Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sanctify'

English Word: sanctify

Key Russian Translations:

• освящать /ɐˈsvʲaʂʲɪtʲ/ - [Formal, Religious context]

Frequency: Low - This word is not commonly used in everyday conversation and is mostly encountered in religious or formal texts.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of verb conjugations and religious vocabulary; suitable for learners with a solid grasp of basic Russian grammar.

Pronunciation (Russian):

освящать: /ɐˈsvʲaʂʲɪtʲ/

Note on освящать: The pronunciation features a soft 'ш' sound (/ʂʲ/), which can be challenging for English speakers; it is similar to the 'sh' in "she" but softened. Stress falls on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To make something holy or sacred, often in a religious context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• освящать - Used in formal or religious settings, such as ceremonies in the Orthodox Church, to denote the act of consecrating or purifying an object or place.

Usage Examples:

• Церковь освящает воду на праздник Крещения.

  The church sanctifies water during the Epiphany holiday.

• Священник освящает иконы перед богослужением.

  The priest sanctifies icons before the service.

• В России освящают дома, чтобы защитить их от зла.

  In Russia, homes are sanctified to protect them from evil.

• Освящать пищу перед едой — старая традиция в православных семьях.

  Sanctifying food before a meal is an old tradition in Orthodox families.

• Духовный лидер освящает новый храм в деревне.

  The spiritual leader sanctifies a new church in the village.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Освящать" is a first-conjugation verb in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns but has some irregularities due to its root. It is imperfective and can be used in various tenses. Below is a table of its key inflections:

Note: This verb does not have significant irregularities but requires attention to aspect (imperfective here; perfective form is "освятить").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • освятить - Similar but perfective aspect, used for completed actions.
  • благословлять - Means "to bless," often interchangeable in religious contexts but with a connotation of divine favor.
• Antonyms:
  • осквернять - Means "to desecrate" or "to defile," implying the opposite action of making something unholy.
  • проклинать - Means "to curse," contrasting with the positive, sacred nature of "sanctify."

Related Phrases:

• освящение храма - Refers to the consecration of a church; used in religious ceremonies to denote making a building sacred.
• освященная вода - Holy water; a common phrase in Orthodox traditions for water that has been sanctified for rituals.
• освящать пищу - To bless food; often used in family or festive settings to invoke protection or purity.

Usage Notes:

"Освящать" directly corresponds to "sanctify" in English, particularly in religious contexts, but it is more commonly associated with Eastern Orthodox practices in Russia. It is typically used in formal or ceremonial language, so avoid it in casual conversations. When choosing between translations like "освящать" and "благословлять," opt for "освящать" if the focus is on making something holy through a ritual, whereas "благословлять" emphasizes granting a blessing. Grammatically, remember that Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, and subject, so conjugate appropriately (e.g., use the imperfective for ongoing actions).

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: Learners often mix up the imperfective "освящать" with the perfective "освятить." For example, an incorrect use might be: "Я освятить дом вчера" (wrong, as it should be imperfective for habitual actions). Correct: "Я освящал дом вчера" (I was sanctifying the house yesterday for an ongoing process).

• Overgeneralizing to non-religious contexts: English speakers might incorrectly use "освящать" for general purification, e.g., "Я освящать фрукты" instead of a more appropriate word like "очищать" (to clean). Correct usage: Reserve it for sacred acts, as in "Священник освящает фрукты для обряда."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, particularly within the Orthodox Church, "освящать" is deeply tied to traditions like the blessing of homes, water, and food during holidays such as Epiphany or Easter. This reflects the historical influence of Christianity in Russia, where sanctification rituals are seen as a way to ward off evil and invite divine protection, emphasizing the spiritual over the mundane.

Related Concepts:

• благословлять
• молитва
• святой