What are Orthodox holidays
What are Orthodox holidays
Orthodox holidays are important for understanding the verythe essence of Christianity. They are not always devoted to happy and joyful events, but they are always connected with the spiritual world of man. The admission to Orthodox holidays helps a person to escape from earthly cares, to approach to higher spheres. Christian holidays are dedicated to the church glorification of the most significant religious events, revered icons or the celebration of the Saints.
Easter - Bright Sunday
The main Orthodox holiday - Easter, BrightChrist Sunday. At the same time, Easter is the main event for Orthodox Christians, Catholics prefer Christmas. On the night of Easter is not recommended to sleep, so as not to oversleep the main events of the holiday. In the evening, Christians go to church for the all-night service, and on their return sit down at the festive table. Even the dead at Easter, is considered happy, since the gates of heaven on this day are open to all. Every Orthodox Christian on the Bright Sunday of Christ should greet others with the words: "Christ is risen!", Receiving in reply: "Truly, He is risen!" Twelve Great Holidays
Following Easter, the most significant are the Twelveholidays. There are only 12 of them, hence the name derived from the Old Russian "two on the tenth". Christmas is the second most significant holiday among Orthodox holidays, which is celebrated on the night of 6 to 7 January. Christmas night services are held in Orthodox churches this night. The holiday is set in honor of the wonderful birth of Jesus Christ. In Russia, the celebration of Christmas was accompanied by a lot of folk customs, including caroling, tattooing, Christmas and holy fortune-telling. Merry Christmas is followed by other great twelve festivals: Baptism, the Presentation of the Lord, the Annunciation, the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, the Nativity of the Virgin, the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin, the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday, the Ascension of the Lord, the Trinity Day. Orthodox holidays are dedicated to the Apostles (for example, St. Peter and Paul), there are also holidays dedicated to the miraculous icons of the Mother of God, and Patronal Feasts. Thrones are called holidays dedicated to the saint or event, from which the name of the temple occurred. In the old days, patronal feasts were especially revered and celebrated by all parishioners. Orthodox holidays are one of the most luminous and eventful pages of Russian spiritual culture. Their high meaning enlightens and ennobles the souls of people, sometimes regardless of the degree of faith. In addition, they carry an enlightening function in themselves, acquainting people with the history of the Christian faith, the traditions of Russian Orthodoxy and folk customs.
