Orthodox Holidays in January

Orthodox holidays in January and other months with their roots go far to the Old Testament and originate in the New Testament. All of them are dedicated to the most important events in the life of the Mother of God and Jesus Christ and the memory of all the holy saints.

The church, from the point of view of piety, recognizes these holidays as useful. They were always solemn in nature, and their necessary condition was the performance of a special sacrament, for that was how the life of Christians was initially organized in the days of festivities. They did not engage in mundane occupations, did not arrange noisy feasts and amusements, but necessarily provided various blessings in favor of the poor and the Church.

Until now, it has become customary to get rid of work and work on special religious days and hold festivals with ceremonies and ceremonies that distinguish them from ordinary solemn events. The laws that regulate the rules these days are in different states that profess the Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions.

The church Orthodox calendar is divided into two parts: the mobile one - the Gregorian calendar, and the fixed calendar - the Julian calendar. This applies to holidays that are marked steadily or their date moves.

Holidays in January begin on the 1st day, but the most significant Christian are the Nativity of Christ, Circumcision and Baptism. In our country, the Church did not switch to the new Gregorian calendar, so all the holidays are celebrated with a difference of 13 days. Christmas, like other holidays in January in Russia, is significantly different from a similar celebration in the entire Christian world.

The appearance of Christmas holidays was associated with a variety of folk customs. Over time, many of them were forgotten, especially after the celebration of Christmas in 1918 was banned. Soviet power allowed to re-establish and decorate New Year trees only in 1935, but this was not connected with Christmas. At the top of the steel instead of seven-pointed stars, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, hang five-pointed.

What we used to see the New Year and Christmas in the Soviet Union? These holidays in January in Russia switched places. The new year has become more meaningful, but absorbed most of the Christmas attributes. At the same time he managed to remain a Soviet holiday.

After the Soviet Union was shattered, Orthodox holidays began to be celebrated in January, and the New Year remained a family celebration. Recently, more and more people belong to the category that perceives the religious meaning of these days, and Christmas takes its position of the main festival. Mark it on the night of the sixth to the seventh. The main divine service is headed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Holidays in January include another and not less important for the Christian world - this is the great inextricable feast of the Circumcision of the Lord. Many do not know, but it marks the Old Testament custom, in which the baby born by Mary on the 8th day after Christmas, circumcised, and at the same time received the name Jesus. On the Day of the Annunciation the Most Holy Virgin was announced by the Archangel Gabriel.

It is believed that if you did not celebrate this holiday, you can not climb into the hole on Epiphany, otherwise sinners are waiting for hell's torment for disrespect and inattention to significant dates.

Holidays in January include another important event that can not be ignored. This is the Baptism of the Lord. It is celebrated in honor of the baptism in the Jordan River by Jesus Christ John the Baptist. On Jesus, according to the Gospel, the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, and the Heavenly Voice pronounced him a blessing.

There are still religious holidays in January, but they have biased dates, so if you observe them, you need to track them every year on the Easter calendar.