Happy Trinity Day to all Orthodox Christians. History and traditions of the Trinity holiday. Folk festivities on Trinity Sunday

The Feast of Trinity is one of the most beautiful holidays in Orthodoxy. It always falls at a time when the first leaves on the trees begin to bloom. Therefore, on this holiday, people decorate houses and churches with green branches of birch, maple, and rowan.

Trinity Sunday does not have a fixed date of celebration. It is scheduled for the fiftieth day after Easter. The Bible says that it was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. Students

received the ability to preach the word of Christ. Therefore, this holiday is otherwise called Pentecost or the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Only in the 14th century did they begin to celebrate the Trinity holiday in Rus'. Customs and traditions on this day have been observed since ancient times. The founder of the holiday was St. Sergius of Radonezh.

The Old Testament holiday of Pentecost is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated on the 50th day after the Jewish Passover. According to legend, on this day the people of Israel received the Sinai law. Traditionally, in honor of the celebration, entertainment for the people, mass celebrations, and sacrifices are organized. The Prophet Moses gave the Law of God to his people on Mount Sinai. This happened on the fiftieth day after the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Since then, Pentecost (or Shavuot) began to be celebrated every year. In Israel, on the same day, the festival of the first harvest and fruits is celebrated.

When did the Trinity appear in Christianity?

The customs and traditions of the celebration originate from the Old Testament Pentecost. The apostles retired to celebrate the Jewish Pentecost. The Savior, before his martyrdom, promised them a miracle - the coming of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, every day they gathered in one of the Zion upper rooms. On the 50th day after the Resurrection, they heard a noise that filled the small space of the house. Flames appeared and the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. He showed them three hypostases - God the Father (Divine Mind), God the Son (Divine Word), God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). This trinity is the basis of Christianity, on which the Christian faith firmly stands. People who were not far from the upper room heard a strange noise - the apostles were speaking in different languages. Jesus' disciples received amazing abilities - to heal, prophesy and preach in different dialects, which allowed them to carry the word of God to all corners of the world. The apostles visited the Middle East, India, and Asia Minor. We visited Crimea and Kyiv. All the disciples, except John, suffered martyrdom - they were executed by opponents of Christianity.

The One God is the Holy Trinity.

The customs of the church holiday began in the morning. The whole family went to church for worship. After which people returned home. They held a gala dinner, went to visit, congratulated friends on the bright holiday, and gave gifts.

In our country, the holiday of the Trinity began to be celebrated only 300 years after the baptism of Rus'. Before this, the Slavs were pagans. But even today there are rituals and signs that originated in those times. Before Trinity, this day was considered the border between spring and summer. Its name is Semik (Green Week), or Triglav. According to pagan religion, three deities ruled all humanity - Perun, Svarog, Svyatovit. The latter is the keeper of light and human energy. Perun is the defender of truth and warriors. Svarog is the creator of the Universe. In Semik, people held merry celebrations and danced in circles. Houses were first decorated with greenery, from which medicinal tinctures and decoctions were then prepared. Thus, from the pagan celebration, a church holiday arose - Trinity.

The customs and signs of those ancient times are still relevant among the people. For example, the greenery that was used to decorate the church on Pentecost was taken home and dried. It was sewn into canvas bags. This sachet served as a talisman at home .

Celebration traditions

How is the holiday of Trinity? The customs of most holidays begin with cleaning the house. Only after the room was sparkling clean did the women decorate the rooms with green branches and flowers. They are a symbol of fertility and wealth. The housewives prepared the festive table - they cooked pies and gingerbreads, cooked jelly. There is no fasting on this day, so Orthodox Christians are allowed any food. In churches, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated on Trinity Sunday, and immediately after it, the evening liturgy.

During it, kneeling prayers are read. The clergy ask for the granting of grace to all those present, for the sending of wisdom and reason to the believers.

After the service, people sit down at the festive table, invite guests, give gifts and congratulate each other. According to tradition, it was customary to get married on this day. It was believed that if the matchmaking took place on Trinity and the wedding on Pokrov, a happy life awaited the young family.

How is Trinity celebrated in other parts of the world?

Traditions, customs, and rituals from different countries are united by festive services. And in England, religious processions are even held on this day. In Italy, rose petals are scattered from under the ceiling of a church. In France, trumpets are blown during worship, which symbolizes the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Folk customs for Trinity

According to folk legends, mermaids wake up on Pentecost.

In this regard, the villagers have several customs. In the villages they made a stuffed mermaid and danced around it during festivities. Then it was torn into small pieces and scattered across the field. Before going to bed, women ran through the village with a broom to protect themselves from mermaids. One girl was dressed as a mermaid, taken to a field and thrown into a grain harvest. After which everyone fled to their homes.

What other folk practices are the Trinity famous for? Traditions, customs, rituals consisted of driving away evil spirits from the gates of the house. According to legend, on this day the merman woke up, and the villagers burned fires along the shore to ward off evil spirits.

Folk customs for Trinity

Much attention was paid to decorating the house. Only branches of maple, birch, rowan, and oak could protect people and give them strength and health. Another custom was to water the branches and flowers that were in the temple with your tears. Girls and women tried to cry harder so that drops of tears would fall on the greenery. This method helped the ancestors get rid of the summer drought and autumn crop failure. All festive events were divided into 3 days.

The first was called Green Sunday. On this day, icons were decorated with birch branches, and a special prayer was said for Trinity. Folk festivities were held in forests and fields.

People danced, played, and sang songs. The girls wove wreaths and lowered them down the river.

Such fortune-telling helped to find out what fate awaited in the coming year.

People remembered their deceased relatives. In the cemetery they swept crosses and monuments with a birch broom to ward off evil spirits. They left treats for the deceased at the graves.

That night, according to folk tales, people had prophetic dreams.

Second day Clutch Monday- the second day of the celebration of Pentecost. People were rushing to church in the morning.

After the service, the priests walked through the fields with blessings. This was done in order to protect the crop from drought, rain and hail.

Third day Bogodukhovo day Girls celebrate the most. They organize celebrations, games, and fortune telling. According to folk tradition, a fun activity is held - “Drive Poplar”. The most beautiful girl was dressed up, decorated with greenery and wreaths - she played the role of Poplar. Then the youth took Topolya home, and each owner gave her a delicious treat or gift. In Rus', it was customary to venerate the birch tree on Trinity Day.

The customs of Pentecost are closely associated with this tree. Around the birch tree there were girls' round dances. Houses were decorated with it, the first leaves were dried to protect against the evil eye. There is still a ritual of curling a birch tree.

Kumlenie on Semik-Trinity. XIX century

During the process, the girls wished good health to their mother and other relatives. Or, while curling the birch tree, they thought about the young man they loved - thus tying his thoughts and thoughts to themselves. Trinity holiday customs signs During the festivities, a small birch tree was decorated with ribbons and flowers were flown into it.

After round dance chants, they cut it down and began a triumphal procession through the village. An elegant birch tree was carried around the entire village, attracting good luck to its residents. In the evening, the ribbons were removed from the tree and a traditional sacrifice was performed. The branches were “buried” in the field, and the birch itself was drowned in a pond. So people asked for a bountiful harvest and protection from the spirits. Early dew was collected on Trinity Sunday - it was considered a strong medicine against illnesses and illnesses. Such rituals existed among our ancestors. Some of them can still be found today.

What was forbidden to do on Pentecost

On this holiday, it was strictly forbidden to work in the garden or around the house. Therefore, zealous housewives carried out general cleaning before Trinity. And on the holiday itself they only decorated the house and prepared a rich meal.

What other prohibitions exist? What can't you do on Trinity? All home repairs are best left for another day. You can't sew. Do not wash, cut or dye your hair. On this day you cannot think about bad things or talk about someone in a negative way. It is forbidden to swim - otherwise the disobedient person will die in the near future (according to one version, he will be tickled by mermaids). And the one who remained alive after swimming on Trinity Sunday was declared a sorcerer. You should not be offended or swear on this day - Trinity is a bright holiday. Signs and customs (what you can’t do and what you can do) - it all comes down to prayer and kind words. Trinity is a holiday of renewal of life, so you should surround yourself only with positivity on this day.

Parents' Saturday

The day before Trinity, parents' Saturday began. People went to the cemetery to commemorate their deceased relatives.

Since ancient times, a funeral dinner was prepared on parents' Saturday - cutlery was set out for the deceased. The deceased was invited to a meal. On this day the bathhouse was heated. And after the whole family had washed, they left water and a broom for the deceased. On Trinity Parents' Saturday they remember suicides and ask for repose for their souls. A memorial prayer is read for Trinity. But the Holy Church claims that this is a delusion - suicides will not be able to find peace after death. Therefore, only in home prayer can you ask for them.

Signs for Pentecost

The Trinity is rich in beliefs and signs. The customs and traditions of the holiday carry many centuries-tested omens. Rain on Pentecost means an abundance of mushrooms and close warmth. If the birch is fresh on the third day after the holiday, it means wet haymaking. They get married on Trinity, they get married on the Intercession - for love and harmony in the family. To attract wealth to your home, you need to place several graves in the cemetery. The heat on Trinity means a dry summer. The entire week of celebration was called Rusal Week.

Thursday was considered especially important - on this day the mermaids tried to lure people into the water. Therefore, in the evenings people tried not to leave the house. Swimming was prohibited for the entire week. And you should definitely carry wormwood with you - this herb repels evil spirits. Nowadays, the Trinity holiday is celebrated in nature, with songs and fun. Customs and signs of ancient times become irrelevant and gradually disappear. But people still decorate their homes with greenery so that peace, tranquility, happiness, health and prosperity reign in it.

And the girls carry wreaths to the reservoirs and, holding their breath, set them afloat: wherever the wreath floats, wait for the betrothed from there, and if it washes up to the shore, you know it’s not your destiny to get married this year...

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Trinity is one of the 12 main Orthodox holidays. It is celebrated annually on Sunday, the 50th day after Easter. In 2019, Trinity Sunday falls on June 16th. The official church name of the holiday is Holy Trinity Day. Pentecost. It was established in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Virgin Mary on the 50th day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The holiday symbolizes the unity of the Holy Spirit, God the Father and God the Son.

history of the holiday

The holiday is dedicated to the events that occurred on the 50th day after Easter - the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Virgin Mary. At this time, the disciples of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God were in the Zion Upper Room in Jerusalem. At three o'clock in the afternoon they heard a loud noise, and the blessed fire descended on them. After this, the apostles received the gift of speaking in different languages ​​in order to preach the teachings of Christ to the nations of the world. This event is described in the Acts of the Holy Apostles.

Traditions and rituals of the holiday

Trinity has well-established church and folk traditions of celebration.

In the Orthodox Church it is celebrated for three days. The clergy dresses in green clothes, which symbolizes eternal life and life-giving. Temples are decorated with tree branches and the floor is covered with fresh grass.

On the eve of Saturday an all-night vigil is served. On the day of the holiday, the Gospel of John is read, and the festive liturgy is performed. The third day of Trinity is called the day of the Holy Spirit. On this day, it is customary for churches to bless water. People take the grass and branches that were used to decorate the temples and bring them home. They are dried and stored all year - they protect the house from diseases and troubles.

On holidays, people attend services in churches. On the eve of Trinity, they remember the dead: they go to cemeteries and leave treats for the spirits.

According to folk traditions, on the eve of the celebration, housewives carry out general cleaning of houses and courtyards. They prepare holiday treats, bake bread or loaf, which symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Houses and icons are decorated with tree branches and herbs. On the day of the Holy Trinity after the service, it is customary to visit or invite close relatives and friends and give gifts. After the festive dinner, folk festivities are held. People go to nature, where they perform ritual dances, sing songs, and light fires.

Traditional healers collect herbs on this day. They believe that nature gives them special miraculous properties.

Fortune telling for Trinity

On the day of the Holy Trinity, young girls make fortunes about future events, marriage, love. When performing rituals, they use plants and water.

Fortune telling on a wreath. On the evening of the holiday, you need to make a wreath of birch branches and four types of grass: thyme, Ivan-da-Marya, burdock and bear's ear and leave it overnight in the yard. If it withers the next morning, then you can expect minor difficulties in the near future. A fresh wreath heralds a successful year.

Fortune telling by the river. The girl must weave a wreath, insert a lit candle into it and launch it down the river. If he drowns near the shore, then the relationship with the guy will be short and unsuccessful. If a wreath floats far down the river with a lit candle, then a fateful meeting awaits its owner. A wreath washed ashore marks this year's wedding.

Fortune telling for St. John's wort. In order to find out whether a young man has feelings for a girl, she must take a bunch of St. John's wort and twist it with such force that the juice flows out of it. If the juice is clear, then the love is unrequited, and if it is red, then the feelings are strong and mutual.

What can you eat on Trinity Sunday?

There is no fasting on this day, so you are allowed to eat any dishes and products.

How to decorate a house for Trinity

People use young branches of trees, meadow grasses and flowers to decorate their houses. The main symbol is the birch tree. Young green foliage symbolizes the cycle of life and youth. The white color of the branches represents the pure thoughts of believers. Branches of oak, linden, maple and rowan are designed to protect the house from evil spirits.

Among meadow herbs, people use cornflowers, lovage, thyme, fern, mint, lemon balm, and burdock. They weave wreaths from them and hang them on the door, make bouquets that they place on the table or near the icons. Unmarried girls put herbs under their pillow.

What not to do on Trinity

Trinity is a great Orthodox holiday. On this day you should not engage in heavy physical labor or household chores. You should devote time to prayers and loved ones. You can’t quarrel and get angry with others. According to popular beliefs, on this day it is forbidden to swim in natural reservoirs. People believe that on Trinity, evil spirits take the form of mystical characters (mermaids, merman) and are capable of causing harm.

Signs and beliefs for Trinity

• A rainy day means a good harvest of mushrooms in the fall.
• You should not have a wedding on this holiday, otherwise the marriage will be unsuccessful.
• Arranging matchmaking on Trinity is a good omen. The future marriage will be strong and happy.
• Pentecost is a good time to search for treasures. On this day, the earth is able to generously bestow wealth on a person.
• It is considered a good sign to shed tears during the service. Mourning the grass symbolizes a bountiful harvest and wealth.

Congratulations

Happy Trinity Day, I congratulate you,
I wish you prosperity, love, and earthly blessings.
On a sublime holiday, a holy holiday
Feel great joy in your soul!

Peace in the family, understanding, care,
New victories, achievements in work.
Blessings and a beautiful life,
Celebrate the Trinity holiday with your family!

I want to congratulate you on the Holy Trinity,
Look at the sky with your soul today.
Let the holiday fill your heart with warmth,
And let the sun shine inside you.

I also wish you good health,
And find peace of soul in fragrant herbs.
Let an angel always hover at your head,
And may he protect all your paths.

What date is Trinity in 2020, 2021, 2022

There is such an icon - the Holy Trinity, and everyone has probably looked at it more than once, trying to understand its meaning.

This icon depicts God the Father himself, God the Son - Jesus Christ and God - the Holy Spirit, the same Comforter whose descent Jesus Christ promised to his disciples when he ascended to heaven. The Holy Trinity means that God exists in three persons, or hypostases. Why this is so, perhaps, is not worth understanding yet, you just need to believe and admit that this is so and that the image of God in three hypostases on icons is called the Holy Trinity.

A great church holiday is dedicated to the Holy Trinity - the Feast of the Holy Trinity, or simply Trinity. It is also associated with Easter and the Ascension, therefore it does not have a permanent day, but is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter on the tenth after the Ascension. That is why it is also called Pentecost. This holiday is dedicated to the memory of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles-disciples of Christ. This day is called Trinity, because on this day we glorify all the faces of the Triune God: God the Father, who created the world, God the Son, who suffered in the name of human salvation and delivered people from enslavement to the devil, and God the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies peace through the founding of the church, which is why Trinity Day is also called the birthday of the Christian church.

On the tenth day after the Ascension, all the apostles, as always, were together in the house, and suddenly there was a loud noise, as if a gust of strong wind had burst into the room. The noise filled the whole house, and then a fiery tongue stopped over each apostle (as the first disciples of Christ were called), and suddenly they spoke in different languages ​​that they did not know before: Latin, and Greek, and Arabic, and -Persian, and in other languages ​​that were in the world.

The apostles realized that the Holy Spirit had descended on them. Then they went out into the square and began to tell people who had come to Jerusalem from all sides to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Pentecost, about Jesus Christ, how he died, then rose again and ascended into heaven. And despite the fact that the people were from different places and spoke different languages, they understood everything perfectly and asked the apostles:

- What should we do, brothers?

The apostles answered them:

- Repent of your sins, be baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and your sins will be forgiven, and you will receive forgiveness.

And then the apostles went to different lands: to the north, and to the south, and to the west, and to the east, to tell all the people about Jesus Christ and his good deeds.

It is known from the Holy Scriptures that then about 3 thousand people were immediately baptized, and the apostles went further across the earth and introduced more and more people to their faith.

Trinity Day is a very beautiful holiday. On this day, churches are decorated from the inside with birch branches, freshly cut grass and wildflowers are spread on the floor. All believers with green birch branches in their hands go to church, there during the service these branches are blessed, and they are kept in everyone’s home, bringing happiness, prosperity and health.

Who are the apostles?

Apostles (from the Greek word “apolstolos” - sent) in the Bible are those who accompanied Jesus Christ in his wanderings, and then were sent to preach Christianity throughout the world.

According to the books. In the Bible, Jesus Christ had twelve disciples. However, in the future, to them. Several more saints were added.

What do clergy wear during services?

You, of course, have seen the beautiful clothes embroidered with gold that the priest wears during the service. These lush and colorful clothes help to give everything that happens in the church a solemnity and majesty. They look especially beautiful in the light of flickering candles. The priests are very smart and educated people, they know history well and many languages.

The main book for all priests and believers is the Bible, the most famous book on the entire globe. It has been translated into 1800 languages ​​of the world, and if a person knows only one of his native languages, he can still read the Bible.

The Christian holiday of Trinity is one of the Orthodox twelve holidays, which is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, on Sunday. Churches of the Western tradition celebrate on this day the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, Pentecost, and the Trinity itself on the following resurrection.

The meaning of the holiday of Trinity

The Bible says that the grace given to the apostles by the Holy Spirit descended on them on this very day. Thanks to this, people were shown the third face of God, they joined the sacrament: the unity of God is manifested in three persons - Father, Son and Spirit. From that day on, the message was preached throughout the entire earth. In general, the meaning of Trinity as a holiday is that God reveals himself to people in stages, and not all at once. In modern Christianity, the Trinity means that the Father, who created all living things, sent the Son, Jesus Christ, and then the Holy Spirit to people. For believers, the meaning of the Holy Trinity comes down to the praise of God in all his forms.

Traditions of celebrating Trinity

The Holy Trinity, the history of which dates back thousands of years, is also widely celebrated today. The people celebrate Trinity for three days. The first day is Klechalny or Green Sunday, when people had to be extremely careful because of the aggressiveness of mermaids, moths, terrapins and other mythical evil spirits. In villages, the holiday of the Russian Trinity is celebrated in compliance with traditions and certain rituals. The floors of churches and houses were decorated with grass, icons were decorated with birch branches. Green color symbolized the renewing and life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. By the way, in some Orthodox Churches, golden and white colors are endowed with the same meaning. Girls tell fortunes on Green Sunday using wicker wreaths. If the wreaths floating on the water come together, then the young woman will be wooed this year. On this day, deceased relatives were remembered in cemeteries, leaving treats on the graves. And in the evenings, buffoons and mummers entertained the villagers.

It's Clue Monday in the morning. After the church service, the clergy went to the fields and read prayers, asking the Lord for protection for the future harvest. At this time, the children participated in interesting fun games.

On the third day, Bogodukhov Day, the girls “took Topolya.” Her role was played by the most beautiful unmarried girl. She was decorated beyond recognition with wreaths and ribbons, and was taken around rural yards so that her owners would generously treat her. The water in the wells was sanctified on this day, getting rid of the unclean spirit.

Christian Western tradition

Lutheranism and Catholicism share the holidays of Trinity and Pentecost. The cycle opens with Pentecost, a week later they celebrate Trinity, on the 11th day after Pentecost - the feast of the Blood and Body of Christ, on the 19th day - the Sacred Heart of Christ, on the 20th day - the feast of the Immaculate Heart of St. Mary. In Poland and Belarus, Catholic churches in Russia these days, churches are decorated with birch branches. Whitsuntide is considered a public holiday in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Iceland, Luxembourg, Latvia, Ukraine, Romania, Switzerland, Norway and France.

Nowadays, Trinity is especially celebrated in rural areas. Before this day, housewives usually clean up both the house and the yard and prepare festive dishes. Flowers and grass collected early in the morning are used to decorate rooms, doors and windows, in the belief that they will not allow evil spirits into the house.

In the morning, festive services are held in churches, and in the evening you can attend concerts, folk festivals, and take part in fun competitions. Most of the traditions, unfortunately, have been lost, but the holiday still remains one of the most important for believers.

Holy Trinity Day - the history of the holiday

Orthodoxy celebrates many holidays. Believers certainly know about such a holiday as Trinity Day; it has a long history and certain customs.

The Church celebrates this holiday on the Day of Pentecost - the fiftieth day after Easter. Any Orthodox person knows exactly when to celebrate this holiday and what is the history of Trinity Day. The history of the Trinity holiday dates back to the time of Jesus Christ. Then, on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ, the apostles of the Holy Spirit descended to earth. The apostles understood the role of the third Person of the Trinity and why God is triune.

History of Trinity Day

After the Ascension, the apostles were constantly present in the Zion Upper Room and prayed. Suddenly they heard a noise in the sky, and tongues of fire appeared in front of them and descended on their heads. Thus the Holy Spirit entered the bodies of the apostles. The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the knowledge of hitherto unknown languages ​​so that they could spread the Christian faith throughout the world. The Orthodox holiday of Trinity was proclaimed by the apostles, if history is to be believed. After the described incident, Christians began to celebrate this holiday every Pentecost; it is considered one of the most important in the Orthodox world.

Later, Basil the Great composed certain prayers that were necessary to be read on this day. This tradition continues to this day. The Day of the Holy Trinity throughout the Orthodox world is considered the birth of the Christian Church, which was created by God.

In Orthodoxy, the Day of the Holy Trinity and the Day of Pentecost are combined together, which cannot be said about the Catholic Church. Catholics celebrate Trinity Day on the Sunday after Pentecost.

Icons telling about the descent of the Holy Spirit began to be painted in the 6th century. On them you can usually see the Upper Room of Zion and the apostles with books. Moreover, between the apostles Peter and Paul there is an empty space, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. There are tongues of flame above the heads of the apostles.

The history of the Trinity holiday is very ancient, it dates back to the Ascension of Jesus Christ. Orthodox people know this and therefore celebrate the holiday especially widely - they are sure to attend services on the day of Pentecost.

History also tells us about some traditions and customs that are observed during the Trinity Day to this day. The floors of churches and houses should be covered with freshly cut grass, and the icons should be decorated with birch branches, symbolizing the power of the Holy Spirit. On the Saturday before Trinity Day, Orthodox Christians go to the cemetery to honor the memory of deceased relatives; this day is called “parental day.” Birch branches are used to decorate houses and temples; this tradition has developed historically. Moreover, it is believed that Trinity Day without birch decorations is the same as Christmas without a New Year's tree. Before Trinity, they always do a general cleaning, bake pies, and make wreaths (again, from birch and flowers). Since ancient times, this holiday has been especially loved by girls, because they could dress beautifully and go to the bride. Matchmaking on Trinity is considered a good omen, and the wedding is already taking place in the fall.

Some customs of the Holy Trinity holiday have migrated from history to our time - churches are decorated with birch branches, girls weave wreaths, Orthodox Christians always go to the cemetery on Saturday. This holiday is very joyful and cheerful - in the morning it is obligatory to visit the temple, and afterwards they dance in circles and sing songs. One of the traditional dishes for Trinity is loaf; guests are often invited and celebrate this holiday together. Folk festivities on Trinity Day do not lose their popularity.

What does the Feast of the Holy Trinity mean? When is it celebrated? History of the holiday?

Aaleksey

Trinity Sunday is usually celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter and on the tenth day after the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ. You can learn about this day from the Bible. On this day, about two thousand years ago (according to historians in May 30 AD), the apostles were sitting in a room in one of the Jerusalem houses on Mount Zion. And suddenly a noise came from heaven and filled the whole house, and all the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages ​​that they did not know before. There were many pilgrims from different countries in Jerusalem at that time; hearing the noise, they hurried to the house of the apostles. They were surprised to hear that the apostles spoke different languages. For each of them, the sermon of the apostles sounded in his native language. The time has come not only for God the Father (who was in the times of the Old Testament), not only for God the Father and the Son (in the times of the New Testament), but the time of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Esther

The Feast of the Holy Trinity means that we have the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And also on this day, Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of the church, not the church building, but people. The Church is believers. And where two or three are gathered in the name of God, there God is among them. In 2016, the feast of the Holy Trinity is June 19, and in 2017 it is June 4. Happy Holidays!

In Orthodoxy The holiday of Trinity falls on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ when, according to the Gospel, the Third Person of the Trinity is The Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles in the form of tongues of flame, after which they were able to preach the Word of God in different languages ​​to different peoples, not only the Jews. That's why another name for the holiday is Pentecost.

In Catholicism and Lutheranism, the holidays of Trinity and Pentecost do not coincide: Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, is also celebrated on Sunday on the 50th day after Easter; Trinity is celebrated a week later, on the following Sunday.

In Protestantism, it is Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ, that is a great triumph. For example, the Evangelical Pentecostal denomination celebrates this day no less vigorously than Easter, and usually on this day baptizes neophytes with the Holy Spirit in reservoirs.

Mychange

The history of the origin of the holiday of Trinity is set out in the apostolic acts. On the 50th day after Easter, the apostles waited for the fulfillment of the promise given by Christ, which was fulfilled - the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, they were given grace-filled help to preach Christianity throughout the world. Thus, the Christian Church was born.

It is very symbolic that the first New Testament Pentecost was on the day of the Old Testament Pentecost, that is, on the day when God gave the commandments of God to people, the apostles and all Christians received help to fulfill the commandments, and the apostles received grace to perform the sacrament of the Eucharist and other sacraments.

This holiday is always celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, on Sunday.

Kritikspb

The Orthodox holiday of the Trinity was proclaimed by the apostles on the fiftieth day after the Ascension, when the Holy Spirit entered their bodies and bestowed knowledge of many languages, so that in them they could preach Christianity and bring it to the hearts and souls of people around the world.

Kitsune tenko

Feast of the Holy Trinity, or Pentecost, is one of the main Christian holidays, which is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter.

The Orthodox Church classifies it as one of the so-called twelve holidays, the meaning of which is to glorify the Holy Trinity.

Second name - Pentecost- received this day because the Holy Spirit descended to the Apostles on the 50th day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the form of tongues of fire. With this sign, the Holy Spirit made it clear that the apostles had the power and ability to preach the teachings of Christ to other nations. On that day, many people believed in Jesus Christ and were baptized.

On this holiday, it is customary for Orthodox Christians to decorate their houses with fresh green birch branches and fragrant flowers.

Ivan Markin

The descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the day of Pentecost is described in the Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 2:1-18). On the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ (tenth day after the Ascension), the apostles were in the Zion Upper Room in Jerusalem, “... suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled the whole house where they were. And cloven tongues as of fire appeared to them, and one rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:2-4).

On this day, Jews from different cities and countries were in the city on the occasion of the holiday. Hearing the noise, they gathered in front of the house where the apostles were, and when they heard that they were speaking different languages ​​inside, they were amazed. Some of them mocked the apostles and “said, They are drunk of sweet wine” (Acts 2:13). In response to this reaction:

The holiday received its first name in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, which Jesus Christ promised them before His ascension into heaven. The descent of the Holy Spirit indicated the trinity of God - “God the Father creates the world, God the Son redeems people from slavery to the devil, God the Holy Spirit sanctifies the world through the dispensation of the Church” [source not specified 311 days]. On the day of Pentecost, the universal apostolic Church was formed (Acts 2:41-47).

The corresponding text in Catholicism is the prayer Veni Sancte Spiritus. Veni per Mariam.

The New Testament does not directly mention that the Mother of God was with the apostles at the descent of the Holy Spirit. The tradition of her presence in iconographic images of this event is based on the indication in the Acts of the Apostles that after the Ascension, the disciples of Jesus “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with certain women and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:14). On this occasion, Bishop Innokenty (Borisov) writes: “Could the one who conceived and gave birth through His medium not be present at the moment of the coming of the Holy Spirit?”

As a theological term, “charisma” is the 9 special gifts of the Holy Spirit poured out by him on the apostles in the Jerusalem Temple at the Feast of Pentecost. These gifts are: wisdom, knowledge and the ability to discern spirits; faith, miracles and healing; prophecies, glossolalia and interpretation of tongues.

What kind of holiday is Trinity?

What are they doing? How do they celebrate?

Orina

Trinity is otherwise called Pentecost because it occurs on the fiftieth day after Easter. This holiday occurs in honor of the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). It is believed that on this day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. On Trinity Sunday, the Apostle Peter baptized and converted 3,000 people to Christianity. This day is the birthday of the Christian Church, but not only the Orthodox, but also the Catholic.

A whole summer cycle of holidays takes place on these days. If after the New Year we celebrate winter Christmastide, then in the summer we celebrate “green Christmastide”. In the old days, people also dressed up as animals, mermaids, and other evil spirits for “green Christmastide.”

Churches on Trinity were always decorated with wild and meadow flowers, birch branches and other plants. The floor was sprinkled with freshly picked green grass. This herb was believed to have healing properties. Whoever kept livestock took this grass home. It was believed that animals fed church grass would not get sick, and cows would give a lot of high-quality milk.

Everyone went to church on Trinity Sunday with birch branches and bouquets of flowers. Plants that had been in the church were dried and stored behind the icons.

After church, the girls put wreaths on their heads and walked to a birch tree decorated with ribbons and flowers. The birch tree was cut down. The procession with the felled tree went around the entire village. Then they stuck the birch tree into the ground and danced around it. In the evening, they removed all the decorations from the tree and went to the river to drown it.

On the same day, girls threw their wreaths into the water and wished for something, usually about the grooms. If the wreath sank, it means that the girl will not get married this year. If the wreath stuck to the shore, then expect happiness.

Many years ago there was a custom on Trinity Sunday to bury the dead who, for some reason, were not buried during the year. The cause could be an epidemic or a hungry year. Then all the bodies fell into a common pit. In the week before Trinity and on Trinity itself, the dead were placed in coffins and buried as expected.

Dolfanika

Trinity is a holiday with a moving date; every year the date of the celebration of the Trinity is celebrated on different days, depending on the date of Easter. One thing is constant, Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. Knowing the date of Easter, we can calculate the day of Trinity.

The holiday is celebrated in honor of the Holy Trinity

The first God is the Father, the creator of everything living and nonliving, visible and invisible in our world. After the creation of peace on earth, God the Father sent the Son to earth as a messenger of a bright path. Then the Holy Spirit descended to earth, he is next to every person.

The second God is the Son, he is born from God the Father.

The third God is the Holy Spirit, he comes from God the Father.

For non-believers, the Trinity has meaning as a symbol of the onset of something new, joyful and bright.

Believers go to church on this day and follow traditions.

The Feast of the Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter, but this figure did not appear just like that. For a full 40 days after the Resurrection, Jesus still remained on earth together with his disciples, and only on the fortieth day did he ascend. But at the same time, he told the disciples that in ten days the Holy Spirit would descend on them, and they would receive knowledge and strength to bring Christianity to the people. And so it happened, exactly 10 days after the Ascension, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and they went to preach the teachings of Christ. This is the event that is celebrated on this day. In essence, this is the beginning of the Christian church, its birth. Therefore, this is one of the greatest holidays in Christianity.

This is the holiday of the fiftieth day after Easter... the day of the descent of the holy spirit on the apostles is celebrated, giving them numerous abilities. And it is celebrated from year to year simply - this holiday always happens on Sunday, so on the eve, on Saturday, they visit cemeteries, remembering deceased relatives, then attend the evening service in the church, and on Sunday - the morning one. The church and house are decorated with forbs and birch branches, and a festive feast is prepared.

Everything has already been said

Even in ancient Rus', the holiday of the Trinity was celebrated, it was called “green Christmastide”, “mermaid week”. At that time, it was dedicated to the awakening of Mother Earth, the beginning of the wild growth of plants, and it was dedicated to the Slavic goddess Lada.

After the arrival of Christianity in Rus', the two holidays were mixed into one, but in many villages Trinity is still called “green week” or “soulful wake” (source “People's Rus'”, 1901, Apollo of Corinth).

For Orthodox Christians, the holiday of Trinity is celebrated seven weeks after Easter, on the fiftieth day, which is why it is also called “Pentecost”. This holiday is dedicated to the Descent of the Holy Spirit:

The Church celebrates two days: the first day is Sunday, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and Monday is dedicated to the Holy Spirit, otherwise it is popularly called Spirits Day.

As in ancient times, the tradition remains today of decorating everything around with birch branches on this day.

The Feast of Trinity is also called Pentecost, all because it is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. This holiday is moving, it does not have a permanent date. People call this holiday “emerald” or “green”. Because it symbolizes the renewal of life. It’s nice to decorate your houses with branches of birch, maple or lilac on this holiday. It is also customary to float wreaths of flowers on water on Trinity Sunday.

Lelishna

The Feast of the Holy Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. Otherwise the holiday is called Pentecost. The Trinity means the unity of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity has been widespread in Rus' since the fourteenth century thanks to the efforts of St. Sergius of Radonezh. On this day, it is customary to clean houses and decorate the house with green branches as a symbol of spring and life.

Trinity Day is one of the main Orthodox holidays. It is movable and is associated with the date of Easter, as it is always held seven weeks after it on Sunday. On this day, people walk, go to services and festivals. The service that is performed on this day in Orthodox churches is considered the most beautiful of all those held during the year.

The Feast of the Holy Trinity is one of the most important Christian holidays. Orthodox believers celebrate it on Sunday, the 50th day after Easter. This holiday received its name in honor of the great event - the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, as Jesus Christ promised them before his ascension into heaven. This descent pointed to the trinity of God.

The Orthodox holiday of Trinity is celebrated 50 days after the church holiday of Easter. It is celebrated on Sunday. The holiday is also appropriately called Pentecost. It is believed that on this day the descent of the Holy Spirit took place. Hard work is not recommended on this day; it is better to attend church, devote time to family and spiritual development.

Trinity is a great Christian holiday, which is a moving (twelfth) holiday among Orthodox believers and is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, on Sunday.

Its other names are the Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Day of the Holy Trinity, Pentecost.

The bright holiday received its first name in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, which Jesus Christ promised them before His ascension into heaven.

The descent of the Holy Spirit indicated the trinity of God and his unity.

After this event, the apostles received blessings from the Lord himself to build a spiritual temple.

What does Trinity mean?

The Bible says that the grace given to the apostles by the Holy Spirit descended on them on this very day.

People saw the third person of God - the Holy Spirit, and learned that the unity of God is manifested in three persons - Father, Son and Spirit.

We can say that the meaning of the Trinity is that God reveals himself to people in stages, and not all at once.

In modern Christianity, the Trinity means that the Father, who created all living things, sent the Son to people - Jesus Christ, and then the Holy Spirit.

For believers, the meaning of the Holy Trinity comes down to the praise of God in all his forms.

This day is recognized as a significant date, which marks the first appearance of the church on Earth.

Trinity History

According to the book of the Acts of the Apostles, which is included in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles precisely on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ. Jesus told his disciples that this would happen during his lifetime.

After the resurrection, Jesus Christ was with His disciples for another forty days, strengthening them in faith, preparing them for future service. On the fortieth day, Jesus ascended into heaven, promising that he would send the Spirit of God to descend on the disciples, giving them the power to preach His teachings.

Ten days after the ascension, the disciples of Jesus and his mother Mary gathered in Jerusalem in the Zion Upper Room.

According to legend, on this day the descent of the Holy Spirit took place on the apostles. Jesus' disciples then all gathered together. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky, as if from a strong wind. At that moment tongues appeared and descended on each of the disciples. And they began to speak in different languages.

Multilingualism was revealed so that they could preach Christian teaching among different nations.

The Spirit of God descended on the disciples, and they received special gifts - the gift of speaking in different languages, the gift of healing, the gift of preaching about the affairs of God.

After the descent of the Holy Spirit, St. The Apostle Peter preached his first sermon, in which he reported on the glorious event that took place on that day. The apostle’s conversion was short and simple, after which many Jews repented, believed and were baptized.

And in the 4th century, Saint Basil the Great composed kneeling prayers, which are read to this day at festive vespers.

The feast of the Holy Trinity itself, in memory of the great event of the descent of the Holy Spirit, was established by the apostles. After the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit, Christ's disciples began to annually celebrate the Day of Pentecost and commanded all Christians to remember this event (1 Cor. 16:8; Acts 20:16).

The day after Trinity is Spiritual Day, which is dedicated to the glorification of the Holy Spirit.

This day is dedicated to the remembrance and glorification of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Christ. The date of the holiday is variable, but it always falls on Monday.

Traditions of celebrating Trinity

On this day, one of the most solemn and beautiful services of the year is performed in Orthodox churches.

The day before, on Saturday evening (Trinity Parents' Saturday), a festive all-night vigil is served.

At Matins the polyeleos is served and the Gospel of John, 65th conception, is read; At Matins, two canons of this holiday are sung: the first was written by Cosmas of Mayum, the second by John of Damascus.

On the holiday itself, a festive liturgy is served.

After the liturgy, the ninth hour and Great Vespers are served, at which stichera are sung, glorifying the descent of the Holy Spirit; during Vespers, those praying three times, led by the priest, genuflect - they kneel, and the priest reads seven prayers for the Church, for the salvation of all those praying and for the repose of the souls of all the departed (including those “held in hell”) - this ends the post-Easter period, during which no kneeling or prostration is performed in churches.

According to the popular calendar, Trinity Day can rightfully be called green Christmastide.

According to Russian tradition, the floor of the temple (and the houses of believers) on this day is covered with freshly cut grass, the icons are decorated with birch branches, and the color of the vestments is green, depicting the life-giving and renewing power of the Holy Spirit (other Orthodox Churches also use white and gold vestments).

Among the people, before Trinity, it was customary to clean the home, and after that decorate it with green grass and wildflowers.

The meaning of this custom is that young plants will definitely bring prosperity, prosperity and a good harvest to the family.

Parishioners held masses in churches with bouquets of meadow flowers or tree branches for blessing, and houses were decorated with birch trees.

Wildflowers that had been in the church were dried and stored behind the icons for various needs: they were placed under fresh hay and in the granary to prevent mice, in holes in the ridges from shrews and in the attic to eliminate fire.

Trees were transported to village streets in whole cartloads and decorated with them not only doors, but also window jambs, and especially the church, the floor of which was strewn with fresh grass (everyone, leaving the church, tried to grab it from under their feet in order to mix it with the hay, boil it with water and drink as healing).

Some people made wreaths from the leaves of the trees that stood in the church and placed them in pots when growing cabbage seedlings.

Towards evening, people gathered for mass celebrations with games and songs. Fairs were also organized on this day.

Trinity festivities also included commemoration of the dead. They were held on Trinity Saturday, which precedes the day of the Holy Trinity and was considered by Russians to be the main spring memorial day, and on Spiritual Day. Remembering their ancestors in the days of the revival of nature, people hoped for their help, protection, and proved that there is no oblivion for the dead.

Slavic customs on Trinity - birch holiday

Sunday was spent in the forest where birch trees grew.

The birch tree became a symbol of the holiday, probably because it was one of the first to dress in bright, elegant greenery. It is no coincidence that there was a belief that the birch tree has a special growth power and that this power must be used.

They decorated windows, houses, courtyards, and gates with birch branches; they stood with birch branches at church services, believing that they had healing powers.

Semik is a spring folk holiday celebrated on Thursday in the seventh week after Easter. The week in which it fell was called Semitskaya (Semikova) week and ended with Trinity.

Semik is considered an ancient pagan holiday - one of those that played an important role in the spring period of people's lives.

In many villages, during the days of Semitskaya Week before Trinity, purely maiden rites were performed, which symbolized the girls’ readiness for marriage.

After all, the flowering of nature in the spring was considered as feminine and was associated with girls who had reached marriageable age.

Curling a birch tree (curling a birch tree) is a ritual from ancient times. The girls believed that they would tie their thoughts tightly with the guy they loved. Or, curling the branches of a birch tree, they wished their mother a speedy recovery.

Curling a birch tree is one of the main rituals of Semik, the essence of which was to honor nature reborn after winter.

In the villages of central and southern European Russia, as well as in Siberia, the cult of vegetation took on especially vivid forms. The basis of the ritual here was the curling of the birch tree, the initial stage of which fell on Semik, and the end - on Trinity.

The ritual was performed by girls who, secretly from the male population of the village, went on Thursday of Semitic week to the forest, to the river bank or to a rye field to choose a ritual tree.

Don't rejoice, oak trees,
Don't rejoice, green ones;
Girls don't come to you
The Reds are not for you;
They are not bringing pies to you,
Flatbread, scrambled eggs,
Io, io, Semik and Trinity.
Rejoice, birch trees,
Rejoice, green ones!
Girls are coming to you...

Having chosen a birch tree with weeping branches, the girls began to curl them, that is, twist the branches together, braid them, bend them to the ground and secure them there with pegs, tie several branches with ribbons, etc.

After this, round dances were performed around the birch tree:

Birch, birch,
Curl, curly!
The girls have come to you
The Reds have come to you
The pie was brought
With scrambled eggs.

Then a feast was held under it, the main dishes of which were eggs, scrambled eggs, cakes, pies, and beer.

On Trinity Sunday, the girls went into the forest to develop a birch tree. They unraveled the branches, untied the ribbons, and then again had a festive meal with scrambled eggs and flatbreads, danced in circles, and sang songs.

Kumlenie is one of the rites of the Semik-Trinity, which was performed by girls of marriageable age. It was carried out, as a rule, on the day of curling the birch tree.

The most common option was when girls, two close friends, approached a wreath curled on a birch tree from both sides, kissed through it three times, and said to each other: “Let’s kiss each other, godfather, let’s kiss, so that we don’t quarrel with you, but be friends forever.” Then they exchanged crosses and small gifts.

The cumulation could have happened somewhat differently. The girls who wanted to kiss each other braided two “spools” - braids from birch branches and ribbons, saying: “Cuckoo, cuckoo, save my skein,” and then exchanged colored eggs and cakes.

The married girls called each other godfather, godfather, walked together around the village, did not quarrel, confided secrets, whispered different wishes to each other, gave each other gifts.

Russian peasants believed that the murdered girls entered into a kind of spiritual relationship, similar to that which arises between people who baptized one child in the church.

A week later, usually on the Sunday following Trinity, the girls again went to the place of worship. There, to the song “I’ll go to the forest, I’ll develop a wreath, get over it, godfather, get over it, soul,” they developed wreaths, unraveled “skeins,” and returned gifts to each other. This meant that the ties that bound the enslaved girls were disintegrating.

Birch branches were filled with healing power on these days. An infusion of birch leaves was also considered healing.

Our ancestors also used birch branches as a talisman against all unclean spirits. Until now, peasants stick birch branches into the grooves of the corners of a house in the Vologda region so that purity and healing spirit are transferred to the walls.

After mass, the girls changed their outfit, put fresh birch wreaths intertwined with flowers on their heads, and in this attire they went into the forest to develop a birch tree.

Having arrived there, they stood in a circle near a curled birch tree, and one of them cut it down and placed it in the middle of the circle. All the girls approached the birch tree and decorated it with ribbons and flowers. Then a triumphal procession opened: the girls walked in pairs, in front of everyone the most beautiful of them carried a birch tree. In this way they surrounded the birch tree around the entire village.

On one of the streets they stuck a birch tree into the ground and began to dance around it. Guys joined them. In the evening they removed the ribbons from the tree, broke off one twig at a time, and then tore the tree out of the ground and dragged it to the river to drown. “Drown, Semik, drown angry husbands!” - and the unfortunate birch tree floated to where the current of water carried it (Vladimir province).

In some regions, on Trinity Sunday, birch trees were taken out into the grain field, thereby trying to beg the higher powers for the fertility of the land.

The youth of the Novgorod region performed a ritual adapted specifically to the Trinity, called “shaking gunpowder.” During a walk in the meadow, among round dances and games of ogaryshi (burners), one of the men would tear off the cap from the young spouse, shake it over his head and shout loudly: “Gunpowder on the tube, the wife doesn’t love her husband.”

The young woman quickly responded to this cry, stood in front of her husband, bowed to him at the waist, took off the cap that was placed on his head at the moment of her appearance, took her husband by the ears, kissed him three times and bowed to him again in all four directions. At the same time, the villagers aloud assessed her qualities and made various jokes about her. The young women were usually shy and said: “When they shake gunpowder, it would be better to fall through the ground.”

On Trinity Sunday, dew was collected and used as a potent medicine for ailments and for sowing vegetable seeds.

On the holiday itself, it was customary to visit each other to congratulate and give gifts.

The custom also included a ban on swimming in open water because of the mermaids who lived there.

It was believed that they could lure them into the water and tickle them to death there.

Trinity fortune telling with wreaths

Fortune telling on Trinity wreaths was one of the most popular among the Slavs.

Wreaths for Trinity were, of course, made from birch branches, woven with wildflowers and decorated with ribbons.

On Trinity Sunday, the girls parted with a wreath woven in Semik.

They threw him into the water and loudly asked him if he was destined to get married this year, and then watched.

It was bad if the wreath sank: you won’t get married these days, and in general, it will lead to trouble. But it was considered an even worse sign if the wreath unraveled in the water and stretched out into a chain.

If the wreath is spinning in one place, it means family quarrels and that the wedding will unexpectedly be upset.

If the wreath remains in one place, without floating anywhere, marriage will not be soon.

If the wreath floats quickly, it’s a good sign, but if it floats farthest and almost disappears from view, it means great luck.

But the best sign is considered to be if the wreath, having sailed some distance, landed on the shore - this means both a successful marriage and happiness in marriage.

Proverbs, sayings and signs for Trinity

God loves trinity.

Without the Trinity, a house cannot be built.

The Trinity of fingers makes a cross.

Trinity takes three days to build.

Trinity is Trinity, but three candles are not placed on the table.

Trinity is the border between spring and summer.

On Trinity, rain means a lot of mushrooms.

On Trinity, rain means warm weather.

If it rains on Trinity Day, there will be a lot of rain throughout the summer.

From Trinity to Dormition there are no round dances.

Trinity is rich in three holidays - flowers, herbs and ruddy summer.

On Trinity, every branch is a helper and a healer.

They don’t swim on Trinity Sunday - the mermaids are fierce and lure you to the bottom.

Float my wreath to that shore, whoever catches my wreath will wake up the groom.

If a guy kisses a girl under a birch tree on Trinity Sunday, the girl will be his wife.

If they get wooed on Trinity and get married on the Intercession, it means that these spouses will have a long, happy life, in love and harmony.