March 27 — Venediktov Day: history, traditions and omens

Every year on March 27, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. Benedict of Nursia, the founder of the first monastic order in Europe, the legislator and reformer of Western European monasticism. In the national calendar, the holiday is called Venediktov Day. In 2025, it falls on a Thursday. Read about its history, traditions and prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

Venediktov Day – 2025: the history of the holiday

Venerable Benedict was born in the sixth century into a noble Roman family in the city of Nursia (the territory of modern Italy). His parents sent him to study in Rome, but the young man soon decided to leave school. Together with a group of like-minded people, he retired to the mountains near the city of Subiaco, where he began a spiritual quest. By this time, his twin sister Scholastica had already devoted herself to the service of God.

The desire for solitude soon became the main principle of life for the future saint. He was supported in this by Monk Roman from a nearby monastery. He helped Venedikt find a suitable cave and agreed to provide the hermit with provisions.

For three years, Venedikt lived in harsh conditions, tempering his body and spirit. Rumors about his asceticism spread quickly. People began to come to him for advice, and soon the local monastic community persuaded the monk to lead their monastery. However, the attempt to reform the life of the brethren was unsuccessful — the monks considered Benedict's rule too strict and tried to poison him. After that, the saint retired to the cave again.

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Gradually, Benedict formed a circle of followers. Realizing the need to structure the monastic way of life, he organized 12 independent communities headed by abbots, while retaining the right of general supervision.

Around 530, faced with envy and intrigue from the local clergy, Benedict left Subiaco and moved south, founding a monastery on Mount Cassino. To do this, he transformed the local pagan sanctuary into a temple and converted the inhabitants to the Christian faith.

The monastery of Monte Cassino soon became the center of the spiritual life of the region, attracting more and more followers. According to legend, Benedict performed miracles, including resurrecting the son of a local peasant. However, his main achievement was the creation of the charter, which served as the foundation of the entire Western monasticism.

The main principle formulated by Benedict — "Ora et labora" ("Pray and work") — determined the rhythm of life in Christian monasteries for centuries.

Saint Benedict died in 547 at Monte Cassino. In 1964, Pope Paul VI proclaimed him the patron saint of Europe. ​

What holiday is celebrated in Russia on March 27, 2025

In the folk tradition, Venediktov Day was associated with the beginning of agricultural work, the preparation of fields for sowing. The holiday was also called the Cowman, as the ancestors devoted it to the care of domestic animals, which began to change their fur during this period.

In the morning, the cattle were taken out into the yard, cleaned, combed and charmed from the evil eye. Special amulets were used for protection: ribbons were hung around pigs' necks, and horseshoes were placed in stables and pens.

The ancestors believed that good care of animals directly affects the well-being of the family. The people on this occasion condemned: "A cow in the yard is grub on the table", "A pig is a piggy bank: what you put in it, you take", "Don't be lazy at the Cowman — bow to the cattle."

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Before starting all household chores, it was customary to attend church. They prayed to Saint Benedict for the health of the family and asked for protection for the household. After the service, they cleaned the stables and cowsheds, houses and yards, believing that cleanliness would attract prosperity and protect from harm. ​

Venediktov Day was considered a time of reconciliation. People who were in a quarrel tried to put their differences in the past. During the holiday, special attention was paid to communicating with loved ones, and the day ended with a family dinner.

Also, on March 27, it was necessary to change the bed linen and towels – according to beliefs, this contributed to the preservation of health.

Russian superstitions: what not to do on March 27

On St. Benedict's Day, it was strictly forbidden to offend pets or show cruelty to them. You shouldn't have looked at your reflection in the mirror for a long time, your ancestors were afraid that it might take away your life force. It was not recommended to use sharp objects, sharpen knives or chop firewood — it was believed that this could lead to conflicts.

On March 27, it was forbidden to get angry and swear, as a quarrel could drag on for a long time, as well as visit the homes of people to whom a person had negative feelings.

Folk signs on Venediktov Day

On March 27, the ancestors attached special importance to weather signs. They believed that frost on St. Benedict's Day indicated a cold snap in the coming week. Sparrows splash in puddles – we can expect a warming soon. If the weather is warm and sunny, then spring will be early and the year will be fertile. The fog foreshadowed a rainy summer, and the precipitation was dry.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the history, traditions and signs of Feofanov's day.