic Epiphany
In 2018 it is celebrated on January 6
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
If in Orthodoxy the Baptism of the Lord and the Epiphany are one holiday, then for Catholics everything is completely different. First, everyone celebrates Epiphany on January 6, and on the first Sunday after it, they celebrate Epiphany. In 2018 it falls on January 8th. As usual on religious holidays, all believers strive to get to the temple for services. It is there that they consecrate chalk and water, and sometimes incense. All this is then taken home, K, M and B are written in chalk - these are the first three letters of the names of the wise men who arrived at the birth of Christ and presented gifts as to the king. It is believed that these letters are able to protect against evil spirits and evil. Blessed chalk, water and incense are kept for a whole year and are believed to cure migraines and abdominal pain.
Epiphany
In 2018 it is celebrated on January 7
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The Messianic destiny of Jesus was publicly witnessed through Baptism. And the Baptism of Christ, which took place then, is considered by all evangelists as the first event in his social activity. It was after him that Jesus began to enlighten people, illuminating them with the light of truth. In addition, in the Baptism of Christ, humanity participated in His Divine grace, receiving in this sacrament cleansing with living water, which bestows eternal life. After all, by accepting the Sacrament of Baptism, we become involved in the life of Him, who accepted death on the Cross in order to free us from sin. Therefore, acceptance of the sacrament of Baptism is a mandatory condition for believers to belong to the Church.
Saint Antonio's Day
In 2018 it is celebrated on January 17
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
On January 17, Italians celebrate the Day of the Abbot of Saint Antonio (Festa di Sant’ Antonio Abate). This day is celebrated throughout Italy, but especially colorful and widespread celebrations take place in southern and central Italy. Saint Antonio (St. Antonio) became famous for being one of the first to try the ascetic life in the desert, being completely cut off from civilization. Therefore, he is rightfully considered the founder of monasticism, a new spiritual movement of that time.
Catholic Presentation of the Lord
In 2018 it is celebrated on February 2
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The holiday is dedicated to the first meeting of the infant Christ with the elder Simeon in the Temple of Jerusalem. The date is immutable and is celebrated every year on the same day. In churches, candles are usually blessed in memory of Simeon, which are lit during the festive service. Catholics treat these candles with special reverence and keep them all year round.
Ash Wednesday - the beginning of Lent for Catholics
In 2018 it is celebrated on February 14th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
It is customary for both Catholics and Orthodox Christians to observe Lent before the start of Easter. But there are a number of differences in the Orthodox and Catholic traditions. For example, Western Christians call the beginning of such fasting Ash Wednesday. This name is due to the fact that on this day, according to custom, the clergyman applies a cross to all parishioners with ashes on the forehead. But the ashes must be taken not from ordinary ones, but from palm branches or willow branches that were preserved from the Feast of the Entry of the Lord. As we know in Orthodoxy, Lent begins on Monday and lasts 50 days, and for Catholics later, from Wednesday and its duration is 46 days.
Feast of Saint Joseph, Betrothed to the Virgin Mary
In 2018 it is celebrated on March 19
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
In some countries, St. Joseph's Day (Feast of St. Joseph) is an official national holiday; in some countries, fathers are honored on this day, for example, in Spain and Italy. Early Christian and medieval legends depicted Joseph as a widower of advanced age, thereby reinforcing the common belief that his marriage to Mary did not involve carnal relations, and explaining the mention of Jesus' brothers and sisters (Mark 6:3) by the fact that these were Joseph's children from his first marriage . Religious veneration of St. Joseph arose after the 13th century. and developed until the mid-20th century. The Catholic Church reveres him as the "patron of the universal church", as well as the patron of all workers, families, virgins and the dying.
Catholic Annunciation of the Virgin Mary
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
This holiday is dedicated to the great event when Archangel Gabriel informed the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to Jesus Christ. It is celebrated every year on the same day. If it falls during Lent, then it is allowed to weaken it a little. Moreover, even if the Annunciation falls on Easter, it is not canceled, but celebrated together. And at the service the songs and prayers of both Easter and the Annunciation are combined. In Catholic churches, a festive service is held, and all the clergy dress in white clothes.
Catholic Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)
In 2018 it is celebrated on March 25th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
Celebrated on the sixth Sunday of Great Lent, it also opens Holy Week. It was on this day that Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem, where he was greeted with palm branches. That's why this holiday is called Palm Sunday. According to tradition, before the start of the festive service, all believers, led by clergy, carry out a solemn procession around the temple. They always have palm branches in their hands; if they don’t have one, then in each country they are replaced differently, for example, palm or olive branches.
Catholic Maundy Thursday
In 2018 it is celebrated on March 29
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
Catholics begin celebrating Easter on Maundy Thursday. On this day they remember the Last Supper, which was attended by all twelve disciples of Christ. It was then that Jesus commanded the rite of communion. As you might guess, it is celebrated on the last Thursday before Easter. From this day until Easter, organs and bells in all Catholic churches fall silent. In this way they try to remind people of the suffering of Christ these days. In the morning of this day, a mass is usually celebrated with the offering of oil, where only priests are present. Each of them re-takes the vow they made at ordination. And in the evening all the parishioners gather for a service at which they remember the Last Supper. The ritual of foot washing is also performed there.
Catholic Good Friday
In 2018 it is celebrated on March 30
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
This holiday is dedicated to the torment of Christ, which he experienced on this day. It is celebrated on the last Friday before Easter. Many Catholics try to completely abstain from all entertainment and adhere to a particularly strict fast. Since the fourteenth century, a tradition of religious procession has appeared, which copies the gospel story. This custom has survived to this day.
Catholic Easter
In 2018 it is celebrated on April 1
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
We all know that Easter is a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The date of Easter is counted from Christmas and Lent, but since Orthodoxy and Catholicism live according to different calendars, their Easter dates are different. But there is one tradition of coloring eggs. And in some countries there is such a hero as the Easter Bunny, who hides colored eggs and small gifts for the little ones. It is also customary to decorate your homes with figurines of this animal, and in pastry shops you can see chocolate bunnies. As for church rituals, festive services are held in all churches. Part of this service involves lighting a fire in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, after which it is carried to the rest of the churches. At the end of the service, believers carry out a procession around the church with songs and prayers.
Saint Isidore's Day
In 2018 it is celebrated on April 4th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
Saint Isidore's Day is a Catholic holiday celebrated on April 4th. The Spanish church leader and writer, Isidore of Seville, is considered the patron saint of pupils and students, and since 1999 he has officially been the patron saint of the Internet and computer users in general. Saint Isidore, born around 560 AD, became Archbishop of Seville in 600 and became famous for his piety and love of science. He is the author of one of the first books on etymology, the first to introduce the works of Aristotle in Spain, and a famous reformer. Isidore of Seville is the author of the 20-volume work Etymology - a kind of encyclopedia of the early Middle Ages, History of the kings of the Goths, Vandals and Suevi - mainly the political and ecclesiastical history of Visigothic Spain. The Catholic saint was also the ideologist of the Spanish-Roman nobility, who supported the power of the Visigoths. The works of Isidore, a very educated person for his time, are compilative in nature and are valuable due to the large factual material they contain. The saint died in 636, at the age of about 76 years. It is worth noting that the Catholic Church elected him as the patron of the Internet, based primarily on the fact that the World Wide Web is a huge treasury of human knowledge.
Catholic Ascension of the Lord
In 2018 it is celebrated on May 10th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
In Catholicism, this holiday has a special meaning, therefore all churches hold all-night services. There, believers bless grapes and beans, and at home they extinguish the Easter candle. You can also often find the ritual of raising a statue of Christ to the top of the temple. This custom is a symbol of the fact that Jesus ascended. The date of this celebration is moveable and depends on Easter, namely, it is celebrated on the fortieth day after it.
Catholic Pentecost
In 2018 it is celebrated on May 20
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
This holiday is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. It is a symbol of the Holy Spirit coming to the Apostles, after which they had the power to spread the Gospel. As on all holidays, a mandatory service is held, where this story is remembered, prayers are performed, and it is also accompanied by the chants: “Come, Holy Spirit” and “Golden Sequence.”
Catholic Trinity
In 2018 it is celebrated on May 27
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
On the first Sunday after Pentecost, Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Trinity. This celebration is part of the Pentecost cycle. During the holidays of this cycle, all clergy dress in red suits, but at the onset of Trinity they put on white outfits. During the Divine Service, holy gifts are brought to the center of the temple. It is worth noting that there are also their own traditions that each country adheres to. For example, in Italy rose petals are scattered from the ceiling of churches, and in France it is customary to blow into trumpets.
Saint Joan of Arc Day
In 2018 it is celebrated on May 30th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
Joan of Arc (modern French Jeanne d'Arc) is the patroness of the military and France. Jeanne d'Arc was born in 1412 in the French village of Domremy. At the age of 12, she had her first revelation. According to her, Jeanne heard the voices of Archangel Michael, St. Catherine and St. Margarita, who prepared her for the special mission of the savior of France. The country was in a critical situation - all of northern France was occupied by the British, the army was extremely weakened, and the question of the independence of the French state arose. Over time, the voices that Zhanna hears call her to action. Joan of Arc, having with difficulty made her way from the territory occupied by the British and their allies - the Burgundians, to the city of Chinon to the Dauphin Charles, convinces him that the Almighty speaks through her. Placed at the head of the army, Joan of Arc, a 17-year-old girl, showed courage and inspired the people to fight the enemy. She broke through with her troops into Orleans, besieged by the British, and on May 8, 1429, forced them to lift the siege of the city, for which people began to call her the Maid of Orleans. A series of victories won by Joan of Arc allowed the Dauphin Charles (Charles VII) to be crowned in Reims on July 17, 1429. However, the king and the aristocratic elite, frightened by the wide scope of the people's war and the growing popularity of Joan, actually removed her from command of the army. May 23, 1430 During a foray from besieged Compiègne, Joan of Arc, as a result of betrayal, was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the British. The church court in Rouen, where the judges were French accomplices of the invaders, accused Joan of Arc of heresy and witchcraft and sentenced her to be burned at the stake. The executioner was required to burn all the remains. Several times he placed burning brushwood and coals around Joan’s heart, but he could not turn it into ashes. Finally, amazed, “as if by a clear miracle,” he stopped tormenting this Heart, put the Burning Bush in a bag along with everything that remained of the Virgin’s flesh, and threw the bag into the Seine. 25 years after the execution at the new church trial in the case of Joan of Arc, which took place in France in 1456, she was solemnly rehabilitated and she was recognized as the beloved daughter of the Church and France. In 1920, by an official decree of Pope Benedict XV, she was canonized as a saint, although people had worshiped her for centuries.
Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
In 2018 it is celebrated on May 31st
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
In many countries it is celebrated on a grand scale, combining theological depth with folk and folklore traditions. This relatively new Catholic holiday, officially established in memory of the establishment of the sacrament of communion (Eucharist) by Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church views the Eucharist as a sacred gift left by Christ to his church. The custom first arose in 1247 in the Diocese of Liege (Belgium). In 1264, Pope Urban IV made this holiday a church-wide holiday, granting indulgences to everyone who took part in the festive mass. The service for the Feast of Corpus Christi was composed by Thomas Aquinas, and the text of this service is considered one of the most beautiful in the Roman Breviary. In Germany, Spain and a number of other European countries it is considered an official holiday. In Spain, on this day, mass processions are organized to the ringing of bells with hymns of praise, with candles and banners in their hands. The priest walks at the head and carries the tabernacle “with Christ” under the canopy. The processions are furnished with special pomp; along the way, garlands of flowers are stretched across the streets, the balconies of nearby houses are decorated with greenery, flowers and carpets, and the road is covered with fresh flowers. The Gospel is read at four altars in the open air, then everyone goes to the church for the festive liturgy. Spain is characterized by the participation in processions of mummers - allegorical figures of giants and dwarfs. In York, Wakefield, Coventry and other English cities in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, these processions had a significant influence on the development of drama and dramatic art. Scenes from the Bible were presented by city artisans: each workshop owned one cart, on which a certain scene (mystery) was played out. The mobile stage stopped at certain places where the participants in the mystery play performed their scene, so that the audience, while remaining in place, could see the performance of a sequence of small plays that made up a single dramatic cycle.
Visit of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth
In 2018 it is celebrated on May 31st
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The celebration of the Day of the Meeting (more commonly the term "Visitation" is used) has medieval origins. It was celebrated by the Franciscan order even before 1263, when it was recommended in writing by Saint Bonaventure. Thanks to the influence of the order, it spread, but it received all-church approval only in 1389, by order of Urban VI.
Sacred Heart of Jesus
In 2018 it is celebrated on June 8th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
One of the main holidays of the Catholic Church, celebrated on the Friday after the octave of the Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus. On this holiday, the Catholic Church recalls those passages of Holy Scripture that speak of Christ as the good Shepherd, warming the lost sheep with the warmth of His Heart. The holiday appeared relatively recently. There is no doubt, however, that the veneration of the Heart of Jesus, as a symbol of love for people, arose much earlier; even in the Middle Ages, prayer practices dedicated to the wounds of Christ and His Heart were common in many monasteries. In the 17th century, St. Margarita Alyakok saw in her visions Christ, who expressed the desire for His Heart to be revered by the Church. However, this wish remained unfulfilled for a long time; many theologians doubted the need to establish a new pan-church veneration; only in 1856 did Pope Pius IX establish the obligatory celebration of the triumph of the Sacred Heart.
Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary
In 2018 it is celebrated on June 9
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
Since the 19th century, services began to be held in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which in recent decades has become universal. It began with the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Pope Pius IX in 1854, as well as the appearance of the Mother of God in Lourdes (1858). Most of all, however, the famous apparitions of the Mother of God in Fatima in 1917 contributed to this. The Feast of the Heart of Mary began to be celebrated by Saint John Ed in 1643. He set it for his monastic communities on February 8th. He also founded the congregation bearing the name of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and compiled the corresponding liturgical texts for the breviary and St. Masses. Pope Pius VII (1823) approved this holiday as a local holiday for some dioceses and monastic communities. Pope Pius IX (1878) approved the texts of the Mass and breviary for this feast. The celebration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was extended to the entire Church by Pope Pius XII on May 4, 1944. Post-conciliar liturgical reform moved it to the Saturday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Saint Barnabas Day
In 2018 it is celebrated on June 11
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The Holy Apostle Barnabas belongs to the ranks of the holy seventy apostles. He was born into a wealthy Jewish family from a line of Levites in Cyprus, received a good theological education in Jerusalem, where he met Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul. Barnabas' original name was Joseph. He received the nickname Barnabas, which means “son of consolation,” for his kindness and mercy. Many scholars credit Barnabas with editing the Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews, which makes sense given Barnabas' education and his closeness to the apostle himself.
Saint Anatoly's Day
In 2018 it is celebrated on June 13
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
St. Anthony of Padua is undoubtedly one of the most beloved and widely revered saints of the Catholic Church. Considered the patron saint of lovers, animals and all those in despair. Anthony left a memory of himself not only as an excellent priest, preacher and theologian, but also as a great miracle worker: the Lord performed numerous miracles through him in order to reveal His omnipotence, glory and mercy even to inveterate sinners and to help them find the path of truth in turning to God. Perhaps there was no person who, having once met Anthony, would have doubted his holiness. Therefore, it is not surprising that he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX already in 1232 - less than a year after his death. Already in the 13th century, believers began to turn in prayer to Anthony as a miracle worker and assistant in finding lost values (including spiritual ones), as well as a patron in family affairs. In Padua, a tradition arose of venerating the saint on Fridays (the day of his death) and Tuesdays (the day of his burial). Since the 17th century, the practice of “St. Anthony Tuesdays” has spread throughout the Church. Since the end of the 19th century, the custom (initiated in 1886 in Toulouse) of collecting donations for the poor in churches, called “St. Anthony’s bread,” has also become popular. Veneration of St. Anthony's name also spread to the Russian lands - on the territory of modern Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, where several dozen churches and chapels were erected in his honor. His relics rest in Padua, in the majestic basilica, erected in his honor and which became not only one of the main Franciscan spiritual centers, but also a world-famous shrine, visited by millions of pilgrims every year.
Nativity of John the Baptist
In 2018 it is celebrated on June 24
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
This is an immutable date and is probably one of the oldest Christian holidays. After all, according to legend, back in the third century, Christians celebrated John’s birthday. The Bible says that this prophet carried out the Baptism of the Lord. As usual, services are held in churches, remembering the life of the prophet and his good deeds.
Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
In 2018 it is celebrated on June 29
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
Peter, originally Simon, was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee and was a fisherman. Called by Jesus Christ to be an apostle together with his brother Andrew and named Cephas (“stone”). Peter is destined to become the “foundation” of the church of Christ, he is given the keys of the heavenly kingdom. According to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, this designation (and especially the words about the "keys of the kingdom of heaven") indicates that Peter was given real power and legal authority and that these authorities are due to the fact that the church will exist until the end of time , - must be transferred to his successors. Devoted to Christ, after the Last Supper Peter denies him three times. Peter was the first of the apostles to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection. After the death of Christ, Peter was engaged in preaching activities. On Pentecost, he preached his first sermon to the people, announcing the death and resurrection of Jesus and converting about three thousand people with this sermon. In the Catholic Church, according to the position of Peter as the “head of the apostles” and successor of Christ, there is a doctrine of the primacy of the Pope as the sole head of the church. Paul, the first Christian writer whose writings have come down to us, and the most authoritative figure in the history of Christian thought. The victory of Paul's theological views played a huge role in the formation of Christianity as an independent religion, distinct from Judaism. Born in the Asia Minor city of Tarsus (in Cilicia) into a Jewish Pharisee family. Originally a zealous persecutor of Christians, Paul, who experienced a miraculous vision on the road to Damascus, was baptized and became a devout preacher of Christianity among the pagans (“apostle of the pagans”). For his extraordinary missionary and theological services to Christianity in its formation as a world religion, Paul, who was not one of the twelve apostles, is revered as the first apostle. The Church attributes to him 14 epistles included in the New Testament. Both apostles suffered for the faith of Christ on the same day in 67 in Rome. Paul, as a Roman citizen, was “truncated with the sword” (i.e., beheaded), Peter was crucified. Since he believed that he was unworthy to be crucified on the cross like the Savior, he, at his own request, was crucified “headlong” (that is, upside down). He was buried on Vatican Hill, and above the place of his burial is currently located the main altar of the Cathedral of St. Petra. The burial place of the Apostle Paul, according to tradition, is honored in the church of San Paolo Fuori le Mura in Rome.
Feast of Saints Anne and Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
In 2018 it is celebrated on July 26th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The holiday was established in honor of the birth of Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary. According to legend, Anna and Joachim (her husband) could not conceive a child for a long time. One day, she prayed for a child, promising that she would give him to serve God. Soon an angel appeared to her and informed her that she would have a daughter, who should be named Mary and that through her the entire human race would be blessed. There are no special customs or rituals on this day, only some women try to get to the temple to ask Anna for a baby.
Transfiguration
In 2018 it is celebrated on August 6th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
To some extent, the Feast of the Transfiguration is connected and comparable to the Old Testament Feast of Tabernacles. “If you want, we will make three tabernacles here,” Peter says to Jesus. This connection is confirmed by the tradition of consecrating fruits on the Feast of the Transfiguration (as well as during the Feast of Tabernacles). In the East, by the beginning of August, cereals and grapes ripen, which Christians bring to the temple for blessing as a sign of gratitude to God for the gift of these fruits. In the first centuries, Christians donated part of this harvest to the temple for the sacrament of the Eucharist. In Christianity, the consecration of fruits on the day of the Feast of the Transfiguration acquired a special symbolic meaning: the Transfiguration of Christ shows that new, transformed and grace-filled state that man and the world acquire through the Resurrection of Christ and which will be realized in the resurrection of all people. And all of nature, which fell into disorder from the moment sin entered the world through man, now awaits the coming renewal together with man. The Feast of the Transfiguration has been celebrated by the Eastern Church since the 4th century. It was introduced into the calendar of the Western Church by Pope Calixtus III in 1457.
Dormition and Ascension of the Virgin Mary
In 2018 it is celebrated on August 15th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The Assumption and Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a Catholic dogma about the bodily ascension of the Virgin Mary after death to heaven. This holiday is based on the legend that Mary, who died a natural death and was buried in Gethsemane, ascended to heaven: after opening her coffin, a bouquet of roses was discovered instead of her remains. In 1950, Pope Pius XII, by a special decree, adopted the dogma of the bodily ascension of the Mother of God into heaven. This dogma reflected the faith that the church has held since ancient times. From the 6th to the 11th centuries, many church fathers, both in the East and in the West, preached sermons dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God and her rapture in the flesh into heaven (Latin assumptio “taking”, “acceptance”, therefore among Russian Catholics of the Latin rite in relation to this The name "The Taking of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heavenly Glory" is used for the holiday, which clearly testified to their faith in this event. Since the 6th century, the Catholic Church has celebrated the holiday on August 15th. On this day, there is a tradition of bringing the first fruits of the new harvest as a gift to churches and chapels dedicated to the Madonna as a sign of thanksgiving. The holiday is accompanied by a solemn service and a church procession.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
In 2018 it is celebrated on September 8th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Catholic holiday celebrated on September 8th. The holiday is dedicated to the memory of the birth of the Mother of Jesus Christ - the Blessed Virgin Mary. Celebrating the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Christians emphasize how important the role is assigned to the Virgin Mary in the implementation of the divine plan for the salvation of mankind. The first mentions of the celebration of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary date back to the second half of the 5th century. Around the same time, the holiday was included in the church calendar. The Nativity of the Virgin Mary is one of the great holidays and is celebrated for 6 days - from September 7 to 12.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
In 2018 it is celebrated on September 14
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a Catholic holiday celebrated on September 14th. It symbolizes the discovery of the Cross of the Lord, which, according to church tradition, occurred in 326 near Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was crucified - on Calvary, and since the eighth century this day began to remind Christians of the return of the Cross from Persia by the Greek Emperor Heraclius. During the ceremony, the primate gave everyone who came to the celebration the opportunity to see the Shrine, that is, he raised the Cross, directing it to different directions of the world. The cross was found by Queen Helena, who was in Palestine (who was the mother of Constantine the Great) and Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem. Upon completion of the excavations, they discovered the cave of the Holy Sepulcher next to which three crosses were found. The crosses were placed one by one on the sick woman, and the one that healed her was the Cross of Jesus Christ. As another legend says, when the cross touched the deceased, who was being carried along the street to the cemetery, he was resurrected (that is why the cross is called Life-Giving).
St. Michael's Day
In 2018 it is celebrated on September 29
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
This holiday is dedicated to Archangel Michael. The date is immutable and in the past Catholics tried to celebrate it magnificently. St. Michael's Day was one of the most significant and in some countries it was put on the same level as the Virgin Mary. However, over time, Christians began to forget it and today they don’t celebrate it at all. According to legends, Archangel Michael is the patron saint of all warriors, sailors, knights and soldiers, as well as the protector of all the weak.
All Saints' Day
In 2018 it is celebrated on November 1
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
All Saints' Day has a controversial history and origin. And all because he has pagan roots. So, in ancient times, at this time the Celts celebrated the onset of the New Year. They believed that on this day all kinds of evil spirits wandered the Earth, hence the tradition of dressing up on Halloween to scare them. Also, many believe that their deceased relatives come to people during the holiday to eat sacrificial food. All Saints' Day is more like our Easter. It is celebrated not only by Christians, but also by ordinary people, and over the years it has become popular. On this day, after the service and Litany, Catholics go to the cemetery to honor the memory of their deceased relatives.
Catholic All Souls' Day
In 2018 it is celebrated on November 2
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
All Souls' Day is not just about honoring their deceased relatives, but Catholics also remember all faithful believers. In Catholicism, in general, they treat the dead especially. It is believed that on this day everyone should remember not only the existence of Hell or Heaven, but also repent and do more good deeds. All Souls' Day immediately follows Halloween. On this day, it is also customary to visit the cemetery to clean up the graves of the dead and light a lamp. Often some families have meals there.
St. Martin's Day
In 2018 it is celebrated on November 11th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
Saint Martin was distinguished by rare kindness and beneficence. Despite the fact that he was not born into a Christian family, he became the bishop of Tours and founded a monastery in Marmoutier. In France, he is one of the most revered saints. There used to be a tradition - Catholics made a fire and threw all the old baskets where fruits were stored there, and then jumped over it. Sometimes this custom is found in our time. And in Germany, a week before the holiday, every family gathers all children over one year old and creates a paper lampion lantern. It must be hung on a stick, and a small electric light bulb is placed inside.
Catholic Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple
In 2018 it is celebrated on November 21
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
This holiday is celebrated in honor of Mary's mother fulfilling her vow. When the Virgin Mary was three years old, her mother Anna and father Joachim brought the girl to the temple in order to give her to serve God. A few years after this event, Maria’s father died, followed by her mother. And so it turned out that before her betrothal to Joseph, Mary lived at the monastery.
Catholic Christmas Eve
In 2018 it is celebrated on December 24th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
Christmas Eve is the holiday before Christmas. On this day, it is customary for Catholics to intensively prepare for the upcoming event. Strict fasting must be observed all day. You cannot sit down at the table before the first star, and the first course should be succulent. In many countries, Catholics exchange so-called wafers - this is unleavened bread. It is divided between two people, and the one to whom a piece is broken off wishes all the best for the coming year. It is also common to leave one empty seat at the dinner table, which is intended for an occasional guest. According to custom, he must be accepted as a brother. Before Christmas, an evening service is held at midnight, during which the clergyman places the baby figurine in the nativity scene.
Catholic Christmas
In 2018 it is celebrated on December 25th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
When the first star rises on Christmas Eve, everyone sits down at the festive table to celebrate Christmas. It is at Christmas that all Catholics traditionally decorate a festive tree. And in some countries, Catholics, just like us, go from house to house with carols. They are given food as a gift - sausage, roasted chestnut, fruit, pies, and so on. But stingy owners are usually ridiculed and, according to signs, troubles and misfortunes await them for this. As you can see, pagan and religious traditions have united and the holiday customs have become more folk than church.
Day of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem
In 2018 it is celebrated on December 28th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The Day of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem is a Catholic holiday celebrated on December 28th. According to the Gospel of Matthew (2:16), King Herod ordered the killing of all innocent babies after learning from the Magi about the birth of Christ (the Messiah). Herod wanted to eliminate Jesus as a potential contender for his throne, but the baby Jesus managed to avoid death, since St. Joseph went with his family to Egypt. The Synoptic Gospels explain the execution of Jesus by saying that Jesus' role as Christ (Messiah) also implied political claims to the kingdom. The story of the massacre of innocent babies dates the emergence of this erroneous opinion to the time of the Nativity of Jesus Christ.
Holy Family Day
In 2018 it is celebrated on December 30th
The meaning and traditions of the holiday
The Feast of the Holy Family was born in Christ's manger in Bethlehem, when shepherds and wise men came to worship Jesus and honor Joseph and Mary. Holy Scripture says almost nothing about the life of the Holy Family; we know only a few episodes: the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the flight to Egypt, the discovery of the child Jesus in the Temple.
Hello. Today I want to talk about a very important holiday, which symbolizes farewell to spring and welcome to summer. This celebration is as important as Easter, and I think you already guessed what I mean. Yes, yes, this is the Trinity, or another name for Pentecost.
The main component of a Christian event is the service in the temple. On this day, Orthodox Christians serve a festive liturgy, after which the “ninth hour” passes. But during Great Vespers, stichera glorifying the descent of the Holy Spirit are sung and the worshipers kneel three times. The priest reads seven prayers, which ends the post-Easter period.
It is also worth noting that the temple should look very festive on this day. Usually fresh grass is always placed on the floor, but the icons are decorated with flowers and birch branches. In general, birch is the main attribute of this event. People should dress in bright clothes, preferably green. And the celebration consists of the following parts:
- Day of the Holy Trinity;
- Feast of Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Christ);
- Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus;
- Day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Trinity in 2019. Calendar for Orthodox and Catholics
Every year this Bright holiday is celebrated not on the same date, but on the 50th day from Bright Resurrection.
So, this year Easter was on April 28th. This means we count 50 days from this date and it turns out that we will celebrate Trinity on Sunday, June 16th. This corresponds to the Orthodox calendar.
Catholics count this date not after seven weeks, but after eight. So, for Catholics, Easter was celebrated on April 21, 2019, which means Trinity will be celebrated on June 16.
The Light Trinity embodies three principles:
- The Father is the beginningless Origin;
- The Son is the absolute Meaning embodied in Jesus Christ;
- The spirit is the life-giving principle.
For Orthodox Christians, the Spirit comes from the Father, and for Catholics, it comes from two hypostases, the Father and the Son. But despite such differences, for all Christians the essence of God is the same.
History, meaning of the holiday and its traditions
If you look at history, the celebration of the Holy Trinity was established by the apostles, that is, the disciples of Jesus Christ. They wanted people to forever remember the event that happened on the fiftieth day after the Ascension of the Lord.
If you read the biblical stories, then on that day the Holy Spirit descended on these same apostles, who by that time had already been praying for fifty days in a row in the Zion Upper Room, which later became the first Christian temple.
After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles noticed some changes: they suddenly learned to heal and prophesy. At the same time, they also spoke different languages. This skill was given to them in order to carry the Word of God throughout the world. After this, the disciples of Christ went to different parts of the world to tell all the inhabitants of the planet about the life of the Lord and his painful death for the sins of all mankind.
According to official data, this holiday was established in 381, at the Second Ecumenical Council, at which the doctrine of the Trinity was formulated.
Our Slavic ancestors began to celebrate this celebration much later, 300 years after the baptism of Rus'.
This religious holiday has its own traditions, signs, customs and conspiracies.
The most important tradition is the service in the church, which necessarily includes the Divine Liturgy and Great Vespers.
I repeat that it is customary to decorate churches and houses with fresh grass, spring flowers, and birch branches. By the way, on this day you can bring birch branches with you and consecrate them, so that you can then place them in your home near the icons. With this ritual you can protect your home and yourself from all evil. The birch tree itself and its branches symbolize the power of the Holy Spirit.
A good tradition is also the organization of a feast to which all relatives, friends and loved ones are invited. This day is not a fast day, so most people bake pies and surprise with the abundance of dishes and their culinary skills. But the most important dish is the loaf.
On this Bright Day, it is also customary to organize folk festivities: people dance in circles, sing songs and dance. It’s also customary to get married on Trinity Sunday. Because it is believed that if you marry on Pentecost and have a wedding on Intercession - the day when, according to our ancestors, autumn meets winter, then a happy life together is guaranteed.
General cleaning of the house a couple of days before the celebration is considered an obligatory tradition, because on the day of the Holy Trinity itself you cannot clean, sew, or wash. That is, you cannot do any housework. But on Parents' Day, that is, Saturday, you need to visit the cemetery and remember the dead.
What date will be Parents' Day on Trinity Sunday in Russia?
And since I touched on the topic of parent’s day, I’ll tell you a little about this day. In Orthodoxy, it is customary to celebrate such a day 8 times a year. But the most important day is considered to be the day before the Holy Trinity, that is, Saturday. Therefore, in 2019, Parents' Day is celebrated on June 15. This date is usually called Trinity Saturday.
On this day you need to read prayers for the deceased. But it is also not recommended to carry out any work around the house. Only young girls should prepare a lunch with sweet treats. All the sweets are then collected and visited the graves of their loved ones, always their parents. And all the candy and treats are left there.
It is also important to know that before coming to the cemetery you need to take communion. And only then can you clean up the area. If you are unable to visit graves on Parents’ Day, you can light a candle in the church and read a prayer. The main thing is that your loved ones live in your heart and you sincerely remember them.
Trinity Day is a very symbolic holiday. He always reminds us of death and rebirth, rebirth and life in a new form. Enjoy the sun and everything that surrounds you on this day. Rejoice and love each other!
Doctrine of the Trinity
The central dogma of the Catholic Church is the dogma of the Trinity. According to the teachings of the Church, one God exists in three unfused and indivisible persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The ideas of Tertullian were of great importance for the understanding of the Trinity by the Western Church, and the teaching of the Trinity received relative completeness from Augustine, who gave a “psychological” interpretation of the Trinity as eternal divine self-knowledge and love. The doctrine of the Trinity has the most important practical significance for the Church. The “consubstantiality” and “hypostasis” of the persons of the Trinity substantiates the unity and equal significance of the three sources of Revelation - the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Holy Tradition, and thereby the authority of the Church as the custodian of Revelation, outside of which it is impossible to find salvation. This is the reason for the Church’s irreconcilable struggle against anti-Trinitarian teachings.
From the book Patrolology Course author Sidorov Alexey Ivanovich From the book Dogmatic Theology author Davydenkov Oleg3.1.2. Origen's Doctrine of the Trinity To understand the further history of the development of Trinitarian theology, it is necessary to have a general understanding of Origen's doctrine of the Trinity, since the overwhelming majority of the Ante-Nicene fathers were Origenists in their Trinitarian views. Doctrine
From the book Introduction to Patristic Theology author Meyendorff Ioann FeofilovichThe doctrine of the Trinity and of Christ Tertullian’s great merit is that for the first time in the history of Christian thought he used expressions that subsequently became firmly established in Orthodox Trinity theology. Thus, he said that the Son has the same essence as the Father; And
From the book Catholicism author Rashkova Raisa TimofeevnaTeaching about St. Trinity In his teaching about St. Does Origen primarily start from the idea of God as a unity or a monad? terms borrowed from the Neoplatonic vocabulary. In addition, he uses the term Trinity and, describing the relationship between the Persons of the Trinity, for the first time
From the book Great Teachers of the Church author Skurat Konstantin EfimovichThe Doctrine of the Trinity The main merit of St. Athanasius consists in his struggle against Arianism. While there is not a single Orthodox bishop left in the Eastern Church, he? one against all? courageously defended the Orthodox Nicene faith, which proclaimed the consubstantiality of the Father and
From the book Holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church author Karsavin Lev PlatonovichThe Doctrine of the Holy Trinity Augustine wrote his book “On the Trinity” at the end of his life. It sums up his entire concept of God. This book subsequently became the basis of the classical Western, “psychological” understanding of the Holy Trinity. This is how the Trinity abides: reason, love, knowledge;
From the book Orthodox Philosophy and Theology author Kuraev Andrey VyacheslavovichDoctrine of the Trinity The central dogma of the Catholic Church is the dogma of the Trinity. According to the teachings of the Church, one God exists in three unfused and indivisible persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Of great importance for the understanding of the Trinity by the Western Church were the ideas
From the book Lectures on patrolology of the 1st-4th centuries by the authorThe Teaching about God, the Holy Trinity The teaching of Blessed Diadochos about God is inextricably linked with his teaching about the Holy Trinity. God is incomprehensibly different from all creation and immeasurably superior to it. He is not limited by any place, “he is not delayed by walls.” He "is everywhere and in everything, and beyond
From the book Jesus, the Interrupted Word [How Christianity Really Born] by Erman Barth D.Doctrine of the Holy Trinity In the fight against Arianism, Saint Ambrose decisively became a preacher of the dogmatic definition of religion of the First Ecumenical Council. Therefore, in his Trinitarian scheme, the central place is occupied by the doctrine of the Second Person, of His Divinity. Emphasizing
From the book Origen's Doctrine of the Holy Trinity author Bolotov Vasily Vasilievich From the book The Dogmatic System of St. Gregory of Nyssa author Nesmelov Viktor IvanovichSECTION IV. TEACHING ABOUT THE TRINITY (TRIADOLOGY) Topic 8. Christ in the Gospel PROGRAMThe meaning of the Gospel story about Christ. The difference between sacred and epic texts. Event structure of the Gospel. The phenomenon of Christ. The historicity of Jesus. The semantic center of the sermon
Trinity 2016
Trinity is one of the most important Christian twelve holidays. It is also called Pentecost, or the day of the Holy Trinity. This holiday is honored by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, as its roots go back to the time of Jesus Christ. Trinity 2016 is a revered day on which services are held, houses are decorated with greenery and fairs and night festivities are held.
Trinity in 2016, what is the date for the Orthodox?
The event, which later became a church holiday called the Day of the Holy Trinity, occurred during the Old Testament celebration of Pentecost, which was celebrated after fifty days from the beginning of Easter. According to legend, on this day the Holy Spirit descended to the apostles of Christ and revealed to them the secret of the trinity of God. Until this moment, the apostles knew only the hypostasis of God the father and God the son. The Holy Spirit came to the apostles not in physical form, but in the form of an incorporeal fire that does not burn. He gifted them with the ability to speak other languages, as this was necessary to glorify the Lord throughout the world and carry his word. The upper room in which the apostles were located became the first Church of Christ the Savior. Orthodox Christians will celebrate Trinity 2016 on June 19.
Signs for Trinity
Catholic Trinity: what date is it celebrated in 2016
The Catholic Church treats Trinity Day with no less respect than the Orthodox Church. Since the fourteenth century, Western Christians have celebrated Trinity Sunday on the first Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost. In Orthodox culture these holidays are combined. The structure and rituals of the holiday among Catholics are also different and contain a whole cycle. The first day of the cycle is called the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Four days after it (or eleven after Pentecost), the Catholic Church celebrates the day of the Body and Blood of Christ. The next feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is usually celebrated on the nineteenth day after Pentecost, and immediately after it (on the twentieth day) the cycle ends with the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary. This year the date of celebration of the Western Christian Trinity falls on May 22.
What do they do on Trinity Sunday?
This church holiday is famous for its very beautiful rituals and traditions that go back to the deep past. Orthodox churches are traditionally decorated with birch branches on the first calendar day of the celebration. However, due to the fact that different regions of Russia have different climatic conditions, birch branches are replaced with rowan, maple or oak. Branches in bloom symbolize God's invaluable gift, and remind parishioners that the soul of the righteous will also bloom with grace-filled fruits. It’s not for nothing that this holiday is also called green Christmas time. The service begins in the morning. It is customary to come to it in smart clothes. In their hands they hold green herbs, flowers, and branches. The clergy are also dressed in green robes on this day.
Immediately after the service, mass events were organized, dances, chants, round dances, which did not subside even after sunset.
Signs and customs for Trinity
They prepare thoroughly for the Day of the Holy Trinity. Housewives carefully clean all the rooms, and then decorate the premises with flowers, twigs and young grass. Our ancestors hung walnut, maple, rowan, and oak branches on the walls. It was believed that plants that decorated houses and temples were endowed with medicinal properties and became amulets. They were preserved and used as remedies for ailments, damage and thunderstorms. In Russia there was a tradition of adding crackers dried from the Trinity loaf to a wedding cake.
Customs for Trinity
