Russian Orthodox Saints Days are celebrated every January in memory of the saints and martyrs of Russia. It is a national holiday to commemorate the relics of the saints and to celebrate the virtues of their lives. The holy days also serve to encourage the faithful in their spiritual lives. In addition, the saints and their relics are considered to be blessed. During the days, many parishes offer special services and feasts to the saints, and people pray for their repose.
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Glorification of the new martyrs
The Synaxis of Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia is a group of Russian Orthodox Church martyrs. It commemorates millions of simple believers who have suffered during persecution. The Synaxis also includes the Tsar and his family, as well as other important figures of the Russian Orthodox Church.
This is a relatively new category of saints. They are venerated in large groups and individual worship. A number of miracles have been attributed to them. Some of these are believed to have occurred in their lifetimes. However, they are also known to have happened after their death.
The Synaxis of Holy New Martyrs is a special day of the week that celebrates the lives of the New Martyrs. Each New Martyr was a member of the Russian Orthodox Church who was killed for their faith. During the first three centuries of Christianity, many more New Martyrs were murdered than today.
Dormition of Mary the Theotokos
The Dormition of Mary the Theokos is one of the major feasts in the Orthodox Church. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ’s mother, who is also called the Mother of God. This festival is held on August 15 of each year.
The Dormition of Mary is considered to be one of the most important feasts in the Orthodox Church, and is celebrated by most Eastern and Oriental Orthodox families. However, there are many other Christian confessions that do not accept the 7th or 8th century author Hippolytus of Thebes as a Scriptural authority. Some theologians and preachers refer to it as “Pascha of the Theotokos”, and others simply call it the “Feast of the Virgin” or the “Feast of the Dormition”.
On the Feast of the Dormition, the Church celebrates the assumption of the Holy Theotokos in bodily form. Her soul was absorbed into the Divine Son, who was then carried into heaven.
Glorification of the saints’ relics
Glorification of the saints’ relics on Russian Orthodox saints days is an ancient tradition. It involves a special ceremony, which usually takes place in a church or in an assembly. A saint’s relics are transferred to a sarcophagus or other place specially prepared for them. This is followed by a prayerful commemoration.
The glorification of the saints’ relics is an important activity of the Church. The glorification is carried out in large assemblies, which may include clergymen, monastics and laity. During this time, prayers for the departed are transformed into requests for the intercession of a saint.
When a group of New Martyrs is canonized, the entire flock of Mother Church is united. Their prayers strengthen the unity of the Orthodox Christian world.
Emancipation from atheist persecution
The canonization of Saints of Alapaevsk is a significant milestone for the Russian Orthodox Church. It is the first time that an entire group of new martyrs from the twentieth century has been recognized and glorified in the Russian Orthodox world.
Patriarch Tikhon’s persecution in the Soviet Union attracted international condemnation. A number of Russian Orthodox clergymen and laypeople in the USSR expressed a desire for their glorification. They believed that the canonization of these saints would strengthen the unity of the Orthodox Christian flock.
In 1976, church periodicals published a list of about 22,000 Red Terror victims. Many luminaries of the Church Abroad predicted that this list would soon be canonized. However, this process was not completed before the schism in the Church hierarchy began. Initially, the Living Church pressured Tikhon to cede his authority to the Higher Church Administration. This led to a break in the hierarchy, which has continued to this day.
