March 26 — Nikiforov Day: why you need to spend the day by the water
On March 26, Orthodox believers celebrate the Day of Commemoration of the Transfer of the Relics of St. Nicephorus the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople, popularly known as Nicephorus Day. In addition to its religious meaning, the holiday carries with it a lot of folk customs and beliefs. In 2025, it falls on Wednesday. Izvestia highlights the essence and traditions of the significant day.
Nikiforov Day 2025 — the essence
Nikephoros the Confessor was one of the outstanding Orthodox theologians of the 9th century. He was born in Constantinople in the middle of the 8th century and was an educated man who spoke Greek, Latin and Slavic languages.
Nikephoros was the archbishop of Constantinople, and he actively fought against iconoclasm, defending the cult of icons as part of the Orthodox tradition.
In 815, Nikephoros was arrested and exiled by Emperor Leo the Armenian for his position in the iconoclastic controversy. He was exiled to his homeland, where he spent the rest of his days, and died in exile in 828. Despite his death, the saint's works and teachings remained important to the Orthodox Church and gave rise to a new period in the development of theology. The relics of Nicephorus the Confessor, which miraculously remained incorruptible for 19 years, were transferred to St. Sophia Cathedral.
What can and cannot be done on Nikiforov Day 2025, traditions
The beliefs of the holiday are closely related to water. It is believed that for the celebration you need to clean the house thoroughly, wash the floors and wipe the dust. On the significant day itself, you can visit the sauna, cleanse your body and mind of filth. In addition, you can spend the day near the water, for example, fishing.
On the contrary, it is better to avoid forests and trees on Nikiforov Day. You should not go picking mushrooms and berries or take part in chopping firewood.
Nikiforov Day can be a good time to start new things, plan for the future, and make important decisions. There are also beliefs that on this day it is best to avoid conflicts and maintain peaceful relations with others.
Omens for Nikiforov day 2025
On March 26, it is customary to pay attention to birds. If there are geese in the sky, you should expect a rich harvest. The arrival of larks promises warming, while finches, on the contrary, are considered messengers of cold weather.
And the fog hanging over the ground in the morning promises a cold and rainy summer.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions and signs of the Feofanov Day national holiday.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
