June 2 — Timofey the Gardener: traditions and signs of a special national holiday

Every year on June 2, Orthodox believers remember the blessed Prince Dovmont of Pskov, in the baptism of Timothy. In Russia, the feast of Timothy the Gardener was celebrated on this day. Read about why the first ripe cucumber was hidden that day in the Izvestia article.

What is the holiday today, June 2nd

Saint Dovmont lived in the 13th century and came from a Lithuanian princely dynasty. When a coup d'etat took place in his homeland, he was forced to flee to Russia and settle with his family in Pskov. According to church traditions, it was there that the grace of God descended upon him, and he rejected pagan beliefs, converting to Christianity under the name Timothy.

Soon after his arrival, the brave and honest Dovmont earned the respect of the Pskov people and was elected prince. For 33 years, he led the Pskov lands, maintaining harmony with the People's Assembly (veche). He was a just ruler, strictly adhered to Orthodox traditions, generously distributed alms and supported the construction of churches. On his initiative, the monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in the city. Taking care of security, the prince built a powerful fortress wall around Pskov, which later became known as Dovmontovaya.

In addition, Dovmont managed to become related to the grand ducal family by marrying the granddaughter of Alexander Nevsky. His wife subsequently took monastic vows under the name Martha.

Dovmont became famous for his many victories on the battlefield. According to legend, before each military campaign, he came to church, prayed and received a blessing from his confessor. Every successful battle became a reason to build a temple. In 1299, he won his last victory on the banks of the Velikaya River, defeating a superior German army with a small squad. A few months later, the saint died of an illness.

Dovmont is revered as the patron saint of Pskov. According to legend, in 1480, during the siege of the city by the German invaders, he appeared in a dream to one of the residents, ordered him to take the veil from his coffin and walk around the city walls with it three times. The people followed his instructions, and the enemies retreated. After that, a special service was created in honor of the saint.

Timofey the Gardener in 2025: traditions

In Russia, the day of commemoration of the blessed Prince Dovmont was called Timothy the Gardener or Borage. By this holiday, farmers in the northern regions of the country were starting to plant cucumbers, as the weather was finally getting warm enough.

Sound grain: how cereals become an important restaurant product

And what cereal dishes do chefs offer their guests today?

There were many rituals associated with the landing. Only women were allowed to access the beds, and they had to do all the work secretly in complete silence. If one of the neighbors found them in the garden and asked what they were doing, they should have lied about weeding. All this was done to save the harvest from the evil eye.

In the southern regions, cucumbers were already ripening on Timofey the Gardener. The first fruit was not eaten, but buried in a secluded place so that it would not be seen by outsiders. It was believed that a stranger's eye could destroy all vegetables. If wilted plants were found in the garden on a holiday, they were sprayed with holy water.

A lot of attention was paid to the taste of future cucumbers. To prevent them from becoming bitter, they were watered with a strictly adjusted amount of water, and only fresh manure was used for fertilizer, and not horse manure. If the weather was sunny for a long time, the beds were covered with improvised means.

Folk signs for June 2

On Timofey Ryadochnik, villagers watched nature. The peasants paid attention to the fir trees — the more cones there are on them, the richer the cucumber harvest will be. It was considered a good omen to hear the croaking of a frog or the crowing of a rooster while working in the garden — everything planted will rise well. If the bees became "angry" and started stinging people, they expected bad weather in the near future.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions and signs of the Fedor Zhitnik national holiday.