After Palm Sunday comes a week called believers
Holy Week of Lent
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It is dedicated to memory of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ who has suffered death on the cross for the salvation of people. All the days of Holy Week people comply with the most stringent post at which allowed to eat only raw and semi-moist fruit and vegetables, and water.
Customs and beliefs of Holy Week
Holy Week is a symbol of grief and sorrow, so these days the church ministers do not conduct wedding ceremonies and baptisms, religious people do not commemorate the dead and celebrate the saints' days.
Every great day of the Holy Week of Lent is associated with ancient beliefs and customs that people draw from the Bible, and is endowed with a certain symbolism.
Holy Week the great days
Great Monday
Preparation for the Easter holiday begins with Great Monday, in which the faithful recall the parable of the fig tree wither as a way of dying in sin and does not want to repent of man.
This biblical episode calls for faith and praises the great power of prayer. Great sense filled parable of the unjust vineyard, which imply a crowd calling for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Great Tuesday
On the second day of the Great Week - Great Tuesday Orthodox remember about the coming Day of Judgement and the resurrection of the dead. Bible story tells of a believer a false guise of the Pharisees, who for ostentatious piety hid his anger and callous attitude towards people.
Tuesday also reminded of the parable of the ten virgins, intended to meet her fiance (meaning second coming) with glowing lights. Five of the girls have prepared in advance for the supply of oil lamps, and the rest were not smart enough to do it.
So when the Heavenly Bride (Son of God) came at night, smart girls greeted him with lighted lamps, and were taken by him in the kingdom of heaven. While the foolish girls were not included in the kingdom of heaven, as their lamps went out and they ran to buy oil. The idea of this parable - believers must always be spiritually awake.
Great Wednesday
On Holy Wednesday Orthodox comparing two ways of life - repentance harlot Magdalene, which fell into the kingdom of heaven, and gave Jesus Christ, Judas, who was devoted to spiritual death. On this day, the chief priests, the Jews gathered a council, which decided insidious way to kill Jesus, and Judas sold his spiritual teacher for 30 silver.
For centuries, during Bright Week, in Russia people collecting snow. Water formed after melting, salted with salt, remaining from last year's Holy Thursday and okraplyali its cattle and all living creatures, thus protecting it from disease and evil.
Holy Thursday
Of particular importance is the faithful Holy Thursday called clean. It symbolizes the physical and spiritual purification of man before the great feast of Easter. According to Jewish tradition, on Thursday celebrated the first day of Passover - a holiday of deliverance of the Jews from Egyptian slavery.
The disciples of Jesus ate bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood. In this way they worshiped the bloodless sacrifice and implied his communion with God.
Maundy Thursday is linked with many folk beliefs. Need to get up early in the morning, before dawn, and the very first swim, and then clean your home. People in this day went to the river and plunged into the water in any weather, because it was thought that such a bath will bring health and strength.
From the Church of the faithful brought a lighted candle, which burned on the doorposts and windows guarding the cross. Medicinal properties has "Chetvergova salt" - it was wrapped in cloth, to bake in the oven and stored for a year. In preparation for the Easter Thursday hostess began oven cakes, painted eggs, and also decorated home.
Good Friday
Special sorrow filled with Good Friday - day of remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, his sufferings and death. On this day, the priests urged the faithful to reflect on, do not look like they betrayed the Savior, you do not act against the laws of the Bible in search of pleasure and material wealth.
On this day in churches does not sound chimes and believers do not eat until the evening as a symbol of the removal of the Shroud of withdrawal from the cross of the Son of God. There is a national sign - on Good Friday if it is clear that wheat will Ryasna.
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday - the day of quiet waiting. They remember the burial of Jesus, proclaiming his victory over evil and the liberation of the souls of believers. The priests during the liturgy remove dark clothes and clothed in white, symbolizing the victory of good over evil, death and the devil.
On this day in Russia conjured frost, so they do not have ruined the harvest of grain. It was believed if not to sleep during the night from Saturday to Sunday, it will protect against disease, the girls will bring a happy marriage, and men will ensure success in the hunt.
On Holy Saturday and colored eggs as a symbol of resurrection and new life. The Church of the Holy Easter cakes, eggs and food for the celebration of the Great Easter.
Saturday's festive service lasts all day and ends at midnight with the advent of the Great Sunday - Happy Easter, who gives deliverance from the forces of evil and the beginning of a new life.
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