We offer you a church calendar Orthodox holidays in May 2016, accurate and correct date(number) of all religious holidays. What church holidays are celebrated in May, when is Orthodox Easter, exact date holiday, when it will be Parents' Day of Remembrance of the Dead Radonitsa.
1st of May
Easter. Easter - great light Christian holiday, established in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “The Feast of Feasts and the Triumph of Solemnities,” is what the Orthodox call it. Easter is considered the most important event church year. The holiday of Easter is preceded by Lent, which will begin on March 14 and will last 40 days, until the Resurrection of Christ. On Easter, it is customary to bless and treat each other with Easter cakes and red-painted eggs, which symbolize the blood of Christ.
Maximovskaya icon Mother of God
May 2
Memorial Day of the Holy Blessed Elder Matrona of Moscow
Day of Remembrance Venerable John Old Cave in the church calendar
May 2-9 - Bright Week - the week following Easter. Happy Sunday Lent precedes Lent, after which Bright Week begins. It lasts seven days, starting from Easter and ending with St. Thomas week. At this time, fasts on Friday and Wednesday have already been canceled. And evening and morning prayers replaces the singing of the Easter Hours. Throughout the seven days, it is customary to ring bells every day, and festive crusades are usually carried out. All days of the week are called bright, and services are expected to be held according to the Easter rite.
the 6th of May
Icon of the Mother of God "Life-Giving Source". In the 5th century, near Constantinople there was a grove dedicated, according to legend, to the Most Holy Theotokos. In this grove there was a spring, glorified for miracles for a long time, but gradually overgrown with bushes and mud. In 450, the warrior Leo Marcellus, the future emperor, having met a lost blind man in this place, helped him get out onto the path and settle in the shade. While looking for water for an exhausted traveler, he heard the voice of the Mother of God commanding him to find an overgrown spring and anoint the eyes of the blind man with mud. When Leo fulfilled the command, the blind man immediately received his sight. The Mother of God also predicted to Leo that he would become emperor, and seven years later this prediction came true.
Memorial Day of the Great Martyr George the Victorious
May 8
2nd week of Easter, Antipascha or Apostle Thomas.
Memorial Day of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark church holidays
9th May
Memorial Day of St. Stephen, Bishop. Velikopermsky
Commemoration of deceased warriors
May 10
Radonitsa, Parent's Day To understand what date is Parent's Day, you need to know the date of Easter. The deceased are remembered on the 9th day after it. The second designation of the parent's day is Radonitsa. The name is derived from Radunitsa. This is how they called one of the pagan Gods. He kept the souls of those who went to another world. In order to provide peace to their ancestors, the Slavs begged the spirit with sacrificial gifts. Radunitsa was transformed into Radonitsa so that the words “genus” and “joy” could be read in the name of the holiday. By the way, historically Russians called family not only blood relatives, but all ancestors in general. Therefore, it is not contrary to tradition to bring Easter gifts to the graves of strangers.
Memorial Day of the Apostle and Hieromartyr Simeon, Bishop. Jerusalem, relative of the Lord
May 11
Memorial Day of St. Cyril, Bishop of Turov
12 May
Memorial Day of the Venerable Memnon the Wonderworker. The Monk Memnon the Wonderworker labored in the Egyptian desert from his youth. Through hard labors of fasting he achieved the victory of the spirit over the flesh. Having become abbot of one of the Egyptian monasteries, he wisely and carefully led the brethren. Helping them with prayer and advice, the monk did not stop his exploits in the fight against temptations. By unceasing prayer and through labor he received the gift of clairvoyance: through his prayer, a source of water opened in the desert, the locusts that were destroying the crops died; Those who were shipwrecked, calling on him for help, were saved. After the death of the saint, the mere invocation of his name drove away the locusts and destroyed any machinations of the spirits of evil.
May 14
Icons of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" is an icon of the Mother of God revered as miraculous in the Russian Orthodox Church. The iconography of the image arose under the influence of the story of the miraculous vision of a sinner, described by Demetrius of Rostov in his essay “Irrigated Fleece” (1683). The story recorded by the saint tells that a certain man had the custom of praying every day in front of the icon of the Mother of God, and then going to the evil deed he had planned. But one day, during prayer, he “sees an image moving and the living Mother of God with her Son. He looked and saw that the Baby’s ulcers had opened on his arms and legs, and in his sides, and blood was flowing from them in streams, like on the Cross.” In fear, the man asked the Virgin Mary about the ulcers and wounds of the Infant God and received the answer that sinners again and again crucify Jesus Christ and make her grieve from their deeds. The sinner persistently asked the Mother of God to have mercy on him and to pray to her son about it. Our Lady agreed, but twice Jesus rejected her prayer for forgiveness of the sinner.
St. Athanasius the Great, Archbishop. Alexandria
Transfer of the relics of the bldgv. knn. Boris and Gleb according to the church calendar
Putivl Icon of the Mother of God
May 17
Old Russian Icon of the Mother of God. The Old Russian Icon of the Mother of God is an icon of the Mother of God revered in the Orthodox Church. Among believers, the icon is revered as miraculous; its celebrations take place on May 4 (17), the day of bringing a copy of the icon to Staraya Russa. The largest portable icon in the world (278 cm height, 202 cm width).
May 18
Icon of the Mother of God "Inexhaustible Chalice"
May 19
The Day of Remembrance of the Righteous Job the Long-Suffering is the day of remembrance of two saints: righteous Job and the passion-bearer Tsar Nicholas II, born on this day. The fates of the saints have many similarities. The long-suffering Job, having humbly endured the most difficult trials, was rewarded with the blessing of God. Royal Martyr Nicholas II with his family, he was also doomed to terrible trials, but received no reward on earth, accepting martyrdom with the hope of Eternal Life.
May 20
Remembrance of the appearance in heaven of the Lord's Cross in Jerusalem
Zhirovichi Icon of the Mother of God Orthodox holiday
May 21st
Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian. The Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian occupies a special place among the chosen disciples of Christ the Savior. Often in iconography, the Apostle John is depicted as a meek, majestic and spirit-bearing old man, with features of virginal tenderness, with a seal complete peace of mind on the forehead and with the deep gaze of a contemplator of ineffable revelations. Other main feature The spiritual appearance of the apostle is revealed through his teaching on love, for which he primarily received the title of Apostle of Love.
Transfer of the relics of Saint and Wonderworker Nicholas from Myra in Lycia to Bar
May 24
Equal to the Apostles Methodius and Cyril, Slovenian teachers - brothers from the city of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki), creators of the Old Slavonic alphabet and language, Christian preachers. Canonized and revered as saints in both the East and the West. In Slavic Orthodoxy, “Slovenian teachers” are revered as saints, equal to the apostles. The accepted order of mention: in scientific and popular science texts - first Cyril, and then Methodius; in church and liturgical usage - in the reverse order (probably because Methodius had a higher rank than his younger brother).
May 28
Memorial Day of St. Pachomius the Great. The founder of the monastic community, St. Pachomius the Great, was born in the 3rd century in Thebaid, in Upper Egypt. Pachomius was baptized and retired to the Egyptian desert, where he began to lead a harsh ascetic life. Having once heard a voice ordering him to build a monastery, the monk founded a monastery in the desert. Soon an Angel of God appeared to him in the form of a schema-monk and handed him the charter monastic life. Pachomius taught the monks of his monastery to place their hope only in the help and mercy of God.
Transfer of the relics of St. Ephraim of Perekom, Novgorod wonderworker, Orthodox holidays
Venerable Theodore the Sanctified
May 30
Memorial Day of the Venerable Euphrosyne, in the world of Evdokia, led. book Moscow church holidays
May 31
Day of Remembrance of the Seven Holy Fathers Ecumenical Councils. The Seven Ecumenical Councils are the formation of the Church, its dogmas, and the definition of the foundations of Christian doctrine. Therefore, it is very important that in the most secret, dogmatic, legislative issues, the Church has never taken the opinion of one person as the highest authority. It was determined, and to this day it remains so, that the authority in the Church is considered to be the conciliar reason of the Church.
May 2016 will be rich in church (Orthodox) holidays. Perhaps this is the second month after January, which adults and children look forward to with such impatience. After all, the main event in May 2016 is the onset of light Easter, and therefore completion. It is May 1, the first day of the last spring month, that this wonderful and long-awaited holiday will come.
Church Orthodox holidays in May 2016
From May 2 to May 8, according to the church calendar, follows Bright Easter Week, otherwise called continuous week. It should be noted that no marriage ceremonies are performed during this week.
May 8 (Sunday) is the day of remembrance of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark. Otherwise, he was called John-Mark as a sign of his connection with Rome. The symbol of this day is a winged lion. Apostle Mark devoted his entire life to serving Christianity, but he died at the hands of the pagans.
May 22 - all Orthodox world will celebrate the holiday summer Nicholas(Nikola Veshny). On this day the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker took place. On this day, one should pray to the great saint with requests to protect the crops, livestock and household from adversity. This day is one of the most happy Holidays spring-summer cycle (see).
All other church holidays that will be celebrated this month can be found in the calendar of Orthodox holidays and fasts, which is made in the form of a table.
Calendar of Orthodox holidays and fasts for May 2016
Orthodox fasts in May 2016
In addition to the holidays, May is also expected to one-day church fasts on Wednesday and Friday. They happen not only in May, but last weekly throughout the year. Fasting on Wednesdays is observed because of Judas' betrayal of the Savior, and Friday fasting is observed in honor of the mortal torment on the cross that Jesus Christ had to experience. During these days, you should abstain from eating meat and milk. However, everyone who is engaged in hard physical labor is allowed to relax the fast so that after a hard day there remains strength for repentance and prayer. Also Orthodox posts Sick people and children are allowed to observe less strictly.
Summing up the results of May 2016, we can say that there will be several one-day church fasts (May 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 and 27). There will be no multi-day fasts.
Also see: choosing a name for a child according to the calendar.
Fixed part church calendar- This is the Julian calendar, diverging by 13 days from the Gregorian calendar. These holidays fall on the same day of the same month every year.
The moving part of the church calendar moves along with the date of Easter, which changes from year to year. The date of Easter celebration itself is determined according to lunar calendar and a number of additional dogmatic factors (not to celebrate Easter with the Jews, to celebrate Easter only after the spring equinox, to celebrate Easter only after the first spring full moon). All holidays with variable dates are counted from Easter and move in time on the “secular” calendar along with it.
Thus, both parts of the Easter calendar (movable and fixed) together determine the calendar of Orthodox holidays.
Below are the most significant ones for Orthodox Christian events - the so-called Twelfth Holidays and Great Holidays. Although the Orthodox Church celebrates holidays according to the “old style”, which differs by 13 days, the dates in the Calendar, for convenience, are indicated according to the generally accepted secular calendar of the new style.
Orthodox calendar for 2016:
Permanent holidays:07.01 - Nativity of Christ (twelfth)
14.01 - Circumcision of the Lord (great)
19.01 - Epiphany of the Lord (twelfth)
15.02 - Presentation of the Lord (twelfth)
07.04 - Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelfth)
21.05 - Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
22.05 - St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, wonderworker
07.07 - Nativity of John the Baptist (great)
12.07 - Holy First. apostles Peter and Paul (great)
19.08 - Transfiguration of the Lord (twelfth)
28.08 - Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelfth)
11.09 - Beheading of John the Baptist (great)
21.09 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelfth)
27.09 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross (twelfth)
09.10 - Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
14.10 - Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (great)
04.12 - Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelfth)
19.12 - St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, wonderworker
Days special commemoration deceased
05.03 - Universal parent's Saturday(Saturday before week o Last Judgment)
26.03 - Ecumenical Parental Saturday of the 2nd week of Lent
02.04 - Ecumenical Parental Saturday of the 3rd week of Lent
09.04 - Ecumenical Parental Saturday of the 4th week of Lent
10.05 - Radonitsa (Tuesday of the 2nd week of Easter)
09.05 - Commemoration of deceased soldiers
18.06 - Trinity Parents' Saturday (Saturday before Trinity)
05.11 - Dmitrievskaya Parents' Saturday (Saturday before November 8)
ABOUT ORTHODOX HOLIDAYS:
TWELVETH HOLIDAYS
In worship Orthodox Church twelve great holidays of the annual liturgical circle (except Easter). Divided into The Lord's, dedicated to Jesus Christ, and the Theotokos, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
According to the time of celebration, the twelfth holidays are divided into motionless(non-transient) and movable(transitionable). The former are constantly celebrated on the same dates of the month, the latter fall on different dates every year, depending on the date of celebration Easter.
ABOUT MEAL ON HOLIDAYS:
According to the Church Charter on holidays Nativity of Christ And Epiphanies, happened on Wednesday and Friday, there is no post.
IN Christmas And Epiphany Christmas Eve and on holidays Exaltation of the Holy Cross And Beheading of John the Baptist Food with vegetable oil is allowed.
On the feasts of the Presentation, Transfiguration of the Lord, Dormition, Nativity and Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Theologian, which occurred on Wednesday and Friday, as well as in the period from Easter before Trinity Fish is allowed on Wednesday and Friday.
ABOUT FASTS IN ORTHODOXY:
Fast- a form of religious asceticism, the exercise of spirit, soul and body on the path to salvation within the framework of a religious view; voluntary self-restraint in food, entertainment, communication with the world. Corporal fasting- food restriction; sincere post- limitation of external impressions and pleasures (solitude, silence, prayerful concentration); spiritual fasting- struggle with one’s “bodily lusts”, a period of especially intense prayer.
The most important thing is to realize that physical fasting without spiritual fasting brings nothing to the salvation of the soul. On the contrary, it can be spiritually harmful if a person, abstaining from food, becomes imbued with the consciousness of his own superiority and righteousness. “He who believes that fasting only means abstaining from food is mistaken. True fasting“, - teaches St. John Chrysostom, “is removal from evil, curbing the tongue, putting aside anger, taming lusts, stopping slander, lies and perjury.” Fast- not a goal, but a means to distract yourself from enjoying your body, concentrate and think about your soul; without all this, it becomes just a diet.
Great Lent, Holy Pentecost(Greek Tessarakoste; Lat. Quadragesima) - the period of the liturgical year preceding Holy Week And Easter holiday, the most important of the multi-day fasts. Due to Easter may fall on different calendar numbers, Lent also every year starts at different days. It includes 6 weeks, or 40 days, which is why it is also called St. Pentecostal.
Fast For Orthodox man- This a set of good deeds, sincere prayer, abstinence in everything, including food. Physical fasting is necessary to perform spiritual and mental fasting; all of them in their combination form the post is true, promoting the spiritual reunification of those who fast with God. IN days of fasting(days of fasting) the Church Charter prohibits modest food - meat and dairy products; fish is allowed only on some days fast days. IN days of strict fasting Not only fish is not allowed, but any hot food and food cooked in vegetable oil, only cold food without oil and unheated drinks (sometimes called dry eating). In the Russian Orthodox Church there are four multi-day fasts, three one-day fasts and, in addition, fasting on Wednesday and Friday (with the exception of special weeks) throughout the year.
Wednesday and Friday installed as a sign that Christ was betrayed by Judas on Wednesday and crucified on Friday. Saint Athanasius the Great said: “By allowing meat to be eaten on Wednesday and Friday, this man crucifies the Lord.” During the summer and autumn meat-eaters (periods between the Petrov and Assumption fasts and between the Assumption and Rozhdestven fasts), Wednesday and Friday are days of strict fasting. During winter and spring meat-eaters (from Christmas to Lent and from Easter to Trinity), the Charter allows fish on Wednesday and Friday. Fish on Wednesday and Friday is also permitted when the holidays of the Presentation of the Lord, the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Entry of the Virgin Mary into the Temple, the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, and the Apostle John the Theologian fall on these days. If the holidays of the Nativity of Christ and Epiphany fall on Wednesday and Friday, then fasting on these days is canceled. On the eve (eve, Christmas Eve) of the Nativity of Christ (usually a day of strict fasting), which happens on Saturday or Sunday, food with vegetable oil is allowed.
Solid weeks(in Church Slavonic, a week is called a week - days from Monday to Sunday) means the absence of fasting on Wednesday and Friday. Established by the Church as a relaxation before a multi-day fast or as a rest after it. The continuous weeks are as follows:
1. Christmas time - from January 7 to January 18 (11 days), from Christmas to Epiphany.
2. The Publican and the Pharisee - two weeks before Great Lent.
3. Cheese - the week before Lent (eggs, fish and dairy are allowed throughout the week, but without meat).
4. Easter (Light) - week after Easter.
5. Trinity - the week after Trinity (the week before Peter's Fast).
One-day posts except Wednesday and Friday (days of strict fasting, no fish, but food with vegetable oil is allowed):
1. Epiphany Eve (Epiphany Eve) January 18, the day before the feast of the Epiphany. On this day, believers prepare themselves to receive the great shrine - Agiasma - Epiphany Holy Water, for purification and consecration with it at the upcoming holiday.
2. Beheading of John the Baptist - September 11. On this day, a fast was established in memory of the abstinent life of the great prophet John and his lawless murder by Herod.
3. Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27. This day reminds us of the sad event on Golgotha, when “for our salvation” the Savior of the human race suffered on the Cross. And therefore this day must be spent in prayer, fasting, contrition for sins, in a feeling of repentance.
MULTI-DAY POSTS:
1. Great Lent or Holy Pentecost.
It begins seven weeks before the holiday of Holy Easter and consists of Pentecost (forty days) and Holy Week(the week leading up to Easter). Pentecost was established in honor of the forty-day fast of the Savior Himself, and Holy Week - in remembrance last days earthly life, suffering, death and burial of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The total continuation of Great Lent along with Holy Week is 48 days.
The days from the Nativity of Christ to Lent (until Maslenitsa) are called Christmas or winter meat-eater. This period contains three continuous weeks - Christmastide, Publican and Pharisee, Maslenitsa. After Christmastide, fish is allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays, until the whole week (when you can eat meat on all days of the week), which comes after the “Week of the Publican and the Pharisee” (“week” in Church Slavonic means “Sunday”). In the next week, after the full week, fish is no longer allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but vegetable oil is still allowed. Monday - food with butter, Wednesday, Friday - cold food without butter. This establishment has the purpose of gradual preparation for Great Lent. The last time before Lent, meat is allowed on the “Meat Eating Week” - the Sunday before Maslenitsa.
In the next week - cheese week (Maslenitsa), eggs, fish, and dairy products are allowed all week, but they no longer eat meat. They make a fast for Lent (the last time they eat fast food, with the exception of meat) on the last day of Maslenitsa - Forgiveness Sunday. This day is also called “Cheese Week”.
It is customary to observe the first and Holy Weeks of Great Lent with particular strictness. On Monday of the first week of Lent (Clean Monday), the highest degree of fasting is established - complete abstinence from food (pious laymen with ascetic experience abstain from food on Tuesday as well). During the remaining weeks of fasting: on Monday, Wednesday and Friday - cold food without oil, Tuesday, Thursday - hot food without oil (vegetables, cereals, mushrooms), on Saturday and Sunday vegetable oil is allowed and, if necessary for health, a little pure grape wine (but in no case vodka). If the memory of a great saint occurs (with an all-night vigil or a polyeleos service the day before), then on Tuesday and Thursday - food with vegetable oil, Monday, Wednesday, Friday - hot food without oil. You can find out about the holidays in the Typikon or the Followed Psalter. Fish is allowed twice during the entire fast: on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (if the holiday does not fall on Holy Week) and on Palm Sunday, on Lazarus Saturday (the Saturday before Palm Sunday) fish caviar is allowed, on Friday of Holy Week it is customary not to eat any food until it is taken out shrouds (our ancestors in Good Friday did not eat at all).
Bright Week (the week after Easter) is continuous - fasting is allowed on all days of the week. Since next week after the continuous season until Trinity (spring meat-eater), fish is allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays. The week between Trinity and Peter's Fast is continuous.
2. Petrov or Apostolic Fast.
Lent begins a week after the feast of the Holy Trinity and ends on July 12, the day of the celebration of the memory of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. Established in honor of the holy apostles and in remembrance of the fact that the holy apostles, after the descent of the Holy Spirit on them, dispersed to all countries with the good news, always being in the feat of fasting and prayer. The duration of this post is different years varies and depends on the day of Easter celebration. The shortest fast lasts 8 days, the longest - 6 weeks. Fish is allowed during this fast, except on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Monday - hot food without oil, Wednesday and Friday - strict fasting (cold food without oil). On other days - fish, cereals, mushroom dishes with vegetable oil. If the memory of the great saint happens on Monday, Wednesday or Friday - hot food with butter. On the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist (July 7), according to the Charter, fish is allowed.
In the period from the end of Peter's fast to the beginning of the Assumption fast (summer meat-eater), Wednesday and Friday are days of strict fasting. But if these days fall on the feasts of a great saint with an all-night vigil or a polyeleos service the day before, then food with vegetable oil is allowed. If temple holidays occur on Wednesday and Friday, then fish is also allowed.
3. Assumption Fast (from August 14 to August 27).
Erected in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mother of God herself, preparing to depart to eternal life, constantly fasted and prayed. We, the spiritually infirm and weak, should all the more resort to fasting as often as possible, turning to the Most Holy Virgin for help in every need and sorrow. This fast lasts only two weeks, but its severity is consistent with the Great One. Fish is allowed only on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), and if the end of the fast (Assumption) falls on Wednesday or Friday, then this day is also a fish day. Monday, Wednesday, Friday - cold food without oil, Tuesday and Thursday - hot food without oil, Saturday and Sunday - food with vegetable oil. Wine is prohibited on all days. If the memory of a great saint happens, then on Tuesday and Thursday - hot food with butter, Monday, Wednesday, Friday - hot food without butter.
The food regulations on Wednesdays and Fridays during the period from the end of the Dormition Fast to the beginning of the Nativity Fast (autumn fast) are the same as during the summer meat-eater, i.e. on Wednesdays and Fridays, fish is allowed only on the days of the twelfths and temple holidays. Food with vegetable oil on Wednesday and Friday is allowed only if these days fall on holidays in memory of a great saint with an all-night vigil or a polyeleos service the day before.
4. Christmas (Filippov) fast (from November 28 to January 6).
This fast was established on the day of the Nativity of Christ, so that we cleanse ourselves at this time with repentance, prayer and fasting and with with a pure heart met the Savior who appeared in the world. Sometimes this fast is called Filippov, as a sign that it begins after the day of celebration of the memory of the Apostle Philip (November 27). The regulations regarding food during this Lent coincide with the regulations of Petrov's Fast until St. Nicholas Day (December 19). If the feasts of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 4) and St. Nicholas fall on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, then fish is allowed. From the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas until the pre-festival of Christmas, which begins on January 2, fish is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday. On the pre-celebration of the Nativity of Christ, fasting is observed in the same way as during the days of Great Lent: fish is prohibited on all days, food with butter is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday. On Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve), January 6, pious custom requires not to eat food until the appearance of the first evening star, after which it is customary to eat kolivo or sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins; in some areas sochivo is called boiled dry fruits with sugar. The name of this day comes from the word “sochivo” - Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is also before the feast of the Epiphany. On this day (January 18), it is also customary not to eat food until taking Agiasma - Epiphany holy water, which begins to be blessed on the very day of Christmas Eve.
There is no service brighter and more joyful than Orthodox Easter. They say that Easter night is the most silent and quiet night of the year. The Easter service begins with a procession of the cross around the church, with lighted candles in the hands of all those gathered and with the singing: “Thy Resurrection, O Christ the Savior, the Angels are singing in heaven: grant us also on earth (worthy) to glorify Thee with a pure heart.” This procession reminiscent of the procession of the myrrh-bearing women in the early morning to the Tomb of the Savior to anoint His most pure Body. Having gone around the temple, the procession stops in front of the closed main doors, and the priest begins Matins with the exclamation: “Glory to the Holy Ones, consubstantial, life-giving and indivisible Trinity.” Then, like the Angel who announced to the myrrh-bearers about the Resurrection of Christ, he sings the Easter troparion “Christ is Risen from the Dead” three times, together with other clergy. Everyone enters the open doors of the temple and, after the joyful words of the priest, “Christ is Risen!”, they rejoice and answer, “Truly He is Risen!” On this night, in the Easter kiss and welcoming gospel, people's hearts open to the jubilation of love.
On this same day - memory martyr John the New
MAY 2
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Bright Week is continuous. Monday of Holy Week. The solemn celebration of Easter continues throughout the entire week (week), it is called Easter or Easter.
On the same day - memory blzh. Matrona of Moscow
MAY 3
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Tuesday of Bright Week. Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
On this day they also remember those who converted to Orthodoxy Ahmed. A Muslim Turk by origin, he lived in Istanbul, held a significant government post, and by the time of his conversion was already quite mature in age. He had a Russian concubine slave. Apparently, Ahmed, who was distinguished by religious tolerance, allowed her to freely visit Christian Church. Over time, Ahmed noticed special grace-filled changes in her that occurred every time she came from worship. Interested in this, he expressed to the priest a desire to attend the liturgy during the patriarch's service, and received such an opportunity. As a noble guest, a special place was prepared for him. And so, during the liturgy, this Muslim official suddenly saw that rays emanated from the trikirium and the fingers of the patriarch, who was blessing the people, and passed to the heads of all Christians, and only his own head remained deprived. Amazed by such a miracle, Ahmed expressed a desire to be baptized immediately, which was secretly performed on him, probably by the patriarch himself. The name "Ahmed" was replaced by a Christian name at baptism.
For some time the future martyr remains a secret Christian. There were a lot of secret Christians both among Muslim dignitaries (including even mullahs) and among the common population. For many years, they came to the “Al-Sufiya Mosque” and secretly performed Christian prayers every day. Secret Christians still exist in the countries of the Muslim world. Just as there are obvious Christians, including converts, who sometimes carry out the feat of confession for years.
So, for some time St. Ahmed remains a secret Christian. This continued until one day at a meeting the nobles began to argue about what was above all. When it came to Ahmed’s turn and they asked his opinion, he unexpectedly loudly announced to everyone: “Above all else is the Christian faith.” And he confessed himself to be a Christian. St. Ahmed went to the end and accepted martyrdom on May 3, 1682
THE 6TH OF MAY -
Friday of Holy Week. Honoring Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Source”. The icon was painted in memory of the discovery by Emperor Leo in 450 near Constantinople of a miraculous water source that provided healing to the suffering. On this day, water-blessing prayers and religious processions to water sources are held in churches: the Church glorifies the Mother of God as our Intercessor and Intercessor, through whose intercession many wondrous, grace-filled miracles are performed in the world.
Memory of St. Vmch. St. George the Victorious, patron saint of the army and the city of Moscow. The valiant commander endured the most severe torture from the persecutor of Christians, Emperor Diocletian, with his courage leading to faith among many others St. martyr Queen Alexandra- the wife of his tormentor. Vmch. Defenders of the Fatherland, Christ-loving warriors pray to St. George the Victorious.
MAY 7 - Saturday of Holy Week. Artos Giveaway. The word "artos" is translated from Greek as "leavened bread." The use of artos dates back to the very beginning of Christianity. Imitating the apostles, the first shepherds of the Church established that on the feast of the Resurrection of Christ, bread should be placed in the church as a visible expression of the fact that the Savior who suffered for us became for us the true bread of life.
The artos is consecrated on the first day of Holy Easter at the Liturgy after the prayer behind the pulpit. The lectern with the artos is placed on the sole in front of the image of the Savior throughout Bright Week. At the end of the Liturgies, religious processions around the temple are solemnly performed with him. On Saturday of Bright Week, the artos is broken up and at the end of the Liturgy (during the kissing of the cross) it is distributed to the people.
Particles of consecrated bread received in the temple are reverently kept by believers as a spiritual cure for illnesses and infirmities.
Artos is used in special cases, for example in illness, and always with the words “Christ is risen!
Memory martyr Savva Stratelates..
MAY 8 –
Anti-Easter. Week 2 of Easter, Apostle Thomas. The 2nd week of Easter is called Antipascha, as the end of the celebration of Bright Week and meaning “instead of Easter,” otherwise it is called the renewal of Easter. On this day, the appearance of Christ to the disciples, among whom was the apostle, is remembered. Thomas, who did not want to believe the resurrection of the Lord until he himself saw the Risen One. Having given assurance to Thomas by touching His wounds, the Lord said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
In the same day - memory of St. Apostle and Evangelist Mark, also called John Mark, apostle of the 70, nephew of the ap. Barnabas, born in Jerusalem. The house of his mother Mary adjoined the Garden of Gethsemane. On the night when the Lord Jesus Christ was led to trial before the high priest, John-Mark followed the Savior, wrapped in a cloak, and ran away from the soldiers who were trying to capture him. St. Mark was the closest companion of the apostles Peter, Paul and Barnabas. When together with up. Peter Mark was in Rome, Christians asked him to write for them everything that he had heard about Christ from Peter. This is how the Gospel of Mark appeared. This apostle is traditionally depicted with Leo, because he begins his Gospel with the sermon of St. John the Baptist, like the voice of a lion in the desert.
9TH MAY - Victory Day. In churches, after the Liturgy, a thanksgiving prayer and litany are held for the departed soldiers.
Memory sschmch. Basil, Bishop of Amasia and St. Stephen, Bishop of Great Perm.
MAY 10 - RADONITSA. Remembrance of the Dead. Radonitsa is the name given to the Easter commemoration of the dead, performed on Tuesday of the second week of Easter. The Church calls on us, following the example of the Lord, to proclaim the joy of the Bright Resurrection of Christ to all those who have fallen asleep from time immemorial. It is on Radonitsa that a funeral meal is served and part of what was prepared is given to the poor brethren for the commemoration of the soul.
Today is a memory Apostle and Hieromartyr Simeon, relative of the Lord. St. Simeon was the son of Cleopas, the younger brother of St. Joseph the Betrothed. In adulthood, he believed in Christ and became one of His disciples, denouncing idolatry. In 63 after the death of St. ap. James, the first bishop of Jerusalem, in his place Christians elected St. Simeon. The hundred-year-old elder Simeon was crucified by the pagans on the cross.
MAY 12 - Memory Nine Holy Martyrs of Cyzicus. The holy Christian martyrs came from different places. All of them, by God’s knowledge, ended up in the city of Cyzicus, located on the shores of the Dardanelles Strait. Christianity spread in this city back in the time of St. Paul, but persecution of pagans led to many of the believers fleeing the city. Nine Christians, united by love for the Lord, openly confessed Christ. For such daring they were seized and brought to the ruler of the city. They were tortured for several days and then beheaded with a sword. This happened at the end of the 3rd century. In 324, under Emperor Constantine the Great, the incorrupt bodies of the martyrs were removed from the ground and placed in a temple built in their honor.
MAY 13 - Memory St. Apostle James (Zebedee). He was one of the 12 apostles, the brother of John the Theologian, one of the closest disciples of Jesus Christ and witnessed the greatest miracles of the Savior during His earthly life. The holy apostle, after the ascension of Jesus Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit, preached the Gospel in Judea and suffered martyrdom in Jerusalem. He was beheaded in 44. Before his death, he prayed to the Lord to forgive his tormentors and guide the foolish on the path of truth.
The Church commemorates today Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, Bishop of the Caucasus and Black Sea (1867). In 1827 he was a novice at the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery in Olonets province. The saint could see the state of souls of other people. He outlined the ascetic teaching of the holy fathers of the Church in relation to the needs and spiritual needs of the people of the modern world.
MAY 14 - Memory of Rev. Paphnutius Borovsky(1478). He was the abbot of the Borovsky monastery. The monk helped poor, sick, and needy people, and during his lifetime he was a great miracle worker and seer.
Today is a holiday icons of the Mother of God " Unexpected joy»,
very revered in Rus'. In many churches, healings of the sick were performed near this icon.
MAY 15 –
3rd week of Easter, holy myrrh-bearing women. On this Sunday, the Church remembers the holy myrrh-bearing women - devoted disciples of the Lord during His life, who were the first to accept the news of the Light Christ's Resurrection: Mary Magdalene, Susanna and others. Therefore, the Week of the Myrrh-Bearing Women is also called Orthodox Women's Day.
Together with the holy myrrh-bearing women on this day we remember righteous Joseph and Nicodemus who served at the burial of Christ, and subsequently preached in their homeland about the Risen Lord, having suffered much persecution from the Jews.
In the same day-Transfer of the relics of the bldgv. Russian princes Boris and Gleb, in holy baptism Roman and David(1072 and 1115). The first Russian saints. The divine overcomes the human. The life of the holy martyrs and passion-bearers Boris and Gleb tells us about this: a rare case in the lives of saints when it is not the courageous joy of those going to death for Christ that is depicted, but weakness, struggle and tears. It is all the more obvious that, in the end, it is not by their own power, but by Christ’s, that the saints triumph.
16TH OF MAY - Rev. Theodosius, abbot of Kiev-Pechersk(1074), who in 1064 organized the life of the first cenobitic monastery in Rus' according to the strict charter of St. Theodora Studite: endless humility, tireless work, nothing to own. The Kiev Pechersk Lavra became the glory of Holy Rus'. Prince Izyaslav loved Saint Theodosius very much and often invited him to his palace for spiritual conversations. Many boyars were his spiritual children. Combining firmness with meekness, St. Theodosius was not afraid to expose their vices and crimes.
Also on this day we honor Icon of the Mother of God of the Dormition of Kiev-Pechersk- one of the oldest revealed icons in the Russian Orthodox Church. Holy Mother of God handed it over to 4 Byzantine architects, who in 1073 brought the icon of St. Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk. The icon more than once defended the country from enemy invasion. The Mother of God blessed the Russian troops marching to the Battle of Poltava (1709).
Today is a celebration icons of the Mother of God of Svensk. Chernigov Prince Roman Mikhailovich, while in Bryansk, lost his sight. Having heard about the miracles and healings that occurred from the miraculous image of the Pechersk Mother of God and from the great wonderworkers Anthony and Theodosius of the Kiev-Pechersk, the prince sent alms to the monastery with a request to bring the icon to Bryansk. The priests accompanying the icon had to spend one of the nights on the banks of the Svenya River. Getting up in the morning, they went to pray in the boat to the icon, but they did not find it there, but were surprised to see it on the mountain opposite the river, standing on an oak tree between the branches. This miraculous phenomenon, from which the icon received the name Svenskaya, was announced to Prince Roman. He hurried to this place, where he fervently prayed for insight and made a vow to build a temple and monastery on this holy place. At that very moment he saw a path in front of him and ordered a cross to be erected here. A prayer service was served before the icon. The prince kept his word. A temple was soon built on this site in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God. Miracle-working icon he ordered to overlay it with gold and silver. And then, in memory of the appearance of the Svensk Icon, a holiday was established on May 16 (May 3, O.S.). Already during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, at his behest, the old salary was replaced with a new one, for which he donated gold, pearls and gems.
In 1812, when hordes of the French were rushing to Bryansk, the inhabitants of his city made a religious procession with the miraculous image of the revered Svensk Icon of the Mother of God. In gratitude for the deliverance of Bryansk from destruction, in 1815 the residents placed a golden robe with crowns on the icon of the Intercessor.
This holy icon was painted by St. Alypius, who studied icon painting from Byzantine painters. On the icon in front of the golden throne on which he majestically sits Holy Virgin with the blessing Child, there are two holy men, the founders of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra - St. Anthony (left) and St. Theodosius (right).
MAY 18 - holiday Icon of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice”. This icon became famous for its miracle work in 1878. The Tula peasant Stefan was obsessed with the disease of drunkenness; One day an elder appeared to him in a dream and ordered him to go to the Serpukhov Monastery to the icon of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice” to receive healing. Stefan went to the monastery, where, after a long search, such an icon was found. After performing a prayer service in front of this image, Stefan returned home completely healthy and free from illness.
Soon news of miraculous image spread throughout Russia, and many began to offer prayers to this icon for their relatives and friends, obsessed with passion wine drinking. This tradition continues to this day.
MAY 19 - on this day the Church commemorates the Old Testament righteous man Job the Long-Suffering, and on the same day in 1868 the holy passion-bearer emperor was born Nicholas II, canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. He acutely felt that his life was similar to the martyrdom of Job. His knowledge of his fate was truly prophetic. “I have more than a presentiment,” he said, “that I am doomed to terrible trials and that I will not be rewarded for them in this world.”
Tsar Nicholas II and his family were bearers of the ideals of Holy Rus', the ideals of Orthodoxy. Unlike many people of that era - Christians in name only - they took Orthodoxy seriously. They were God's chosen ones, and therefore people not of this world (John XV, 19); in the then high society they were strangers. True Christians, they were persecuted in the world; their sorrowful path was crowned with martyrdom. Now, in the host of other Russian saints, they stand before Christ in prayer for Russia.
This day also honors memory of St. Martyr Varvara, warrior. There is so little information about this saint that even his real name is unknown. He was born at the end of the 8th century, and lived in the first half of the 9th century. Was a Muslim. Having miraculously escaped death during the war, he was left alone in enemy territory and took up robbery. Moving from place to place, he robbed and killed lonely Christian travelers, terrorizing the entire area. One day, Barbarian entered the temple intending to kill the priest. The liturgy was going on. A priest named John served. The barbarian waited until the end of the service so that he could carry out his plan without witnesses. But a miracle happens, for a moment he sees Angels, in all the splendor of their greatness, serving the priest of God, whom he intends to kill. In amazement and fear, the robber fell to his knees, and, waiting for the end of the service, he repented and asked to be honored with the sacrament of Baptism. Father John fulfills his request. Having become a Christian, the saint retires to the mountains, indulging in fasting and prayer and avoiding communication with the local residents. One late evening, Nikopol hunters who stopped for the night, mistakenly mistaking a saint sneaking through the tall grass for an animal from afar, shot him with a bow. The saint meets his death completely peacefully and calmly, forgiving his accidental killers who mourn their mistake.
MAY 21ST - Memory of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, occupying a special place among the chosen disciples of Christ the Savior. Service of Love - all life path an apostle who is called the apostle of Love. On this day, every year his burial place is covered with the finest pink ashes, which are collected by believers as help against various diseases. In Petrozavodsk, in the city center on Krupskaya Street (behind the Palace of Creativity for Schoolchildren), a wooden church was erected in the name of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian.
Today –
memory of Arseny the Great. The saint was brought to monastic life by the wonderful destinies of God. He was the tutor of Arcadius and Honorius, sons of Theodosius the Great, Emperor of Byzantium. According to the status of the world, he belonged to the senators and enjoyed special honor among the courtiers. Living at court, Arseny, radiant in appearance with luxury, spent his life as an ascetic, constantly thinking about monastic life.
One day he considered it necessary to punish Arkady for his offense. Angered, the young man decided to kill his teacher. His intention became known to Arseny. He began to pray to God: “Lord! Teach me how I can be saved? And there was a voice to him? “Arseny! Run from people and you will be saved.” At night, he took off the clothes of a courtier, put on the rags of a beggar and left the palace, boarded a ship departing from Constantinople to Alexandria. He went to the desert, where thousands of monks lived in the most exalted manner.
When Arseny, having arrived at the monastery, explained his intention to become a monk, he was taken to Elder John Kolov. The elder put him to the test. When they sat down to eat bread, the elder did not invite Arseny, but left him standing. He stood with his eyes fixed on the ground and thinking that he was standing in the presence of God before His Angels. The elder took the cracker and threw it to Arseny. He explained the elder’s action this way: The elder, like an Angel of God, knew that I was like a dog, even worse than a dog, and therefore he gave me bread like that. As they serve it to a dog: I will eat bread the way dogs eat it. He stood on his hands and feet, took the bread with his lips, took it to a corner and ate it there. The elder, seeing such humility, said: “He will become a skilled monk.”
Arseny achieved special spiritual success and was ranked among the numerous ranks of holy ascetics, and became known as Arseny the Great. He spent 55 years in great exploits and died at the age of 95. St. Arseny the Great taught: “Many times have I repented of my words, but never of my silence.”
22ND OF MAY - 4th week of Easter, about the relaxed. Today the Church remembers the miraculous healing by the Lord Jesus Christ of a man who had suffered from a serious illness for 38 years. This healing took place at the Sheep Pool (pool) outside the wall of the Jerusalem Temple. In the healing of the paralytic, the Church sees an image of the renewal of the life of all humanity through the Resurrection of Christ. The Church calls on believers to turn to the Lord for healing not only of bodily illnesses, but also of the soul weakened by sins.
Transfer of the relics of Saint and Wonderworker Nicholas from Myra in Lycia to Bar (1087).
The people celebrate the memory of St. Nicholas is called the “May Nicholas.” Almost a thousand years ago, the relics of the saint were transferred to the Italian city of Bari in the southern part of the country. At the same time, a crypt was built in which they reverently rested.
In 1911, Archpriest John Vostorgov, the future new martyr, laid the foundation stone for the Russian Orthodox church. The inspirer and first donor was the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II, the chairman of the Construction Committee was the Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth, and the first ruling bishop was Metropolitan Veniamin of Petrograd, also canonized as a holy hieromartyr. For more than 60 years, nun Nicholas lived at the temple, who, even before the construction of the temple, received the blessing of the Optina elders to live in Bari. Church of St. Nicholas in Bari is the only Orthodox Church in these parts, so its significance for Orthodoxy is invaluable. Many pilgrims from Russia, since the 90s, have the opportunity to visit the temple and pray at the relics of the great Wonderworker.
MAY, 23RD - Apostle Simon the Zealot. The Apostle Simon came from Cana of Galilee and was the son of St. Joseph the Betrothed, brother of the Lord in the flesh and one of the 12 apostles. It was at his wedding feast that the Lord performed His first miracle - turning water into wine; Amazed by this, Simon believed in Jesus Christ as True God and leaving everything, he followed Him.
MAY 24 - 7th Sunday of Easter, Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
(325).
Memory Equal-to-the-Apostles Methodius and Cyril, Slovenian teachers.
MAY 25 - Midnight of Pentecost. In churches, after the liturgy, the water is blessed.
Memory sschmch. Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, wonderworker.
MAY 26 - glorified St. George the Confessor, who together with his wife Irina was exiled to prison for icon veneration, and martyr Alexander- A 17-year-old warrior was tortured by Emperor Maximian when a young Christian rejected his entreaties to join the idolatrous pagans.
MAY 28 - memory of the faithful Tsarevich Dimitri of Uglich and Moscow (1591). The son of Ivan the Terrible, he was eight years old and was stabbed to death in Uglich, Yaroslavl province. Rumor attributed this murder to supporters of Boris Godunov, who later became king. With the death of the prince, the line of Moscow sovereigns - the descendants of Rurik - died out. The holy relics of Demetrius were transferred to Moscow in 1606 and rest in the Archangel Cathedral of the Kremlin.
MAY 29 - 5th week of Easter, about the Samaritan.
In today's Gospel during Divine Liturgy the words of the Lord are read about the source flowing into eternal life, about those who accept the Word of Christ. This makes it possible to realize that faith is not only one’s own acquisition or the fruit of one’s own work, but is always a gift from God. To be a believer means to be a worshiper of God, that is, to be able and want to worship God.
Today is a memory St. Theodore the Sanctified. At the age of 14 the saint left parents' house and settled in one of the Egyptian monasteries. Having heard about the exploits of St. Pachomius the Great, he went to him. St. Pachomius left him in his monastery and instructed him to conduct spiritual conversations on Holy Scripture with the brethren of the monastery. Soon Rev. Pachomius blessed St. Theodora became the abbot of the Tevinis monastery, and he himself retired to a more secluded monastery. After the death of St. Pachomius the Great St. Theodore became the head of all the Thebaid monasteries.
MAY 30 - memory St. Stefan, Patriarch of Constantinople and St. Euphrosyne, in the world of Evdokia, Grand Duchess of Moscow (1407). Day memory of St. righteous Jonah of Odessa. When the southerners came to Fr. To John of Kronstadt, he said: “Why are you bothering to come to me? You have your own John of Kronstadt - Fr. And she". Between them, these two lamps, were mutual love and reverence. Archpriest Jonah showed many different images of holiness in his life. He was a denouncer of schism and heresy, an excellent preacher, a zealous missionary and nourisher of the poor, an ascetic and a good shepherd.
MAY 31 - angel day at Alexandra, Claudia, Faina, Julia, Peter, Christina, Andrey and Pavel in memory of the martyrs of the 3rd-4th centuries.
