What is the Holy Trinity? Church of the Holy Trinity. Icons of the Holy Trinity

The Christian Trinity is almost one of the most controversial issues of faith. The ambiguity of interpretation introduces many doubts in the classical understanding. Symbols of the number "three", a triangle, bowls and other signs are interpreted differently by theologians and researchers. Someone connects this symbol with Masons, some with paganism.

Opponents of Christianity allude to the fact that this faith can not be integral, and is reproached for having three main branches - Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism. In one opinion, the symbol itself is one and indivisible. And God should take a place in the soul, and not in the mind.

What is the Holy Trinity?

The Holy Trinity is the three incarnations of the one Lord: the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Son. However, this does not mean that God is incarnated in three different beings. These are all faces of one that merge together.

It is worth noting that the usual categories are not applicable to God, in this case - numbers. It is not divided by time and space, like other objects and beings. There are no gaps, gaps, or distances between the three persons of the Lord. Therefore the Holy Trinity is a unity.

Material embodiment of the Holy Trinity

It is generally accepted that human reason is not given to understand the mystery of this trinity, but analogies can be drawn. Just as the Holy Trinity is formed, there is also the sun. His hypostasis is a form of the absolute: a circle, heat and light. The same example is served by water: a source hidden underground, the spring itself and the stream as a form of stay.

For human nature, triune unity is in the mind, spirit and word that are inherent in people as the basic spheres of being.

Although the three beings are one, they are still separated by their origin. Spirit - without beginning. It is coming, not being born. A son means birth, and the Father is an eternal existence.

The three branches of Christianity differently perceive each of the hypostases.

The Trinity in Catholicism and Orthodoxy

The interpretation of the triple nature of God in different branches of the Christian faith is conditioned by historical milestones of development. The Western direction was not long influenced by the foundations of the empire. The rapid transition to feudalization of the social order of life eliminated the need to connect the Almighty with the first man of the state - the emperor. Therefore, the procession of the Holy Spirit was not attached solely to God the Father. In the Catholic Trinity there is no dominant person. The Holy Spirit now proceeded not only from the Father, but also from the Son, as evidenced by the word "filiokwe" added to the decree of the second ecumenical council . The literal translation means the whole phrase: "And from the son."

The Orthodox branch, for a long time, was influenced by the cult of the emperor, because the Holy Spirit, in the opinion of the priests and theologians, directly contacted the Father. Thus, God the Father stood at the head of the Trinity, and from that time the Spirit and the Son were born.

But the origin of the Spirit from Jesus was not denied. But if from the Father he proceeds constantly, then from the Son - only temporarily.

Trinity in Protestantism

Protestants at the head of the Holy Trinity put God the Father, and it is to him that the generation of all people as Christians is attributed. Thanks to "His mercy, will, love" and it is customary to consider the Father to be the center of Christianity.

But even within the same direction there is no common opinion, they all differ in some aspects of understanding:

• Lutherans, Calvinists and other conservatives adhere to the dogma of the Trinity;

• Western Protestants share the festivals of the Trinity and Pentecost as two different: the first hold divine services, while the second - a "civilian" version, during which mass celebrations are held.

Trinity in ancient beliefs

As already mentioned, the origins of the trinity are rooted in pre-Christian beliefs. To find the answer to the question "what is the Holy Trinity in Orthodoxy / Catholicism / Protestantism", one must look into pagan mythology.

It is known that the idea of the deity of Jesus is taken from the pogan faith. As a matter of fact, only names have fallen under the reform, since the very meaning of the triunity has remained unchanged.

Babylonians, long before the advent of Christianity, divided their pantheon into the following groups: the Earth, the Sky and the Sea. Three elements, which were worshiped by the inhabitants, did not fight, but interacted equally, because the main and subordinates did not stand out.

Several manifestations of the Trinity are known in Hinduism. But this, too, was not polytheism. All the hypostases were embodied in one being. Visually, God was portrayed as a figure with a common body and three heads.

The Holy Trinity from the ancient Slavs was embodied in three major gods - Dazhdbog, Khors and Yarilo.

Churches and cathedrals of the Holy Trinity. Disagreements in the image

There are many such cathedrals in the whole Christian world, because they were built for the glory of the Lord in any of its manifestations. It is hardly in every city that the Holy Trinity Cathedral was built. The most famous are:

1. The Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.

2. Church of the Life-Giving Trinity.

3. Stone Trinity Church.

The Holy Trinity- St. Sergius Lavra, or Trinity-St. Sergius, was built in 1342 in Sergiev Posad. The Church of the Holy Trinity was nearly demolished from the face of the earth by the Bolsheviks, but as a result it was simply deprived of the status of a historical heritage. In 1920, it was closed. The work of its laurel was resumed only in 1946 and is open for visits to this day.

The Church of the Life-Giving Trinity is located in the Basmanny district of Moscow. When this church of the Holy Trinity is founded, it is not known. For the first time written memories of her date back to 1610. For 405 years the temple does not stop its work and is open for visits. This church of the Holy Trinity, in addition to worship services, also conducts a number of activities for acquaintance of people with the Bible, the history of holidays.

The Church of the Holy Trinity did not last longer than before 1675. Since it was built of wood, it has not survived to this day. Instead of the old building from 1904 to 1913 a new temple with the same name in pseudo-Russian style is under construction . During the Nazi occupation, he did not stop work. You can visit the temple today.

Partly the embodiment of the glory and greatness of the Holy Trinity is the cathedrals, the churches transmit. But as for the graphic image of the triumvirate, opinions still differ. Many priests claim that it is impossible to depict the Holy Trinity, because a person is not given to understand the nature of the being and see the material personification.