On Sunday, residents of South Ossetia are celebrating one of the 12 main holidays of the Orthodox Church - the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday. The holiday has a tradition - to come to churches with willow branches and, after consecration, bring them home. The willow is placed in vases and stored for a year.
Orthodox believers attribute special healing powers to the consecrated willow, believing that it can save from thunderstorms, heal the sick, and protect livestock from pestilence, the evil eye and predators.
Palm Sunday in Ossetia is called Zazkhhassan (the offering of willow, yew), one of the spring holidays of the memorial cycle dedicated to the deceased during the year.
From the very morning, according to established tradition, solemn services are held in churches. Next, the parishioners made a religious procession around the temple and Cathedral Square, after which the Dean of all churches of the Alan diocese, Father Jacob, sprinkled holy water on those holding willow branches.
A resident of Tskhinval Anna Plieva said that Palm Sunday was a big holiday for her entire family.
“Every year on this holiday we come to the temple, pray and consecrate the palm branches. We keep them for a whole year, until next Palm Sunday, and we believe that this will protect our family from troubles,” she said.
Another resident of the city, Sveta Kokoeva, has noted that for Orthodox Christians this day, the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is the important event.
“The main tradition of the holiday is the consecration of willow twigs. This day is a good and joyful reason to get together with your family and come to church. Such holidays, in my opinion, bring people together,” Kokoeva said.
The holiday of Palm Sunday precedes the beginning of Holy Week - the most strict and final part of Great Lent before Easter of Christ.
