June 19 is an interesting summer holiday Larion Propolnik: signs and prohibitions

Every year on June 19, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Hilarion the New. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Thursday. In the national calendar, this day is called Larion Propolnik. Read about the traditions and signs associated with it in the Izvestia article.

What is the holiday of June 19th in Russia?

St. Hilarion the New lived in the 8th—9th century. His parents were deeply religious people, led a righteous lifestyle and introduced their son to the Holy Scriptures. At the age of twenty, he became a monk and retired to a monastery located near Byzantium. Subsequently, Hilarion the New joined the brethren of the Dalmatian Monastery, located near Constantinople. Here he accepted the schema and became a disciple of St. Gregory the Decapolite. A spiritual example for the young monk was his namesake— St. Hilarion the Great. He tried to imitate the saint in everything, for which he was later nicknamed Hilarion the New.

After the death of the abbot of the Dalmatian monastery, the clergy wished to see Hilarion in his place. Upon learning of this, the monk secretly retired to Byzantium. Then the monks turned to the patriarch and the emperor with a request to persuade him to return, and the saint had to agree to a high rank.

For eight years, Hilarion peacefully ruled the monastery. However, in 813, the ardent iconoclast Leo the Armenian became emperor. The monk openly opposed the destruction of the holy images and continued to publicly venerate the icons. For this, he was imprisoned and tortured. The executioners hoped that the abbot would not stand the torment and renounce his beliefs, but he remained steadfast.

Subsequently, Hilarion was released from prison several times and sent back to prison. It was only in 842, when Empress Theodora ascended the throne, that Hilarion finally regained his freedom. Three years later, he died peacefully in the Dalmatian monastery.

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Larion Propolnik holiday traditions

In Russia, St. Hilarion's memorial day was called Larion Propolnik. On this day, the peasants went to the fields and gardens to get rid of the weeds. People believed that after the holiday, it would become difficult to fight weeds and they could destroy crops.

The waning Moon was considered a particularly favorable moment for weeding. According to beliefs, weeds pulled out at this time will not bother farmers for a long time. But during the full moon, the weeds were not touched even on Larion Weeding, otherwise the beds would soon overgrow again.

Unmarried girls went to the garden early in the morning to water the plants. It was believed that on a holiday, the earth gives strength and beauty to those who take care of it.

Larion Propolnik in 2025 — what can and cannot be done

In Russia, various superstitions and restrictions were associated with Larion Propolnik. So, it was forbidden to work on someone else's land. People believed that this could lead to lack of money and failures. There was a belief that on a holiday, spouses should not work in the garden or in the field together, otherwise they could seriously quarrel.

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In addition, they did not go on a long journey to Larion Propolnik and did not share their plans for the future with others. It was believed that the trip would end sadly, but the desired would not come true.

Also, major transactions were avoided on the holiday: the purchase of a house, livestock or other valuable property, so as not to be made a fool of and not lose income.

Folk signs of June 19th

During the holiday, villagers paid attention to various weather signs. If it was sharply cold on Larion Propolnik, they waited for the onset of fine days. The abundance of bees above the flowering plants promised a sunny day. The loud chirping of grasshoppers also gave hope for good weather.

By the flowering of rye and wheat, farmers tried to guess what the harvest would be. If the ears of corn bloomed from the top, they did not count on an abundance of bread. Flowering from the middle indicated an average harvest, and from the bottom of the spike — a good one.

Earlier, Izvestia told how Dorotheus Day was celebrated in Russia and what prohibitions are associated with this holiday.