Every religion has established holidays. The church year - the alternation of weekdays and holidays. On weekdays, the Christian must work hard, "the sweat of his bread to produce." On holidays people should relax, to go to church to feel involvement in the higher world. Orthodox holidays are divided into movable, that is, passing from one year to the celebration of different dates, according to the civil calendar, and still, those who each year are found in the same date.

Rollovers Orthodox holidays

In the Orthodox Church holidays are considered days of the annual liturgical cycle in which Holy Communion is made (the sacrament of the Eucharist). In the strict sense of Christian worship, holidays called all the days in which the Charter of the Church does not prohibit the full liturgy.

All movable feasts in the Church and relate their origin depending on Easter - the Resurrection of Christ, the oldest and the main holiday of the liturgical year. Holiday begins with the preparation for Easter, a week before Lent. This week includes events such as the Week of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, canonized, the week of the Publican and the Pharisee, the prodigal son, THE SATURDAY, week of the Last Judgment, otherwise called Cheese-fare week, Cheese Week, popularly called Carnival and Cheesefare week ending Forgiveness Sunday.

Followed by Lent - the main lengthy post Christians. His goal - the cleansing of body and soul before Easter. This post is established in imitation of Jesus Christ fasted for forty days in the desert. The duration of the post somehow correlated with the number forty, but the actual duration of the Orthodox - seven weeks Chetyrehdesyatnitsy. At the end of Lent comes the main Orthodox holiday - the Resurrection of Christ.

The division which do not go on passing and holidays associated with the Old Testament Passover, which was celebrated on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan, he usually got in March or April. In Israel, there were a few calendars, theologians and the Council each year set a new date, referring to the first spring full moon. Depending on this calculated date of Pentecost, the day of the Holy Trinity, which the Church celebrates on the fiftieth day after Easter. On the fortieth day after Easter is celebrated on Ascension Day. In addition to passing the holidays is a great Entry into Jerusalem.

Which do not go holidays

Orthodox holidays which do not go nine, they come in twelve Twelve great feasts (three of which - mobile). These are holidays that are celebrated by the Church each year in the same day. According to the chronology of the church year, which begins on September 14 and include Nativity of the Virgin on September 21 on the Gregorian calendar, Exaltation of the Cross - September 27, Presentation of Mary - December 4 Christmas - January 7, Epiphany, Epiphany - 19 January Candlemas - February 15, Annunciation - April 7, the Transfiguration of Christ (Saviour) - August 19, Assumption of Mary - August 28.

Next in importance is followed by five more great holidays which do not go. Intercession of the Theotokos is celebrated by the Church on October 14 Circumcision of the Lord - January 14, St. John the Baptist - July 7, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul - July 12 Beheading of St. John the Baptist - September 11th.

In addition, every week highlights the every Sunday, which is dedicated to the memory of the resurrection of Christ and is referred to as "small Easter." The name "Sunday" the day of the week was in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion.

Between all Orthodox holidays there is an internal link that expresses the basic idea of ​​the Church of the cycle. The most important point of all holidays - from birth through Calvary, death on the cross to the Resurrection, a symbol of eternal life on earth. All twelve Twelve great feasts reveal the essence of the great scriptures. Parishioner, each time taking part in worship over the celebration of these dates, re-living the gospel story of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, finding in this spiritual support, and internal harmony, is purified and becomes stronger.

Orthodox calendar of holidays like a finely tuned fork to the Christian way of life. Personally, participating in all Orthodox holidays, parishioners learn to live in harmony with itself and the world realizes the great mystery of the Resurrection.

Jeanne Pyatirikova

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