The Orthodox holiday of April 11 is St. Mark's Memorial Day: what is known, signs, what not to do

Every year on April 11, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Mark of Arefusa, a martyr who suffered for his faith during the time of Julian the Apostate. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Friday. In the national calendar, this holiday is called Markov Day or Birding. Read about the traditions and signs associated with it in the Izvestia article.

The church holiday on April 11 is St. Mark's Memorial Day.

Saint Mark lived in Syria in the 4th century AD. Under Emperor Constantine the Great, he was appointed bishop of the city of Arefusia. At that time, Christianity became the dominant religion in the Roman Empire: the persecution of believers stopped, temples were restored, and the search for relics of saints and relics related to the life of Christ was conducted.

Nevertheless, there were still many adherents of the old faith in the country. Fighting against the remnants of idolatry, St. Mark used not only preaching, but also more radical measures — he dismantled a pagan temple with his own hands and built a Christian church in its place.

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In 361, Emperor Julian ascended to the Roman throne, who dreamed of reviving pagan traditions in the country. Under his leadership, the persecution of Christians resumed, and people who believed in Christ were banned from teaching in schools. For this, the church called the new emperor an Apostate.

When the Arefusian idolaters found out about the changes in state policy, they decided to take revenge on St. Mark. For some time, the elderly bishop hid from his persecutors, but when he heard that innocent people were being tried instead, he voluntarily came to his tormentors.

The saint was subjected to terrible tortures, demanding to renounce the faith and pay for the destroyed temple. However, the bishop remained steadfast and seemed oblivious to the pain. Seeing his steadfastness, many residents of the city converted to Christianity. In the end, the executioners, realizing that the torture had no effect, were forced to release St. Mark. A few years later, he died peacefully of old age.

Traditions of the Bereschenye holiday in 2025

The people called St. Mark's memorial day a day of Protection. On this holiday, people celebrated the birch tree. The tradition of venerating this tree arose long before the baptism of Russia. He was considered a symbol of life and health, a protector to whom one can turn in difficult times. At the same time, the tree was perceived as a link between the world of the living and the dead. According to beliefs, mermaids and drowned women like to sit in the branches of weeping birches, and on certain days the spirits of their ancestors gather under them.

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In 2025, the celebration falls on a Monday.

After the advent of Christianity, new folk traditions related to the birch tree were formed. According to one such legend, with its branches it sheltered the Virgin and child of Christ from the weather during their flight to Egypt. For this, the Mother of God blessed the tree. Therefore, it is believed that birch can protect from evil and ward off lightning.

In Birching, villagers went to groves and forests to collect birch sap. This product was used in the preparation of drinks that were drunk to maintain health. According to our ancestors, fresh birch sap also had healing properties. It was given to patients to cleanse the body. And to ward off illnesses from children, they were lightly whipped with birch twigs on the holiday.

They went to the birch groves not only for juice. Pregnant women put their palms against the trunk of the tree, asking for help in childbirth and good health for the baby. Unmarried girls danced around the birches in the hope of meeting their betrothed as soon as possible. The white beauty was also addressed in order to get rid of heavy thoughts. It was believed that a man who shared his sorrows with her would soon find a way out of a difficult situation.

What can and can't be done to Protect

Believers should visit the temple or pray at home on St. Mark of Arefusa Memorial Day. It will be useful to recall the life of the martyr and other righteous men who performed heroic deeds in the name of their faith. It should also be remembered that the holiday falls on Lent, during which people who are sick are not allowed to eat meat, eggs, fish and dairy products.

In Russia, various superstitions were associated with Protection. On this day, people did not cut down trees or burn bonfires, so as not to bring disaster upon themselves. They were especially careful and respectful towards the birches. Next to them, they tried not to swear or make a fuss, and it was also forbidden to break branches of a tree or harm it.

The girls did not weave white ribbons into their braids. It was believed that only one beautiful birch tree could wear this color on a holiday. If you compete with her, you can go bald.

On this day, people tried to avoid reservoirs and not touch the water, as they believed that a daredevil who came too close could be dragged to the bottom by mermaids. Fearing a meeting with evil spirits, they avoided the weeping birches and willows. They did not rest or doze under their branches, so as not to encounter the otherworldly.

Folk signs of April 11

At the time, people were closely watching nature. Light and fast clouds promised good weather in the near future. If there was thunder, they expected cold weather. The downpour foreshadowed a rich harvest of oats in the summer. Geese coming out onto the ice indicated an imminent warming, and magpies nesting lower than usual indicated a large number of thunderstorms in summer.

Earlier, Izvestia told how Gabriel the Evangelist was celebrated in Russia and what prohibitions were associated with this holiday.