March 19 — St. Constantine's Day: history, traditions, folk signs
Every year on March 19, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of 42 Amorite martyrs: Constantine, Aetius, Theophilus, Theodore, Kallistos and others. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Wednesday. In the national calendar, this date is marked as St. Constantine's Day. Read about why they walked around wells on a holiday in Russia in the Izvestia article.
St. Constantine's Day in 2025 — history
The Holy Martyrs lived in the 9th century AD in the Byzantine city of Amorea (Amorium) in Asia Minor. This city was the birthplace of Emperor Theophilus, who ruled from 820 to 867. In 831, he launched a war against the Saracens, which dragged on for many years.
According to legend, one day the Saracen army surrounded Amorea, but its defenders valiantly held the line, preventing the invaders from entering the city walls. However, one of the commanders named Vaditzis betrayed his comrades, as a result the city was destroyed, and its inhabitants were captured.
Among the prisoners were 42 soldiers whom the emperor sent to defend Amorea. They were taken to Syria and thrown into a dungeon. For seven years, the Saracens tried to force the prisoners to renounce the Christian faith through torture and persuasion. They were promised freedom, honors, and other benefits if they became Muslims and sided with the victors. However, Constantine, Theophilus, Theodore, Kallistos and other fighters stood firm, not fearing pain or death.
One evening Vaditzis called Konstantin's subordinate to the prison window and said that if the soldiers did not convert to Islam by morning, they would be executed. He suggested to his former comrades to pretend that they had obeyed the will of the Saracen ruler, and in their hearts to remain faithful to Christ, thereby saving their lives. However, Saint Constantine, upon hearing about this, rejected the blasphemous proposal. The next morning, all the prisoners were beheaded. Vaditzis, who had lost the Saracens' trust, did not escape death either.
Traditions for St. Constantine's Day in 2025
In Russia, the holiday in honor of the Amorite martyrs was called Constantine's Day, or Constantine's Circles, since on this day it was customary to trample snow around the well. It was believed that in this way it was possible to protect well water from dirt during the melting of snowdrifts. The first circle was always entrusted to a boy, a young man or a man named Konstantin.
Prayer services were also held on the holiday and wells were consecrated. People prayed to Saint Constantine and his ascetics for strengthening faith, restoring health, and helping them raise their children.
Storks flew to the southern regions on St. Constantine's Day. These birds have always been expected as harbingers of happiness. Young spouses saw them as messengers of an imminent addition to the family, and older people as a sign of well—being and prosperity.
In the evening, they went to the baths in the villages, washing off their illnesses with well water, and commemorated the deceased in a special way. To do this, they collected the remains of a half-eaten dinner from the table and threw it into the river. According to legend, this food became a treat for the ancestors, who were always watching their descendants.
What can and cannot be done on Constantine's Day in 2025
Believers are advised to attend church services on this day. It will be useful to learn more about the fate of the Amorite martyrs from the spiritual literature. It should also be remembered that the holiday falls on Lent. Those who follow it should not eat meat, fish, or dairy products. In addition, it is worthwhile to refrain from idle entertainment and devote more time to prayer, work on oneself and help others.
In Russia, various superstitions were associated with St. Constantine's Day. They mainly concerned wells and well water. According to beliefs, it was forbidden to waste it, to collect more than is required to meet the needs, to spray, etc. A person who ignored this rule could face various obstacles and troubles.
The owners tried to protect their wells from strangers, fearing spoilage and diseases. Also on this day, all family members drank only from their own utensils, so as not to attract financial difficulties to the house.
Pregnant women were not allowed to go to the well on Constantine's Day, as they believed that this could complicate childbirth. Mothers with young children tried to hand the baby over to relatives or neighbors for at least a short time. It was believed that if a child spent the whole day with his mother on a holiday, he would grow up selfish and spoiled.
Reservoirs were also treated with reverence in the Constantine circles. Next to them, it was forbidden to swear, speak ill of anyone, or vent anger.
Constantine's Day on March 19, 2025 — signs
On Constantine's Day, birds were closely watched in Russia. Meeting with a white stork promised a successful year for a person. They also rejoiced at the arrival of wagtails, because these birds brought news of a warm spring. The sound of a woodpecker in the forest, on the contrary, promised long frosts, and the loud cawing of crows announced the imminent bad weather.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions and prohibitions of the national holiday Gerasim Grachevnik.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
