What church holiday February 20: Memorial Day of St. Luke of Yellad - omens of the day, superstitions

On February 20, the Orthodox Church remembers St. Luke of Hellas, who lived more than a thousand years ago in Greece. In the folk calendar, the holiday is known as the Day of Luke, or Mighty Lady. About what the Greek monk was famous, as well as what omens and beliefs are associated with this day, tell "Izvestia".

Church holiday February 20 - Memorial Day of St. Luke of Hellas

St. Luke was born in the X century in the Greek village of Kastoria. His parents were poor farmers, so the boy had to work hard from an early age. Luke grew up a very kind child. He often gave his clothes and food to the poor, for which he was reproached by his parents. Once he gave almost all the seeds he had intended to sow to the poor. That same year his family had a good harvest, more than before. Thus the Lord rewarded the young man for his mercy.

After the death of his father, Luke secretly left home and took monastic tonsure in Athens. But at the prayer of his mother, who was upset by his absence, miraculously returned to his father's house. He remained there, however, only four months. Then, with his mother's blessing, he left the dwelling again and settled as a hermit on St. John's Mountain, where he lived seven years in fasting and prayer. Having established a small garden and a kitchen garden, Luke distributed fruits and vegetables to the needy.

While still alive, the Lord honored the saint with the gifts of miracle-working and clairvoyance. His fame quickly spread throughout the neighborhood, and believers began to come to him. According to legend, Luke's prayer was so powerful that he seemed to rise above the ground while addressing God.

Later Luke moved to the desert island of Ampelon, and then lived in the Helicon Mountains. Here a community of followers was formed around the monk and the construction of the Orthodox monastery Osios Loukas - one of the largest monuments of monumental art of the XI century, included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites - was started. Nowadays it is an active male monastery, which is considered the main pilgrimage and tourist center of Greece.

The Monk Luke of Hellas died on February 20 (February 7, O.S.), 953 and was buried in his cell. Every year thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to worship the relics of the saint. According to clergymen, the relics of the saint have not once myrotochized and helped people to heal from the most serious diseases.

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Household and weather folk omens

In the people, the holiday was often called Mogushchunitsa in honor of the herb-lapchatka with cross-shaped leaves resembling a cross. In the olden days it was believed that it contained the power of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. That is why on this day they drank herbal infusions of lapchatka. In addition, the day was considered the most suitable for the preparation of healing potions from roots.

According to the signs of the day determined what kind of weather will be established in the summer. If the heat came from the north and began to melt from the northern side, then a warm summer was expected. Blue-colored clouds also promised good weather. And the midday wind promised a rich spring harvest.

Also on Luka they watched the color of the sun at sunset. If the sun turned red, it heralded a cold and windy summer. Another bad sign was such a rare natural phenomenon in winter as thunder. It meant that haymaking in the current year would be bad.

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Russian superstitions

Since St. Luke of Hellas came from a family of farmers and worked a lot in the field himself, in Russia he was considered the patron saint of peasants. They asked him for help in works related to agriculture and for a good harvest.

The very name of the saint was associated with a vegetable plant - onion. Traditionally on Luka, housewives baked onion pies and served them to all members of the family. At the same time, a few pieces were given to beggars. According to beliefs, then happiness and prosperity will certainly come to the house. Also part of the treat was left outside the threshold for deceased relatives.

The day of February 20 was a memorial day, so it was customary to remember the deceased ancestors and visit their graves. For this reason, it was not allowed to organize noisy festivities and marriages. It was believed that those who violated the ban would be unhappy in the future.

Women were not allowed to wear green-colored dresses to avoid being left alone. It was also forbidden to lift a cross from the ground, defended by someone, so as not to take on the sorrows and sorrows of another person.

Earlier "Izvestia" told what omens existed on Nikola Studenogo.