The Christian Trinity is perhaps one of the most controversial issues of faith. The ambiguity of interpretation introduces a lot of doubt into the classical understanding. The symbolism of the number "three", a triangle, bowls and other signs is interpreted differently by theologians and researchers. Someone associates this symbol with Freemasons, someone with paganism.
Opponents of Christianity allude to the fact that this faith cannot be whole, and reproach for the presence of three main branches - Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism. Opinions agree on one thing - the symbol itself is one and indivisible. But God should take a place in the soul, not in the mind.
What is the Holy Trinity
The Holy Trinity - the three hypostases of the one Lord: the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Son. However, this does not mean that God is embodied in three different beings. These are all the faces of one that merge together.
It is worth noting that the usual categories are not applicable to the Almighty, in this case, numbers. It is not divided by time and space, like other objects and creatures. There are no gaps, gaps or distances between the three faces of the Lord. Therefore, the Holy Trinity is unity.
The material embodiment of the Holy Trinity
It is generally accepted that the human mind is not given the opportunity to comprehend the mystery of this trinity, but analogies can be drawn. Just as the Holy Trinity is formed, the sun also exists. His hypostasis is the form of the absolute: circle, heat and light. Water is a similar example: a source hidden underground, a spring itself and a stream as a form of residence.
For human nature, the trinity is in the mind, spirit and word, which are inherent in people as the main spheres of life.
Although three beings make up one, they are nevertheless divided by origin. Spirit is without beginning. He proceeds, not born. The Son means birth, and the Father implies eternal existence.
The three branches of Christianity perceive differently each of the hypostases.
Trinity in Catholicism and Orthodoxy
The interpretation of the threefold nature of God in various branches of the Christian faith is determined by historical milestones of development. The western direction was not long influenced by the foundations of the empire. The rapid transition to feudalization of the social way of life eliminated the need to connect the Almighty with the first person in the state - the emperor. Therefore, the origin of the Holy Spirit was not tied exclusively to God the Father. There is no dominant person in the Catholic Trinity. The Holy Spirit now proceeded not only from the Father, but also from the Son, as evidenced by the word "filioque" added to the decree of the second ecumenical council . Literal translation means the whole phrase: "And from the son."
The Orthodox branch, for a long time, was influenced by the cult of the emperor, because the Holy Spirit, in the opinion of priests and theologians, was directly connected with the Father. Thus, God the Father stood at the head of the Trinity, and the Spirit and the Son were already descending from him.
But the origin of the Spirit from Jesus was not denied. But if he emanates from the Father constantly, then from the Son - only temporarily.
Trinity in Protestantism
Protestants at the head of the Holy Trinity put God the Father, and they attribute to him the creation of all people as Christians. Thanks to "His mercy, will, love," it is customary to consider the Father as the center of Christianity.
But even within the same direction there is no consensus, they all differ in some aspects of understanding:
Lutherans, Calvinists and other conservatives adhere to the dogma of trinity;
Western Protestants share the Trinity and Pentecostal holidays as two different: the first is held for worship, while the second is a “civilian” version, during which mass celebrations are held.
Trinity in ancient beliefs
As already mentioned, the origins of the trinity are rooted in pre-Christian beliefs. To find the answer to the question "What is the Holy Trinity in Orthodoxy / Catholicism / Protestantism", you need to look into pagan mythology.
It is known that the idea of the divinity of Jesus is taken from the filthy faith. In fact, only names came under the reform, since the very meaning of the trinity remained unchanged.
The Babylonians, long before the advent of Christianity, divided their pantheon into the following groups: Earth, Heaven and Sea. The three elements worshiped by the inhabitants did not fight, but interacted equally, because the main and subordinates did not stand out.
In Hinduism, several manifestations of the Trinity are known. But that too was not polytheism. All hypostases were embodied in one being. Visually, God was depicted as a figure with a common body and three heads.
The Holy Trinity of the ancient Slavs embodied in the three main gods - Dazhdbog, Khors and Yarilo.
Churches and cathedrals of the Holy Trinity. Disagreement in the image
There are many such cathedrals throughout the Christian world, because they were erected in the glory of the Lord in any form. Almost in every city the Holy Trinity Cathedral was built. The most famous are:
Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius.
Church of the Life-Giving Trinity.
Stone Trinity Church.
Holy Trinity
Lavra of St.
Sergius, or Trinity-Sergius, was built in 1342 in the city of Sergiev Posad. The Church of the Holy Trinity was nearly demolished by the Bolsheviks, but in the end it was simply deprived of its historical heritage status. In 1920, it was closed. The work of its laurel resumed only in 1946 and is open to visitors to this day.
The Church of the Life-Giving Trinity is located in the Basmanny district in Moscow. When this Holy Trinity Church was founded, it is not known for certain. The first written memories of her date back to 1610. For 405 years, the temple has not stopped its work and is open to visitors. This church of the Holy Trinity, in addition to worship, also holds a number of events to familiarize people with the Bible, the history of the holidays.
The Church of the Holy Trinity did not exist longer than before 1675. Since it was built of wood, it has not survived to this day. Instead of the old building from 1904 to 1913, a new temple with the same name in the pseudo-Russian style is being built. During the fascist occupation, he did not stop working. You can visit the temple today.
Partially the embodiment of the glory and grandeur of the Holy Trinity cathedrals, churches transmit. But about the graphic image of the triumvirate, opinions still differ. Many priests argue that the Holy Trinity cannot be depicted, since a person is not given the opportunity to comprehend the nature of the creature and see the material personification.