Defender of the Fatherland Day - День защитника Отечества

Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russian: День защитника Отечества / Dyen' zashchitnika Otechestva) is a holiday observed in Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Belarus and several other former republics of the Soviet Union. It is celebrated on February 23.

History

The holiday marks the date in 1918 during the Russian Civil War when the first mass draft into the Red Army occurred in Petrograd and Moscow. It was originally known as Red Army Day (Russian: День Красной Армии / Dyen' Krasnoy Armii). In 1949, it was renamed Soviet Army and Navy Day (Russian: День Советской Армии и Военно-Морского флота / Dyen' Sovyetskoy Armii i Voyenno-Morskogo flota). Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the holiday was given its current name.

Celebrations

Officially, as the name suggests, the holiday celebrates people who are serving or were serving the Russian Armed Forces (both men and women), but unofficially, nationally it has also more recently come to include the celebration of men as a whole, and to act as a counterpart of International Women's Day on March 8.

The holiday is celebrated with parades and processions in honor of veterans, and women also give small gifts to the Russian men in their lives, especially husbands (or boyfriends), fathers and sons. As a part of the workplace culture, women often give gifts to their male co-workers. Consequently, in colloquial usage, the holiday is often referred to as Men's Day (Russian: День Мужчин, Den' Muzhchin).
Source: wiki

Nunc Dimittis

The Nunc dimittis (also Song of Simeon or Canticle of Simeon, Russian: «Ныне отпущаеши…», Песнь Симеона Богоприимца) is a canticle from a text in the second chapter of Luke (Luke 2:29–32) named after its first words in Latin.


The famous ‟O Lord now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace‟ (in Russian‟ Nyne otpuschayeshi‟) has been opportunity for many composers to create beautiful music.



Nunc dimittis («Ныне отпущаеши…») sung by Feodor Shalyapin in 1932 and 1911.

Текст

• English (Book of Common Prayer, 1662):

  Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.

  For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation,

  Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;

  To be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel.



• Церковнославянский

Ныне отпущаеши раба Твоего, Владыко, по глаголу Твоему, с миром;

яко видеста очи мои спасение Твое,

еже еси уготовал пред лицем всех людей,

свет во откровение языком, и славу людей Твоих Израиля.

• Русский

Ныне отпускаешь раба Твоего, Владыко, по слову Твоему, с миром,

ибо видели очи мои спасение Твое,

которое Ты уготовал пред лицем всех народов,

свет к просвещению язычников и славу народа Твоего Израиля.

Праздник Сретения

THE MEETING OF THE LORD

The Meeting of the Lord.

Сретение Господне (The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple), which falls on 2 February (15 February NS), celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and some Eastern Catholic Churches, it is one of the twelve Great Feasts, and is sometimes called Hypapante (lit., 'Meeting' in Greek)

According to the Law of Moses, all Hebrew parents must bring their first born son on the fortieth day after birth to the Temple to be consecrated to God. It was the custom to bring a sacrifice in thanksgiving to God. The law was established in remembrance of the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt — freedom from slavery — when the first-born Hebrews were spared from death.

In fulfilment of this law, the Mother of God with Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem and brought for the sacrifice two fledgling doves.

At this time in Jerusalem, there lived an old man by the name of Simeon. He was a righteous, pious man, and he awaited the coming of the Messiah. It was foretold to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not have died before he had seen Christ the Lord. Simeon waited for the fulfilment of the promise of God for a long time. According to tradition, he lived about 300 years. Then, one day, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he went to the Temple. When Mary with Joseph brought the infant Jesus, Simeon met the Child, took Him in his arms, and glorifying God said, "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light of revelation for the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."