A special Russian holiday on June 11 is Feodosia Kolosyanitsa: history and traditions, folk signs

Every year on June 11, the Orthodox Church remembers Saint Theodosia of Constantinople, who lived in the 8th century and became the first martyr of the iconoclasm era in the Byzantine Empire. In the folk tradition, this holiday is named Theodosia the Ear of Corn, since it is from this day that the earing of cereals begins. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Wednesday. Read about the history and traditions of the holiday and the folk signs associated with it in the Izvestia article.

The history of the Church holiday, the life of Theodosia of Constantinople

Theodosia was born at the very beginning of the 8th century in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire (now Istanbul, Turkey). She came from a wealthy and pious family, but after the death of her parents, she renounced worldly life. She took vows at the monastery of St. Anastasia, distributing all the wealth of her parents to the poor.

At that time, the iconoclast movement flourished in Byzantium, which, referring to the commandments from the Old Testament, declared images of saints to be idols, and the veneration of icons to be idolatry. The iconoclastic heresy has reached the very highest authority. Emperor Leo III Isaurus forbade the veneration of icons, ordering the destruction of images everywhere. In 730, the new patriarch Anastasius, in order to please the emperor, issued a circular in which he authorized the struggle against icons.

With Anastasia's permission, the iconoclasts decided to remove the image of the Savior, which had previously towered over the Copper Gates of Constantinople for more than 400 years. Theodosia, along with other nuns and believers, defended the image. Then, by order of the emperor, his soldiers killed all the nuns and defenders, imprisoning Theodosia as the most zealous of them.

During the week, Feodosia was tortured, inflicting 100 lashes each, and on the eighth day they led her through the streets of the city, brutally beating her along the way. One of the soldiers inflicted a fatal blow on her during this mockery. The body of the saint, thrown to the ground, was buried by Christians in the Diocritis monastery in Constantinople.

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The burial place of the Holy Martyr Theodosia became famous for numerous healings of the sick. In addition to Theodosia of Constantinople, this day also honors the memory of the Holy Martyr Theodosia of Tyre, who suffered for her faith at the beginning of the fourth century during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

Traditions of Feodosia Kolosyanitsa Day, celebrated on June 11

In Russia, this day was called Theodosia the Ear of Corn, because it was at this time that rye began to be planted. This day has always been associated with field work. Buckwheat and legumes were also sown on the Grate, therefore Feodosia was also called Buckwheat.

On a holiday, it was customary to go look at the shoots. If the loaves were slaughtered, the young people went to the field to "magnify the rye." The girls danced and sang, and then rode with the guys on the shoots. At the same time, it was customary to sentence: "The grass grows to the forest, and the rye to the barn." Attention was also paid to livestock, on this day they were fed baked bread for fertility.

In Feodosia Kolosyanitsa, it was forbidden to jump and jump, because the ground was considered heavy. Also, the ancestors were afraid to disturb the earth, as this could cause trouble. There was also a belief that when leaving home, one should not look at the sun to avoid insanity. Hunting was prohibited that day. In addition, weddings were not played on Feodosia, as it was believed that the newlyweds would be unhappy.

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Folk signs for June 11

There are also many other signs and superstitions associated with the holiday. For example, by the way the ears of corn bloomed, in the old days they guessed the price of bread. If the rye started to bloom from below, then the price will be low, if from the middle — then average, and if from above — high. Also, if rye is planted on Feodosia, then this is for the mushroom harvest. If it's a hot day, you won't find porcini mushrooms in the forest. And if bees are actively flying to the hives, it's going to rain soon.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions of Nikita Gusyatnik's national holiday.