March 25 — Feofanov's Day: history, traditions, folk signs
Every year on March 25, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. Theophanes the Confessor, a Byzantine monk, chronicler and theologian of the 8th century. In the folk tradition, this day was called Feofanov's day. In 2025, it falls on a Tuesday. Read about the traditions, signs and customs of the holiday in the Izvestia article.
Feofanov Day – 2025: the history of the holiday
The Monk Theophanes was born around 760 in the family of a noble Byzantine official. His father enjoyed the confidence of the iconoclast emperor Constantine V, which allowed the boy, after the early death of his parents, to receive a brilliant education under the patronage of the monarch himself.
Following family traditions, Feofan chose the civil service and during the reign of Emperor Leo IV received the high title of spafaria (imperial swordsman). During the same period, he married a woman of noble birth named Megalo. However, an inner spiritual search led the couple to decide to leave worldly life and become a monk.
Subsequently, Feofan founded several monasteries, including the monastery of the Great Village in Sigrian on the coast of the Marmara Sea. He remained abbot of this monastery until the end of his life.
His dedication and dedication to theological work made him an outstanding figure in the Orthodox world. His main legacy is considered to be the work "Chronography", which describes the events from 284 to 813 years. Contemporaries also attributed to the monk the gift of miracle-working, healing diseases and exorcising demons.
Being a staunch defender of Orthodoxy, Theophanes openly opposed Emperor Leo V of Armenia, who resumed the policy of iconoclasm in 815. The monk was summoned to Constantinople, where he was told to renounce the veneration of sacred images. However, he refused, for which he was thrown into prison, where he soon died.
After the death of Emperor Leo V, the saint's disciples restored his ruined monastery, and his memory has been preserved in the Orthodox tradition as a symbol of the steadfastness of faith.
What holiday is celebrated in Russia on March 25, 2025
In Russia, St. Feofanov's Day was considered an important milestone on the border between the cold and warm halves of the year — the snow cover usually finally disappeared by this time, the tobogganing track was closed, the soil was thawing.
On the morning of March 25, the peasants had a tradition of going outside and "greeting the spring." And women and girls scattered grain in the yard to "lure" the heat.
The holiday began with a visit to the church. They prayed to Saint Theophan, asking him for healing from illness, the evil eye, and help in raising children.
On this day, the ancestors paid special attention to horses, the main helpers in the household. They were carefully cleaned and watered with water, after dropping a silver coin or ring into it, which were supposed to protect the animals from diseases and the evil eye.
The house on Feofana Street was undergoing a general cleaning. The ancestors believed that on this day it was necessary to sweep out all the litter, put a coin in each corner, and sprinkle holy Epiphany water at the entrance so that the family would live in prosperity and all the household members would be healthy.
On March 25, round pies were served on the table, symbolizing harmony in the family and the absence of "sharp corners".
Russian superstitions: what not to do today
On Feofanov's day, there were several strict prohibitions. For example, it was forbidden to lend or borrow money — the ancestors believed that it would be difficult to repay them. It was also forbidden to accept gifts, it was necessary to pay at least symbolically for them, so as not to receive damage or illness along with them.
On March 25, it was forbidden to quarrel, it was believed that such conflicts could drag on. You also shouldn't have been alone, so as not to spend the whole year like this.
Special attention was paid to early rising on this day — it was forbidden to stay in bed so as not to get sick or impoverish. It was on this occasion that the saying arose among the people: "Whoever gets up early, God gives it to him."
Folk signs for Feofanov's day
The ancestors believed that the weather on Feofan could predict what the summer would be like. So, the morning fog promised a rich harvest of flax and oats, rain — an abundance of rye, and frost on the trees — rainy June.
On this day, nature was observed, for example, if crows landed on the ground, it foreshadowed the imminent warming. Anthills served as an indicator of the coming season: if the snow around them melted from the north, the summer was expected to be warm and long, if from the south — short and cold. If the horses started throwing their heads back often, it promised bad weather soon.
Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions and signs of Vasilisa's Day.
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