The Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 21. The birth of the Virgin Mary belongs to the twelve holidays, one of the twelve most important after Easter. The birth of the mother of Jesus Christ is a great event for all believers, because it took place for the salvation of humanity and access to eternal life. The celebration was not established in Christianity immediately. It has been reliably determined that in the monthly calendars of the 5th century there are no mentions of the Theotokos feast. The official introduction occurred at the behest of the Emperor of Mauritius at the end of the 6th century. But only several centuries later it became especially solemn, with an all-night vigil and a special service. The very appearance of the Blessed Virgin into this world is practically not described in the New Testament. Found sources indicate that for the first time a detailed description of the conception of the source of purity and holiness was compiled in the 2nd century. According to legend, Joachim and Anna, a pious married couple who lived in Jerusalem, had no children until old age. In those days, far from the modern ideology of childfree, this was considered a shame and caused public censure. The priest in the temple, where Joachim came one day, refused to accept his gifts. The upset and grieving man went into the desert to pray again, and Anna at this time also offered a prayer to God. They were heard: an angel who appeared to them predicted the birth of a girl, saying that they should name her Mary. The couple met at the entrance to the city, or rather at the Golden Gate, sharing this divine gospel with each other. And indeed, nine months later they became the parents of a daughter, whose name the whole world knew, as predicted. With her appearance, a new period began for humanity, and Joachim and Anna began to be revered as Godfathers involved in the birth of Jesus. No important church holiday in Rus' is complete without folk signs, which originate from the peasant calendar, formed back in pagan times. The end of the period from the Dormition of the Mother of God in August until her Nativity, called by the common people the Little Most Pure One, is called the Osenins. With the end of summer field work and the beginning of autumn preparations, the peasants assessed the harvest. The higher it is, the longer the holiday, celebrated with widespread hospitality. On this day, it is customary to thank the Blessed Virgin, who has been associated from time immemorial with Mother Earth, for fertility, to ask for family well-being, and health for children. The Mother of God more than once delivered Rus' from terrible troubles and all kinds of misfortunes. One of these miracles is considered to be assistance to the Russian army led by Dmitry Donskoy in the Battle of Kulikovo. The victory coincided with the Nativity of the Holy Virgin - September 8th, old style. In Orthodoxy it began to be celebrated jointly, and according to the modern calendar the date falls on the 21st. In honor of the bright event of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, many churches were built on Russian soil. But not all of them have survived to this day - not so much time as the Soviet government was merciless to them. The gradual revival and construction is a significant moment for all Orthodox Christians. One of the famous buildings is the ancient cathedral of the 12th century as the original burial place of Prince Alexander Nevsky, which was barbarically destroyed in 1930. Today it has been revived, like a number of others. On September 21, the celebrations taking place there are led by senior church ministers and they pray during the service along with the parishioners. Currently, various educational events and special projects, such as Christian book exhibitions, forums, and photography exhibitions, are organized for all believers on this date. Orthodox volunteers try to coincide with the bright holiday of all kinds of charitable events, so that everyone has the opportunity to perform a virtuous, merciful act that will be appreciated by the Most Holy Lady.

The holiday is dedicated to one of the popular hobbies - collecting stamps, books, badges, toys, art objects, dried plants, geographical maps and much more. Among the items there are rare specimens and especially valuable things - folios, ancient icons, coins and orders.

September 21 is World Russian Unity Day. Russian people live in different parts of the world. The distinctive feature of our people has always been courage, will, courage. National unity and kinship are an integral part of the mentality of the Russian people. To unite all people born in Russia, or who consider it their Motherland and Fatherland, there is a separate holiday. This day is marked on the calendar as September 21, although the holiday is not yet official. The idea for the holiday appeared in the ROSS community. This is a political and public organization operating in Kyrgyzstan. In 2009, the International Initiative Committee announced its existence. It was he who initiated the creation of such a holiday. After 3 years of official discussions and confirmation of the idea, the holiday began to be celebrated on September 21. This happened for the first time in 2010. The organizer of the discussion was Alexander Ivanov, who works as the chairman of ROSS. He invited the youth committee, at the next forum held in St. Petersburg, to confirm their consent to hold this holiday in different countries. Representatives of Greece, Malta, Israel, Poland, and the CIS countries immediately agreed with this initiative. It is interesting that the United States also signed the Declaration unconditionally. Naturally, the signature of Russian representatives at the international forum under the document about the holiday was in the forefront. Alexander Ivanov's idea was received very enthusiastically. Young public figures, by their own admission, felt that with this decision, their agreement with the proposal of the ROSS chairman, they were creating a comfortable environment for communication between peoples, uniting not only Russian people, but also everyone who understands and loves this great nation. The declaration indicated the goals and objectives of creating the holiday: 1. Unification of all Russian people of the planet;2. Consolidation of Russian diasporas living outside of Russia;3. Strengthening the image of the Russian world, glorifying its power and strength;4. Propaganda of the Russian language and literature in the world;5. Protection of cultural values ​​of the Russian people. The date for celebrating the World Day of Russian Unity, September 21, was set on the basis of historical events that had a huge impact on the development and strengthening of our state: This holiday, although young, is gaining momentum very quickly. Every year the number of people celebrating Unity Day is growing. Youth organizations, with the support of government authorities, organize various festivals, exhibitions, and forums. All these events are not ignored by figures of art, culture, and cinema. We can only hope that World Russian Unity Day will soon become an official public holiday.

One of the days of military glory is the victory of the Russian regiments led by Dmitry Donskoy in the battle on the Kulikovo Field. The holiday in honor of the victory of 1380 over the Mongol-Tatar army is officially enshrined in Russian law. And although the event itself, which became a military example, happened on September 8th according to the old style, the translation to the new one made its own adjustments. Today the celebration, both church and state, takes place on the 21st. The prerequisite for the battle was Dmitry Donskoy’s refusal to pay tribute since 1374 to Mamai, who seized power in the Golden Horde. Major clash of 1378 on the river. The leader did not reduce the claims, and another attempt was made to punish the disobedient. Troops converged in the area between the Don and Nepryadva rivers - modern Tula region. The outcome of the battle was influenced by the charismatic personality of Dmitry Donskoy, who showed by his own example how to fight. But in addition to the courage that he inspired in the soldiers, an important role was played by the military talent of the Grand Duke and his innate cunning. He not only took a strategically advantageous position, while deceiving the experienced Mamai. Having changed into simpler clothes, the young prince, unrecognized by his enemies, fought in the front ranks, freely giving the necessary commands. A boyar from his retinue sacrificed his life by impersonating Dmitry. Capturing the prince's tent is a priority task, and the enemy fell into this trap. An ambush organized in advance on the left flank helped the Russians frighten the Horde so much that they were forced to flee. The forces of the parties by modern standards do not look impressive - only 30-40 thousand on the Russian side and twice as many opponents. But the ending of the battle deservedly allows us to call it a “massacre”: Mamai’s troops were almost completely defeated, only a tenth managed to escape. Donskoy was wounded in this battle, but recovered and was able to continue his policy - to collect and strengthen Russian lands, which at that time were very weakened by the oppression of the Mongol Empire and the incessant attempts to seize Russian land by Western opponents. There is also a religious aspect to this victory. According to church traditions and chronicles, a prayer addressed to the Most Holy Theotokos on the night of her Nativity (from September 7th to 8th) was heard. Help came from Alexander Nevsky, whose remains rested in the Nativity Monastery, where Prince Dmitry prayed. His spirit rose above the coffin and then became invisible, promising protection. This battle was decisive for the Golden Horde - it not only lost power, but, unlike united Rus', it itself became fragmented. Mamai was overthrown by the young and ambitious Tokhtamysh, who supported the Russian principality in 1380 and then used the defeat of Mamai to his advantage. After 2 years, he completely burned Moscow, and managed to get rid of the yoke only a century later. Today, some historians challenge the traditional version of events, trying to prove that the yoke did not exist. There are undoubtedly some questions and mysteries that remain unexplained. Sometimes modern research and new archaeological finds add even more doubt. For example, the icon of Sergius of Radonezh, which depicts the Massacre of Mamaev, became such a stumbling block. The flags of the fighting armies are the subject of discussion - they are the same, and the battle itself can be interpreted as a civil war. Only courage, victory, love for the homeland of Russian soldiers remains a real, indisputable fact. In order to introduce the younger generation to glorious exploits, various exhibitions, competitions, and military-patriotic song festivals are organized. The Kulikovo Field State Museum helps keep this day in the memory of descendants with an annual event in honor of the anniversary of the battle. Theatrical performances, historical reconstructions, equestrian competitions, and craft workshops will help you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of antiquity and not forget the dedication of your ancestors for the benefit of future generations.

A peaceful life, so familiar to the majority of the population of our planet, is an unattainable dream for many earthlings. If we calmly go to work or go on vacation, and our children visit various institutions or walk on the streets, then too many other people do not know whether they and their families will meet tomorrow's dawn. That is why the United Nations decided to set one day when not a single shot would be fired and not a single man, woman or child would be killed or wounded throughout the world. The International Day of Peace owes its existence to resolution 36/07, which was adopted at the UN General Assembly in 1981. Initially, it was decided to celebrate this international holiday every third Tuesday in September, when the session of the UN General Assembly opened. At the 55th session of the UN General Assembly held in 2001, a decision was made to change the day of celebration of this celebration. Special resolution No. A/RES/55/282, voted by a majority of votes, approved: starting from 2002, the ceremony to celebrate the International Day of Peace will be held on September 21. The International Day of Peace begins its “procession” across our planet with a solemn speech by the UN Secretary-General, which is delivered in the “Garden of Peace” at the organization’s headquarters. In his message, addressed not only to the governments of UN member states, but also to ordinary citizens, the UN Secretary General draws attention to the fragility of peace on our planet and the need to make every effort to ensure that all weapons on Earth stop firing forever. After the end of the address of the UN Secretary-General, delegates from all countries observed a minute of silence in memory of all those who died in the numerous military conflicts that have not subsided in the 20th and 21st centuries. In memory of the victims, the Peace Bell sounds, which is located at the headquarters of the organization (New York, USA). After he falls silent, the floor is passed to the Chairman of the UN Security Council. But the organization and implementation of the International Day of Peace is concerned not only with this recognized international organization, but also with dozens of “local” communities that unite millions of ordinary people from different countries. These communities see their goal as both a reminder of the need to maintain peace on the planet, and the adoption and implementation of various decisions and programs designed to strengthen peace and end all military conflicts. These regional organizations not only hold a variety of events (demonstrations, symposiums, conferences, exhibitions, etc.), but also increasingly influence the policies of national governments. Every year, at the opening UN Assembly, a decision is made under which slogan the year will pass until the next celebration of Peace Day. The theme of conducting and directing the maximum efforts of this international organization is the most pressing problems and challenges of the realities of today. The right of peoples to peace, youth for peace and development, disarmament and non-proliferation, education in the spirit of peace, these and other mottos under which peace days passed in various years made it possible, if not to solve, then to significantly smooth out the problems that arose. This holiday is designed to ensure that international terrorism, military conflicts, xenophobia, environmental degradation, social inequality and other problems migrate from news releases to the pages of history textbooks.

On the initiative of the international organization ADI, since 1994, World Alzheimer's Day is celebrated annually on September 21. More than 50 million people suffer from it. Senile dementia is most often diagnosed in people 65 years of age and older. Memory loss brings a lot of grief, both to neurologist patients themselves and to their loved ones. Awareness of the population of different countries of the world about the signs of dementia, the causes of its occurrence and the problems faced by relatives of patients are the main goals of World Alzheimer's Day. The pathology manifests itself against the background of atrophy of the cerebral cortex. In this case, there are much more foci of inflammation than in senile dementia. This leads to memory lapses, forgetfulness of people and recently occurring events, and disorientation in familiar areas. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by difficulties in communication, the inability to care for oneself and the manifestation of other difficulties in human behavior. At the late stage of the disease, there is complete loss of memory, passivity, sometimes turning into aggression, and dependence on outside help. Many famous people suffered from Alzheimer's disease - actors Peter Falk, Sean Connery and Ani Girardot, politicians Margaret Thatcher and Nusrat Bhutto, the first lady of Pakistan and the chairman of the People's Party. Doctors diagnosed Ronald Reagan at age 83. From that moment on, the former US president resisted the disease for 10 years. His wife, Nancy, fought with him against dementia. But the disintegration of personality and the development of senile dementia could not be stopped. When Reagan was presented with a cake in the shape of the White House for his 90th birthday, the man who served as President of America for two consecutive terms did not understand what this building had to do with him and said: “What does this mean?.. I’ll have to ask Nancy.” . Valery Zolotukhin and Galina Volchek were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Margarita Terekhova has been suffering from the pathology since 2005. The actress practically does not recognize her loved ones, her son and daughter, does not speak, does not get out of bed and is under the constant supervision of a nurse. According to one version, the development of Alzheimer's is associated with a DNA mutation that provokes the production of beta-amyloid proteins that have a destructive effect on the brain. Scientists also point to a possible genetic predisposition to the disease. Measures to prevent it include regular physical activity, which helps deliver oxygen to the brain. A proper and balanced diet aimed at reducing blood pressure and the level of “bad” cholesterol helps prevent dementia or delay its onset in old age. People who have retired are recommended for mental exercise - solving puzzles or crosswords, playing chess or backgammon. Knowledge of 2 or more foreign languages ​​allows you to delay the onset of dementia for at least 5 years. According to statistics in the Russian Federation, Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed in 1.3-1.8 million people. Every hundredth Russian is a carrier of DNA mutations associated with it. Issues of prevention, treatment and assistance to relatives of patients of neurologists and gerontologists are raised annually on September 21 - World Alzheimer's Day.

According to the new style, on September 21 (Versen), the ancient Slavs honored Rod and the women in labor who accompanied him. Unfortunately, information about this pagan holiday varies greatly, because for a long time they tried to eradicate it. This day of honoring the Family is sometimes called the birth meal - a holiday celebrated by the Slavs not only in the fall, but also on the day after Christmas. The clan is the single creator, the progenitor of all Slavs. Some researchers of Slavic mythology consider him the god of fertility. However, it is generally accepted to consider him a common Slavic god of family and fate. Women in labor, or women in labor, are creatures that determine the future fate of the newborn. Some believe that there were three of them: Lada, Makosh and Lelya. Someone mentions only the Elder woman in labor (mother) and the Younger woman (daughter). Some sources indicate their names: Share and Nedolya. Among the southern Slavs they were called Sudzhenitsy; these characters told fortunes or gave a gift that would later play a fatal role in the fate of the baby. The image of the woman in labor, revered by all Slavic women, was later supplanted by the image of the Virgin Mary. Representatives of Orthodoxy oppose the veneration of these creatures. This holiday occurred at the end of the harvest, because according to some versions, Lelya and Lada are goddesses of the harvest. The clan and women in labor were offered sacrifices at the sanctuaries. A special meal was prepared for them. It consisted of porridge prepared from various cereals and freshly baked bread, cheese, cottage cheese and honey. If offerings were usually made to the other gods secretly, then to Rod and women in labor they were presented noisily, by the whole family or clan. During this process, mercy was asked for the family. On this day, mothers performed special rituals on their children to protect them from failure and illness. Young people went out to games and festivities, and danced in circles. A woman, who enjoyed special honor and respect, was seated in the center of the round dance; she held oatmeal bread in her hands. After dancing and singing, she broke it and gave it to everyone. These pieces of bread were considered healing. Over time, the cult of the Family and women in labor was forgotten, the great god of the family began to be perceived as a spirit guarding family peace and harmony. Researchers note that for a long time Christians systematically destroyed all references to Rod, because, in their opinion, the father of all living things is God.

History says that for the first time Rus' established itself as a separate territorial entity in June 860. Then a flotilla of 250 (according to other sources - 360) ships headed to the shores of the Bosphorus. The chronicles contain a mention that ships from the “Russian Land” arrived at the walls of Constantinople.

Recently, the expressions “pause” or “release on the brakes” have become very popular. They are used to say that people have stopped communicating for a while, because... the relationship has reached a dead end. During such a pause, like many others, doing nothing is practiced, which reduces the level of anxiety and stress. But not everyone can achieve philosophical calm and peace. "Stop the ball, I'll get off!" - this is what people who cannot come to terms with the absurdity of current events say with irony and sarcasm. Similar sentiments are typical of those who celebrate September 21st Pause the World Day. The funny “Stop the World” Day is used for relaxation and exploration of one’s self. In honor of the holiday, it is customary to go out into nature and meditate while listening to the singing of birds and the rustling of leaves. On September 21, as on any other day, it will not be possible to stop the rotation of the Earth and the passage of time. But you can stop checking messages and calls received on your phone and monitor new posts and likes on social networks. The holiday invites you to practice yoga, sound therapy with singing bowls, bells and exotic musical instruments. Stopping internal dialogue is one of the ways to achieve internal balance and harmony, and find answers to long-standing questions. This technique, known as stopping the world, was given to Carlos Castaneda, an American philosopher, writer and esotericist, by his teacher Don Juan. Some people need to take up meditation and lucid dreaming to “stop the world.” For some, it is enough to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of bliss and relaxation of a spa salon. This is facilitated by massage and water procedures - taking a hot bath or visiting a sauna. On the one hand, Pause the World Day is a holiday of complete relaxation and doing nothing. On the other hand, this is the day of rebels who do not agree with the imperfection of the world around them, its falsehood and the spiritual callousness of people. The futility of trying to change anything makes you want to leave the sinking ship. The Soviet poet Boris Chichibabin wrote about this in one of his poems: Each person independently chooses ways to solve accumulated problems. We can fight desperately with the imperfections of everything that surrounds us, like Don Quixote, or we can pause for a while, turn off the mental dialogue and retreat into ourselves. The second option is chosen by people who celebrate an unusual holiday on September 21 - Stop the World Day.

The feeling of gratitude for a good thing done or a service rendered requires verbal expression. Today there is a lot of controversy about how to correctly and appropriately thank you in Russian. Someone insists on the traditional “thank you,” which stands for “God bless.” And some stop at a more stilted “thank you.” Various forms of this word were used by classics of Russian literature. “Eat an apple, my light. Give thanks for lunch,” writes A.S. Pushkin in the tale of the dead princess. “I’m very grateful,” Mitya answers Pelageya Egorovna from the play by A.N. Ostrovsky "Poverty is not a vice." People say “thank you” not only to each other, but also to nature. Thus, Thanksgiving appeared as a way to honor God for his provision of food on the table of the first colonists who arrived in North America on the Mayflower and endured a hungry winter and spring. The Slavs have long honored Mother Nature and said “thank you” to her for a good harvest. The day of the autumnal equinox was set aside to express gratitude for the bountiful harvest. Something good is always happening in the world around us. Residents of the state of Hawaii, home to a large Mormon community, decided in 1965 to set a date to express their gratitude to a higher power and make it an annual tradition. This is how the holiday was born, which is celebrated on September 21 - World Gratitude Day. It is important for people to engage and feel that others appreciate their care and good deeds. But gratitude is not only one of the ways to make another person happier, making it clear that his efforts and works were not in vain. Expressing gratitude is also very helpful for those who do it. Gratitude, according to scientists, improves well-being in case of serious chronic diseases, reduces stress levels and improves immunity. Words of gratitude teach a person to think positively and look at life with optimism. Neuroscientists say that gratitude has a good effect on the nervous system - it improves sleep and prevents depression. Participants in a study by American scientists Mike McCulloch and Robert A. Emmonson noted that it became easier for them to communicate with others. As it turns out, gratitude brings people together and helps improve communication. They feel calmer and much happier than those who are not ready to sincerely say “thank you.” World Gratitude Day is a holiday that is designed to bring joy to people. To do this, you need to find time and devote one day a year to expressing gratitude to friends, work colleagues, neighbors, loved ones and higher powers for everything positive that is in your life. And it doesn’t matter at all which of the two words will be used for this - “thank you” or “thank you.”

Zero Emission Day

Week of the Global Action “We Clean the World” (“Let’s clear the planet of garbage”)

Armenian Independence Day

This date is often called Malaya Most Pure, Oseniny, Ospozhinki, Second Most Pure, Rozhanitsa. It is dedicated to the birth of the immaculate Virgin Mary, who became the Mother of God, the mother of Jesus Christ. This is the main twelfth holiday of Orthodoxy, celebrated annually on September 21. This day is called Opozhinki in honor of the fact that the harvest has been harvested, grain has been stored for the winter, and winter crops have been sown.

Orthodox holidays September 21:

The Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 21. The birth of the Virgin Mary belongs to the twelve holidays, one of the twelve most important after Easter. The birth of the mother of Jesus Christ is a great event for all believers, because it took place for the salvation of humanity and access to eternal life. The celebration was not established in Christianity immediately. It has been reliably determined that in the monthly calendars of the 5th century there are no mentions of the Theotokos feast. The official introduction occurred at the behest of the Emperor of Mauritius at the end of the 6th century. But only several centuries later it became especially solemn, with an all-night vigil and a special service. The very appearance of the Blessed Virgin into this world is practically not described in the New Testament. Found sources indicate that for the first time a detailed description of the conception of the source of purity and holiness was compiled in the 2nd century. According to legend, Joachim and Anna, a pious married couple who lived in Jerusalem, had no children until old age. In those days, far from the modern ideology of childfree, this was considered a shame and caused public censure. The priest in the temple, where Joachim came one day, refused to accept his gifts. The upset and grieving man went into the desert to pray again, and Anna at this time also offered a prayer to God. They were heard: an angel who appeared to them predicted the birth of a girl, saying that they should name her Mary. The couple met at the entrance to the city, or rather at the Golden Gate, sharing this divine gospel with each other. And indeed, nine months later they became the parents of a daughter, whose name the whole world knew, as predicted. With her appearance, a new period began for humanity, and Joachim and Anna began to be revered as Godfathers involved in the birth of Jesus. No important church holiday in Rus' is complete without folk signs, which originate from the peasant calendar, formed back in pagan times. The end of the period from the Dormition of the Mother of God in August until her Nativity, called by the common people the Little Most Pure One, is called the Osenins. With the end of summer field work and the beginning of autumn preparations, the peasants assessed the harvest. The higher it is, the longer the holiday, celebrated with widespread hospitality. On this day, it is customary to thank the Blessed Virgin, who has been associated from time immemorial with Mother Earth, for fertility, to ask for family well-being, and health for children. The Mother of God more than once delivered Rus' from terrible troubles and all kinds of misfortunes. One of these miracles is considered to be assistance to the Russian army led by Dmitry Donskoy in the Battle of Kulikovo. The victory coincided with the Nativity of the Holy Virgin - September 8th, old style. In Orthodoxy it began to be celebrated jointly, and according to the modern calendar the date falls on the 21st. In honor of the bright event of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, many churches were built on Russian soil. But not all of them have survived to this day - not so much time as the Soviet government was merciless to them. The gradual revival and construction is a significant moment for all Orthodox Christians. One of the famous buildings is the ancient cathedral of the 12th century as the original burial place of Prince Alexander Nevsky, which was barbarically destroyed in 1930. Today it has been revived, like a number of others. On September 21, the celebrations taking place there are led by senior church ministers and they pray during the service along with the parishioners. Currently, various educational events and special projects, such as Christian book exhibitions, forums, and photography exhibitions, are organized for all believers on this date. Orthodox volunteers try to coincide with the bright holiday of all kinds of charitable events, so that everyone has the opportunity to perform a virtuous, merciful act that will be appreciated by the Most Holy Lady.

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God Bread (Zapechnaya)

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Domnitskaya