Orthodox calendar. Church holidays

Most I spent my childhood in the village with my grandmother, a very pious old woman. Instead of children's poems, grandmother taught me prayers. At the age of five, I already knew “Our Father”, “Theotokos”, “Trisagion” and “Creed”, and on holidays I proudly stood during the entire service next to other parishioners of the local church.

Week after Easter

Village holidays have a special atmosphere. Sometimes it seemed to me that after Easter they did not end until Trinity. But a special place in traditions is occupied by “coffins”, when all local people, young and old, dress in the most beautiful clothes, collects baskets of food and drink and goes visit deceased relatives at the cemetery.

On such days, a quiet cemetery turns into a noisy feast, where everyone considers it their duty to remember those in the world who are not nearby. And those who survive until the evening gather near the river and continue the fun. The next party continues under a new name, because after the “coffins” it is customary to “invoke spring.”

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I remember how envious I was of the children who had fun until midnight and brought sweets and bags of candy from the graves... I asked my grandmother to go with everyone at least once, but she never allowed. We held the “coffins” in the church, and after mass we went to the cemetery when there was practically no one there.

At that time, a lot of things were incomprehensible and offensive to me. But now I understand why my dear grandmother, may she rest in heaven, behaved the way she did. And thanks to her for this invaluable experience.

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The tradition of sharing the holiday of Christ's Resurrection with deceased relatives has survived to this day. And although the days of remembrance are called in the old way: Fomino Sunday, Antipascha, Radonitsa, they are celebrated differently. The commemoration of the dead is increasingly turning into an ordinary drinking session.

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They call the pagan Red Hill Fomino Sunday, which in 2018 falls on April 15. This holiday has ancient pre-Christian roots, when the Slavs celebrated the final arrival of spring. But with the establishment of Christianity, this day became the first day of the Radonitsky week.

Many of us have forgotten that first week after Easter special. The Church calls not to be sad about temporary separation from loved ones, but to rejoice in the victory over death received in exchange for the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ.

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The joy of Easter should be shared with deceased relatives, because they died in the hope of resurrection and eternal life.

Commemoration of the dead reflects human faith in one God, the belief that even after death people will remain devoted to Him. Easter commemoration at the cemetery (Radonitsa) takes place on the ninth day after Easter, Tuesday, April 17. On this day people collect holiday dinners with Easter cakes and eggs and go to the graves of relatives.

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But if it is not possible to come to the cemetery on Tuesday, you can remember the deceased on Parents’ Saturday or Fomino Sunday. It is important for yourself to decide the main question: “Why am I going to the cemetery? In the world to remember, eat and drink?

It is much more important to pray for the soul of the deceased, and any drunkenness is unacceptable! The Church has established a strict order of commemoration for the laity a week after Easter.

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Order of remembrance of the dead

Any commemoration should be performed only with pious intentions. Radonitsa is not a worry about death, but joy of new birth their loved ones in eternal life. Prepare for this holiday in advance and learn or rewrite Orthodox funeral prayers.

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Prayer for a deceased Christian

“Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Your departed servant, our brother (name), and as Good and Lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming iniquities, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him eternal torment and fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Your eternal good things, prepared for those who love You: even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Your glorified God in the Trinity, Faith, and Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until his last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and faith, even in You instead of deeds, and with Your saints, as You give generous rest: for there is no man who will live and not sin. But You are the One besides all sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercies and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen".

Easter is approaching, so many people are interested in the question of what date is Parents' Day in 2019. Its other name is Radonitsa (consonant with the words “kind” and “joy”). This is the main day of remembrance of all the dead - both Orthodox and people of other views.

In 2019, Parents' Week falls on May 5-11. The name of this week is comparable to the word “joy.” The ancestors believed that this was a period of “joyful wakes”, since it was a joyful time.

Memorial days according to the church calendar

If we talk about when exactly (what date) Parents' Day will take place in 2019, then there will be several answers. It is also important for people to know when Big Parents' Saturday will be this year.

Parents' Saturday - when

Indeed, several times a year we can hear the following words: “Today is parents’ Saturday.” What does this mean, and why is this Saturday called parental Saturday?

There are 7 parental Saturdays a year - these are the days when the deceased are remembered in a special way. They got their name due to the fact that when people addressed the Lord, they first of all mentioned their deceased relatives. From year to year, the dates of parental Saturdays change, as they depend on the dates of other church holidays.

If we talk about what date Radonitsa is in 2019, we can recall other memorial dates that are established by the church calendar.

• March 2 - Ecumenical (meat-free) parent's Saturday. They commemorate all deceased Orthodox Christians - both parents and relatives, acquaintances, and friends.
• March 23, March 30 and April 6 are Parental Saturdays of Lent in 2019.
• May 7 is Parents' Day, also known as Radonitsa (the first date of commemoration allowed by the church after Holy and Bright Weeks).
• May 9 is the Day of Remembrance for fallen soldiers during the Great Patriotic War.
• June 15 is Trinity Parents' Saturday, which also has universal significance.
• October 12 - Intercession Parents' Saturday.
• November 2 - Dmitrievskaya (Dimitrievskaya) parents' Saturday.

And there is also Memorial Day on September 11, when memorial services are held in memory of other soldiers who died for the Tsar and the Fatherland.

Other memorial days after Easter

Along with these seven Sabbaths, there are also private parenting days. For example, May 9 is not only a public holiday known as Victory Day, but also the Day of Remembrance of fallen soldiers during the Great Patriotic War.

Memorial Day 9/11 - Day of Remembrance for Fallen Soldiers Orthodox faith. Then memorial services are served in memory of other soldiers who died for the Tsar and the Fatherland. Interestingly, such a tradition has existed for more than two centuries - it was first established by Catherine the Great in 1774.

How the dead are remembered in church

If we talk about what date parent’s day is after Easter in 2019, then the main date is Radonitsa Day on May 7th. The deceased are also intensely venerated before Trinity, during the Ecumenical Trinity Parental Saturday (in 2019 it will be June 15).

In everything parents' Saturdays services begin the night before. On Friday, the Great Requiem Service takes place (the word itself is translated from Greek as “all-night vigil”). And the next day in the morning a funeral service is performed Divine Liturgy, after which a general funeral service takes place.

Believers can come to the temple on any of these days, whenever possible and desired. Traditionally, notes are submitted in which the names of the deceased baptized parents or other close people are written in Old Church Slavonic. It is advisable to submit notes the night before on Friday - usually they are guided by the schedule of the temple itself.

It is also customary to bring modest Lenten food and church wine (Cahors). It is supposed to leave food in the temple so that anyone in need can take it, as conscience allows.

Such a tradition has existed for several centuries or even millennia and has a purely folk roots. It's called "bring food for the eve."

5 tips for having a great parent's day

Along with the question of when Easter and Parents' Day will be, people often ask how to properly spend this special time. It is clear that you need to go to the cemetery and visit there full order– tidy up the area, paint the table and fence, put fresh flowers.

What else, and most importantly, what to do on Radonitsa:

1. According to tradition, one is supposed to take part in the morning service. By the way, it will completely set a person up and help him calm his thoughts before a difficult visit to his deceased ancestors and loved ones.
2. Then, in the cemetery, you can light a candle and place it on the table. Contemplation of fire is very relaxing and pacifies a person - a fact known to everyone.
3. Then, if you wish, you can read any prayer, both out loud and silently. Of course, you can speak or send mental waves in your own words - the main thing is to do it from a sincere desire.
4. You should not imitate the ridiculous traditions associated with drinking alcohol, leaving a glass of vodka and food on the grave. The Church is quite categorical on this issue and says a firm “no”. And it is intuitively clear that alcohol is not a drink for the cemetery.
5. Finally, you can (and should) remember your loved one by giving alms. By the way, it is better to give Easter eggs, eggs and other products (and maybe even modest money) to someone in need. But vodka and other strong drinks should not be given - again, let’s not confuse the holiday with Memorial Day.

WHY IS THE DAY CALLED PARENTS' DAY

On the one hand, it is clear: we, children, remember our departed parents. But this is not always the case. Alas, sometimes parents have to remember their children.And of course, it is not forbidden to pay the last tribute to a dear friend, dear heart and just a very close, warm person.

It is believed that the day is called parental mainly because the soul after death goes to its clan. Similar statements can be found in the Bible (for example, Genesis 26:7-8).

In 2019, Parents' Day will take place on May 7, and it is better to prepare for such an event in advance. But coming to the cemetery on Easter and until Radonitsa (during the first week after the holiday) is undesirable.

Bright days are for celebration, and parent's day is for remembrance. Everything in the year will have its time.

Bright Easter Sunday ends, but Christian believers continue to greet each other, at least another week before the Parents' Memorial Day, with the words: “Christ is Risen!” Why is this happening? And how many days are Easter supposed to be celebrated? What are the days after Easter called? What is Radunitsa? We will try to answer these questions in our article.

The longest holiday among Christians is Easter

Before important and significant Christian holidays,

and after them, in church services you can hear the “echoes” of these events. The days leading up to the celebration are usually called: “ forefeasts”, and the time after the holiday is usually called “after-feast”.

So, after Easter the post-feast period lasts 38 days, if we take into account the day of Easter itself and the day of giving, it turns out 40 days. This is exactly how many days Jesus Christ spent on earth before his ascension.

What is Bright Week?

Bright Week - the first week after Easter is especially prominent in Christian religion. Throughout the week, it is customary to greet each other with the words: “Christ is risen!” - “Truly he is risen!” Thus we confess the resurrection of the Lord. It is also customary at this time to exchange red eggs as a symbol of new life.

Translated from Hebrew, “Passover” means deliverance. On Easter Day the transition from death to incorruptible life takes place. With his resurrection, the Savior opened the gates of heaven to believers and gave them hope.

The second week after Easter is called Fomina's week.

Signs of Easter week can be heard all seven days - this is bell ringing after the Liturgy. And also on Bright Week, fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays is canceled for Christian believers.

In the morning and evening in churches you can listen to the Easter hours all week - this is the name of the special psalms that are sung on these days. Parishioners also make a religious procession around the temple every day with lit candles.

In the mornings and evenings during Easter week, psalms are sung in churches - Easter hours. Daily religious processions with lit candles after the Liturgy and the ringing of bells are also signs of Easter week.

And on Friday the consecration of water takes place after the celebration of the icon Mother of God"Life-Giving Source" During the eight days of Easter week, glorification does not stop Christ's Resurrection, they are all merged as if into a single day.

From the day of Easter Sunday until it is celebrated (on the fortieth day), it is customary to greet each other: “Christ is Risen!” and answer: “Truly He is Risen!” Throughout the week, it is customary to treat guests to colored eggs and Easter cakes.

History says that in Slavic tradition Memorial rites and prayers for the dead have long been present in many holidays of the year. Usually memorial days preceded major holidays such as Christmas, Maslenitsa,.

As always, memorial days fall on Saturday or Friday, and sometimes on both of these days. The Slavs especially call days specially designated for commemorating the dead: “Grandfathers”, “Zadushki”, “Zadushnitsy”, “Radunitsa”, “Seeing off”.

Traditionally Russian memorial days include, first of all, “” and “”, about which we also have separate articles on our self-development portal. During Semitskaya Week on Tuesday and Thursday, they commemorate mainly “nameless” and “unclean” dead people who did not die a natural death, except for those killed in battle.”

As for Orthodox Church in Russia, then official memorial days There are also Saturdays in the second, third and fourth weeks of Lent.

There is a belief that on these memorial days at Easter, the souls of deceased relatives come to their homes to visit their loved ones.

In these it is customary to cook kutya, jelly, bake pies and pancakes. It is also necessary to take “food” to the graves of parents. And some of the treats were taken to churches or distributed to the poor to remember the “parents.”

Each region of Russia has its own beliefs on parenting days. For example, in some places a bathhouse was heated, and a clean towel, soap and brooms were always left for the “parents.”

Or put the first pancake on Maslenitsa for dormer window, or for an icon. In other regions, before a meal it was necessary to stand silently at the table without touching the food. At this time, according to legend, the dead ate.

What is the Passover of the Dead?

Among the eastern and southern Slavs, commemoration of ancestors took place over two weeks - Passion and Easter or Radunitsa.

There is an idea about the “Easter of the Dead” or “Navy wires”. It says that on the eve of Easter the Lord opens both heaven and hell. Evidence of this is the open royal doors in the temples.

The Lord releases the souls of the dead from the “other world.” And they can visit their homes and celebrate their Easter.

There is another belief that during the period from Easter to the Ascension, Jesus Christ travels the earth, and everyone who dies during these days will go straight to heaven.

However, all these representations have the status folk customs and no more. After all, they basically contradict church canons about the Resurrection of Christ and joy about this event.

Among the Slavs in Belarus and some regions of Russia, it is customary to visit the graves of deceased relatives on Radunitsa. Usually On the rainbow, an odd number of dishes are brought to the cemetery. Moreover, they must be dry.

The meal itself must begin with words : “Holy parents, come to us to eat bread and salt.” Symbolically, food is left for the deceased (about e). On this day, all relatives often gather at the graves; it is customary to meet the children of relatives, get acquainted with distant relatives, remember the dead.

After all, everyone is trying to come home from afar these days. And when they say goodbye to the dead, they say: “My parents, forgive me, don’t be angry: the richer the house is, the happier it is”, “Lie quietly and don’t wait for us to come back soon”.

Folk customs and beliefs about the rainbow

In another part of Rus', on Radunitsa it is customary to remember deceased relatives in churches and at home. And it is not customary to go to the cemetery.

One of folk traditions and the belief is to heat the bathhouse on Radunitsa, not to wash yourself, but to leave water, soap and a clean towel for the dead. In the morning we went to the bathhouse and looked for traces of the presence of the deceased in the scattered ash on the floor.

On St. Thomas Week, it was believed that ancestors came to the house to visit their relatives. Therefore, “breakfast”, “lunch” and “dinner” were left on the table. Or they put a glass of water and bread crumbs on the window.

The cleansing ritual of washing in the bathhouse on Radunitsa still exists in some regions of Belarus. After all, the ban on visiting baths existed from Holy Thursday to Radunitsa.

On Radunitsa you can paint eggs not only red, but also yellow and green.

Parents' days

During the Soviet era, when the church was banned, people still went to cemeteries on memorial days. Therefore, “parents’ days” were established in some regions. They still exist. And often city residents come to villages and villages on Sunday during Easter week for “Parents’ Day.”

Although the church does not welcome this tradition, many people go to the cemetery twice, both on “Parents’ Day” and on “Radunitsa” on Tuesday. Of course, it is important not only on what day this ritual will be held, but also to refuse a “feast on the mountain” at the graves of the deceased, and it is best to come on this day with ritual dishes and remember relatives.

Christians around the world are looking forward to Easter. This holiday is special, because it marks the Resurrection of Christ. Ends Lent, and the celebrations will last exactly 40 days, exactly how long Christ remained among the believers from the day of his resurrection until his ascension. The Easter week, which begins immediately after Easter, is called Bright Week; these days are considered the main days during the entire celebration. At this time, believers exchange colored eggs, greeting each other with the words “Christ is Risen!”

During Bright Easter Week, festive services are held in all churches and the ringing of bells does not stop. People hold mass celebrations, games, meetings with family or friends, accompanied by festive meals.

Easter week

In 2017, Easter falls on May 1, and the celebrations of Bright Week will last until St. Thomas Sunday, that is, until May 8.

Among the names of Easter week you can find the following: Velikaya, Krasnaya, Veliko-Denskaya and Svetlaya. Orthodox people have long believed that after the Resurrection of Christ the sun did not set beyond the horizon for a week, but set only on Red Hill, therefore the entire first Easter week was considered one day on which the people rejoiced and celebrated.

IN pre-revolutionary Russia The whole week was a day off; it was not customary to work during this time. Bright Easter week is a time for doing good deeds, generous gifts and generous deeds.

Traditions of Easter week by day

The Christian holiday is closely intertwined with ancient Slavic customs that mark the beginning of the spring equinox. This is why religious and pagan traditions merged together during the celebrations of Bright Week. Days of Easter week:

The names of the days differed in many regions, so among the Eastern Ukrainian peoples and even the Poles Monday was called watered, among the Hutsuls it was called dragging, and among the Serbs it was called water. Belarusians called Wednesday an ice day, and Friday - forgiveness.

Orthodox customs

Among Christian believers, almost all the customs of Bright Week are still alive:

In addition to observing these traditions, during Easter week they also commemorate the dead. This happens twice: on Monday and Thursday. These events are not considered sad at all and do not contradict festive mood. Believers believe that the souls of the dead returned to the living to enjoy the holiday together these days, hoping for their resurrection. Commemoration of the dead occurs only in the cemetery, where food is left on the graves, subsequently collected by passing beggars.

On such days, it is forbidden to wash and sew, otherwise you can muddy the water in front of the dead or sew up their eyes.

Rituals of Easter week

Easter is a holiday of renewal and rebirth, which is why many rituals with traditions that are associated with marriage, youth celebrations, and bride-to-be parties fall on Bright Week. The rituals themselves differed in different villages:

• In some, girls dressed in their best dresses competed in dexterity, knocking down wooden figures with a long painted pole. The guys from all over the area were looking for the most dexterous and accurate one.
• In other regions, dressed-up girls gathered in the church square to show off, and then rode horseback throughout the village.

Easter week also attracted young people with the opportunity to do something magical ritual, designed to speed up marriage, for example, fortune telling.

Many believe that a baby born during Easter week will be endowed with good health, good luck and will achieve a lot in life.

Games and fun

Throughout the entire Bright Easter week, people had fun, every day they went to visit, gathered with loved ones for a festive meal, and then sang, danced, danced in circles, had fun in every way, and were simply happy. Among the common Easter fun, unfortunately lost or forgotten today:

By the way, it was believed that while riding on a swing, the wind would blow away sins from a person.

End of Bright Week

The last day of Easter week is called differently. Most often it is called:

• Thomas Sunday is connected with the fact that the Apostle Thomas saw the risen Christ for the first time, but did not believe that he had seen a miracle.
• Antipascha, that is, a day similar to Easter, just as joyful and festive. This Sunday the festive liturgy is served for the last time, and the altar doors in churches are closed.
• Red Hill, so named because all the festivities took place on thawed hills or beautiful (red) hills. It is this day that notifies everyone that spring has finally arrived.

The peak of Easter week celebrations falls on this Sunday. During the day, many games are held, noisy, cheerful crowds gather everywhere, everyone, young and old, sings and has fun. Among the holidays of Easter week, Krasnaya Gorka is popularly known as a wedding day; young people strive to get married at this time, because popular belief Whoever marries Krasnaya Gorka will never get divorced.

Unmarried youth from all over the area necessarily participated in festivities and games, and refusal could bring misfortune.

The first Easter week is followed by St. Thomas Week, and the holidays themselves are still ongoing, but the traditions and rituals will already differ significantly from Bright Week.

From Easter to Trinity there are seven weeks, which are also called Holy Pentecost. On seven Sundays we remember different events, features prayer rule and bows.

Throughout the seven weeks, Orthodox Christians greet each other with the words "Christ is Risen!" and answer “Truly He is Risen!”, before eating food, the Easter troparion is sung. These days in church calendar are specially allocated and are considered the Weeks “after Easter”.

Particularly stands out Week one– , in 2017 comes with April 16 to 22. This is a continuous week, that is, a week has no fast days, besides this, the whole week is possible. There are also features in the rule of preparation for communion, evening and morning prayers- instead of the prayer rule, also instead of Compline and the Midnight Office, the Hours of Easter are sung or read (until the morning of Saturday of Bright Week inclusive). And the canons of Repentance, the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel in preparation for communion are replaced by the canon of Easter.

Second week, Fomina, Antipascha,. It begins with the recollection of the assurance of the Apostle Thomas on the Resurrection of Christ, in 2017. April 23 and continues until April 29. This week is an important event- , day special commemoration deceased. From this week on, meals follow the usual annual tradition - Wednesday and Friday are fast days.

Week three. Mironositskaya, it starts in 2017. April 30 The Day of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women ends the 6th of May.

This week we remember the myrrh-bearers, who at the very beginning of Sunday hurried to pay their last respects to the crucified Teacher and found the Tomb empty.

Week four. About the relaxed, starts in 2017 May 7 with the remembrance of the miracle of the raising up of the paralytic, performed by Christ, and ends may 13. This week let's think about how important it is in order to follow Christ, to first trust Him and get up (start).

Week five. About the Samaritan woman, starts in 2017 May 14 with the memory of Christ’s conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well and ends May 20. The simple heart of the Samaritan woman openly accepted the words of Christ, like pure water.

Week six. About the blind, starts in 2017 May 21st, with a recollection of the miracle of giving sight to a man born blind, in response to faith, ends May 27. This miracle was performed on Saturday, which served as a kind of challenge to the Pharisees and became an image of the state of everyone who believed in the Savior. On Tuesday May 22 - Feast of St. Nicholas, which is intransitive. Thursday of this week always falls Feast of the Ascension of the Lord May 25.

Week seven, begins May 28 in memory about the First Ecumenical Council and ends June 3. At this Council, Bishop Mir Lykiyskikh Nikolay, later nicknamed the Wonderworker, opposed Arius and defeated heresy.

After all seven weeks of Easter have ended, feast of the Holy Trinity, which in 2017 falls on June 4.

From the day Holy Easter before the holiday Ascension of the Lord all prayers are preceded by three readings of the troparion of Easter

WITH Ascension to Trinity all prayers begin with Trisagion.

From the day Holy Easter to Trinity Day prayer "King of Heaven..." not readable.

From the day of Holy Easter to the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, prayer "Worthy to eat" is replaced by:

From Ascension to the Day of the Holy Trinity, both of these prayers are not read

From the day of Holy Easter to the day of the Holy Trinity, prostrations to the ground are canceled.