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Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem Palm Sunday) The Orthodox Church celebrates on the last - sixth - Sunday of Great Lent. In 2017, this day falls on April 9th.

The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is one of the 12 twelfth (main) holidays in Orthodoxy. This transient holiday occurs exactly one week before Christ's Resurrection.

What do we celebrate on Palm Sunday?

The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is described by all four evangelists. Matthew (in chapter 21 of his Gospel), and Mark (in chapter 11), and Luke (in chapter 19), and John (in chapter 12) tell about him.

So, in the Gospel of Matthew (21:1-7) it is said that the apostles, at the direction of Jesus, took a colt and a donkey in Bethany. John the Theologian in his Gospel simply mentions that Christ, having found a young donkey, sat on it.

The Gospels of Mark and Luke say that Jesus, approaching Jerusalem and being near the Mount of Olives near Bethphage and Bethany, sent two disciples for a young donkey, indicating where he was tied and what to answer if asked. And so it happened.

The students found the animal, untied it, to the question “Why are you untying it?” They answered that the Lord needed the donkey, and they brought them to Jesus.
So, on a donkey, Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem. The Jews had an ancient custom, according to which the rulers, having defeated their enemies, entered the city on horses or donkeys. And in the East, entering the city on a donkey was a symbol of peace, and riding a horse - a symbol of war.

At that time, Judea was captured by the Romans, and the Jews were waiting for the promised scripture and prophets of the liberator from foreign domination. They believed that the Messiah - the Savior of Israel - would appear at Easter. Jesus Christ was greeted as the Messiah, because they knew about the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus, performed the day before.

The Jews met him as a King, according to the same ancient tradition - with palm branches, flowers, spreading their clothes on His way.

They shouted to Christ: “Hosanna* to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord (that is, worthy of praise, sent from God) King of Israel! Hosanna in the highest!"

Fulfilling prophecy Old Testament, Christ entered Jerusalem in such a solemn way, but not as the King of the earth or the winner in the war. But as the King, whose kingdom is not of this world, as the conqueror of sin and death. The gate through which, according to legend, Jesus entered, still exists. Only they have been tightly walled up for many centuries.

What is another name for the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem?

The last Sunday before Easter is also called the "Week of Vaii" - "Vai" in Greek means "palm branches".
The Latin name for the holiday is Dominica in palmis (Palm Sunday, literally: "The Lord's Day in Palms"). In modern European languages, the name "Palm" is used today, for example, in English - Palm Sunday.

In Russian liturgical books it is also called Flower-bearing Week (because Christ was greeted in Jerusalem with flowers), and in common parlance - Palm Sunday. This is due to the fact that palm branches in Slavic countries are replaced with willow branches (as well as willows and willows). These plants bloom in Russia among the first.

How do Orthodox Christians celebrate Palm Sunday?

The willow is consecrated in churches the day before, on Saturday evening at the All-night Vigil: after reading the Gospel, the 50th psalm is read, then the branches are sprinkled with holy water. After that, they are distributed to those who pray, and the parishioners stand until the end of the service with willow and lighted candles. Sprinkling is usually repeated on Palm Sunday itself at the Liturgy (the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is served).

Holiday traditions

In the pre-Petrine era, on Palm Sunday, the solemn departure of the patriarch “on a donkey” (a white horse equipped like a donkey; it symbolized the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem) took place. From the Execution Ground, the patriarch distributed willows and fern leaves (instead of palm branches) to the tsar, bishops, boyars, okolnichy, Duma clerks and the people.

Orthodox Christians have a custom to keep consecrated willows throughout the year, to decorate icons in the house with them. In some localities, there is a pious custom to place consecrated willows in the hands of the dead as a sign that, by faith in Christ, they will overcome death, rise again, and meet the Savior with consecrated branches.

On Palm Sunday, fish is allowed at the meal.
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*Hosanna (Heb. הושיע נא‎, hôšî‘â-nā’ - save, we pray) - a solemn prayer exclamation (short prayer), an ancient laudatory exclamation.

Palm Sunday: why do they bless willow branches before Easter?

This question can be answered very simply. In the central part of Russia, willow is the only public plant that has come to life after the winter and has dissolved its tassels.

Verbos were replaced by palm branches that are absent in our area, which are an indispensable attribute of the ancient Orthodox holiday in honor of the entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem. This event - the solemn entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem - begins the ascent of Christ on the cross to death and resurrection. The inhabitants of the holy city met Christ as the Messiah - with palm branches in their hands, hence the original name of the holiday - "palm Sunday".

What events are we talking about?

In order to understand what we are celebrating on this day, how this coming of Christ to Jerusalem differed from others, why it became solemn, we will, as always, have to turn first to the testimony of the evangelists - the disciples of Christ, who left written memories of the Teacher.

It is also important to remember that for Jewish people this is the time of the Roman occupation, the time when the idea of ​​independence was most popular, the time of the active search for the Messiah as the head of this movement and the future independent kingdom.

This is what we read in the gospel

Jesus learned that his friend Lazarus had been in the grave for four days now. The place where he lived, Bethany, was not far from Jerusalem, about two versts away, and many Jews came to mourn with Lazarus' sisters Martha and Mary. Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming to them, went to meet Him. “Lord, if You were here, my brother would not die!” - she said. “Your brother will rise again. I am Resurrection and Life. Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.

Do you believe in it? “Yes, Lord,” she replies, “I believe that You are the Anointed One, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Having said this, Martha called her sister Mary. Jesus, seeing that she and those who came with her were weeping, sighed heavily and said, “Where did you bury him?” - and he cried. We came to the crypt - a small cave, littered with stone. "Remove the stone!" Jesus says. “For the fourth day, probably, the smell has gone,” Martha tells Him. “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” Jesus answered.

The stone has been removed. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You that You heard Me. I knew You hear Me always, but I said this for the people standing here. Let them believe that I am sent by You!” And having said this, he exclaimed in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” And the deceased came out - his feet and hands were bound with funeral shrouds, his face was wrapped in a bandage. Many of those who were here and saw what Jesus did, believed in Him. But some went to the teachers of the law and the elder priests and told them everything.

Entrance to the tomb of Lazarus in Bethany.

A few days later Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. On the way, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples: “Go to the village opposite, you will immediately see a donkey on a leash and a young donkey with her. Untie them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says something to you, answer, the Lord needs them. You will be allowed to take them away immediately.” This happened in order to fulfill what was said through the prophet: “Say to the daughter of Zion: “Behold, your King is coming to you. He is meek in disposition, he sits on a young donkey, the son of a pack donkey.

The disciples went and, having done everything as Jesus had commanded them, they brought a donkey and a colt, put clothes on them, and sat Jesus down. Meanwhile, crowds of people, having learned that Jesus was there, came there, not only because of Him, but also in order to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. Many walked towards and covered the road with their clothes, while others broke branches from trees and also covered the path with them. Crowds of people walked in front of Jesus and behind, shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be He Who walks in the name of the Lord Hosanna in heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar. "Who is that?" people asked. “This is the prophet Jesus of Nazareth in Galilee,” the crowd replied.

Jesus came to the Temple and drove out everyone who sold and bought in the Temple, overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. He told them, "The Scriptures say that the house of God is a house of prayer, and you have turned it into a den of robbers!"

Seeing all this, the senior priests gathered for a meeting of the Council and began to think about how to destroy Jesus and take Him into custody. They decided to kill Lazarus too, because because of him, many began to leave them and believe in Jesus.

All this happened 5 days before the crucifixion and death of Jesus.

Why do we need willows

The Lord's entry into Jerusalem anticipates the sufferings of Christ, His death and Resurrection. In other words, he anticipates Easter. In addition to the fact that the blossoming willow branches replaced the branches of palm trees more familiar to the south in northern Russia, these heralds of the coming spring have become a symbol of Easter - the holiday of new life. Every Christian wants not only to pray in the temple, to remember the solemn meeting of Jesus in Jerusalem, but also to bring home a piece of this holiday.

However, there is something deeper on Palm Sunday, more important for Christians than spring bouquets.

What do they mean gospel events entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem?

From the story we see that Jesus Christ, who was known among the people as a preacher, prophet and miracle worker, in front of many people resurrects Lazarus - famous person, and even on the fourth day after death. This miracle not only stirred up popular interest in Jesus, but also gave hope to many: here he is, a new religious leader, capable of becoming a liberator and a powerful ruler of the Israelite people. This can be seen from the honors given to Christ, which, according to historians, then kings or generals were honored: palm branches in their hands, clothes on the ground, special joyful exclamations of greeting.

But all this is nothing more than a frame for the main, innermost. If you carefully read both this passage and the story about the last days of Christ's life: His arrest, mockery of Him, trial, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection, then the meaning of the solemn entry into Jerusalem, the capital, becomes clear. Israeli state. This triumph and rejoicing revealed the gulf between the false hopes of the people and the truth of God. This is the beginning way of the cross Christ, and from that day on, events develop in such a way that His death becomes the only possible end.

And the point here is not in a conspiracy against Him, but in the fact that by this day Christ has done everything possible to reveal to people Himself and the way of the life to which He calls. He has already said everything, as a sign of His future resurrection, He even gave life to Lazarus, who had lain in the grave for three days. Those of the Israelites who were ready for this, those who were waiting for this, accepted Christ, but the majority did not. It was pointless to continue to preach and work miracles, all this only fueled the desire of the people to put Christ on the throne, the desire to make Him their king. Instead of words and miracles, something had to be done that would show people the true purpose of the coming of Christ, which would confirm by deed that “God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that the world through Him would be saved and everyone who believes in Him would not perish.” but gained eternal life.

Three days after entering Jerusalem, Jesus will be arrested, and five days later the same crowds of people who met Him will shout to the Roman judge: “Crucify Him! His blood is on us and on our children!”

holiday lessons

Christ did not come to solve their problems for the people, even if these are questions of life and death of a nation captivated by the invaders, as was the case with the Israeli people. The economic crisis, the corruption of the state apparatus, the underdevelopment of public initiatives, the unfair distribution of benefits, the decline of morality and culture, high mortality and low birth rates - these are all human affairs, this is what people are responsible to God for. To build heaven on earth, even in a country with a great Christian history, God never will.

Christians must remember that Christ offers His Kingdom and insists that only there He is the Ruler and King, His kingdom is “not of this world”, it is nothing less than the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom, where the connection of man with God is restored, where evil and division are overcome, where is the fullness of life and happiness. Christ taught his followers that the only way to enter His kingdom was by faith. He showed the place and price of power, statehood and everything human. Worldly kingdoms are destined to be, and it is impossible to live only in heaven, but all this is just soil on which a living plant can grow. The soil may be good or bad, the states may be different, but a living plant is not soil, the Kingdom of God is not a society, much less a state.

The salvation of people from sin could take place on the edge of the Roman Empire among the occupied people, which means that, if necessary, it can take place in Russia in the 21st century. If only there was faith, faith as a personal trust in Christ and faith as a responsible attitude towards the property entrusted to people.

The main thing that this holiday tells Christians - the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem - is that it is impossible to gain true faith into Christ and pass it on to others, immersed in the construction of only the earthly kingdom, trying to realize their own interests, be they the interests of the state, nation, society or family.

In the troparion of Palm Sunday, it is sung: "... we are like the children of victory who bear the sign." The banner of our victory is not a battle standard, but a willow branch - a symbol of the victory of life over death, faith over despair, love over hatred. This is also evidenced by the festive gospel reading. Archpriest Sergiy GANKOVSKY comments
Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. 17th century northern letters

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.
2 There they prepared a supper for him, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those who sat with him.
3 Mary, taking a pound of pure precious ointment, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the world.
4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Simon Iscariot, who wanted to betray Him, said:
5 Why not sell this oil for three hundred denarii and give it to the poor?
6 And he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because there was a thief. He had a money box with him and wore what was put into it.
7 And Jesus said, Leave her; she saved it for the day of my burial.
8 For you always have the poor with you, but not always Me.
9 Many of the Jews knew that he was there, and they came not only for Jesus, but to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 And the chief priests determined to kill Lazarus also, 11 because for his sake many of the Jews came and believed in Jesus.
12 On the morrow the multitude of the people who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took palm branches, went out to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna! blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, King of Israel!
14 And when Jesus found a young donkey, he sat on it, as it is written:
15 Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion! Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a young donkey.
16 His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this was written about Him, and they did it to Him.
17 The people who were with Him before testified that He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead.
18 Therefore the people met him, for they heard that he had done this miracle.
(John 12:1-18).

Commented by Prot. Sergiy GANKOVSKY, Rector of the Church of the Hieromartyr Vladimir in Korolyov:
What do today's readings from the Apostle and the Gospel have in common? At first I noticed only one thing - "The Lord is near". To His people, to Jerusalem, to His death and glory, to us. And “the multitude of the people who came to the feast” therefore shouts “Hosanna!” to Jesus, because He is near. But what does each of them, of us, expect from such closeness, from meeting with the Lord?

For some of those who were then standing on the road to Jerusalem with palm branches, it seems close to the fulfillment of all their hope, hope in the Messiah, who will free them from the enslavers, fulfill “all righteousness” (Matthew 3.15), restore peace and justice, and confirm their faith. But these hopes, these justice and faith, are their hope and justice, and not God's. Not mysterious and boundless, and therefore unpredictable and terrible, they are waiting for a meeting with the Savior, but the fulfillment their ideas and hopes, but simply - their own idea of ​​a miracle, which does not allow to see the life-giving love of Jesus for a person, but entails only to marvel at the resurrected dead, because "that's why the people met His, for they heard that He had done this miracle." They are waiting for the king, but God has come, having taken on Himself the “shape of a servant” (Philippians 2.7), not at all like the kings of the earth come, not in glory and triumph, but in meekness and humiliation.

And therefore, although the exclamation “hosanna” (הושיע נא‎) literally translates as “save, we pray,” we actually pray for our own, and when we receive God’s, we do not accept it.

Of course, the Lord knows that the tragedy of the descendants of fallen Adam lies in the fact that theoretically we are ready to seek “first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. ” to the main thing, to what makes life worth living. Just as the traitor-disciple saw only the senseless waste of the precious world in what was in fact the preparation for the Sacrifice of the Savior, so the whole of Jerusalem was tragically misunderstood: they met the earthly king, but the Heavenly King appeared!

And then it becomes clear why the cry “Crucify Him!” resounds almost immediately after rejoicing, because God "did not justify" our hopes. And we immediately forget that God does not create something because it is good, but, on the contrary, it is good, because it is He who creates it.

God comes to meet us, not to meet our expectations. And then the second thing becomes noticeable, which unites today's readings of the Apostle and the Gospel - joy. On the day when the Church with horror and trembling celebrates the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, reminding where and why Christ is going today, sitting on a donkey, on the day when, looking at the city from the Mount of Olives, the Savior weeps for him and for these people, because that they chose death and not life - on this day the apostle Paul tells us words that seem out of place, almost blasphemous in the face of what lies ahead for the Son of Man: “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice” (Phil. 4.4.). Only this joy is different - in one case - the exalted jubilation of the crowd, and in the other - the quiet joy of meeting with the One Whom I have been waiting for a long time. Joy in the Lord very rarely resembles worldly joy. Let us remember that in His Sermon on the Mount, our Lord calls us to rejoice, “when they reproach you and persecute you and slander you unjustly in every possible way for Me” (Matthew 5:11).

What are we looking for, now standing in the temple? Success, sorrowless life, health? Have we not managed to notice in our long or short church years that the closer the Lord is, the stronger the opposition of the forces of evil, the more powerful their pressure? Don't we know that as soon as we overcome the passions raging in us, even for a single moment, the forces of hell rise up against us, and as a result, those who just recently shouted "Hosanna" begin to gnash their teeth furiously. No wonder Archpriest Alexander Elchaninov remarked: “Only the first steps of approaching God are easy; elation and enthusiasm ... are gradually replaced by cooling, doubt, and efforts, struggle are needed to maintain faith ... ". Someone continues to fight, and someone considers himself deceived, "not receiving a sign", abandoned to the mercy of fate.

And therefore, so that our joy does not turn into bitter tears of “foolish virgins” (Mt. 25.3) - the daughters of Jerusalem, let us not forget that it is not for this reason that “the Lord is coming on a free passion”, so that we live easier and easier, and then, to remind us about where our true home is, where our true joy lies, and where our true “treasure” is hidden (Matt. 6:21).

Today is the eve of Passion Days, and yesterday, when the whole Church was remembering the resurrection of the righteous Lazarus, at the liturgy, instead of the usual Trisagion, we heard: “You have been baptized into Christ, put on Christ.” The Church sings this hymn on the eve of Passion Days, not only paying tribute to the ancient custom of baptizing new converts at Easter, but first of all reminding the faithful to be with God, to sit on the right and on the left side of Christ in His glory (Mark 10.37), as the apostles asked about it, one can only be “baptized”, plunged into the sorrow of the Passion of the Lord, sharing, to the best of one’s ability, His sufferings with the Lord, in order to later share with Him the joy of the Resurrection.

In the troparion of Palm Sunday there are also such words: "... we are like the children of victory bearing the sign." With these words, the Orthodox Church compares her children with the standard-bearers of victory, with those who proclaim to the army, and the people, and to the soldiers of the enemy, and to the whole world, the formidable and joyful news of the fall of the enemy fortress, of the end of the battle, of victory.

The banner of our victory, the symbol of the victory of the Church, is not a battle standard, but a small twig of willow, similar to the green olive twig that the dove brought to Noah's ark as a sign of the cessation of the flood, as a symbol of the reconciliation of God and man (Gen. 8.11), as a sign of hope and forgiveness. And today we, “like the children of victory,” stand in our churches, holding in our hands, so little resembling combat, the banners of the victory of life over death, faith over despair, love over hatred!

We have passed the long Lent of Forty. We, albeit in a small way, but nevertheless defeated our eternally unsatisfied flesh; albeit in the smallest, albeit in the most insignificant, but we have tried in the past fast days overcome the sin that afflicts us. And these tender, slightly green willow shoots are a symbol and a sign of our determination to stay with God to the end, to be faithful to Him "even to death, and the death of the cross" (Phil. 2.8).

Some of us may think that we remembered the victory too soon. Not Life and Eternity, but "Death and Time reign on earth." And yet it was precisely in these tragic days, a few hours before the execution, that the Lord said to His disciples: "...be of good cheer: I have conquered the world" (John 16.33). He says this because the victory, of which we are all now the standard-bearers, is accomplished, according to the apostle, “in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12.9). And it is not strength that breaks strength, it is not the conqueror of legions and armies who enters the Holy City, but “Your King is coming sitting on a young donkey” (John 12:15).

This is how the Lord Himself speaks about this to His disciples: “... you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20). What outwardly looks like a triumph and victory, in fact, goes through a mournful path to Golgotha. What appears to the envious soul of Judas as a senseless waste of the precious world, in fact, is preparation for the sacrificial slaughter of the One about whom it is said: “... behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1.29). Finally, the very death of the Crucified becomes a guarantee of the life of the perishing world, because, as St. John Chrysostom reminds us again and again: “Hell hoped to seize the mortal body, but found God. Hell hoped to seize the ashes, but met Heaven. Hell hoped to seize what it saw, but attacked what it did not see!”

Father Demetrius, on Verbnoe we are used to consecrating willow branches in churches, but not everyone understands what kind of holiday this is, what events we remember on this day ...

One week before Easter Orthodox Church celebrates the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. We recall the event two thousand years ago, when Christ, a few days before his suffering, death and resurrection, entered Jerusalem with glory, greeted by the people as the true Messiah. In the calendar, this day is called the week of Vay, that is, palm trees, and in Russia, in the absence of palm trees, since ancient times, people came to the temple with willow branches, thanks to which the Russian name for this day appeared - Palm Sunday. In the service of this day, the Church glorifies Christ as the Savior of the world, but at the same time remembers subsequent events, as if starting this day the service of Holy Week.

You often hear about various customs and traditions that supposedly need to be observed on Palm Sunday. What should and should not be done on this day?

There is a pious custom to consecrate willow branches brought on this day. The consecration takes place during the all-night vigil on Saturday after the polyeleos. The rite of consecration itself implies only reading a prayer over the willows, but according to the established tradition, the priest sprinkles the brought branches with holy water. Unfortunately, people's ignorance often leads to a great noise in the temple, and instead of praying attentively, people demand from the priest that he sprinkle their willow more abundantly, believing that if little water has fallen on it, then it will supposedly be less sanctified. Most often, people of little church behave like this, who come to the temple only a few times a year for the most significant holidays. Of course, I would like people to get rid of such superstitions. Another delusion of this holiday is the desire of people to “knock out” everything negative from themselves with the help of a consecrated willow. This also happens due to the ignorance of people who do not understand that a person can only improve himself if he repents and participates in church life. This is hard work on yourself, which will not be replaced by superstitious rituals.

- How Orthodox person should spend Holy Week before Easter?

The period between two significant holidays is called Holy Week, because on these days we remember the events of the death and burial of the Savior. If you look at the etymology of the word "passionate", it becomes clear that the emphasis is on the memory of the sufferings of Christ. Orthodox Christians strive this week to attend services as often as possible in order to remind themselves, together with the whole church, of those events that made it possible for the salvation of any person on earth.

In the first three days of Passion Week, the service is still close to the Lenten rite, but it already has its own individual characteristics. For example, in the morning, the troparion "Behold the bridegroom is coming at midnight" and the luminary "Thy Chamber" are sung, which are performed only on these days of the year. Starting from Thursday, divine services become unique: in this form they are performed precisely on these days. Thursday morning is Divine Liturgy according to the order of St. Basil the Great. All believers try to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ on this day. There is one superstition associated with this day: people believe that in order to cleanse the soul on this day, one must definitely cleanse the body in a bath or shower. People, unfortunately, do not understand that the purification of the soul takes place in the sacrament of Repentance - at confession. On Thursday evening, twelve passages from the Gospel are read in churches, which tell of the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. On Friday morning, the Royal Hours are read, and after dinner, Vespers is usually performed with the removal of the shroud and a touching canon is read, which received the name "Lament of the Virgin". AT Great Saturday in the morning, Vespers is served with the reading of fifteen proverbs - Old Testament prophecies about the Resurrection of Christ, after which the Divine Liturgy is performed. On this day, after the liturgy, Easter cakes and eggs are consecrated, but it is important to understand that this is secondary. It is much more important to visit the service and receive sanctification for the soul, and after that, sanctify the food.

- What should a person think about when meeting Easter? What is the best way to spend this day?

Sunday (this year Easter falls on April 8) is the main day church year in the life of every Christian - the day of the Resurrection of Christ. After terrible suffering, death, and being placed in the tomb, the Savior resurrected. The God-man Jesus Christ, by his death and resurrection, violated the general order of life and gave us the opportunity to receive salvation. On this day, everyone who considers himself a believing Christian should attend a service in order to feel the joy of this holiday of holidays and the triumph of celebrations. In churches, a night service is usually performed, and for the infirm, a late liturgy.

Here I will tell you about one more misconception that has survived from the Soviet era - visiting cemeteries on Easter day. Despite all attempts Soviet power to eradicate faith in people, this has not been completely succeeded. And people, often not understanding the goal themselves, seemingly not believing in God and afterlife went to the cemetery. It would seem, if you do not believe, then life ends when a person stops breathing, but something still pulled people to visit their native graves; it seems to me that it was a kind of understanding that death is not the complete end of life. To visit the cemeteries, the church set aside a special day - Radonitsa - Tuesday after Fomin Sunday. This year it's April 17th. People who wish to commemorate their relatives and perform a funeral service at their grave turn to the priest with this request.

- Father Dimitri, what can you wish the readers of Orlovskaya Pravda on the eve of the bright holiday?

I would like to wish that all believing Orthodox Christians could spend last days on the eve of the great feast of the Bright Resurrection of Christ reverently, prepare to receive the Holy Mysteries of Christ and experience the joy of the feast of the Bright Resurrection of Christ. All grievances and troubles must be forgotten and eclipsed by the light of the Resurrection of Christ. Even those who, due to weakness, could not endure the entire fast should go to the temple and share the joy together with everyone. After all, joy shared by many does not decrease, but only increases!

As Palm Sunday approaches, signs become especially important and significant. At this time, it is customary to make forecasts almost a year ahead about the weather and the future harvest.

Lazarus Saturday

Another holiday celebrated on Saturday of Palm Week is the Resurrection of Lazarus.

Word was sent to Jesus that his friend and companion Lazarus of Bethany was seriously ill, and they asked him to hurry. It was not clear why Christ was in no hurry. And only after the news that Lazarus had died, he set off.

When he arrived in Bethany, four days had passed since his death. The relatives and friends of the deceased were in deep sorrow. Jesus prayed earnestly near the cave where Lazarus was buried.

He appealed to God with requests to perform a miracle. After the prayer, the stone blocking the entrance was moved away, and those present saw the miracle of the resurrection. 4 days ago, Lazar turned out to be alive.

Christians have been celebrating Lazarus Saturday since the 4th century. Three and a half centuries later, a certain canon for holding services on this day was developed. The hymns during the service do not point to an accidental miracle, but to important symbol strengthening of faith.

After sunset, during the evening service, willow branches begin to be blessed. This is the beginning of the celebration of Palm Sunday.

Holiday Palm Sunday

As mentioned above, according to church canons, Palm Sunday begins on Saturday evening. But the main services and the consecration of the willow are held on Sunday.

Among other things, in Russia this holiday personifies the awakening of nature after a long winter. No wonder the northern Slavs chose willow as a symbol of this day. The tree is a harbinger of spring. As soon as the sun warms the air, fluffy lumps hatch into the light. It is they who give faith in the coming warm days.

Orthodox Christians celebrate Palm Sunday with joy. How is this day celebrated in Russia? People of all ages go on Sunday morning to the nearest church to bless willow branches. The churched parishioners stand the service, praying and participating in hymns. Upon returning home, it is customary to slightly unfasten the home with willow with wishes of health and grace.

The consecrated branches are placed next to the icons, braided into braids, made into amulets, nailed to outbuildings. A year later, on the eve of a new holiday, the willow is burned.

If you know the exact date celebrations, you can prepare in advance. How to calculate what date Palm Sunday will be celebrated in a given year? To determine the date, you need to know what day Easter will be. Exactly one week before the Resurrection of the Lord, the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem is celebrated.

What not to do

Palm Sunday - significant holiday for Christians. Any work on this day is undesirable. Some don't even recommend cooking. AT modern world everything is much easier. There are services and professions that involve daily work, regardless of calendar dates. But if there is no special need for any business, then it is better, of course, to postpone it.

In the old days, women were forbidden to comb their hair on this day, just like on the Annunciation. It is clear that now this is hardly possible. Although the owners of long curls can comply with the ban. Braided hair, covered with a scarf on top, may well do without combing for a day.

What other prohibitions exist on Palm Sunday? What is completely unacceptable is to indulge in gluttony. The end of the sixth week of fasting does not imply a plentiful feast. A little wine, lenten dishes prepared with vegetable oil, fish - this is the basis of the festive table.

Holiday traditions

The main and main tradition of the holiday is the consecration of willow branches. It is believed that there should be exactly as many as there are people in the family. For some peoples, family amulets are woven from these branches. Their strength is great. They protect the house from unkind people and fire, save from hurricanes and floods, from poverty, despondency and disease.

On Palm Sunday, weather and harvest signs are especially reliable. They have been supported by families for generations. This is especially important for residents involved in agriculture.

The tradition of putting coins in bread comes from Belarus. Thus, it is possible to determine who will be accompanied by good luck and prosperity throughout the year.

In some areas, it is customary to put consecrated branches into the coffin of the deceased. This tradition goes back to the very beginning of Christianity. It is believed that thanks to the willow, one can enter the gates of paradise and greet the Savior there. Among other things, the willow tree is a symbol of life and awakening.

Traditional willow bazaars. Children especially love this entertainment, as the main product is sweets. In addition, pleasant trifles for the household and the same willow, collected in bouquets and decorated with ribbons and paper angels, are offered.

A tree grown from a consecrated branch increases wealth in the house. Therefore, the bouquets brought from the church are placed in water and carefully watched for roots to appear.

Rites and customs

Many folk omens on Palm Sunday have long grown into rituals, customs and rituals.

If you live near a river, try dropping a willow twig into the water. If she floats away from you, then in the near future, prosperity is expected to be added to the house.

Branches attached to the roof will protect the inhabitants of the house from illness and mental anguish.

Whipping children with branches on a holiday is the most common ritual. With each blow, a wish for health is also spoken.

And here is another custom for increasing wealth. With a complete ban on doing anything on this day, it is still recommended to plant indoor plant with thick round leaves. If the flower is accepted and grows rapidly, you can be sure that wealth will come to the house.

Rites on Palm Sunday are traditions dating back to the depths of centuries. To believe them, to observe whether - everyone decides for himself. For some, this is the principle of life, while for others it is just a beautiful addition to the day off.

The use of consecrated willow in folk medicine

It has long been believed that willow contains a huge healing power. Sprinkling with holy water multiplies it several times. How can you use the twigs brought from the church on Palm Sunday? What to do with them to improve health? Here are some examples of the use of willow for medicinal purposes:

• Taking a decoction of the branches, you can get rid of headaches, fever, fever, insomnia.
• Rubbing the decoction on sore spots relieves rheumatic pains.
• Willow infusion on vodka will help to cope with intestinal infections and disorders.
• The leaves are able to heal wounds.
• Swallowing consecrated open buds helps with infertility.
• Babies sleep more peacefully after bathing in water infused with willow branches.

Willow in folk medicine is used wherever it grows, and enjoys well-deserved respect.

Folk omens

Folk omens for Palm Sunday have long come into use. They are passed from elders to younger and become part of our lives.

Calm sunny weather promises a warm windless summer and a rich harvest. A strong wind promised chilly weather.

A cold but clear day gave hope for the productivity of spring crops.

Palm Sunday without frost increases the chance for an abundance of fruit.

The number of blooming earrings also served as an indicator of the future harvest.

And on this day, it is customary to mentally call on a loved one, and the meeting will definitely take place.

Every year for many centuries the church opens its doors to everyone who believes in salvation. Palm Sunday is a holiday that symbolizes the power of faith, its rebirth. Willow branches and bouquets bring peace and protection to the house. Following the first sunbeams hope for the best is born in the hearts. And even if this day is fraught with a lot of sadness, it is still a harbinger of the Light Sunday of Christ and the salvation of all mankind.

"Palm Sunday", "Verbnitsa" - the sixth week of Great Lent, the last Sunday before Easter, the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem. On this day, Jesus was greeted with palm branches and songs of praise. In Russia, palm branches were replaced by willow. We consecrate the willow, decorate it, it is a talisman, the personification of life and growth.

When is Sunday on Saturday?

Palm Sunday Eve - Lazarus Saturday - the day when Jesus healed Lazarus a few days after his death. Since then, Christianity has been celebrating the feast of the Resurrection of Saint Lazarus. On this day, it was customary for Russian peasants to go to the forest for willow before sunrise. The brought twigs were immediately decorated with paper flowers, fruits, often a paper angel, a "verb cherub" was hung from the twigs. They went to church to sanctify the willow on the same day for the evening service or on Sunday morning. The consecrated branches were placed in the front corner on the goddess or placed behind the icons. In Siberia, a special “teremok” was made of straw for willow, which was decorated with rags, ribbons, and then hung in front of the icon.

"It's not me who beats, the willow beats, the willow whip beats to tears"

As soon as they returned home from matins, all household members would certainly hit each other with consecrated willow branches, saying: "Beat the red willow to tears, be healthy." This custom had a magical character: during contact, the willow transferred its life-giving forces to a person, filled him with energy. So, when children were whipped with willow, they said and conjured: “As the willow grows, so do you grow”, thereby transferring the properties of the plant to the child. Willow and its blooming earrings, the appearance of which was the first visible manifestation of spring, in the popular imagination was the focus of fertility, plant strength, and health.

Egoriev's day

As children were whipped, so on the day of the first pasture on the pasture, on Egor's Day, they hit with a consecrated willow to protect animals from death, the evil eye, snakes, wolves, to ensure a good offspring, as well as to pacify the cattle, make it obey shepherd. Then the branches were stuck in a barn under the roof, “so that the cattle would not wander,” or let them float on the water, sometimes burned in a furnace, or fed to livestock. But throwing away the willow after the first pasture was a sin. Sometimes the consecrated branches kept whole year for the images until the next "Verbnitsa", and only then they burned and put a new one consecrated willow. Also on Yegoriev's Day, after pasture, the branches could be broken and scattered across the field, and the buds could be crushed into grain intended for future sowing, thereby affecting the forces of nature, increasing the harvest.

"Lambs", "grandmothers", "katushki"

In order for the sheep to breed and not be transferred, but to multiply, they were fed with specially prepared loaves and bread, inside of which willow buds were baked. In some places, kidney-shaped cookies were baked according to the number of cattle and poultry in the house, and in other local traditions, for all family members. It was customary to consecrate cookies along with willow. In the Kostroma province, it was called "lambs", in Moscow - "lambs", "grandmothers" or "akatushki", in Ryazan - "nuts", "kytka".

Hail of the young

In the Penza province, there was a rite of hailing the young. At midnight on the eve of Palm Sunday, young people went around the houses where the newlyweds lived, and shouted near the gate: “Open, open, young, beat with a willow, give more health than before.” The young man had no choice but to unlock the gate, after which the crowd entered with a song: "There would be a harvest of bread, multiplication of cattle." All those sleeping in the hut were lightly hit with a willow, saying: “We beat to be healthy,” and also: “Get up early, beat the ram.” The young one was whipped last, when she bowed, seeing off uninvited guests.

Willow healer

Willow in the popular mind was able not only to give life-giving power, but also to protect against diseases and heal from them. Palm buds were swallowed as a prophylactic against various ailments. They ate nine palm buds, considering it a cure for fever. Barren women were also advised to eat consecrated kidneys, after which they gave birth safely. In the Kuban, willow was used in the treatment of childhood diseases. To do this, early in the morning before sunrise, they went to the river, where they cut three bunches of willow, nine branches each. Then at home they put one bundle in hot water and bathed the child at the window that faced east. At noon, the second bundle was lowered into the water and the child was bathed at the window where the sun stood at that moment. At sunset, similar actions were performed with the third beam in front of the window, looking at the setting sun. After that, all the branches and water, accompanied by a prayer, were poured into the river. It was believed that after these ablutions, the disease would go away. Also, sick cattle were fumigated with willow, ground it into powder and poured into wounds, made a decoction from it and drank, used as lotions from tumors and bruises.

Willow amulet

A branch of willow from time immemorial pre-Christian pagan times was endowed with magical supernatural properties: in addition to enriching and healing, it was able to save, protect from lightning, storms, evil spirits. According to legend, a willow thrown against the wind can turn away a storm, and thrown into a fire can pacify it. It was widely believed that the willow would protect the house from thunder and lightning, since the willow in the beliefs of the Slavs is the tree of the Thunderer, Perun, which strikes with cleansing fire. Palm branches, despite the Christian symbolism, were also attributed to witchcraft power, they were associated with poetic inspiration, sorcery, witchcraft. So, according to legend, in the spring the devils warm up on the willow, and after it is consecrated on a holiday, they fall into the water, and therefore from Palm Sunday to Easter you cannot drink water scooped up under the willow.