2009 Календар

Праздники молокан


2009 Calendar

Molokan Holidays



Download the 2009 Spiritual Christian Molokan Holiday Calendar

Bible links below are to the Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition, which closely corresponds to the Russian Bible used by Molokane.

7 января — Рождество Христово
(От Матфея 1:16-25, От Луки 1:26-55)
January 7 — Birth of Christ
Adaption of the Nativity. (Matthew 1:16-25, Luke 1:26-55). Also celebrated by Pryguny.
19 января — Крещение
(От Матфея 3:13-17, От Луки 3:22, От Иоанна 2:1-11)
January 19 — Epiphany
The revelation of God in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 3:13–17, Luke 3:22, John 2:1–11). Also celebrated by Pryguny.
23 февраля — Неделя примирения
(От Матфея 6:14-21)
February 23 — Reconciliation Week
An adaptation of Cheesefare Week, the only Orthodox week in which eating of dairy products is permitted on every day (even Wednesday and Friday...) (Mathew 6:14-21). Not supported by all congregations.
1 марта — Прощеное воскресенье
March 1 — Forgiveness Sunday
The day on which everyone confesses their sins and asks forgiveness of their neighbor.
7 апреля — Благовещение
(От Луки 1:26-38)
April 7 — Annunciation
Revelation to Mary, mother of Jesus, by the angel Gabriel that she would conceive a child to be born the Son of God (Luke 1:26-38).  Also celebrated by Pryguny.
19 апреля — Пасха
(От Матфея 27:64, От Матфея 28:6-7, От Марка 16:6, От Луки 24:6, От Луки 24:34)
April 19 — Easter
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead (Matthew 27:64, Matthew 28:6-7, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6, Luke 24:34). Foods: red eggs, kulich cake bread, and sometimes plain paskha cheese. Molokans and Jumpers typically call the cake bread paskha (instead of kulich) and ignore paskha cheese. Also celebrated by Pryguny and Dukh-i-zhizniki per Old Testament movable holidays.
28 мая — Вознесение
(От Марка 16:19, От Луки 24:51, Деяния 1:1-12)
May 28 — Ascension
Jesus' body ascended to heaven in the presence of his apostles, 40 days following his resurrection (Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, Acts 1:1-12). Also celebrated by Pryguny and Dukh-i-zhizniki per Old Testament movable holidays.
7 июня — Троица
(Деяния 2)
June 7 — Trinity (Pentecost) (50th-day)
In the New Testament, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus (Acts 2). Also celebrated by Pryguny and Dukh-i-zhizniki per Old Testament movable holidays.
12 июля — Петров день
(От Матфея 16:16-18) (День первоверховных апостолов Петра и Павла)
July 12 — Peter's Day
Adaption of Apostle Peter and Paul Day, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (Matthew 16:16-18). Molokane, like Doukhobors, do not venerate saints, yet use this holiday.
2 августа — Ильин день
(3-я Царств 17, 3-я Царств 18) (Святой пророк Илия)
August 2 — Elijah's Day
Adaption of the commemoration of Prophet Elijah, "guardian angel" of the Hebrews. (1 Kings 17, 1 Kings 18)
19 августа — Преображение
(От Матфея 17:1-9, От Марка 9:2-8, От Луки 9:28-36)
August 19 — Transfiguration
Jesus becomes radiant, speaks with Moses and Elijah, and is called "Son" by God; he is transfigured above Moses and Elijah, the two preeminent figures of Judaism. (Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36) Also celebrated by Pryguny.
август - ноябрь — Урожай, жатва
(Исход 23:16)
August - November — Harvest Festival
An ancient Russian holiday, modified during Soviet times, celebrated as a thanksgiving day from late summer to winter depending on congregation. (Exodus. 23:16). Compare with harvest festivals around the world. Observed by some rural Dukh-i-zhiniki in the US (Nov 8 for Buchnoff-Kochergin-Siskiyou Ave, Kerman CA).

ENLARGE





A full survey of all congregations has not yet been completed, but in general Spiritual Christian Molokane in the Former Soviet Union today celebrate about 10 to 11 holidays, most adapted from the Orthodox:.
  • 4 are fixed major holidays: Adaptions of the Birth of Christ, Epiphany, Ascension, Transfiguration.
  • 3 are movable major holidays: Adaptions of Easter, Ascension, and Trinity. Pryguny and Dukh-i-zhiniki use their own Old Testament algorithm to select dates and time.
  • 2 are minor holidays: Adaptions of Peter's Day, Elijah's Day. Not observed by all congregations.
  • 2 are adaptations with day changes: Reconciliation Week, Forgiveness Sunday. Not observed by all congregations.
  • 1 folk-holiday: Adaption of the Harvest Festival, perhaps  from old Slavic, Jewish and/or German Protestants. Not observed by all congregations.
Spiritual Christians are still scorned in Russia for ignoring the majority of Orthodox liturgy. Molokane adapted only 6 of the 12 Great Feasts.
These holidays are not totally supported by all Molokan congregations or congregants because they have different backgrounds and histories. For example, because Reconciliation Week corresponds with Butter Week (Maslenitsa), a non-Christian a sun festival, many ignore it (compare to Carnival, Mardi Gras). Many rural congregations celebrate the Harvest Festival (Urozhai, zhatva : Урожай, жатва), which is not an Orthodox holiday.
In comparison, Doukhobors, who lived near Molokane for centuries had more holidays in Russia, then completely revamped their holiday agenda in the new world. Today the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ (USCC, Community Doukhobors) retains only 3 of their original 26 holidays — Easter, Peter's Day (updated), and Birth of Christ (Christmas). 
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Молокане, прыгуны и дух-и-жизники — вокгуг света Molokane, Pryguny and Dukh-i-zhiniki Around the World