New Year according to the church calendar. Beginning of the church year

On this day, Orthodox Christians pray to God to grant blessings for the new year that has begun.

Back in Old Testament The Lord our God commanded that every year we specially celebrate the onset of the seventh month, so that on this day people, freed from the vanity of life, would serve the One God. In this particular month, when the waters of the flood began to subside, Noah’s ark stopped on the mountains of Ararat. In the same month, the holy prophet Moses came down from the mountain with his face illuminated by the glory of the Divine, and brought new tablets on which the Law given by the Lord Himself was inscribed.

And in the same month, the consecration of the Temple of the Lord, created by King Solomon, took place, and the Ark of the Covenant was brought there. There are many other indications in the Old Testament about great importance the seventh month (current September), according to the Biblical chronology, counting the creation of the world in the month of March.

In the 6th century, during the reign of Justinian I (527–565), in Christian Church calendar calculation is introduced according to indicts or indictions (from the Latin indictio - announcement), 15-year periods of imposition of tribute. Indictio in the Roman Empire was understood as the designation of the number of taxes that should be collected in given year. Thus, the financial year in the empire began with the emperor’s “indication” (indictio) of how much taxes needed to be collected, while every 15 years the estates were revalued (according to V.V. Bolotov, indictions were of Egyptian origin). The official Byzantine reckoning, the so-called indictions of Constantine the Great or the Constantinople reckoning, began on September 1, 312.

In Byzantium, the church year did not always begin on September 1 - both in the Latin West and in the East the March calendar was well known (when the beginning of the year is considered to be March 1 or March 25 (the date of the Feast of the Annunciation)). In general, the solemn celebration of the New Year on September 1 can be considered a late Byzantine phenomenon.

In Rus', each new year of a fifteen-year period, and the fifteenth anniversary itself, were called an indict. In addition, after 532 years, the circles of the Sun and Moon begin together again, that is, the natural situation of the day of the exploit of Jesus Christ is repeated, when the full moon occurs on Friday. The time interval of 532 years is called an indiction. September 1, 2017 (September 14, new style) marks the year 7526 from the creation of the world.

Since 1492, Rus' has celebrated the New Year as a church and state holiday. The meaning of the New Year's service was the remembrance of the Savior's sermon in the Nazareth synagogue, when Jesus Christ said that He came “to heal the brokenhearted... to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

In Rus' in the 17th century, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, and after him the boyars and all the people of Moscow, dedicated New Year's Day to works of mercy. Not a single beggar left home without consolation - they were all richly provided with alms, clothes and shoes, and fed festive lunch. The common people were given gifts and gifts, and visited prisoners in prison.

The cessation of the rank of summerkeeping is associated with the publication by Peter I of a decree on postponing the start of the civil new year to January 1. The last time the rite was performed was on September 1, 1699 in the presence of Peter, who, sitting on the one installed on the Kremlin cathedral square throne in royal clothes, received a blessing from the Patriarch and congratulated the people on the New Year. On January 1, 1700, the church celebration was limited to a prayer service after the liturgy, but the rite of summer service was not performed.

Since those times, the celebration of the church new year on September 1 is not celebrated with the former solemnity, although the Typikon still considers this day to be a small Lord's holiday “The Beginning of the Indictment, that is, the New Summer,” combined with a festive service in honor of St. Simeon the Stylite, whose memory falls on the same date.

Perhaps the most inconspicuous Orthodox holiday is, which in the church calendar is solemnly called “the beginning of the indictment” and is celebrated (according to the old style). This date is considered the first day of the new church year. Although today we, ready to celebrate secular New Year not only on the 1st, but also, while not refusing to share the festive New Year's meal with Muslims, Buddhists, Confucians and Jews, we have little idea when our Orthodox Church year begins.

The last holiday that ends the church year is - (according to the new style), and the first holiday of the new church year is Christmas Holy Mother of God ().

The celebration of the New Year began in September 1363 as a tribute to the civil Byzantine tradition. Since 1492, the New Year began to be celebrated in Rus' as a church and state holiday. The meaning of the service on this day was the remembrance of the Savior’s sermon in the Nazareth synagogue, when Jesus Christ said that he came “to heal the brokenhearted.”

But it is also important to note that any New Year's holiday- a rather arbitrary date. Astronomers know that all points of the earth's orbit are absolutely equal, and it makes absolutely no difference which of them is taken as the origin. September 1st Julian calendar(14th according to the new style) - the same conventional date. Even academic year in Medieval Rus' began not on September 1, but three months later in memory of the prophet Nahum. And the unlucky schoolboy, going to the sexton who taught him for a pot of porridge, imagined his heavy right hand and muttered a rhymed prayer: "Prophet Nahum, guide the mind".

Both in the Roman Empire and in Rus', the onset of the New Year was celebrated on the first of March. Alexandrian scientists substantiated this tradition by the fact that God, according to their calculations, completed the creation of the world on the first of March, on the Friday that preceded the day of rest, Saturday.

September 1, which replaced the customary one in Russia in 1363, and in the Roman Empire during the reign of Constantine the Great in 325, is a tribute to the civil Byzantine tradition. The beginning of the indict is the beginning financial year, the beginning of a new tax collection period. The indiction itself is one fifteenth of the indiction, a fifteen-year period of time, which, when equal to the apostles king Constantine established itself as a compromise between the year and the century as a unit of reference for historical time.

Some historians believe that the counting by indictions was introduced by Constantine to replace the counting by the pagan Olympiads, which were finally abolished by Theodosius the Great in 394. Sacred Tradition preserved evidence that indiction and indiction were introduced into the church calendar as a sign of gratitude to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor for ending persecution and proclaiming religious tolerance.

Another concept is connected with the concept of indiction and simple indiction - the Great Indiction or, as it was called in Rus', the Peaceful Circle. The Great Indiction, unlike the simple one, is not an economic value. This huge period of time of 532 years determines the Easter cycle, and with it the entire church calendar. Creation of the Great Indiction by the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council was, in fact, a churching of the Julian calendar, known since pagan times.

We celebrate the New Year,
Instead of a Christmas tree, a sheaf of wheat
We dress up with beads and ribbons,
So that everything is great.

Autumn with a generous harvest
Sets the tables for us
Be happy, Slavs,
We talk to each other.

It will start with the New Year
New and happy year,
Let love, kindness and joy
He will bring it to every home.

What time will the Closing Ceremony of the Universiade 2019 begin, where to watch:

IN live the show will show Federal TV channel "Match!" . The live television broadcast starts at 15:55 Moscow time.

A live broadcast will also be available on the channel "Match! Country".

You can start a live online broadcast of the event on the Internet on the Sportbox portal.

International Women's Day on March 8 is a UN observance, and the organization includes 193 states. The memorial dates announced by the General Assembly are designed to encourage UN members to show increased interest in these events. However, on at the moment not all member states of the United Nations have approved the celebration women's day in their territories on the specified date.

Below is a list of countries that celebrate International Women's Day. Countries are grouped into groups: in a number of states the holiday is an official non-working day (day off) for all citizens, on March 8th only women rest, and there are states where they work on March 8th.

In which countries is the holiday March 8 a day off (for everyone):

* In Ukraine- International Women's Day continues to remain an additional holiday, despite regular proposals to exclude the event from the list of non-working days and replace it, for example, with Shevchenko Day, which will be celebrated on March 9.
* In Abkhazia.
* In Azerbaijan.
* In Algeria.
* In Angola.
* In Armenia.
* In Afghanistan.
* In Belarus.
* To Burkina Faso.
* In Vietnam.
* In Guinea-Bissau.
* In Georgia.
* In Zambia.
* In Kazakhstan.
* In Cambodia.
* In Kenya.
* In Kyrgyzstan.
* IN DPRK.
* In Cuba.
* In Laos.
* In Latvia.
* In Madagascar.
* In Moldova.
* In Mongolia.
* In Nepal.
* In Tajikistan- since 2009, the holiday was renamed Mother's Day.
* In Turkmenistan.
* In Uganda.
* In Uzbekistan.
* In Eritrea.
* In South Ossetia.

Countries where March 8 is a women's-only day off:

* In China.
* In Madagascar.

Which countries celebrate March 8, but it is a working day:

* Austria.
* Bulgaria.
* Bosnia and Herzegovina.
* Germany- in Berlin, since 2019, March 8 is a day off, in the country as a whole it is a working day.
* Denmark.
* Italy.
* Cameroon.
* Romania.
* Croatia.
* Chile.
* Switzerland.

In which countries is March 8 NOT celebrated?

* In the USA, the holiday is not an official holiday. In 1994, an attempt by activists to get the celebration approved by Congress failed.

* In the Czech Republic (Czech Republic) - most the country's population views the holiday as a relic of the communist past and main symbol old regime.

Traditions and customs of Maslenitsa:

On Maslenitsa you can no longer eat meat dishes, and this is also the first step to fasting. But pancakes are baked and eaten with great pleasure. They are baked unleavened and leavened, with eggs and milk, served with caviar, sour cream, butter or honey.

In general, during Maslenitsa week you should have fun and attend festive events (skating, skiing, snow tubing, slides, horseback riding). Also, you need to devote time to your family - have fun with your family and friends: go somewhere together, the “young” should visit their parents, and the parents, in turn, should come to visit their children.

Date of Maslenitsa (Orthodox and pagan):

In church tradition Maslenitsa is celebrated for 7 days (weeks) from Monday to Sunday, before the main event. Orthodox fasting, which is why the event is also called “Maslenitsa Week”.

The timing of Maslenitsa week depends on the beginning of Lent, which marks Easter, and shifts every year in accordance with the Orthodox church calendar.

So, in 2019, Orthodox Maslenitsa takes place from March 4, 2019 to March 10, 2019, and in 2020 - from February 24, 2020 to March 1, 2020.

Regarding the pagan date of Maslenitsa, then d jealous Slavs celebrated the holiday according to solar calendar- at the moment of the onset of astronomical spring, which occurs in . The ancient Russian celebration lasted for 14 days: it began a week before the vernal equinox and ended a week later.

Description of Maslenitsa celebration:

Most Russian cities hold events called "Wide Maslenitsa". In the capital of Russia, Moscow, the central platform for festive festivities is traditionally Vasilyevsky Spusk on Red Square. They also conduct abroad "Russian Maslenitsa" to popularize Russian traditions.
It is customary, especially on the last Sunday, when workers and students can relax, to organize mass holidays as in the old days, with songs, games, farewells and the burning of an effigy of Maslenitsa. In Maslenitsa towns there are stages for performances, places for selling food (pancakes are a must), and souvenirs, and attractions for children. Masquerades with mummers and carnival processions are held.

What are the days of Maslenitsa week, what are they called (name and description):

Monday - Meeting. Since the first day is a working day, in the evening father-in-law and mother-in-law come to visit daughter-in-law's parents. The first pancakes are being baked, which can be given to the poor to commemorate the dead. On Monday, a straw effigy is dressed up and displayed on a hill at the site of the festivities. In dances and games, stylized wall-to-wall fist fights are held. The “first pancake” is baked and solemnly eaten to commemorate the soul.

Tuesday - Flirting. The second day is traditionally the day of the young. Youth festivities, skiing from the mountains ("pokatushki"), matchmaking are signs of this day. It should be noted that the church prohibits weddings on Maslenitsa, as well as during Lent. Therefore, on Maslenitsa Tuesday, they woo the bride to have a wedding after Easter on Krasnaya Gorka.

Wednesday - Lakomka. On the third day the son-in-law comes to my mother-in-law for pancakes.

On Thursday - Razguly, Razgulay. On the fourth day folk festivals are becoming widespread. Wide Maslenitsa- this is the name of the days from Thursday to the end of the week, and the day of generous treats itself is called “Rampant Thursday”.

Friday - Mother-in-law's party. On the fifth day of Maslenitsa week mother-in-law with friends or relatives comes to visit her son-in-law for pancakes. Of course, her daughter should bake the pancakes, and her son-in-law should show hospitality. In addition to the mother-in-law, all relatives are invited to visit.

Saturday - Sister-in-law's gatherings. On the sixth day husband's sisters come to visit(You can also invite the rest of your husband’s relatives). It is considered good manners not only to feed guests abundantly and tasty, but also to give gifts to sisters-in-law.

Sunday - Farewell, Forgiveness Sunday . On the last (seventh) day, before Lent, one should repent and show mercy. All relatives and friends ask each other for forgiveness. Carnival processions are held in places of public celebrations. The effigy of Maslenitsa is solemnly burned, thus turning into a beautiful Spring. As darkness falls, festive fireworks are set off.

In churches, also on Sunday, at the evening service, the rite of forgiveness is performed, when the priest asks for forgiveness from church servants and parishioners. All believers, in turn, ask for forgiveness and bow to each other. In response to a request for forgiveness they say “God will forgive.”

What happens after the celebration of Maslenitsa:

And at the end of the Maslenitsa holiday, Orthodox believers begin one of the most important posts. We all remember the saying: " Maslenitsa is not all for the cat - there will be Lent too".

The Church New Year is an important stage for Christendom. It is also called the beginning of a new church year, the beginning of the indictment. Such an event marks the beginning of the history of the New Testament.

This is an everlasting holiday, so to speak. Indict has many meanings, but in almost every case this word means the beginning of a period. In Orthodoxy, the indict is the beginning of the church year and the circle of services. It is from September 14 that the church calendar begins.

The meaning of the holiday

Every holiday in Christianity refers us to some events from the Gospel. Any celebration or fast reflects some story from the New Testament. Holidays are associated with the holy apostles, Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.

The New Testament history of Jesus Christ begins not with his birth, but with the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. In Orthodoxy, the Heavenly Intercessor is considered the beginning of all beginnings, for without her there would be no Christ, there would be no Salvation. The New Year seems to show us that everything repeats itself again and again. Every year we must remember each stage of this history to do it justice. Each holiday has its own meaning, by studying which we study the history of the salvation of our souls.

None of the events in the life of Christ and the Mother of God was accidental. This is exactly what the new year shows us. The Church honors this holiday, so September 14th is always celebrated special services in temples. This is a kind of New Year for the church and all Christians.

How to celebrate the New Year

The clergy assure that this is one of the most best moments in order to go to church and receive communion. On this day, people ask for forgiveness from everyone who was offended during the church year, and give gifts related to faith and religion: icons, calendars and much more.

The people have always believed that the Orthodox New Year should mean a renewal of spiritual character. People treated the New Year celebration very responsibly. On this day we said goodbye to summer and welcomed autumn. Even in the early period of Russian history, around this time, people greeted autumn with songs and dances. The beginning of the indictment in Christianity is not a typically positive holiday. Rather, it has a symbolic character. It represents a period of spiritual renewal.

As for prayers on the New Year, there are no restrictions or instructions. On this important day, you can read any prayers that will allow you to strengthen your faith and enter a new stage. It can be either “Our Father” or “Creed” or some other common prayer. Good luck and don't forget to press the buttons and

13.09.2017 04:34

Exaltation is one of the great church events. To avoid troubles and failures, follow...

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, like the Nativity of Christ, is one of the most important Orthodox holidays. With this...

September 14 (September 1, old style) Orthodox Church in Russia will celebrate the Church New Year, or Church New Year. If according to the calendar for ordinary residents of the world the New Year begins on January 1, then the church calendar has its own characteristics.

Countdown to the new year from the period ancient Rome was carried out from the moment of levying the tax, or indict. Traditionally, this was done in early autumn, when work in the fields ended and tax collectors could come and collect what was due to the emperor. Later, Emperor Constantine the Great, in honor of his military victory, allowed Christians to practice their faith and did this precisely on the day of the indict, or tax collection. From that time on, September 1 began to be associated not only with the new year, but also with the beginning of the recognition of the Christian faith.

Since that time, the New Year has been the beginning of the indict, or the beginning of a new church year. Over time, the meaning of the indictment as the beginning of a new tax period disappeared and was replaced by the Christian concept of the New Year. And New Year's Slavic tradition called “New Year”, with which many folk signs are associated.

New Year according to the church calendar

Nowadays, despite the fact that we continue to celebrate the New Year traditionally on January 1, the New Year has not lost its meaning. The date of the holiday was moved from September 1 to the 14th as a result of a change in the calendar after the 1917 revolution. And exactly a week after the New Year - September 21 - believers will be able to celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the mother of Jesus Christ.

How to celebrate the New Year

Believers, despite the long gone church tradition celebrate the New Year in September, do not forget this holiday and continue to celebrate it. On this day, believers can attend festive services, attend the liturgy and, of course, ask God for good luck and happiness in the New Year. However, you shouldn’t ask for the unthinkable. monetary wealth- such a desire in bright holiday would be inappropriate.

You should not celebrate the New Year alone, because this is a family holiday that should be spent with loved ones. Gather your family, invite your friends. A warm and family atmosphere will really create a New Year's mood.

Unlike the traditional New Year, which falls at the height of Lent, in the New Year there are no prohibitions on festive table. On this day you can pamper yourself and your loved ones with the best treats. According to the superstition, the richer the table, the more prosperity there will be next year.

Don't forget about gifts. There is no need to bring anything expensive as a gift. An ordinary modest gift from pure heart will suitable sign attention specifically on the Church New Year.

On New Year's Day, September 14, many churches will hold festive services, dedicated to the holiday. Despite the fact that the New Year is not celebrated magnificently and solemnly, like the traditional New Year, for Orthodox believers this holiday marks the beginning of a new life, a new year that will bring its own joys and sorrows.