What time is the religious procession? Theological meaning of the religious procession on Easter

Why is the religious procession needed and its meaning?

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers:

A procession of the cross is a crowded ceremonial procession from one temple to another, around the temple or to some designated place (for example, a holy spring) with a large altar or external cross, from which the procession itself received its name. Participants in the procession also carry holy gospel, icons, banners and other shrines of the temple. Priests and clergy perform a procession in liturgical vestments. During the procession, the troparion of the holiday, irmos, and sometimes the festive canon (on Easter week) are sung. Processions of the cross are regular (calendar) and extraordinary (during epidemics, wars and other special events).

The procession of the cross is an expression of the united people's faith and a fervent prayer to the Lord and Mother of God for the granting of grace-filled help to the Church and people.

Processions of the cross arose in the 4th century in Byzantium. Saint John Chrysostom organized night processions through the streets of Constantinople against the Arians. For this purpose, silver crosses were made on poles, which were solemnly carried around the city along with the holy icons. People walked with lit candles. This is how our church processions of the cross arose. Later, in the fight against the heresy of Nestorius, special religious processions were organized by St. Cyril of Alexandria, seeing the emperor’s hesitation. Later, in Constantinople, to get rid of mass diseases, the Life-Giving Tree of the Honest Cross was taken out of the churches and carried along the streets of the city. Thus a holiday was established, called Origin(wearing out, coming out) honorable trees of the cross of the Lord(August 1/14).

I went to the main city event of last week - the religious procession in honor of the transfer of the holy relics of Alexander Nevsky. Besides me, there were another 99 thousand 999 people there (as the organizers calculated), including the governor, metropolitan, officials, state employees, deputy Milonov and actor Migitsko. To participate in the religious procession, I was given a prop - an empty stick.

How did I get the stick?

Columns of participants in the religious procession are formed on the streets adjacent to Nevsky. The most numerous convoys gather on Kazanskaya - regional columns. There are so many people that you can barely walk down the street. But random people not here: those arriving in an organized manner occupy the designated places, receive props - Orthodox flags, icons, paper images. Standing shoulder to shoulder are ladies in heels, ladies in sneakers and headscarves, men in suits and ties, men in robes and yellow clerical robes. Everyone lined up in areas and are waiting for the turn to begin.

-What are you wearing? - I ask the man in yellow, representing the Epiphany Church on Gutuevsky Island.

“I don’t know, I just put it on,” he says, embarrassed.

- This is a surplice. Button up the button! – a colleague from the temple who was running past came to the rescue.

In the column of the Central District, they change clothes right on the street: they take out church vestments from a large checkered bag, the priests take apart and put on kamilavkas. The Kronstadt district is rehearsing songs with which it will go to the religious procession: “Rejoice to the Mother of God, Virgin,” “Save, Lord,” and others. The priest distributes leaflets with texts.

They brought more sticks than signs. Carry it as is. Then you will return the stick to the Pushkin district

-Why did you come here? - I directly ask the lady in heels and with an expensive bag, standing under the sign “Kirov District”.

“We are all here at the call of our souls.” And they let us go from work! – she snapped ungraciously.

- We - kindergarten Kirovsky district,” said two others. – We also follow the call of our hearts, but at work we will be counted as a working day.

- And I’m still at work. “I am deputy Oleg Ivanov,” said a man from the Vyborg district. – And over there is the head of the district – Garnets Valery Nikolaevich, next to him is his deputy, and there is the school director. We're all here! All in in a great mood! This event unites, unites,” the deputy explained why he came.

The Pushkin district was the best prepared for the religious procession. The entire column was armed with poles with portraits royal family. It turned out to be a whole forest of portraits. Why are they?

“Because we are from Tsarskoye Selo,” explained a parishioner of the Panteleimon Church. He handed me a pole too, but without a portrait.

- But there’s nothing there! – I was surprised.

– Just imagine what it is! They brought more sticks than signs. Carry it as is. “Then you will return the stick to the Pushkin district,” the parishioner ordered.

I took the stick.

Then all the columns began to move - the religious procession began. For some time I walked among the royal portraits with an empty stick over my head. There were other people nearby with empty sticks.

Nevsky Prospekt was closed to traffic the day before. But on the streets adjacent to Nevsky, there were columns of stubborn motorists. There were people standing and sitting at the stops, waiting for trolleybuses and buses. They weren’t outraged, but they didn’t join either.

The procession was very strictly guarded. At the intersections, the streets were blocked by heavy cleaning equipment, along the entire Nevsky - every 10-15 meters - there were police officers, volunteer guards, vigilantes, and in some places - metal fences. To prevent strangers from entering the passage, the guards (where there were no fences) held hands - it turned out to be a human chain. Before procession of the cross there was a platoon of riot police.

How they didn’t let me out of the prayer service

The religious procession was led by Metropolitan Barsanuphius, speaker Vyacheslav Makarov, former vice-governor, now State Duma deputy Igor Divinsky, current vice-governor Igor Albin and other officials and priests.

The splendor was disrupted only once: Orthodox activists quarreled with the police. Believers carried banners with the slogans: “Matilda is a slap in the face of the Russian people” and “The honor of the state is the honor of the people.” Law enforcement officers demanded that the slogans be removed, but the crusaders refused.

- Employees, help! - shouted the police lieutenant colonel, whom the Orthodox tried to push away from the slogans.

- Anathema on you! - the believers carrying banners cursed.

The other participants in the procession looked at the brawl with curiosity, but were absolutely silent.

In the end, the police won, the banners were confiscated, but no one was detained.

In an hour we walked from the Kazan Cathedral to Alexander Nevsky Square. There were a lot of people standing here. I wanted to leave, but they didn’t let me out. The policeman did not allow me to leave the fence and blocked my way. We had such a simple dialogue.

- May go out?

- It is forbidden!

- And to the toilet?

- I told you so! Go ahead. You’ll let one person out, and then you’ll all break away,” the policeman did not back down.

Some lady came to my aid and began asking the policeman whether he believed in God and why he wasn’t happy when there was such a national holiday here. The policeman replied that he was protecting us believers on his day off, and there was nothing to be happy about.

The believers listened to Makarov attentively. Some thought that it was Metropolitan Barsanuphius speaking and were baptized.

And then we all listened to the festive prayer service. We delved into the words of Governor Poltavchenko and Speaker Makarov. The speaker's speech turned out to be the highlight of the event. It has already been taken away for quotes by the media, but in its entirety it makes a very strong impression.

– Russia’s great destiny is to solve problems that no other country in the world can solve! Russia is a world power last hope God on planet Earth! That is why the Lord invisibly protects Russia from its enemies, protects its small world for a saving outcome, in order to preserve Russia in its heavenly and earthly dimensions! I am Russian, I am baptized... I pray for the Russian Tsar and God. It was the authority of the tsar, the strength of the tsar and the strength of the state that allowed our great power - Russia - to be invincible! St. Petersburg is the city of St. Apostle Peter. A city that we must leave to our descendants as a great Orthodox city on planet Earth. The Lord God and the Orthodox faith are with us! - said the speaker.

The believers listened to Makarov attentively. But from the back rows it was not clear who was speaking. Some thought that it was Metropolitan Barsanuphius speaking and were baptized by the speaker.

Crusade Skirmisher

The religious procession in honor of the transfer of the relics of Alexander Nevsky took place in St. Petersburg for the fifth time. About 1.5 million rubles were spent from the city budget on organizing the celebrations. This is 400 thousand more than last year, and 800 thousand more than in 2015.

Processions of the Cross in lately very popular in Russia. New forms appeared - voyages of the cross and flights of the cross. Thus, on the Ob River, the Altai Cossacks spent a two-week voyage of the cross on the ship “Ataman Ermak” with the Iverskaya icon Mother of God with the relics of the apostles. In Rostov, Metropolitan Mercury and local officials held an aerial religious procession by helicopter. With the icon of the Don Mother of God, they flew around the city and prayed for the well-being of Rostov and Russia. In Taganrog, the flying of the cross was improved. The priests of the local diocese poured eight tons of holy water into the tanks of the Be-200 amphibious aircraft and sprinkled the city and surrounding area from a height of 200 meters.

There are also religious processions on bicycles, motorcycles, buses and catamarans. St. Petersburg demonstrates new approaches to Crusading to other regions. This summer the first automobile religious procession took place along the route St. Petersburg - Kronstadt. Dozens of cars took part. For those who do not have their own car, 5 buses have been prepared. This format of the religious procession, according to the organizers, corresponds to the spirit of the times. “It does not contradict the Orthodox tradition,” says the official crusading website krestkhody.rf.

Crucifixion voyage on a catamaran with a list of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon on last week came from St. Petersburg to Kerch. The event was held public organization"Orthodox St. Petersburg".

The St. Petersburg diocese believes that crucifixion needs to be further developed. Representatives of the diocese appealed to the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation with a proposal to support the idea of ​​holding religious processions throughout the country on the Day of national unity. To begin with, Russia needs at least one all-Russian religious procession, otherwise everyone goes separately and in different times. And a single religious procession will contribute to the consolidation and mobilization of society.

In 2017, St. Petersburg will become the absolute leader among Russian regions in the number of large religious processions. According to the portal krestnyekhody.rf, 9 religious processions took place (and will still take place) in St. Petersburg this year. The Vyatka Metropolis is in second place among Russian regions (5 religious processions). The Moscow diocese lags behind - only 4 religious processions.

Elena ROTKEVICH

What can you get for a photo with the hashtag #Walk1209

The St. Petersburg diocese encouraged participation in the procession with the help of an online competition. The competition accepted photographs (family or selfies) taken during the religious procession and published on social networks. A prerequisite is the presence of the hashtag #KrestnyKrestnyy1209.

The winners will be announced on September 25th. Those who take first place will receive, according to the official press release, a large pectoral “Sea” cross from an Orthodox jewelry company. For second place they will receive an encyclopedia album. For the third - also an album. All winners will also be presented with “an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, consecrated on his relics, which first arrived in Russia from the city of Bari.”

As Gorod 812 was told in the jewelry company’s company store, on August 4, items consecrated on the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker were delivered to the store. The number of consecrated items is limited. The icons of St. Nicholas are still on sale (10 pieces), costing 650 rubles each.

Where did the relics of Alexander Nevsky come from?

Alexander Nevsky died in 1263 and was buried in Vladimir in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin. According to the chronicles, in 1380 his remains were taken out of the coffin and they saw that they had not decayed. This was considered a miracle and the remains were placed “in a coffin (coffin) on top of the ground.”

In 1491, there was a severe fire, after which, according to some sources, the remains were burned, but according to others, they were miraculously preserved.

Alexander Nevsky was canonized in 1547.

In 1723, Peter the Great decided to transport the relics of Alexander Nevsky to St. Petersburg. But on the way they were again overtaken by a fire, probably after which they put a “stuffed figure” - a doll made of cotton wool with a wax head - into the shrine.

In this form, in 1724 the reliquary was transported to St. Petersburg and on September 12 it was installed in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra (then it was the Holy Trinity Monastery). Since then, Alexander Nevsky has been considered the defender of the city in heaven.

In 1917, priests secretly examined the relics. What they found there was reported at the press center of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

“Under the lid of the reliquary they discovered an open cypress coffin with a wax head and a “stuffed” prince made of cotton wool sewn into silk bags. It contained genuine relics - part of a skull, bones of arms and legs and two ribs. On the paper, lying in a bag with small bones, it was indicated that the relics were collected “after the church burning,” says the press center’s website.

According to the same source, the priests placed only “genuine relics” in the shrine and threw away the rest.

In 1922, during the anti-religious campaign, the shrine containing the relics of Alexander Nevsky was publicly opened by the Bolsheviks. The found remains were transferred to the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism. There they were kept until 1989, then they were returned to the Lavra.

Mention of the first religious processions is found in Old Testament. Among them are the journey of the sons of Israel from Egypt to the promised land, the procession around the ark of God, the circumambulation of the walls of Jericho, the transfer of the ark of God by David and Solomon.

Processions of the cross are regular (or calendar) and extraordinary. Regular processions take place on certain days. They take place several times a year in honor of shrines and great church events, for example, the Velikoretsk religious procession, which takes place annually in early June, etc.

Calendar processions also take place on the day of the Epiphany, Easter, and the feast of the Second Savior for the blessing of water. During the religious procession, bells are ringing, which is called the Blagovest. Clergymen are required to wear liturgical attire.

Extraordinary processions are assembled in times of disaster, for example during war, famine, epidemics, natural disasters. Such religious processions are accompanied by intense prayers for salvation.

The procession can last several minutes, several days and even weeks or months. In this case, people stock up on food to eat during stops, and also take with them sleeping mats, waterproof raincoats, reliable shoes and necessary medications that may be needed along the way.

Processions can take place both on land and in the air. The clergy take all the necessary attributes with them on board the plane and, while reading a prayer, sprinkle the city with holy water during the flight. In addition, there are sea religious processions, when clergy perform prayer services or funeral services on board a ship or other vessel.

Taking part in the procession means accepting spiritual cleansing and reminding other people of the power Orthodox faith, since this procession symbolizes bearing one’s cross and following the word of the Savior.

Sources:

• website of the Sayan Church of the Annunciation

IN Orthodox Christianity there are many traditions. One of these are processions of the cross, performed on special occasions. holidays.

The practice of religious processions has a very ancient history. Since the establishment of Christianity as the main religion of the Roman Empire (IV century), religious processions have become an integral part of church liturgical life.

A procession of the cross is a procession of believers with icons, crucifixes and banners through the streets settlement. Processions of the cross are a visible symbol of witnessing the Orthodox faith to people. Such processions can take place not only along the streets of a city or village, but also simply around the temple. At the same time, the clergy and choir sing certain prayers and passages from the Holy Scriptures are read.

According to the liturgical Charter Orthodox Church religious processions take place during patronal church holidays. Also, the move can be carried out along other memorable church dates. The execution of a religious procession can be determined by the rector of a particular temple.

Processions of the cross can also take place on days when various shrines arrive in the city. For example, the miraculous icons of the Mother of God. In this case, the clergy and people can march with miraculous icon from one city temple to another. Processions of the cross can also be held at holy springs. When believers come to the holy spring, a water blessing prayer is performed.

The main component of the procession is the prayer of believers. Each participant in such a procession should silently pray for his own needs, as well as the needs of his neighbors. In addition, during religious processions, prayer is carried out for the entire population of the city or village.

During the long Great Lent, forty days plus Holy Week, people prepared themselves spiritually, weakening their bodies, for the holiday of the Resurrection of Christ. Holy Saturday has already arrived - this is the last day of fasting, but a very important and special one. It is important to know what time the Easter service begins and ends today in order to become part of the annual Resurrection and bring joy and good news home about the coming of the holiday from the temple on the night from Saturday to Sunday.

During the year the Easter service is very important event, in 2018 it will be held on April 7. It so happened that in the calendar due to the coincidence of dates, read our separate materials.

Read interesting materials on the topic:

If you are going to a church service, then aim for somewhere around midnight from Saturday to Sunday. At this time, the festive midnight service begins. The service begins with the priest and deacon heading to the shroud, which was placed in the center of the temple in Good Friday and here she will lie until the Resurrection of Christ.

The Shroud is a symbol of the shroud with which the body of Christ was wrapped when he was taken down from the cross on Friday. On her in full height depicts the Savior crucified on the cross. It symbolizes the time the Lord spent in the cave where he was buried and the shroud is located in the center of the temple until the moment when Christ is Risen, that is, already three hours after the start of the Easter service it will be taken back to the altar for the whole year.

Quiet hymns about the resurrection of Christ begin to be sung around midnight. Please note that at this time the Royal Doors of the altar will still be closed inside the temple and the priests will come out of the side gates. Then the stichera is sung and the royal doors are opened, the voice of the priest and choir becomes louder and more confident.

Procession for Easter

The Easter service continues with a procession around the church of priests and the entire congregation. This action is called a religious procession and is carried out to the sound of bells. At the beginning of the procession they carry a lantern, then an altar cross and an image of the Mother of God, followed by deacons holding candles and a censer in their hands. The procession is completed by a priest, who carries the Gospel in his hands, and second next to him is the icon of the Resurrection.

The procession of the cross goes around the temple three times, with the congregation following the priests with all the necessary paraphernalia. Everyone stops every time in front of the closed gate on the western side of the entrance to the temple. Last time the ringing of the bells subsides and in this silence every believer can hear the most important words that she has been waiting for so long: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and giving life (that is, life) to those in the tombs.”

How long does the service last?

So, the Easter night service begins around midnight and lasts on average several hours, ending around three in the morning. Decide for yourself whether to take children to church; after all, there will be a lot of people there and it is quite difficult to hold a religious procession for such a long time.

At this point the festive service has ended and begins immediately Divine Liturgy. Many no longer stay for it - they hurry home to tell their family and relatives the good news that Christ is Risen, that fasting and sorrow are over and the long-awaited holiday has finally arrived, which will last not only on Sunday, but throughout holiday week (popularly called Fomina week).

On behavior in church during the Easter service and more:

• When entering the church at any time, you must cross yourself three times and bow at the door. Orthodox Christians cross themselves with three fingers of their right hand.
• Take off your gloves, for men it is necessary to remove your headdress, and for women - put on a scarf.
• When addressing a priest personally, you need to start with the words “Father, bless.” At the same time, the person should fold his palms crosswise and kiss the hand of the clergyman with which he blessed. Then you can ask your questions.
• On Easter night, the temple is the place where a special and very important sacrament is performed. Because of large quantity This may be difficult for people, but still try not to stand with your back to the altar.
• If you decide to take children to the temple with you, you need to explain to them in advance how to behave there: do not make noise, do not run or be capricious, you are not allowed to talk loudly in the temple.
  Of course, you will need to turn off the phone, it is best to at least put it on silent mode.

The Easter service begins at midnight on the day of transition from Holy Saturday, that is, April 7, 2018, on the day of the Resurrection of Christ. The service begins at 00.00 and lasts about three hours. After the religious procession, the morning Divine Liturgy begins.

Since the morning of Holy Saturday, believers have been asking each other the question, Procession for Easter 2018: what time. We can fully answer this question. Moreover, the date and time of the religious procession does not change from year to year. Or rather, the date changes, but the event - Easter - always remains the same.

On Saturday, after hectic preparations for the holiday, when all the Easter cakes are ready and the eggs are painted, you can relax a little. But, it should be remembered that the Easter evening service begins at 20.00. In general, it is better to get everything done before this time and calmly go to work. If you only want to attend the Procession of the Cross, then you need to arrive at the church closer to midnight.

How does the procession take place?

The religious procession is some kind of independent action in itself. It is held as part of the festive Easter service. Or rather, it divides the service itself into two parts. At first these are still mournful prayers about what happened to Christ in Holy Week. Then the priest, followed by all the ministers, and behind them the believers go out into the street, where the procession of the Cross takes place.

During the procession, church servants carry the most important icons, including banners and lamps. You need to walk around the temple three times and stop at the temple doors each time. The first two times the doors will be closed, and the third time the doors will open. And this good sign, which tells us that Easter has arrived. After the procession and after the priest informs everyone about the onset of Easter, the clergy change into white festive clothes and the services continue for several more hours.

It turns out that the date for the procession for Easter 2018 is April 7. More precisely, the service will begin in the evening, at 20.00 on April 7, but will gradually move on to April 8. Easter service amazing and very beautiful. If you have never gone to church this night before, we highly recommend doing so. In principle, you need to at least get to the procession and perform it. Then, if you lose your strength, you can go home.

What to do after the procession

Yes, in church, together with other believers, you were the first to learn the good news that Christ is Risen. This means that Easter has arrived and Lent will end. You can eat any food, rejoice and have fun. But you shouldn’t eat illuminated foods immediately after you get home: no matter how much you might want to. According to the church charter, this is fundamentally wrong.

You definitely need to go to bed, and in the morning start celebrating Easter for real. In the morning the whole family gathers at the table. An Easter cake is placed in the center of the table, in which there is a candle from the church; illuminated foods are laid out around the Easter cake. You should light a candle and start your morning with prayer. Then each family member should eat a small piece of each illuminated product. After this, you can start eating, beat your eggs and simply enjoy such a wonderful, bright and eventful holiday.

So, you already know what time the procession will be on Easter, and how it will take place. All that remains is to find the strength within yourself to be sure to go to church on this holy night. By the way, we remind you that on Holy Saturday it is recommended to adhere to strict fasting. This means not eating until the end of the evening service, and after it eating bread and drinking water. But, there is very little left until Easter arrives and the period of restrictions ends. Christ is Risen, which means we can celebrate this event in full force.