"Calendar of the Twentieth Holidays"

The miniature Gospel on the festive lectern depicts the twelve most important holidays of Christianity. The cycle of these annual holidays of the Orthodox liturgical calendar is called the twenties, this name comes from the Slavic quantitative numeral "twenties". Seven sheets of the product depict icons from the festive tier, which are divided into Lord's feasts dedicated to the events of the earthly life of Jesus Christ, and the Mother of God feasts. The classic festive cycle in this calendar is expanded due to the Passionate plots and scenes of the life of the Virgin. At the base of each icon, prayer addresses are placed on the calendar pages – phrases from the festive akathists. The salary, the pages, the binding, the locks that lock the book, the floral ornament of the stand and legs, all the details of the church lectern repeat the details of real objects. The salary of the Gospel marks a special design, corresponding to the great events reflected inside: the image of Paradise and the Heavenly City in the form of an allegory of the hierarchy of saints coming to Christ is on the front side, and the image of St. Golgotha against the background of the city is on the back. The inner end of the book, like the lectern itself, is covered with a solid herbal ornament – a symbol of the Garden of Eden.1. On the first page of the miniature book is an icon of the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, a bright day, at the turn of the Old and New Testaments, the birth of the Virgin Mary, represented from time immemorial by Divine Providence to serve the mystery of the incarnation of God the Word - to appear as the Mother of the Savior of the world. At the foot of the icon are the words of the troparion: "Thy Nativity, O Virgin Theotokos, bring joy to the whole universe: for out of Thee hast risen the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, and having broken the oath, hast given a blessing, and having abolished death, hast given us eternal life. We magnify You, Most Holy Virgin, and we honor your holy parents, and we glorify Your all-glorious Nativity."2. The following icon is dedicated to the feast of the entry of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple. The history of this holiday is based on a Sacred legend, where the parents of the Virgin, fulfilling a vow to dedicate their child to God, brought their daughter Mary to the Jerusalem temple. The icon has a troparion of the feast: "Today is the transfiguration of God's good pleasure, and the preaching of salvation for men. The Virgin clearly appears in the temple of God, and foretells Christ to all. To that end, we will cry out loudly: rejoice at the vision of Zizhditel's fulfillment."3. The festive icon "Annunciation" depicts the Blessed Virgin with the Archangel Gabriel, who was sent from God to announce the good news of the birth of the Savior of the world from Her. The troparion of the feast: "Today is the beginning of our salvation, and the appearance of the mysteries from time immemorial, the Son of God, the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the good news, and we also cry out to the Mother of God: Hail, Gracious, the Lord is with You. We magnify You, Most Holy Virgin, God-chosen Maiden."4. The following multi-plot icon with the image of the Virgin and Child tells about the miraculous events of Christmas. On the sides there are shepherds and magi, in the lower part there are scenes of Christ's ablution and Joseph's doubts. At the base of the icon is the troparion of the feast: "Today the Virgin gives birth to the Most Holy, and the earth brings a nativity scene to the Unapproachable, angels with shepherds praise, and the magi travel with the star: for our sake, the Boy was born Young, Eternal God."5. The feast of the Presentation of the Lord is depicted on the icon in the form of a joyful meeting with the Christ child in the church of the Old Testament saints. The troparion of the feast: "Hail, Gracious Virgin Mother of God, for out of Thee has risen the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those who are in darkness. Rejoice also, O righteous elder, who art received into the arms of the Liberator of our souls, who giveth us resurrection."6. The icon of the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord depicts the Baptism of the Savior in the Jordan by John the Baptist, and three angels bowed down to Christ and, like recipients from the baptismal font, holding veils in their hands. A dove descends on the Savior standing in the water, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. At the base of the icon is the troparion of the feast: "I am baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, with threefold worship, for the voice of the Parent testifies to You, naming Your beloved Son, and the Spirit in the form of a dove, confirming your words. Appear, O Christ God, and enlighten the world, glory to You. We magnify You, O Life-giving Christ."7. The Transfiguration of the Lord is a celebration of the appearance of the Divine majesty and glory of Jesus Christ in front of his three closest disciples Peter, James and John during prayer on Mount Tabor. The icon has a troparion of the feast: "You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God, who showed Your glory to Your disciple, as you can; may Your ever-present light shine upon us sinners, through the prayers of the Mother of God, glory to You. We magnify You, O Life-giving Christ, and honor Your most glorious Transfiguration in Your most pure flesh."8. The entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is one of the twelve feasts, when a multitude of people came out of Jerusalem to meet Jesus Christ. Some took off their clothes and spread them on the road; others cut palm branches, carried them in their hands or threw them on the road, paving the way for the Savior, and all shouted loudly: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest"! The icon has the words of the festive troparion: "Assuring the general resurrection before Your passion, you raised Lazarus from the dead, O Christ God. Moreover, as we bear the signs of victory, we cry out to You, the Conqueror of death: Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."9. The icon "Ascension of the Lord" tells about the holiday celebrated on the 40th day of Easter in honor of the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven. "After His resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to His disciples and told them to stay in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit. Then He led them to the Mount of Olives and, raising His hands, blessed them, and as He blessed them, He began to ascend into heaven. Finally, a bright cloud hid Jesus Christ from the view of the disciples." The icon has the words of the festive troparion: "You have ascended in glory, O Christ our God, having created joy as a disciple through the promise of the Holy Spirit, informed by his former blessing, for You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. We magnify You, O Life-giving Christ, and honor You with Your Most Pure flesh for Your Divine Ascension to heaven."10. The central icon "Descent into Hell" has retained the main meaning of the feast of the Resurrection of Christ since early Christian times and tells how the crucified Christ descended into the underworld to bring out the righteous of the Old Testament. The iconographic rendering of "Descent into Hell" depicts Christ leading Adam and Eve out of Hell. Under the feet of the Savior are fragments of a crushed gate, and in the upper part of the icon is an image of angels surrounding a cross – a symbol of the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God and the beginning of a new age. The central image of Christ, embraced by divine light, is surrounded by figures of kings David and Solomon and hosts of the righteous. The icon has a prayer: "Even though you descended into the grave, you were immortal, but you destroyed the power of hell, and you rose as a conqueror, O Christ God, proclaiming to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice, and grant peace to Your apostles, and grant resurrection to the fallen. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."11. The icon of the "Holy Trinity" depicts the story of Abraham's hospitality, who received Holy Pilgrims in his house, whose visit was a visit from God and became a symbol of the Holy Trinity, reflecting the hypostases of God, one in essence and threefold in Persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The icon has a troparion of the feast: "Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, Who art wise hunters of the dead, having sent down to them the Holy Spirit, and by them catch the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to Thee. We magnify You, O Life-giving Christ, and we honor Your All-holy Spirit, whom you sent from the Father as Your Divine disciple."12. The following icon is dedicated to the memory of the Dormition of the Mother of God. The Son Jesus Christ himself appeared in an extraordinary light and accepted Her soul. On the icon at the bed of the Virgin are images of the holy apostles gathered from different cities on the day of the Assumption. A burning candle at the bedside symbolizes prayer to the Lord. The icon has a troparion of the feast: "You preserved your virginity at Christmas, you did not forsake the world at the Dormition, O Theotokos: you passed away to the belly, O Mother of Life, and through Your prayers deliver us from the death of our soul. We magnify You, Immaculate Mother of Christ our God, and we glorify Your all-glorious Dormition."