Orthodoxy is a direction in Christianity. Main Orthodox holidays

Orthodox countries make up a large percentage of the total number of states on the planet and are geographically scattered throughout the world, but they are most concentrated in Europe and the East.

Not many religions in modern world who managed to preserve their rules and main dogmas, supporters and faithful servants of their faith and church. Orthodoxy is one of these religions.

Orthodoxy as a branch of Christianity

The very word “Orthodoxy” is interpreted as “correct glorification of God” or “correct service.”

This religion belongs to one of the most widespread religions in the world - Christianity, and it arose after the collapse of the Roman Empire and the division of churches in 1054 AD.

Basics of Christianity

This religion is based on dogmas, which are interpreted in the Holy Scriptures and in Holy Tradition.

The first includes the book of the Bible, consisting of two parts (New and Old Testaments), and the Apocrypha, which are sacred texts that were not included in the Bible.

The second consists of seven and the works of the church fathers who lived in the second to fourth centuries AD. These people include John Chrysostom, Athanasius of Alexandrovsky, Gregory the Theologian, Basil the Great, and John of Damascus.

Distinctive features of Orthodoxy

In all Orthodox countries, the main tenets of this branch of Christianity are observed. These include the following: the trinity of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), salvation from the Last Judgment through confession of faith, atonement for sins, incarnation, resurrection and ascension of God the Son - Jesus Christ.

All these rules and dogmas were approved in 325 and 382 at the first two Ecumenical Councils. proclaimed them eternal, indisputable and communicated to humanity by the Lord God himself.

Orthodox countries of the world

The religion Orthodoxy is professed by approximately 220 to 250 million people. This number of believers is a tenth of all Christians on the planet. Orthodoxy is spread throughout the world, but the highest percentages of people who profess this religion are in Greece, Moldova and Romania - 99.9%, 99.6% and 90.1% respectively. Other Orthodox countries have a slightly lower percentage of Christians, but Serbia, Bulgaria, Georgia and Montenegro also have high percentages.

The largest number of people whose religion is Orthodoxy live in the countries of Eastern Europe and the Middle East; there are a large number of religious diasporas throughout the world.

List of Orthodox countries

An Orthodox country is one in which Orthodoxy is recognized as the state religion.

The country in which greatest number Orthodox, the Russian Federation is considered. In percentage terms, it is, of course, inferior to Greece, Moldova and Romania, but the number of believers significantly exceeds these Orthodox countries.

• Greece - 99.9%.
• Moldova - 99.9%.
• Romania - 90.1%.
• Serbia - 87.6%.
• Bulgaria - 85.7%.
• Georgia - 78.1%.
• Montenegro - 75.6%.
• Belarus - 74.6%.
• Russia - 72.5%.
• Macedonia - 64.7%.
• Cyprus - 69.3%.
• Ukraine - 58.5%.
• Ethiopia - 51%.
• Albania - 45.2%.
• Estonia - 24.3%.

The distribution of Orthodoxy across countries, depending on the number of believers, is as follows: in first place is Russia with the number of believers 101,450,000 people, Ethiopia has Orthodox Christians 36,060,000, Ukraine - 34,850,000, Romania - 18,750,000, Greece - 10,030,000, Serbia - 6,730,000, Bulgaria - 6,220,000, Belarus - 5,900,000, Egypt - 3,860,000, and Georgia - 3,820,000 Orthodox.

Peoples who profess Orthodoxy

Let's consider the spread of this belief among the peoples of the world, and according to statistics, most of the Orthodox are among the Eastern Slavs. These include peoples such as Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians. In second place in the popularity of Orthodoxy as a native religion are the South Slavs. These are Bulgarians, Montenegrins, Macedonians and Serbs.

Moldovans, Georgians, Romanians, Greeks and Abkhazians are also mostly Orthodox.

Orthodoxy in the Russian Federation

As noted above, the country of Russia is Orthodox, the number of believers is the largest in the world and extends over its entire large territory.

Orthodox Russia is famous for its multinationality; this country is home to a large number of peoples with different cultural and traditional heritage. But most of these people are united by their faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

To such Orthodox peoples Russian Federation include the Nenets, Yakuts, Chukchi, Chuvash, Ossetians, Udmurts, Mari, Nenets, Mordovians, Karelians, Koryaks, Vepsians, the peoples of the Komi Republic and Chuvashia.

Orthodoxy in North America

It is believed that Orthodoxy is a faith that is widespread in the Eastern part of Europe and a small part of Asia, but this religion is also present in North America, thanks to the huge diasporas of Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Moldovans, Greeks and other peoples resettled from Orthodox countries .

Most North Americans are Christians, but they belong to the Catholic branch of this religion.

It's a little different in Canada and the US.

Many Canadians consider themselves Christians, but rarely attend church. Of course, there is a slight difference depending on the region of the country and the urban or rural areas. It is known that city residents are less religious than country people. The religion of Canada is mainly Christian, the majority of believers are Catholics, followed by other Christians, and a significant portion are Mormons.

The concentration of the latter two religious movements is very different from region to region of the country. For example, many Lutherans live in the maritime provinces, once settled there by the British.

And in Manitoba and Saskatchewan there are many Ukrainians who profess Orthodoxy and are adherents of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

In the United States, Christians are less devout, but, compared to Europeans, they attend church more often and perform religious rituals.

Mormons are mainly concentrated in Alberta due to the migration of Americans who are representatives of this religious movement.

Basic sacraments and rituals of Orthodoxy

This Christian movement is based on seven main actions, each of which symbolizes something and strengthens human faith in the Lord God.

The first, which is performed in infancy, is baptism, which is carried out by immersing a person in water three times. This number of dives is done in honor of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This ritual means spiritual birth and a person’s acceptance of the Orthodox faith.

The second action, which occurs only after baptism, is the Eucharist or communion. It is carried out through eating a small piece of bread and a sip of wine, symbolizing the eating of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Orthodox Christians also have access to confession, or repentance. This sacrament consists of confessing all one’s sins before God, which a person says before a priest, who, in turn, absolves sins in the name of God.

A symbol of preserving the resulting purity of the soul that was after baptism is the sacrament of confirmation.

A ritual that is performed jointly by two Orthodox Christians is a wedding, an action in which, in the name of Jesus Christ, the newlyweds are given farewell to a long family life. The ceremony is performed by a priest.

Unction is a sacrament during which a sick person is anointed with oil (wood oil), which is considered sacred. This action symbolizes the descent of God's grace on a person.

The Orthodox have another sacrament that is available only to priests and bishops. It is called priesthood and consists of the transfer of special grace from the bishop to the new priest, the validity of which is for life.

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev)

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Christos Yannaras

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Metropolitan

Thoughts on Orthodoxy prot.

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archbishop Averky Taushev

A collection of words and sermons about Orthodoxy with warnings against sins against it St.

Orthodoxy(Greek ὀρθοδοξία (orthodoxy) - correct judgment, correct teaching, correct glorification (from Greek ὀρθός - straight, standing straight, correct, + δοκέω - think) – 1) true religious teaching about, about His creation and His relationship to it creation, about vocation and destiny, about the ways of achievement by man, given through the Lord, revealed to man through, constantly abiding in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Christ; 2) the only true direction.

“Orthodoxy is true and reverence for God; Orthodoxy is the worship of God in Spirit and Truth; Orthodoxy is the glorification of God by true knowledge of Him and worship of Him; Orthodoxy is God’s glorification of man, a true servant of God, by bestowing upon him grace. The Spirit is the glory of Christians (). Where there is no Spirit, there is no Orthodoxy" (St.

The concept of Orthodoxy includes three interconnected parts.
Firstly, the word Orthodoxy has a doctrinal meaning. By Orthodoxy we must understand pure, holistic and undistorted Christian teaching, revealed in church documents. In a dogmatic sense, Orthodox teaching opposes all heresies as distortions of Christianity and reflects the fullness of knowledge of God accessible to the human race. In this meaning, the term Orthodoxy is found already in the writings of apologists of the 2nd century (in particular,).
Secondly, the word Orthodoxy has an ecclesiastical or ecclesiological meaning. By Orthodoxy we must understand the community of Christian local Churches that have communion with each other.
Third, the word Orthodoxy has a mystical meaning. By Orthodoxy we must understand the Christian spiritual practice (experience) of knowledge of God through the acquisition of the Divine Holy Spirit, which saves and transforms (deifies) man.

All three meanings of Orthodoxy are interconnected and one cannot be imagined without the other. Orthodox doctrine has its source and is taught in the Church of Christ. Orthodoxy presents one dogmatic doctrine based on one mystical experience. Orthodox mystical experience is expressed in the doctrine preserved by the Church.

The word Orthodoxy is a translation of the Greek word Orthodoxy. This word consists of two parts. The first part of Ortho (Ortho) translated from Greek means “straight”, “correct”. The second part of doxa (doxa) translated from Greek means “knowledge”, “judgment”, “opinion”, as well as “radiance”, “glory”, “honor”. These meanings complement each other, for correct opinion in religion presupposes correct glorification of God, and, as a consequence, participation in His glory. In the latter sense ("glory"), the word doxa occurs most often in the New Testament. For example, the Savior “received glory from God the Father (Greek. d oxa) and honor" (), was "crowned with glory (Greek. d oxa) and honor through suffering death" (), coming "on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Greek doxa)" (), a Christian must be transformed "into the same image from glory (Greek doxa) to glory" () , “for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory (Greek doxa) forever” (). Therefore the word Orthodoxy translated as Orthodoxy.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on September 21st according to the new style. Christmas holiday Holy Mother of God established by the Church in ancient times; the first mention of it dates back to the 4th century.

Holy Scripture says almost nothing about the birth and circumstances of the childhood of the Most Holy Theotokos; church Tradition has preserved news of this for us.

In the Galilean city of Nazareth, a descendant of King David, Joachim, lived with his wife Anna. The entire life of the couple was imbued with love for God and people. Until they were very old, they did not have children, although they constantly prayed to God to give them a child. Childlessness in Old Testament times was considered a punishment from God, therefore Joachim, as a person displeasing to God, was not even allowed to make sacrifices in the temple. Righteous Anna also suffered reproach (shame) for her barrenness. The couple made a vow: if they had a baby, they would dedicate it to God. For their patience, great faith and love for God and each other, the Lord sent Joachim and Anna great joy - at the end of their lives they had a daughter. At the direction of the angel of God, the girl was named Mary.

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the first fixed feast of the annual liturgical cycle. This is explained, first of all, by the spiritual significance of this event: with the birth of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Incarnation and salvation of people became possible - the Virgin was born, worthy of becoming the Mother of the Savior. Therefore, according to the expression of church hymns, the birth of the Virgin Mary became joy for the whole world.

Troparion of the holiday: Thy Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, joy was proclaimed (announced) to the whole universe: from Thee has risen (because from Thee has risen) the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, and having destroyed the oath, He gave (gave) a blessing, and having abolished death, the gift of ( gave) us eternal life.

Kontakion of the holiday: Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness (reproach for childlessness), and Adam and Eve were freed (freed) from mortal aphids (destruction, destruction as a result of death), Most Pure One, in Thy holy Nativity. Then Thy people also celebrate the guilt of sins (the burden of sin), having been delivered (having been delivered), always calling upon Thee (exclaiming to Thee): the barren (barren) gives birth to the Mother of God and the nourisher of our life.

Introduction to the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on December 4th. The exact date of the establishment of the feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary is unknown, but already in the 8th–9th centuries the holiday was celebrated in many Churches of the Orthodox East.

Church tradition reports that in fulfillment of the vow made by the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary - to dedicate the child to God, in three years of age The Blessed Virgin was taken to the Jerusalem Temple. On the way to the temple, She was preceded by young maidens with lamps. There were 15 large steps in front of the temple entrance. The parents placed young Mary on the first of these steps, and at that moment a miraculous event happened: alone, not supported by adults, She climbed the high, steep steps.

The High Priest met the Most Pure Virgin and, by the inspiration of God, did an unusual thing that surprised everyone: having blessed the Virgin, He led Her into the Holy of Holies. According to the law, it was allowed to enter this part of the temple only once a year and only to the high priest. The extraordinary introduction of the Blessed Virgin into the temple shows that She herself will become a living temple for God the Word.

The Virgin Mary lived and was raised at the temple until she was fourteen years old - the age of majority.

Troparion of the holiday: Today (now) the favor of God is the transfiguration (foreshadowing), and the preaching of the salvation of people (sermon about the salvation of people): in the temple of God the Virgin clearly appears and announces Christ to everyone. That we too will cry out loudly (we will cry out loudly); Rejoice, fulfillment of the Creator’s vision (fulfillment of the Divine plan for us)!

Kontakion of the Feast: The Most Pure Temple of the Savior, the valuable Chamber and the Virgin, the sacred Treasure of the glory of God, is today introduced into the house of the Lord, sharing the grace that is in the Divine Spirit (carrying with Him grace in the Divine Spirit), and the Angels of God sing (It) The village is heavenly.

Nativity

The great event of the Nativity of Christ is celebrated by the Church on January 7 (new style). The establishment of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ dates back to the 1st century of Christianity.

The circumstances of the birth of the Savior are told in the Gospel of Matthew (chap. 1–2) and the Gospel of Luke (chap. 2).

During the reign of Emperor Augustus in Rome, a nationwide census was carried out in Judea, as one of the Roman provinces. Every Jew had to go to the city where his ancestors lived and enroll there. Joseph and the Virgin Mary came from the family of David and therefore went from Nazareth to the city of David, Bethlehem. Arriving in Bethlehem, they could not find a place for themselves in an inn and stopped outside the city, in a cave where shepherds drove their cattle in inclement weather. In this cave at night, the Son of the Savior of the world was born to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She swaddled the Divine Child and placed Him in a manger, where the shepherds put food for the livestock.

The Bethlehem shepherds were the first to learn about the birth of the Savior. That night they grazed their flocks in the field. Suddenly an angel appeared before them and said to them: “Do not be afraid! I proclaim to you great joy, which will be not only for you, but also for all people: today a Savior has been born in the city of David (that is, Bethlehem), who is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” At the same time, a numerous heavenly army appeared with the angel, glorifying God and crying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2.8-14). The shepherds, hastening, came to the cave and saw Mary, Joseph and the Baby lying in a manger. They bowed to the Baby and told about what they had seen and heard from the Angels. Mary kept all their words in Her heart.

On the eighth day after the birth of the Child, His Mother and Joseph, according to the law, gave Him the name Jesus, as indicated by the angel.

Joseph and the Most Holy Mother of God with the Infant Jesus were still remaining in Bethlehem, when the Magi (scientists, wise men) came to Jerusalem from a distant country in the east. They bowed to the Child and presented Him with gifts: gold, incense and myrrh (precious fragrant oil). All the gifts of the Magi are symbolic: they brought gold to Christ as the King (in the form of tribute), incense - as to God (because incense is used during worship), and myrrh - as to a Man who was about to die (because at that time the dead were anointed and rubbed with fragrant oils). Tradition has preserved the names of the Magi, who later became Christians: Melchior, Gaspar and Belshazzar.

In the Incarnation, God's love and mercy for sinful people was revealed. The Son of God humbled Himself, humbled Himself, put aside the greatness and glory inherent in Him as God, and accepted the living conditions of fallen humanity. Sin once made people enemies of God. And so God Himself became Man in order to renew human nature, deliver people from the power of sin and reconcile them with Himself.

Believers prepare for the worthy celebration of the Nativity of Christ by fasting for forty days. A particularly strict fast is held on the day before Christmas - it is called Christmas Eve; on this day, according to the Church Charter, it is supposed to eat sochivo (wheat with honey).

Troparion of the holiday: Thy Nativity, Christ our God, has risen up the worldly light of reason (enlightened the world with the light of the knowledge of the true God): in it (through the Nativity of Christ) those serving the stars (the Magi) learned by the star (were taught by the star) to bow to Thee, the Sun of Truth, and Lead to You, from the heights of the East (to know You, East from above), Lord, glory to You!

Kontakion of the holiday: The Virgin today gives birth to the Most Essential (Eternally Existing) One, and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable One, Angels and shepherds praise, and the Magi (magi) travel with the star: for for our sake, a young youth (little Youth), the Eternal God, was born.

Epiphany or Epiphany

The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated by the Holy Orthodox Church on January 19th. Until the 4th century, Epiphany was celebrated by Christians simultaneously with the Nativity of Christ; this single holiday was called Epiphany.

The circumstances of the Baptism of the Lord are described in all four Gospels (Matt. 3.13–17; Mark 1.9–11; Luke 3.21–23; John 1.33–34).

At the time when Saint John the Baptist preached, called the people to repentance and baptized, Jesus Christ turned thirty years old, and He, like other Jews, came from Nazareth to the Jordan to John the Baptist to be baptized. John considered himself unworthy to baptize Jesus Christ and began to restrain Him, saying: “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? But Jesus answered him: leave me now (that is, do not hold me back now) because this is how we need to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3.14-15). “To fulfill all righteousness” means to fulfill everything required by the Law of God and to show people an example of doing the will of God. After these words, John obeyed and baptized the Lord Jesus Christ.

After the baptism was performed, when Jesus Christ came out of the water, the heavens suddenly opened up (opened) above Him; and Saint John saw the Spirit of God, who in the form of a dove descended on Jesus, and from heaven the voice of God the Father was heard: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3.17).

After Baptism, Jesus Christ went out to public service and preaching.

The Baptism of the Lord was a harbinger of the church Sacrament of Baptism. Jesus Christ, by His life, Death and Resurrection, opened the Kingdom of God for people, into which a person cannot enter without Baptism, that is, birth of water and the Spirit (Matthew 28.19–20; John 3.5).

The Feast of Epiphany is called Epiphany, since at this moment God revealed (showed) people that He is the Most Holy Trinity: God the Father spoke from heaven, God the Son incarnate was baptized, and God the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove.

The special feature of this holiday is two great blessings of water. The first happens on the eve of the holiday (on Christmas Eve), and the other happens on the very feast of the Epiphany. In ancient times, on the day of Epiphany, Jerusalem Christians went to the Jordan River to bless water - a place especially associated with the Baptism of the Savior. In this regard, in Rus' the Epiphany procession called the procession to the Jordan.

Troparion of the holiday: In the Jordan I am baptized to You, O Lord, (when You were baptized in the Jordan) Trinity adoration appeared (then the mystery of the Holy Trinity was revealed on earth with particular clarity). For the voice of the parents (the voice of God the Father) testified to You (testified of You), calling Your Son beloved (calling You beloved Son), and the Spirit, in the form of a dove (in the form of a dove), informed your word statement (confirmed the testimony of God the Father) . Christ God has appeared (appeared), and the world has enlightened (enlightened), glory to Thee.

Kontakion of the holiday: Thou hast appeared this day (now) to the universe, and Thy light, O Lord, has been marked (imprinted) on us, in the mind (reasonably) singing Thee: Thou hast come, and Thou hast appeared, the Unapproachable Light.

Candlemas

The Presentation of the Lord is celebrated by the Church on February 15th. This holiday has been known in the Christian East since the 4th century.

The circumstances of this event are described in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2.22–39). The word "meeting" means "meeting."

Forty days passed after the Nativity of Christ, and the Most Holy Theotokos, together with righteous Joseph, brought the Infant Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple to fulfill the Law of Moses. According to the Law, every first-born male must be brought to the temple on the fortieth day to be dedicated to God (if it is the first-born from the tribe of Levi, he was left at the temple for upbringing and future service; parents bought the first-born from other tribes for five coins). On the fortieth day after giving birth, the mother of the baby had to make sacrifices for purification (women from poor families usually brought two pigeon chicks).

In the temple, the Baby was met by the elder Simeon, who came there at the inspiration of the Spirit of God, and the prophetess Anna, who lived at the temple.

Righteous Simeon, to whom God promised that he would not die until he saw the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises about the Savior of the world, took the Baby in his arms and recognized the Messiah in Him. At this moment, Simeon the God-Receiver, turning to Christ, uttered prophetic words: “Now you are releasing Your servant, O Master, according to Your word in peace: for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light for the revelation of tongues and the glory of people. of your Israel." (Luke 2.29–32).

The righteous elder predicted to the Blessed Virgin Mary the heartache that She had to endure, compassionate with Her Divine Son in the feat of His earthly life and death on the Cross.

After this meeting, Anna the prophetess announced to all of Jerusalem about the birth of the Savior.

Troparion: Rejoice, blessed Virgin Mary, for from You has risen the Sun of Truth, Christ our God, enlightening those who are in darkness (enlightening those in the darkness of error): rejoice and you, the righteous elder, are received into the arms of the Liberator of our souls, who gives us resurrection.

Kontakion: You sanctified the womb of the Maiden with Your birth, and blessed the hand of Simeon, as befitting, having preceded (as it should have been, having warned him), and now You have saved us, O Christ God, but pacify the life in battle (pacify discord) and strengthen the people (whom ) you have loved, O One who loves mankind.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on April 7th. The first mention of the celebration of the Annunciation dates back to the 3rd century.

The circumstances of the Annunciation are described in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1.26–38).

When the time predetermined by the Creator arrived, the Archangel Gabriel was sent to the Blessed Virgin with the good news of the imminent birth of the Son, who will be the Son of the Most High and will be called Jesus. Mary asked how all this could be fulfilled if She remained a virgin? The angel answered Her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You; therefore the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1.35). Obedient to the will of God, the Virgin listened to the messenger with meekness and said: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord; Let it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1.38).

God could not accomplish the salvation of man without the consent and participation of man himself. In the person of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who agreed to become the Mother of Jesus Christ, all creation responded with consent to the divine call to salvation.

The Day of the Annunciation is the day of the Incarnation: in the womb of the Most Pure and Immaculate Virgin, God the Son took on human flesh. The chants of this holiday emphasize the incomprehensibility of the mystery of the incarnation and birth in the flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ for the human mind.

Troparion of the holiday: The day of our salvation is the main thing (now is the beginning of our salvation), and the manifestation of the sacrament from the ages (and the manifestation of the mystery predetermined from the ages): the Son of God is the Son of the Virgin (the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin), and Gabriel preaches grace. In the same way, we will cry out to the Mother of God (exclaim): Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Kontakion of the holiday: To the chosen victorious Voivode (To You, the chosen Military Leader), as having got rid of the evil (having gotten rid of troubles), we sing thanksgiving to You (we sing a song of gratitude and victory to You) Thy servants, Mother of God, but as (as) having an invincible power, from all Free us from troubles, let us call You: Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

The first mention of the celebration of the Entry into Jerusalem by the Christian Church dates back to the 3rd century.

This event is described by all four evangelists (Matt. 21.1–11; Mark 11.1–11; Luke 19.29–44; John 12.12–19).

This holiday is dedicated to the memory of the solemn Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, where the Lord entered to suffer and die on the cross. Six days before the Jewish Passover, Jesus Christ made a solemn entry into Jerusalem to show that He is the true King and goes to death voluntarily. Approaching Jerusalem, Jesus Christ sent two of His disciples to bring Him a donkey and a colt, which no one had ever sat on. The disciples went and did as the Teacher commanded them. They covered the donkey with their clothes, and Jesus Christ sat on it.

In Jerusalem they learned that Jesus, who raised four-day-old Lazarus, was approaching the city. Many people, gathered from everywhere for the Easter holiday, came out to meet Him. Many took off their outer garments and spread them for Him along the way; others cut palm branches, carried them in their hands and covered the path with them. And all the people who accompanied and met Him exclaimed in joy: “Hosanna (salvation) to the Son of David! blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (i.e., worthy of praise, coming in the name of the Lord, sent by God) the King of Israel! Hosanna in the highest! (Matthew 21.9)

After the solemn entry into the city, Jesus Christ came to the Temple of Jerusalem and drove out all those who were selling and buying. At the same time, the blind and lame surrounded Christ, and He healed them all. The people, seeing the power of Jesus Christ and the miracles He performed, began to glorify Him even more. The high priests, scribes and elders of the people were jealous of the people’s love for Christ and looked for an opportunity to destroy Him, but did not find it, because all the people persistently listened to Him.

Passion Week begins at the Entrance to Jerusalem. The Lord comes to Jerusalem by His will, knowing that he is going to suffer.

The solemn entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is celebrated by the Church on the last Sunday before Easter. This holiday is also called Palm Sunday or Vai week (in the Church Slavonic language “vai” is a branch, “week” is a Sunday day). During the all-night vigil in the church, the branches are consecrated (in some countries - palm branches, in Russia - flowering willow branches). The branches are a symbol of Christ's victory over death and a reminder of the future general resurrection of the dead.

Troparion of the holiday: Before Your Passion, assuring us of the General Resurrection (before Your Passion, assuring us that there will be a General Resurrection), You raised (resurrected) Lazarus from the dead, O Christ our God. In the same way, we, like youths (like children), bearing signs of victory (carrying branches as a sign of the victory of life over death), to You, the Conqueror of death, we cry (exclaim): Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Kontakion: On the throne in heaven (seated on the throne in heaven), carried on the earth by lots (and on earth walking on a colt), O Christ God, the praise of angels, and the chanting of children, you received (accepted) those calling to You: blessed Thou shalt call forth Adam to come!

Easter – Holy Resurrection of Christ

Easter is the oldest holiday of the Christian Church. It was established and celebrated already in the 1st century, during the life of the holy apostles.

The Holy Scriptures do not describe the Resurrection of Christ itself, but numerous testimonies about the appearances of the Risen Christ to the disciples (Matthew 28.1–15; Mark 16.1–11; Luke 24.1–12; John 20.1–18). Sacred Tradition says that the Most Holy Theotokos was the first to know the news of the Resurrection of Christ.

The Gospels tell us that on the third day after the Crucifixion, the Myrrh-Bearing Women went to the cave in which Jesus was buried to complete the burial rite. Approaching the coffin, they saw that the huge stone that covered the entrance to the cave had been rolled away. Then they saw an Angel who told them that Christ was no longer among the dead, He had risen.

A little later, the Lord Himself appeared to Mary Magdalene, and then to the other Myrrh-Bearing Women. On the same day, the Risen Lord appeared to the Apostle Peter, then to the two apostles going to Emmaus, then, passing through closed doors, to the eleven apostles who were staying together.

Among the annual holidays, the Resurrection of Christ is the greatest and most joyful; it is “the holiday of the holidays and the triumph of celebrations.”

Another name for the holiday is Easter. This holiday received this name in relation to the Old Testament Easter (from the word “passover” - “passing, passing by”). Among the Jews, this holiday was established in honor of the deliverance of the Jewish firstborn from death during the tenth Egyptian plague. An angel passed by Jewish houses as their doors were anointed with the blood of a sacrificial lamb. In the Christian Church, this name (Easter) acquired a special meaning and began to mean the transition from death to life, from earth to heaven, which became possible for believers thanks to the Sacrifice of Christ.

The Holy Resurrection of Christ is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on the first Sunday after the spring full moon, always after Jewish Easter. Christians prepare for this holiday during a long and especially strict Lent.

The festive service is celebrated with special solemnity. Long before midnight, believers come to the temple and listen to the reading of the book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles. Before midnight, the Easter procession leaves the church and goes around it accompanied by quiet singing: “Thy Resurrection, O Christ the Savior, the angels sing in heaven, and grant us on earth with a pure heart to glorify Thee.” All those praying walk with lighted candles, just as once upon a time the Myrrh-Bearing Women with lamps walked early in the morning to the tomb of the Savior.

The procession stops at the closed western gates of the temple, as if at the doors of the tomb of Christ. And here the priest, like the angel who announced the myrrh-bearing women about the Resurrection of Christ, is the first to proclaim victory over death: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and giving life to those in the tombs.” This troparion is often repeated at the Easter service, as well as the exclamations of the clergy: “Christ is Risen!”, to which the people respond: “Truly He is Risen!”

The solemn celebration of the Resurrection of Christ continues for a whole week, called Bright Week. These days, Christians greet each other with the words: “Christ is Risen!” and the response words: “Truly He is Risen!” At Easter there is a custom of exchanging painted (red) eggs, which serve as a symbol of the new, blissful life revealed from the Savior’s tomb.

Church services preserve the Easter mood in believers even after Bright Week - Easter hymns are sung in churches until Easter and the Ascension of Christ. During the liturgical year, every seventh day of the week is also dedicated to the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is therefore called Little Easter.

Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death (having conquered) and giving life to those in the tombs (giving life to those in the tombs, i.e., the dead).

Kontakion: Even though You descended into the grave, Immortal, (even though You descended into the grave, Immortal), You destroyed the power of hell and resurrected You, like a conqueror, O Christ God, Who told the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice! and by Thy apostle grant (bestow) peace, grant (give) resurrection to the fallen.

Ascension of the Lord

The Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on the fortieth day after Easter.

The establishment of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord dates back to ancient times and refers to holidays that, like Easter and Pentecost, were established by the apostles themselves.

The Ascension of the Lord is described in the Gospel (Mark 16.9–20; Luke 24.36–53) and in the book of Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 1.1–12).

On the fortieth day after the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the disciples gathered in one house. Jesus Christ appeared to them and talked with them, saying: “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day; and repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this (Luke 24.46–48). Go into all the world and preach the Gospel (that is, the news of the Resurrection of Christ and the teaching of Christ) to every creature” (Mark 16.15). Then the Savior told the disciples that he would soon send them the Holy Spirit; Until this time, the disciples were not supposed to leave Jerusalem. Talking with his disciples, the Savior went out with the apostles to the Mount of Olives. There He blessed the disciples and, as He blessed them, began to move away from them and ascend into heaven, and soon a cloud hid Christ from the eyes of the apostles.

Having ascended, the God-man Jesus Christ sat at the right hand of God the Father. Sitting “at the right hand,” i.e., “on the right, on the right hand,” means special honor, special glory. The Ascension of Christ into heaven shows the purpose of human life: union with God and life in the glory of the Kingdom of God. It is important that not only the soul, but also the human body participates in this glory. In the Ascension of Christ, human nature was planted at the right hand of the glory of God, that is, glorified.

The angels who appeared to the disciples immediately after the Ascension comforted the apostles, amazed and saddened by the new separation from the Teacher, reminding them that the Lord would come again - in the same way as he ascended to heaven.

After His Ascension into heaven, Christ the Savior did not abandon the believers. He invisibly and inseparably abides in the Church.

Troparion: Thou art ascended in glory, O Christ our God, having created joy as a disciple, by the promise of the Holy Spirit, by the former blessing communicated to them, for Thou art the Son of God, the deliverer of the world (when through Thy blessing they were completely convinced that Thou art the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world) .

Kontakion: Having fulfilled your concern for us (fulfilling the plan for our salvation), and having united those on earth (earthly) with the heavenly, you ascended in glory, Christ our God, in no way departing, but remaining persistent (not leaving those living on earth, but remaining inseparably with them), and crying out (calling out) to those who love Thee: I am with you, and no one is against you (no one is against you)!

Pentecost

The descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on the fiftieth day after Easter.

The holiday in memory of the event of the descent of the Holy Spirit was established by the apostles. They celebrated it annually and commanded all Christians to especially honor this day (Acts 2.14, 23).

On the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ, all the apostles, together with the Mother of God and other disciples, unanimously remained in prayer and were in the same upper room in Jerusalem. Suddenly a sound came from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled the whole house where the disciples of Christ were. Tongues of fire appeared and rested (stopped) one on each of them. Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to glorify God in different languages ​​that they did not know before.

The Jews then had the great holiday of Pentecost in memory of the giving of the Sinai legislation (the establishment of the Covenant between God and the people). On the occasion of the holiday, many Jews gathered in Jerusalem, coming from different countries. Hearing the noise, a huge crowd gathered near the house where the disciples of Christ were. All the people were amazed and asked each other: “Are not these all Galileans who speak? How do we each hear our own dialect in which we were born... do we hear them speaking in our own languages ​​about the great deeds of God? (Acts 2.7-11) And some said in bewilderment: “They were drunk with sweet wine” (Acts 2.13).

Then the Apostle Peter, standing up, said that the apostles were not drunk, but that the Old Testament prophecy about the granting of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to all believers was fulfilled. The Holy Spirit was sent to the apostles by the Risen and Ascended Jesus Christ. Peter's sermon had such an effect on those who heard it that many believed in the Lord Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. Peter then called on them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, so that they too could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:36–37). Those who believed in Christ willingly accepted baptism; there were about three thousand of them that day.

The Feast of Pentecost is called the birthday of the Church. From the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Christian faith began to spread rapidly, the number of believers increased day by day. The apostles boldly preached to everyone about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, about His suffering for us and the resurrection from the dead. The Lord helped them with numerous miracles that were performed by the apostles in the name of Jesus Christ. To perform the Sacraments and preach, the apostles appointed bishops, presbyters and deacons. The grace of the Holy Spirit, clearly taught to the apostles in the form of tongues of fire, is now given to Orthodox Church invisibly - in the holy Sacraments through bishops and priests, who are the direct successors of the apostles.

The Day of Pentecost is also called the Day of the Holy Trinity, sometimes simply - the Trinity. On this day, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity openly revealed Himself - the Holy Spirit, who created the Body of the Church of Christ, poured out His gifts on Christians and united with them forever. The day after Pentecost is dedicated to the special glorification of the Holy Spirit and is called the Spiritual Day.

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity has a deep moral meaning for believers. God is Love, on the day of Pentecost, divine love was poured into the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit. The service for the Feast of the Holy Trinity teaches Christians to live in such a way that in their mutual relationships a grace-filled unity in love is realized, the image of which is shown by the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity.

Troparion: Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who are wise fishermen of things (who made wise fishermen), sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and with them caught (attracted to faith) the universe (the whole world): Lover of mankind, glory to Thee.

Kontakion: When the Most High descended (when the Most High descended during the construction of the Tower of Babel and mixed languages), dividing the languages ​​(peoples), He divided the nations; When He distributed the fiery tongues into unity, we all called (when He distributed the fiery tongues, He called everyone to unite), and accordingly we glorify the All-Holy Spirit.

Transfiguration

The Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated on August 19th. The holiday was established no later than the 4th century.

The event of the Transfiguration of the Lord is described by the evangelists Matthew and Luke (Matthew 17.1–13; Luke 9.28–36) and the Apostle Peter (2 Pet. 1.16–18).

Shortly before His suffering, Jesus Christ took three disciples - Peter, James and John, and went up with them to a high mountain to pray. According to legend, this was Mount Tabor. While the Savior was praying, the disciples fell asleep from fatigue. When they woke up, they saw that Jesus Christ had been transformed: His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white and shining. At this time, two Old Testament prophets appeared on the mountain - Moses and Elijah. They talked with Christ about the suffering and death that He had to endure in Jerusalem.

At this, extraordinary joy filled the hearts of the disciples. Peter exclaimed with feeling: “Lord! It’s good for us to be here; If you want, we will make three tabernacles (that is, tents) here: one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and they heard from the cloud the voice of God the Father: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; Listen to him! (Luke 9.33–35) The disciples fell to the ground in fear. Jesus Christ came up to them, touched them and said: “Rise up and do not be afraid.” The disciples stood up and saw Jesus Christ in in ordinary form. When they came down from the mountain, Jesus Christ commanded not to tell anyone about what they saw until He rose from the dead.

On Mount Tabor, the Lord Jesus Christ, having been transformed, showed the glory of His Divinity. God opened the eyes of the apostles, and they were able to see the real greatness of their Divine Teacher, as far as a person can see it. Having become witnesses of the Transfiguration, the apostles during Holy Week had to understand that the Lord, who has divine power and authority, suffers and dies according to His will.

Troparion: Thou art transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God, showing Thy glory to Thy disciples, as unto men (as far as they could see it). May Your ever-present light shine upon us sinners too, through the prayers of the Mother of God, Light-Giver, glory to You!

Kontakion: You were transfigured on the mountain, and as the host of your disciples (as far as your disciples were able to contain), they saw your glory, O Christ God: so that when (so that when) they see you crucified, they will understand the suffering freely, peace ( to the world) they preach that You are truly the Father’s radiance.

Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on August 28. The first mention of Christians celebrating the Dormition of the Mother of God dates back to the 4th century.

The Gospel says nothing about the earthly life of the Mother of God after the Ascension of the Savior. Information about Her last days preserved Church Tradition.

The Apostle John the Theologian, according to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, took the Mother of God into his home and took care of Her until Her death. The Blessed Virgin Mary enjoyed general reverence in the Christian community. She prayed with Christ's disciples and talked with them about the Savior. Many Christians came from far away, from other countries, to see and listen to the Blessed Virgin.

Until the persecution brought by Herod Antipas against the Church, the Most Pure Virgin remained in Jerusalem, then moved with the Apostle John the Theologian to Ephesus. While living here, She visited the righteous Lazarus in Cyprus and Mount Athos, which she blessed as Her destiny. Shortly before her death, the Mother of God returned to Jerusalem.

Here the Ever-Virgin often stayed in those places with which they are associated major events in the life of Her Divine Son: Bethlehem, Golgotha, the Holy Sepulcher, Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives - there She prayed earnestly, again and again experiencing the events with which they were associated. The Most Holy Theotokos often prayed that Christ would quickly take Her to Himself into heaven.

One day, when the Most Holy Mary was praying like this on the Mount of Olives, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Her and announced that in three days Her earthly life would end and the Lord would take Her to Himself. The Most Holy Mother of God was incredibly happy about this news; She told the Apostle John about her and began to prepare for her death. There were no other apostles in Jerusalem at that time; they dispersed different countries preach about the Savior. The Mother of God wanted to say goodbye to them, and the Lord miraculously gathered all the apostles to Her, except Thomas. The Mother of God consoled the disciples, promising not to abandon them and all Christians after Her death and to always pray for them.

At the hour of her death, an extraordinary light illuminated the room where the Mother of God lay; The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, surrounded by angels, appeared and received Her most pure soul.

The solemn transfer of the Most Pure Body from Jerusalem to Gethsemane began. Peter, Paul and James, together with the other apostles, accompanied by a multitude of people, carried the bed of the Mother of God on their shoulders. The sick received healing from Her fragrant body.

The Jewish high priests sent their servants to disperse the procession, kill the apostles and burn the body of the Mother of God, but the angels struck the blasphemers with blindness. The Jewish priest Athos, who tried to overturn the bed of the Mother of God, was punished by an angel who cut off his hands, and received healing only after sincere repentance. Those who were blind also repented and received their sight.

Three days after the burial of the Mother of God, the late Apostle Thomas arrived in Jerusalem. He was very upset that he did not have time to say goodbye to Her. The apostles, who themselves were in sadness, opened the coffin to give Thomas the opportunity to say goodbye to the Mother of God. Great was their amazement when they did not find the body of the Mother of God in the cave.

The apostles' concerns about the fate of the body of the Most Pure Virgin Mary were soon resolved: during evening prayer they heard angelic singing and, looking up, saw the Mother of God in the radiance of heavenly glory, surrounded by angels. She said to the apostles: “Rejoice! I am with you all the days." This is how the Lord Jesus Christ glorified His Mother: He raised Her up before all people and took Her to Heaven with Her most holy body.

The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is a holiday colored at the same time by sadness about the end of Her life's journey and joy about the union of the Most Pure Mother with the Son. On the day of the blessed death of the Mother of God, all humanity found a Prayer Book and Heavenly Intercessor, an Intercessor before the Lord.

The Church calls the end of the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos Dormition (sleep), and this is associated with a new experience of death after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. For a person who believes in Christ, death becomes a sacrament of birth in new life. Physical death is like a dream, during which the deceased await the general resurrection from the dead at the Second Coming of Christ (1 Thess. 4.13-18).

Christians prepare for the Feast of the Assumption by fasting for two weeks (from August 14), as strict as Lent.

Troparion: At the Nativity (at the birth of Jesus Christ) you preserved your virginity, at the Dormition you did not forsake the world, O Mother of God; You reposed to the belly (passed on to eternal life), Mother of the essence of the Belly (being the Mother of Life, that is, Christ), and through Your prayers you delivered our (eternal) souls from death.

Kontakion: In the prayers of the never-sleeping Mother of God and in intercession (intercession), the immutable hope, the grave and mortification (death) were not restrained (were not restrained): just as the Mother of the Life, put to the life, the One Who dwelt in the ever-virgin womb (Christ, who dwelt in Her virgin womb, resettled Her as the Mother of Life to eternal life).

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This holiday is one of the great holidays and is celebrated on September 27th. It was installed in the 4th century in memory of the Finding of the Lord's Cross.

One of the first Christian historians, Eusebius of Caesarea, describes this event and its background as follows. Emperor Constantine the Great, being a pagan still inclined to accept Christianity, became convinced of the power and glory of the Cross of Christ. One day, on the eve of a decisive battle, he and his entire army saw the sign of the cross in the sky with the inscription: “By this, conquer.” The next night, Jesus Christ Himself appeared to the emperor with the Cross in his hand and said that with this sign the emperor would defeat the enemy; and ordered to arrange a military banner (gonfalon) with the image of the Holy Cross. Constantine fulfilled God's command and defeated the enemy. After the victory, the emperor took Christians under his protection and declared the Christian faith dominant in the Byzantine Empire. When imp. Constantine abolished execution by crucifixion and issued laws promoting the spread of the Church and the establishment of the faith of Christ.

Experiencing feelings of reverence for the Cross of the Lord, Constantine the Great wished to find the Venerable Tree of the Cross of the Lord and build a temple on Calvary. In 326, his mother, Queen Helena, went to Jerusalem in search of the Cross of the Lord.

According to legend, the place where the Holy Cross was found was indicated under the ruins of a pagan temple by an elderly Jew, who later converted to Christianity with the name Kyriak. Near the Place of Execution they found nails, a tablet with an inscription in three languages, which was nailed over the Head of the crucified Christ, and three crosses. In order to find out which of the three crosses is the Cross of the Lord, some evidence about it was needed. And this testimony was revealed by the miraculous power of the Cross: according to the testimony of many historians, a woman who was dying was healed by the touch of the Cross of the Lord.

In reverent joy, Queen Helena and all those who were with her paid veneration to the Cross. But a lot of people gathered, and not everyone could venerate the Venerable Tree of the Holy Cross, and not everyone could even see it. Then Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem, standing in a high place, began to raise (erect) the Holy Cross, showing it to the people. The people worshiped the Cross, exclaiming: “Lord, have mercy.”

This is where the holiday of the Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord began, which was established in the year of its discovery.

For their merits and zeal for spreading the Christian faith, Constantine the Great and his mother Helen received the title of saints equal to the apostles, that is, equal to the apostles.

This holiday is marked by strict fasting in remembrance of the Savior's Passion on the Cross.

Troparion of the holiday: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thy heritage (heritage), granting victories against the enemy (over enemies) and preserving Thy residence (Christian society) through Thy Cross.

Kontakion of the holiday: Having ascended to the cross by will (ascended on the cross according to His will), to the namesake of Your new residence (who bear Your name, that is, Christians) grant Your bounty, O Christ God; We rejoice in Thy power, giving (giving) victories to us in comparison (over enemies), Thy help, a weapon of peace, an invincible victory (may we have Thy help - a weapon of reconciliation and an invincible victory - the Cross).

I read that the Patriarch of Constantinople is the main one among the Orthodox. How so? He has almost no flock, because mostly Muslims live in Istanbul. And in general, how does everything work in our church? Who is more important than whom?

S. Petrov, Kazan

In total there are 15 autocephalous (independent - Ed.) Orthodox churches.

Constantinople

Its status as Orthodox Church No. 1 was determined in 1054, when the Patriarch of Constantinople trampled the bread prepared according to Western custom. This became the reason for the split of the Christian Church into Orthodox and Catholic. The throne of Constantinople was the first Orthodox, and its special significance is not disputed. Although the flock of the current Patriarch of Constantinople, who bears the proud title of Patriarch of New Rome and Ecumenical, is small.

Alexandria

According to church tradition, the Alexandria Church was founded by the holy Apostle Mark. The second of the four oldest Orthodox patriarchates. Canonical territory - Africa. In the 3rd century. It was there that monasticism first appeared.

Antioch

The third oldest, founded, according to legend, by Peter and Paul around 37. Jurisdiction: Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, also Arab parishes in Europe, North and South America, Australia.

Jerusalem

The oldest church, occupying 4th place in the autocephalous churches. It has the name of the mother of all churches, because it was on its territory that all the most important events described in the New Testament took place. Its first bishop was the Apostle James, the brother of the Lord.

Russian

Not being the oldest, upon its establishment it immediately received an honorable fifth place among churches. The largest and most influential autocephalous Orthodox Church.

Georgian

One of ancient churches in the world. According to legend, Georgia is the apostolic lot of the Mother of God.

Serbian

The first mass baptism of Serbs occurred under the Byzantine emperor Heraclius (610-641).

Romanian

Has jurisdiction on the territory of Romania. It has state status: Salaries of the clergy are paid from the state treasury.

Bulgarian

In Bulgaria, Christianity began to spread already in the 1st century. In 865, under St. Prince Boris, the general baptism of the Bulgarian people takes place.

Cyprus

10th place among autocephalous local churches.
One of the oldest local churches in the East. Founded by the Apostle Barnabas in 47.
In the 7th century fell under the Arab yoke, from which it was completely freed only in 965.

Helladic (Greek)

Historically, the Orthodox population of what is now Greece was within the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople. Autocephaly was proclaimed in 1833. The king was named the head of the church. Has state status.

Albanian

The bulk of the congregation lives in the southern regions of Albania (Islam predominates in the center and north). Founded in the 10th century. as part of Constantinople, but then gained independence in 1937.

Polish

It was established in its modern form in 1948. Before that for a long time 80% of the church's believers were Ukrainians, Belarusians and Rusyns.

Czech lands and Slovakia

Founded on the territory of the Great Moravian Principality in 863 through the labors of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles. 14th place among churches.

American

It is not recognized by Constantinople, as well as a number of other churches. The origin dates back to the creation in 1794 by the monks of the Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery of the first Orthodox mission in America. American Orthodox believe that St. Herman of Alaska is their apostle.

The best Orthodox sites - what are they? You will learn about this by reading the report on the first competition of Orthodox sites on the Runet “Mrezha-2006”!

On February 1, in Moscow, in the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Petrovsky Park, as part of the work of the section “Information Technologies, Internet and Multimedia in the Service of the Church” of the XV Christmas Readings, a solemn ceremony was held to sum up the results of the first competition of Orthodox Runet sites “Mrezha-2006”.

The competition runs for 5 months.

The competition jury, headed by the abbot of the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, the editor-in-chief of the Pravoslavie.Ru portal, Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov), sent invitations to participate in the competition to representatives of more than one and a half thousand Orthodox sites from the 2,500 Orthodox Internet projects of the Runet considered at the first stage of the competition. The jury received about 500 applications for participation in the competition from website authors.

The jury held several stages of voting and selected 53 laureates in 5 categories: official church websites; Media, news, portals; church and social life; science, culture, art, education and online libraries and services. At the final stage of the competition, the winner of the competition program was determined in each of the nominations. The decision of the jury - which sites became laureates and winners of the competition program - was officially announced only yesterday, at the solemn ceremony summing up the results of the competition.

The ceremony was hosted by competition jury members Pavel Egorikhin, head of the project “People's Catalog of Orthodox Architecture” and Anna Lyubimova, editor-in-chief of the portal “”. The jury also included the executive director of the Christmas readings, Priest Dimitry Lin, the head of the PMC “Life”, priest Maxim Obukhov, Andrei Volkov, representing the Orthodox liturgical community, the administrator of the Orthodoxy.Ru server Alexander Dyatlov, the head of Internet projects of the RIA Novosti news agency Natalya Loseva, Ksenia Luchenko, employee of the newspaper "Church Bulletin", editor-in-chief of the catalog Orthodox Christianity.Ru Ivan Mazurenko, designer Grigory Malyshev, head of department of the Stack Group of Companies Ivan Panchenko, editor of the site Sedmitsa.Ru Vladislav Petrushko, mother Marina Shin from the Community of Slavic Typography author of the project " Orthodox calendar» Dmitry Tsypin.

In nomination "Official Church Websites" official websites of the Moscow Patriarchate and other Local Churches, Internet projects of synodal institutions, dioceses and diocesan departments, monasteries, deaneries, parishes, etc. were put forward. Church structures. The main contenders for victory in this category were the winning sites of the competition:

• Official portal of the Moscow Patriarchate “Patriarchia.ru” (patriarchia.ru)
• Website “Sisters.Ru” of the Novo-Tikhvin Convent, Yekaterinburg (sestry.ru) and
• Official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church “Orthodox Ukraine” (pravoslavye.org.ua)

The winner of the competition in the category “Official Church Websites” was ultimately an Internet project "Sisters.Ru. Novo-Tikhvin Convent, Yekaterinburg"(sestry.ru). The winning site was awarded a valuable prize - an LCD monitor was presented to the site representative by the Chairman of the Community of Orthodox Web Developers, Alexander Dyatlov. The Sisters.Ru project is the official Internet project of the Novo-Tikhvin Convent of Yekaterinburg. The site design was developed by the sisters of the Novo-Tikhvin Monastery themselves. Software development and technical support The project has been carried out by Naumen company employees since 2002.

The editors of the site “Orthodoxy and the World” express special gratitude to the portal “Sisters”: the editors of the site have warm friendly relations, and the correspondents of the site “Sisters” have prepared several excellent materials for our portal: , .

Other winners in this category were the following sites:

• Vladivostok-Primorye Diocese (vladivostok.eparhia.ru)
• Ascension Pechersky Monastery of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese (pecherskiy.nne.ru)
• Znamensky Church in the village. Hills of Istra district, Moscow region (znamenie.org)
• Orthodox Donbass (ortodox.donbass.com)
• Kazan diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Official website (kazan.eparhia.ru)
• Moscow diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Official website (meparh.ru)
• Nizhny Novgorod Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church (nne.ru)
• Department for Church Charity and Social Service of the Russian Orthodox Church (diaconia.ru)
• Smolensk and Kaliningrad diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Official website (smolenskeparxi.ru)
• Church of St. John the Evangelist p. Bogoslovskoe-Mogiltsy, Moscow region. (hram-usadba.ru)

The competition was dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Orthodox Runet, so the jury awarded special diplomas to the authors of the first Orthodox sites created back in 1996. The first to receive such a diploma and a special prize from the newspaper “Church Bulletin” was one of the two authors of the first version. official website of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese priest Andrei Milkin.

In nomination "Media, news, portals" Orthodox portals, online magazines, news sites, Internet versions of TV and radio programs, newspapers, magazines and other media were put forward. The main contenders for victory in this category were the winning sites of the competition:

• Abortion and its consequences. Information and support in difficult situations (aborti.ru)
• Orthodox mother's page (orthomama.ru)
• Thomas. Orthodoxy for doubters (foma.ru)

The winner of the competition in the category “Media, news, portals” was an Internet project “Abortion and its consequences. Information and support in difficult situations"(www.aborti.ru). The main goal of the site is to tell readers about the consequences of abortion, that abortion is murder. The authors managed to make sure that, based on search engine queries, those who are already planning to have an abortion come to the site. Every day dozens of women turn to the portal with questions and doubts, and, with the help of the site’s authors, doctors, and confessor, it has already been possible to save, probably, more than one hundred children’s lives. The winning site is a personal project of Yulia Lek. The site design was developed by Olga Gabay, software– Alexander Vetchinkin, layout of the project was done by Evgeny Pozdnyakov. A diploma and a valuable prize - a digital video camera - were presented to Yulia Lek, who came to the ceremony from overseas, by the head of the Orthodox medical and educational center for life, Priest Maxim Obukhov.

We congratulate Yulia from the bottom of our hearts, wish her God’s help in her work, and admire the fact that the mother of 4 children finds the strength and time for such colossal work!

The following sites were also awarded diplomas as competition laureates in this category:

• Mercy.Ru. Website of the Moscow Diocesan Commission for Church Affairs social activities(miloserdie.ru)
• Our faith. Orthodox portal for youth (vera.mipt.ru)
• Been through! How to survive the passing of a loved one (perejit.ru)
• Orthodoxy and modernity. Information and analytical portal of the Saratov diocese (eparhia-saratov.ru)
• Orthodoxy on Far East. Information and analytical portal (pravostok.ru)
• Union. Representative office in Moscow of the Orthodox TV channel (tv-soyuz.ru)
• Tatyana's Day. Orthodox online publication of Moscow State University. M. V. Lomonosova (st-tatiana.ru)

Two other winning sites also received special prizes in the “Media, News, Portals” category. Competition diploma and special prize for contribution to the development of the Orthodox Runet to the author of the site "Orthodox Mother's Page" Anna Lyubimova, editor-in-chief of the Orthodoxy and Peace portal, presented it to Mother Margarita Danilova. The authors of one of the first Orthodox sites on the Runet - the Internet project of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov “Tatiana’s Day” was presented with a special prize (laptop) from the Pravoslavie.Ru portal by the chairman of the jury of the “Mrezha” competition, Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov).

We sincerely congratulate Mother Margarita and hope that her site will develop even more actively!

In nomination "Church and social life" Internet sites were put forward representing various societies, brotherhoods, unions, foundations, committees, councils, pilgrimage services, forums, blogs, communities and other Internet projects dedicated to communication on the Internet, Orthodox dating sites, shops, publishing houses, printing houses, the Internet -projects about church decoration, websites of icon painting and other workshops, personal and personal pages of Orthodox laymen and priests.

The winner sites of the competition were contenders for victory in this category:

• Big family. Charitable Foundation (fobs.ru)
• Kind words. Forum about love, marriage and life in the world (dobroeslovo.ru)
• Society of Church Bell Ringers. Bells and arrangement of traditional bell ringing (zvon.ru)

Two Internet projects won the competition in the “Church and Public Life” category:

• Big family. Charitable Foundation(fobs.ru)
• Society of Church Bell Ringers. Bells and arrangement of traditional bell ringing(zvon.ru)

The competition jury, despite the large number of voting stages, was unable to determine which of these projects to give preference to.

One of the two winning sites - the project Societies of Church Bell Ringers- is headed by the Chairman of the Society Igor Vasilyevich Konovalov, senior bell ringer of the Moscow Kremlin Cathedrals and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The design of the site, which opened in 2004, was developed by an employee of the Society of Church Bell Ringers, Konstantin Aleksandrovich Mishurovsky, and the project software was completed by Alexey Ozherelev. The diploma of the winner of the competition and the prize - a pocket personal computer - were presented to the representatives of this site by the Chairman of the Community of Orthodox Web Developers, Alexander Dyatlov.

We congratulate the Society of Church Bell Ringers on their victory and hope that with the help of the site’s authors, we will soon be able to tell more about bells and bell ringing on our site.

The second winning site in this category is an Internet project Charitable Foundation for helping orphans "Big Family". The Big Family Foundation was established in 2003 by the community of sisters of mercy in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God with the aim of providing all possible assistance to state orphanages and organizing the activities of non-state family-type orphanages - Family Education Boarding Houses. The foundation cooperates with 12 orphanages, boarding schools and children's homes. The foundation's website was created in March 2006. Alexander Dyatlov presented the site's representatives with a diploma of the winner of the competition and a prize - a digital camera.

• Mite. Orthodox book publishing house (lepta-kniga.ru)
• Patriarchal Center for the Spiritual Development of Children and Youth (cdrm.ru)
• Cover. Interuniversity Association for Spiritual and Moral Education of Youth, St. Petersburg (pokrov-forum.ru)
• Orthodox conversation. Internet forum community (pravbeseda.ru)
• Restavros. Volunteer Youth Association (wco.ru/restavros)
• Orphan soul. Karelian website public organization"Equilibrium". (sirotinka.ru)
• Foundation of the Holy All-Valuable Apostle Andrew the First-Called (fap.ru)
• Center for Education and Mercy of the Belarusian Exarchate “Joy of All Who Sorrow”, Minsk (hramvsr.by)

A special prize from the Union of Writers of Russia and a diploma from the competition for his contribution to the development of the Orthodox Runet was awarded to the author of one of the first Orthodox Internet libraries - the library "The Spiritual Heritage of Orthodoxy"– Vladimir Pavlenko.

In nomination "Science, culture, art, education" Iconographic, musical, poetic sites, projects dedicated to cinema, photography, theater and other forms of art and culture, educational Internet projects, local history and historical sites, sites containing the lives of saints, biographies of devotees of piety, etc. competed.

The contenders for victory in this nomination were the following Internet projects:

• Department of Biblical Studies of the Moscow Theological Academy (bible-mda.ru)
• Word. Orthodox educational portal(portal-slovo.ru)

The winner of the competition in the category “Science, culture, art, education” was an Internet project Department of Biblical Studies of the Moscow Theological Academy(bible-mda.ru). The website of the Department of Biblical Studies of the Moscow Theological Academy began its work on February 2, 2005. The design and software of the project were made by an employee of the department, priest Dimitry Yurevich. One of the goals of the site is to promote the development of biblical research in Russia. For this purpose, an electronic library was organized on the website by students, in which the best pre-revolutionary articles and monographs devoted to the study of the Holy Scriptures, as well as articles and books by current teachers of the department, are posted in scanned form in djvu format. Now there are about 250 books and articles on the site, their volume has already exceeded 1 gigabyte.

The diploma of the winner of the competition and the prize - a professional laser printer - were presented to the winner by Igor Chelebaev, director of the Lekom company, which sells and services copiers, printers and other office equipment.

Other sites-winners in this category were Internet projects:

• Bishop Vasily Rodzianko. Ascetic of piety (episkopvasily.ru)
• Icons and icon painting techniques (ukoha.ru)
• Kazan Theological Seminary (kds.eparhia.ru)
• Minsk theological schools (minds.by)
• Orthodoxy Photo. Orthodox photo (foto.orthodoxy.ru)
• Russia: history, culture, spirituality (russia-hc.ru)
• St. Petersburg Theological Academy and Seminary (spbda.ru)
• Christianity in art. Icons, mosaics, frescoes (icon-art.info)
• Church school (pedagog.eparhia.ru)

In the fifth and final nomination of the competition - "Online libraries and services"– Internet libraries and media libraries, liturgical libraries, hosting services, catalogues, ratings, search engines, banner networks, web services, fonts, sites about web design and web programming and other projects were put forward. The winning sites in this category were the following:

• Annunciation. Orthodox Christian Library (wco.ru/biblio)
• Complete Orthodox prayer book. Prayers for every need (molitvoslov.com)
• Pagez.Ru. Orthodox pages of Andrey Lebedev (pagez.ru)

The winner of the competition in the category “Internet libraries and services” was an Internet project "Pagez.Ru. Orthodox pages of Andrey Lebedev"(pagez.ru) The Pagez.Ru portal has been created for many years by one enthusiast and includes a catalog of Orthodox sites, a system for searching books in Orthodox electronic libraries of the RuNet, church calendar, an extensive library of works of the holy fathers and teachers of the Church and much more. For his work for the benefit of the Church, Andrei Lebedev was awarded a diploma as the winner of the competition and a valuable prize - a professional scanner.

Other sites-winners in this category were Internet projects:

• Library of Orthodox literature for the PDA (fbppclib.orthodoxy.ru)
• Manuscript. Slavic manuscript heritage (manuscripts.ru)
• Russian Orthodoxy (ortho-rus.ru)
• Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. Official server (stsl.ru)
• Typikon. Divine service of the Orthodox Church (typikon.ru)

A special prize in the category “Internet libraries and services” was established by the Stack Group of Companies. Head of Department information systems Ivan Panchenko presented this company with a competition diploma and a special prize for its contribution to the development of the Orthodox Runet - gift Certificate for 3 years for free hosting of the third server of the free hosting project “Orthodox Russia” - to the administrator of the Orthodoxy.Ru server, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, Alexander Viktorovich Dyatlov.

Concluding the award ceremony, the chairman of the competition jury, Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov), noted that the Internet, which once originated for military-technical purposes, has now acquired worldwide significance and plays a big role in the life of the entire society. Therefore, there must be a mission on the Internet, and the Internet itself, first of all, must be considered as an instrument of this mission. “You are doing a great thing - the churching of an instrument that today has a huge impact,” said Father Tikhon, addressing the numerous guests and participants of the ceremony, and wished “joy in your work.”

02 / 02 / 2007
Press service of the Community of Orthodox Web Developers (