June 5 — Levon Borage: what not to do, folk signs

On June 5, the Orthodox Church celebrates the finding of the relics of St. Leontius, Bishop of Rostov. In Russia, this day was considered the deadline for planting cucumbers and other vegetable crops. Therefore, in the national calendar, the holiday was named "Levon Borage." In 2025, it will be celebrated on Thursday. Read about the history and traditions of the Slavic celebration in the Izvestia article.

What is the holiday today, June 5th

Saint Leontius is revered as one of the outstanding archpastors of the 11th century. He was a monk of the Pechersk Monastery and became the first bishop to emerge from the monastery walls in the caves of Kiev, the spiritual cradle that gave rise to many Russian saints.

Later, Leonty was entrusted with the management of the Rostov diocese. There he actively worked on the conversion of local tribes to Christianity. Despite fierce resistance and the danger that threatened him, the saint did not abandon the spiritual flock entrusted to him, finding more and more followers. Near the city, he built a small temple in honor of the Archangel Michael, where residents of the surrounding villages came. Many of them were baptized.

The ascetic work of the saint aroused indignation among the pagan elite. In 1073, he was killed on the orders of the Magi. The body of Saint Leontius was buried in the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Rostov. During the fire of 1160, the temple burned down. Two years later, during the construction of a new church, a coffin with the incorruptible relics of the saint was discovered. After the work was completed, they were placed in a new location. It was this event that formed the basis of the church holiday, which is celebrated in early summer.

On the day of the finding of the relics, believers go to church to turn to the saint in prayer. He is asked to strengthen faith, grant wisdom and patience, as well as a successful harvest.

Folk signs of June 5th

In the villages, cucumbers were being planted at that time — it was believed that there was no point in doing this later, since the vegetables would not have time to ripen. Gardening was usually done by women, avoiding prying eyes: according to legend, if someone is watching the process, cucumbers can become bitter and tasteless.

At the same time, they began to sow hemp, from which they prepared oil for the treatment of coughs, lung diseases and skin diseases. Therefore, in the old days, the holiday had two names — Levon Borage and Levon Linnet.

Our ancestors believed that if you do all the work on Leontief day, then the harvest will be born noble. Eggshells were necessarily added to the soil as fertilizer. It was believed that it helps germination. In addition, the egg was a symbol of rebirth and fertility among the Eastern Slavs, which also explains the need for such actions.

Much attention was also paid to weather signs, which determined what the summer would be like. So, a good sign was the abundant flowering of mountain ash and the appearance of gadflies.

Levon Borage in 2025: what can and cannot be done

The holiday, like many other church dates, has a number of restrictions and prohibitions. On this day, it is forbidden to swear, gossip and start quarrels. This can ruin relationships with loved ones and lead to discord in the family.

According to popular beliefs, you should not repair old things on Leontius, rearrange objects in the house and move to a new place — otherwise you will be haunted by troubles and failures for a long time. It is also not recommended to recalculate money in order to avoid financial problems in the future.

It's also not worth talking about your dreams and sharing your plans. People believed that Leontiev day loved silence, and if you share your secret with someone, especially with strangers, then none of your plans will come true.

Earlier in June, Russia celebrated Venison Day. Izvestia told about the history, traditions and prohibitions of this day.