January 22 - Philip's Day: history, traditions, folk omens

Every year on January 22, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow, who lived in the 16th century, when Russia was ruled by Tsar Ivan the Terrible. In the folk calendar, the holiday is called Philip's Day. In 2025 it falls on Wednesday. About his history, traditions and omens read in the material "Izvestia".

Philip's Day - 2025: the history of the holiday

St. Philip came from a noble Old Moscow family. He was born in 1507 in a rich boyar family Lobanov-Kolychev and was named Fedor.

From childhood, Fyodor Kolychev showed interest in the Holy Scriptures, but was preparing at the insistence of his father to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors - in the sovereign's service. During this period the young man was brought close to the court of Vasily III, where he met the young Ivan IV. Before the young man opened brilliant career prospects.

However, in 1537, after the death of Vasily III, the Kolychev family was subjected to disgrace. Fyodor secretly left Moscow and decided to choose the path of serving God. He went to the Solovetsky monastery, where he tonsured himself as a monk under the name of Philip.

In the monastery for ten years he performed various heavy obediences, which earned him the trust and respect of the brethren, as well as gained the reputation of a strict and pious man. Subsequently, the hegumen of the Solovetsky monastery Alexis, resigning his office, appointed Philip as his successor.

Having taken office in 1548, Philip showed himself as a talented leader. Shortly before his arrival on Solovki, a strong fire broke out in the monastery, and it was almost completely burned down. During the 18 years of his hegumenate, the saint made every effort to ensure that the Solovetsky monastery was renewed and transformed both economically and spiritually, becoming the cultural center of the Northern Pomorie.

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Thanks to generous investments on the part of the authorities under Philip, a system of canals was organized on Solovki, swamps were drained, ponds for fish breeding were dug, water mills were built, roads were laid, and salt and iron industries were established. Two stone churches were built on the territory of the monastery - the Assumption Church and the Transfiguration Cathedral, bell towers, new cells, hospital, refectory and other economic buildings appeared.

In 1550-1551 the Solovetsky hegumen visited Moscow to participate in the work of the Stoglavsky Council, where he renewed his acquaintance with Ivan the Terrible and earned his favor. In 1566 the tsar invited Philip to take the place of Metropolitan of Moscow.

At that time, oprichnina, a brutal system of governance accompanied by mass repressions, was in force in Russia. Philip agreed to take the high office only on condition that the tsar would limit the violence of the oprichniki and soften his methods of government. Ivan promised to fulfill this condition.

After becoming metropolitan, Philip began to denounce the abuses of the oprichniks, interceded for those sentenced to execution and the disgraced. During church services and in private conversations with Ivan the Terrible, he criticized cruelty, arbitrariness and the destruction of Orthodox traditions.

Ivan, who at first showed respect for the metropolitan, soon perceived his denunciations as a challenge to his authority. The conflict between the two grew. Philip refused to bless the tsar, publicly condemning his actions. The suspicion of the Terrible forced him to see in the actions of the clergyman involvement in the conspiracy, the saint fell into disfavor.

Removed to Solovki, Philip began to send letters to the tsar with an appeal to dissolve the oprichnina and "come to his senses", but his speeches no longer had any influence on Ivan IV. He contemptuously called the metropolitan Filka, and his letters - meaningless "Filka's letters".

In 1568, by order of the Terrible, Metropolitan Philip was deprived of his dignity. He was accused of conspiracy and "heresy". The Tsar sent him to eternal exile in the Tver Otroch Monastery, where in 1569 he was killed by one of Ivan IV's cronies, Malyuta Skuratov. After 22 years the relics of the clergyman were transported to the Solovetsky Islands and buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral.

Traditions and customs of Philip's Day: what you can and can not do on January 22

It was customary in Russia to start the holiday with a trip to church. Believers turned to St. Philip with a prayer for protection from adversity, asking for help in raising children, in getting rid of illnesses and financial difficulties. Relatives of the innocently condemned also prayed to him.

Philip's Day was considered by ancestors to be the time of order and big cleaning after the Holy Days. On the holiday the whole family was engaged in household chores, routine repairs, washing laundry, chopping wood, revision of stocks, cleaning the stable. It was also customary to prepare traditional dishes, especially baked goods.

After lunch they started to stoke the bath - its visit to Philip was considered obligatory in Russia. The people believed that on this day it was necessary to "wash away Svyatki" and adjust to the working mood.

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Sweets or pastries were taken to the steam room to treat the bannik - the spirit of the bath, which could appear on the holiday. He should have been laughed at with a good joke and received an invisible hat as a gift.

On Philip there were many prohibitions. For example, on this day it was impossible to be lazy or do something after sleeves - it could lead to financial difficulties and loss of luck. Women were forbidden to sew on buttons, so as not to bring misfortune on the family.

Under the ban were gossip, profanity, quarrels, gambling and drinking alcohol, as these actions could attract the attention of evil forces. Also on this day should not have gone on a long journey.

Folk omens on Philip's Day January 22

On Philip's Day observed nature to predict what the weather will be in March and the coming summer, whether the year will be productive.

Thus, heavy frosts heralded a very cold March, and blizzard - an early spring, but rainy summer. Frosty and clear weather promised that the year would be productive. Abundant frost on the trees portends a warm spring.

Earlier "Izvestia" told how believers celebrate Ivan's Day, or Winter Wedding Day, and what traditions are associated with it.