What a holiday on July 28 according to the church calendar, few know, since this is a relatively recent solemn event. The baptism of Russia was legalized by the former president of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev in 2010. This date was timed to the day of great achievement, when in 988 Christianity was proclaimed on pagan land, which became the main religion of the young state. And now, on July 28, the Orthodox celebrate the day of the baptism of Russia. The Holy Church that day prayerfully honors the memory of Prince Vladimir, who himself was first baptized, and then, thanks to him, the baptism of the entire Russian people took place. After that, people began to be able to save their souls and live the holy gospel.
What is a church holiday July 28 (history): the role of Vladimir
How did all this happen? We will plunge a little in the times of ancient Kievan Rus. Going further into what holiday on July 28 according to the church calendar, it should be noted that in the history of the church the prince is referred to as Vladimir the Baptist, in the ancient epics he is called the Red Sun. In ancient Russian writings they called it Equal-to-the-Apostles, since its princely deed is equated with apostolic ministry.
He was born around 963. His father was the Kiev prince Svyatoslav, and his mother was the Drevlyansky princess Malusha. Soon after the birth of Vladimir, they take him to Kiev, and his grandmother, Princess Olga and his uncle, the pagan voivode Dobrynya, are engaged in his upbringing.
Svyatoslav
In 969, Prince Svyatoslav distributed the inheritance among his sons. Kiev went to Yaropolk, the land of the Drevlyans - to Oleg. At the same time, the Novgorodians came to the prince and, on the advice of Dobrynia, began to ask Prince Vladimir for their rule. So, as a child, Vladimir became the ruler of the Novgorod lands. In 972, Svyatoslav perishes, and his sons begin to fight for the land. As a result, Yaropolk kills Oleg. Vladimir at this time leaves for Scandinavia and wants to assemble a hired army to go to Kiev. The traitor leads Yaropolk to Vladimir, and he decides to kill his brother. From this moment begins the era of the reign of Vladimir.
Vladimir
Speaking about which holiday is celebrated on July 28, it must be added that before Prince Vladimir converted to Christianity, in the annals he was described as a vindictive and cruel ruler, a convinced pagan. On the Kiev mountains at that time stood pagan idols, which required human sacrifice.
The challenge to paganism was thrown by the Varangian Christians Theodore and his son John, they became the first Christian martyrs in Russia, because they did not want to make a sacrifice to the idol.
And then the prince first thought about the truth of his faith. Vladimir cared about the power of the state and made military campaigns. He joined other lands, wanted to introduce something new and carried out pagan reform, uniting pagan gods on the pantheon established by him. This was his first step in the search for truth.
Philosopher
A strong impression on the prince was made by the Greek philosopher who visited him then, who told him about Orthodoxy. And then Vladimir sends his messengers to different lands so that they can see with their own eyes the beauty of a particular faith, compare and tell on arrival everything they saw. After a certain time, the envoys began to return. The story of the solemnity of the service, singing and magnificence of the church of St. Sophia and the patriarchal ministry touched to the core.
The envoys uttered a phrase that during the service they did not know where they were - in heaven or on earth! The boyars noticed that after all, Princess Olga adopted Christianity, and they considered her the wisest of all women.
Epiphany
The baptism of Vladimir was associated with the conquest of the city of Khersones. He vowed to be baptized after victory. However, I did not hurry much with this issue. From Chersonesos, he sends ambassadors to Constantinople to the emperor Basil and Constantine, so that they would give him his sister Anna as a wife. But they replied that only a Christian could their sister marry. When Princess Anna came to him with her retinue and priests, the prince suddenly became blind. The princess, in order to heal the disease, asks him to be baptized as soon as possible. In 988, Vladimir was baptized and received the name Vasily. From the font he came out healed of a physical ailment and received spiritual sight. He exclaimed: "Now I have known the true God."
People
And from here begins the most important event for Russia - the baptism of the people. First, all the children of Vladimir were baptized, then the boyars and the people. The prince begins a merciless struggle with pagan idols. Perun, the main pagan idol, was tied to a horse’s tail, dragged to the Dnieper and thrown into the water, so that no one could find and pick it up again.
And the priests who arrived with Princess Anne begin to tell in Russia about the savior of the world - Jesus Christ.
Then a day was appointed when all the inhabitants of Kiev would have to gather on the banks of the Dnieper to perform the baptismal rite.
There was also a prince who thanked the Lord for His mercies great to his people. People went into the water, and the priests read prayers over them.
The spread of Christianity in Russia
In conclusion of the study of the question of which holiday is July 28 according to the church calendar, it must be said that Kiev, Novgorod, Murom, Rostov, Suzdal, Lutsk, Pskov, Smolensk accept Christianity for Kiev ... The children of the prince, to whom their inheritances were separated, also baptized people in their lands.
The Christian faith was mainly successfully distributed, since sermons and conversations were conducted peacefully and in a language that people understood thanks to Cyril and Methodius. Although it happened in different ways.
By the X-XIII centuries, other peoples adjacent to Kievan Rus adopted the Orthodox faith. And in Kiev, at the place where the pagan idol stood, the church of St. Basil, the heavenly patron of the Kiev prince, was built. A little later, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Tithes) was built. An important administrative reform, the establishment of church tithe, will be associated with its appearance.
Holy martyrs
July 28 - the church Orthodox holiday of the holy martyrs Iulitta (Ulit) and Kirik, who suffered a martyrdom under the emperor Diocletian (end of III - beginning of IV century). Yullita was a widow of a wealthy family. Kirik was her son. During the time of violent persecution of Christians, she left her home and property, together with her three-year-old son and two slaves, she went to another city, where she began to wander about like a beggar. But one day they recognized her, took her to the ruler and began to demand renunciation of faith. But Julitta did not want to hear about it. Then she was beaten with whips and her son was taken away.
The boy burst into tears when he saw how his mother was being tortured. The governor wanted to caress the baby, but he said that he was also a Christian and wanted to be released to his mother. Then the ruler threw him from his stone platform. And Julitta was first brutally beaten, and then her head was chopped off.
The holy relics of these martyrs were acquired under the ruler Constantine the Great, one of the slaves showed where their bodies were buried.
Holiday: July 28, traditions
Old Believers also venerate these saints. According to folk tradition, this holiday is considered the middle of summer, and it is on this day that the sun shines especially brightly.
In conclusion of the study of the question of which holiday is July 28 according to the church calendar, it should be especially noted that women loved to celebrate mother Ulita's day most of all. They called this saint their intercessor. They were supposed to relax as best as possible. It was believed that on this day it was better not to go out into the field, since there was an unclean power walking there at that time. There was a rumor among the people that one who would reap at that time could see a bad omen that could come true. This is logically explained by the fact that on this day it often rains heavily, so there is nothing to do at this time in the garden.
Kiriks are always wet holes. So said the peasants. But at home, there was always plenty of work for everyone. Children were also accustomed to work very early. And they became a reliable support for their mothers, like St. Cyric for Julitta.
The Orthodox church calendar in July contains such wonderful dates that we can only pray to our saints that they help us in our trials sent to us by the Lord Himself.