May 2 — Ivan Vetkhopeschernik: the history and traditions of the national holiday

Every year on May 2, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. John Paleurite, or John Palaeolaurite, a monk whose life has become a symbol of asceticism and detachment from worldly vanity. In the national calendar, the holiday is called Ivan Vetkhopeschernik. In 2025, it falls on a Friday. Read about the history and traditions of this date in the Izvestia article.

Ivan Vetkhopeschernik – 2025: the history of the holiday

St. John the Old Hermit Paleuritus was born in the 8th century in Judea and spent most of his life in severe seclusion.

Very little information about him has been preserved. It is known that in his youth John decided to leave the worldly life. He went to Jerusalem to worship the holy places and settled in the monastery of St. Khariton. The monastery, founded around the 5th century, was considered one of the oldest in the region and was also known as the Dilapidated Lavra. For this reason, the saint received his nickname the Old Hermit.

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In 2025, the day falls on April 29th.

John performed the feat of continuous prayer and strict fasting for many years, and eventually was ordained a presbyter, gaining respect as a great ascetic.

The life of a saint is a story of absolute fidelity to the ideals of early monasticism. In an era when Christianity in the Eastern Roman Empire was going through complex processes of internal strengthening, it was such ascetics who served as a living reminder of the meaning of spiritual life, self-sacrifice, prayer, and fortitude.

Traditions of the holiday celebrated on May 2

The memory of St. John has been preserved not only in church traditions, but also in the national calendar, where on May 2 it was named Ivan the Old Peschernik. On this day, it was customary to go to church or pray at home. The saint was asked for a just resolution of conflicts, the return of lost things and the finding of peace of mind.

Also on the holiday, the ancestors decorated the trees with fabrics. Women brought freshly bleached canvases from their homes, which were hung on the branches of shrubs and young trees. According to legend, in this way the canvas was saturated with the life-giving power of the earth and the spring sun. Later, clothes were made from it or sold as especially valuable.

Another tradition is the "giving of spring" ceremony. A snow—white canvas was spread out in the field, on which a pie was placed - a symbol of fertility and home comfort. The ancestors bowed to the four cardinal directions, as if welcoming and cajoling the elements. At the same time, they sentenced: "Mother Spring, embrace the novelty." It was believed that this ritual would ensure good weather and a rich harvest, especially flax.

What can and cannot be done on May 2

The holiday was considered especially successful for starting new businesses. In Russia, it was believed that it was on May 2 that it was favorable to make important decisions, whether it was opening a new business, concluding a deal, or setting off on a journey. Any initiatives launched on that day were believed to be doomed to success.

But it was forbidden to refuse help to those in need in St. John the Old Testament. According to beliefs, such actions could lead to illness or failure, because the energy of the day required generosity and openness.

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Special attention was paid to purity, both physical and spiritual. His clothes had to be neat, preferably new, his home tidy, and his thoughts clean. A well-groomed appearance was associated with respect for spring as a renewing force, and promised well-being in the coming weeks. On the contrary, sloppiness on this day, according to popular beliefs, was perceived as a challenge to nature, for which one could pay with diseases and a series of failures.

Signs of Ivan the Old Peschernik

On this day, the ancestors observed nature to understand what kind of weather to expect in the near future. According to beliefs, a rainy and cloudy morning on May 2 foreshadowed a sunny, dry June. This was also indicated by the behavior of ducks, if they built nests closer to reservoirs. A warm, sunny day, on the contrary, promised coolness towards the end of the month. If the birch blossomed earlier than the alder, they were preparing for a dry summer.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on folk signs and bans on Radonitsa in 2025.