Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sacrament'

English Word: sacrament

Key Russian Translations:

• таинство [tɐˈinʲstvə] - [Formal, Religious context]
• святой обряд [svʲæˈtoj ɐˈbrat] - [Formal, Often used in Orthodox Christian settings]

Frequency: Medium (Common in religious or theological discussions but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it requires familiarity with religious terminology; for 'таинство', it's straightforward, but contextual usage may vary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

таинство: [tɐˈinʲstvə]

святой обряд: [svʲæˈtoj ɐˈbrat]

Note on таинство: The stress falls on the second syllable; be mindful of the soft 'н' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A religious rite or ceremony, especially in Christianity (e.g., baptism, communion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• таинство - Used in formal religious contexts, such as Orthodox Christianity, to denote a sacred mystery or rite.
• святой обряд - Applied in broader ceremonial contexts, emphasizing the holy aspect, often in sermons or theological texts.

Usage Examples:

• В православной церкви крещение является одним из семи таинств.

  In the Orthodox Church, baptism is one of the seven sacraments.

• Во время литургии священник проводит святой обряд причастия.

  During the liturgy, the priest conducts the holy sacrament of communion.

• Таинство брака считается священным союзом в русской традиции.

  The sacrament of marriage is considered a sacred union in Russian tradition.

• Священник объяснил, что святой обряд исповеди помогает в духовном очищении.

  The priest explained that the holy sacrament of confession aids in spiritual cleansing.

• В современном мире таинство евхаристии всё ещё играет ключевую роль в вере.

  In the modern world, the sacrament of the Eucharist still plays a key role in faith.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'таинство' (a neuter noun), it follows standard Russian declension patterns. It is inflected based on case and number. Below is a declension table:

For 'святой обряд' (a phrase where 'святой' is an adjective and 'обряд' is a masculine noun), 'обряд' inflects as follows: Nominative singular - обряд; Genitive singular - обряда; etc. It has regular masculine declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • обряд (obryad) - More general term for ritual, often interchangeable in non-sacramental contexts.
  • ритуал (ritual) - Used for ceremonial practices, with a slight modern connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • грех (greh) - Sin, representing the opposite of sacred acts in a moral sense.
  • нечестие (nechestie) - Impiety or ungodliness, contrasting with religious sanctity.

Related Phrases:

• Семь таинств (Sem' tainstv) - The seven sacraments, referring to the core rites in Christianity; commonly used in theological discussions.
• Святой обряд причастия (Svyatoi obryad prichastiya) - Holy sacrament of communion; a fixed phrase in liturgical contexts.
• Таинство крещения (Tainstvo kreshcheniya) - Sacrament of baptism; often used in family or church events.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'таинство' is the most precise translation for 'sacrament' in a Christian context, particularly within the Russian Orthodox Church, where it carries a sense of mystery and divine grace. Use 'святой обряд' when emphasizing the ceremonial aspect. Be aware of formal settings; these terms are rarely used in informal speech. English learners should note that Russian religious vocabulary often draws from Church Slavonic influences, so pronunciation and inflection can vary slightly in liturgical texts. When choosing between translations, opt for 'таинство' for abstract or spiritual discussions and 'святой обряд' for descriptive narratives.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'таинство' with 'таинственный' (mysterious), leading to incorrect usage like "таинственный обряд" when meaning 'sacrament'.

Correct: Use 'таинство' directly, e.g., "Это таинство церкви" (This is a sacrament of the church).

Explanation: 'Таинственный' is an adjective meaning 'mysterious', not the noun for a religious rite, which can alter the sentence's meaning entirely.

• Mistake: Forgetting to inflect 'таинство' in sentences, e.g., saying "в таинство" instead of "в таинстве" for prepositional case.

Correct: "Участие в таинстве" (Participation in the sacrament).

Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so ignoring inflections can make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, particularly within the Orthodox tradition, 'таинство' holds deep spiritual significance, rooted in the Byzantine heritage of the Russian Church. Sacraments are seen as direct channels of divine grace, often tied to historical events like the baptism of Rus' in 988 AD. This makes terms like 'таинство' not just religious but culturally emblematic, influencing literature, art, and national identity.

Related Concepts:

• крещение (kreshchenie) - Baptism
• причастие (prichastie) - Communion
• молитва (molitva) - Prayer