In celebration of the Eastern Orthodox feast of Holy Trinity (I/III): Trinity Sunday, Azdamichy 2017.
In the western Christian liturgical calendar Trinity Sunday follows Pentecost (seven Sundays after Easter) by a week. In the eastern Christian calendar Pentecost and Trinity are celebrated together on the seventh Sunday after Easter. Moreover, the feast in Belarus has popular names illustrating the combination with Pentecost as well as other syncretic aspects (e.g., “Sjomukha”, from the word for seven, reflecting the passage of the seven weeks of Eastertide; “Zjeljanjets” from the word for greenery).
One of the 12 great feasts in the eastern Orthodox calendar, Trinity as celebrated in Belarus is a syncretic feast, incorporating rites with pre-Christian roots. These syncretic rites include honoring the graves of forebears on the Saturday before Trinity Sunday (see photo of the day for May 24, 2010); spreading reeds, as symbols of fertility and the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, on the floor of the church and in the home; and attaching birch or maple branches to the portico and walls of the church. Women also traditionally wear white on Trinity Sunday, a old tradition in western Christian confessions as well.
The parish in Azdamichy celebrates Trinity Sunday with a full service, but holds its feast day on the Tuesday after Trinity Sunday (thus June 22 in 2021).
Са сьвятам Сьвятой Тройцы (Сёмуха, Зелянец) I/III: Сьвятой Тройцы ў нядзелю, Аздамічы 2017 г.
Акрамя багаслужэньня ў нядзелю прыход Сьвятой Тройцы ў Аздамічах сьвяткуе свае прастольнае сьвята ў трэці дзень (аўторак, значыць 22 чэрвеня ў 2021 г.)
Traditional Holy Trinity decoration with birch branches.
Традыцыйнае ўпргожаньне бабінца бярозавымі галінамі.
Reeds strewn on the floor of the church.
Аэр раскінуты па падлозе царквы.
Blessing of the icon and Gospels.
Асьвячэньне абраза й Евангельля.
