A special holiday on June 25 is Peter the Great: history, traditions and omens

Every year on June 25, Orthodox believers remember St. Peter of Athos, an ascetic who lived in seclusion on the Holy Mountain for more than half a century and is considered the first famous Athos hermit. In the national calendar, the holiday is called Peter the Great. It symbolizes the turning of the sun towards winter and is associated with the cult of harvest. In 2025, the date falls on Wednesday. Read about its history, spiritual significance, rituals and signs in the Izvestia article.

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St. Peter of Athos was a Greek by birth. He served as a military commander in the imperial forces and resided in Constantinople. In 667, he was captured during the war with the Syrians and ended up in a dungeon in the fortress of the city of Samara near the Euphrates River.

This conclusion was a spiritual turning point for him. Peter remembered his long-standing intention to become a monk and vowed to change his life. He began to fast, pray, and ask for the intercession of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox world.

According to church tradition, Saints Nicholas and Simeon the God-receiver (a pious righteous man who, according to St. Luke the Evangelist, was one of God's chosen ones awaiting the coming of the Messiah) appeared to the prisoner, freed him, and miraculously led him free. After that, Peter went to Rome, where he was tonsured a monk with the blessing of the Pope, to whom St. Nicholas also appeared. The new monk received the right to choose a monastery and soon saw in a dream the Virgin Mary, who showed him the way to the holy Mount Athos.

Since 681, Peter spent 53 years all alone in the Athos cave. During this time, he was subjected to many trials, including attacks by evil spirits. In response to temptations, he invariably remained faithful to God and the Most Holy Theotokos. According to legend, an Angel brought him food every 40 days, strengthening his strength for further spiritual achievement.

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Saint Peter became a symbol of spiritual fortitude and faithfulness to his chosen path. Shortly before his death, he opened his cave to a hunter. Impressed by the hermit's story, he wanted to share his spiritual path with him, but was sent home. A year later, the man returned to the cave with his demon-possessed brother, but Peter had already died. By touching the body of the saint, the patient was healed.

St. Peter left behind a revered tradition of Athos monasticism and a special example of renunciation for the sake of faith. His life became a model of spiritual fortitude. His memory is revered both in the Orthodox tradition and in popular culture.

Traditions of the national holiday celebrated in Russia on June 25

In Russia, St. Peter's memorial day was named Peter the Great. On this day, according to popular beliefs, the sun begins to "shorten its path", the days become shorter, the nights longer. This time was considered a turning point, symbolizing the transition from the bright half of the year to the mature summer.

Peasant traditions were especially intense on this day. Before lunch, they sowed "white" grain — oats and wheat, after lunch — "black", primarily buckwheat. It was believed that the crops made at Peter's promised a particularly rich harvest. There is a saying related to this: "Whoever sows buckwheat on Peter will bake pancakes in winter."

Another name of the holiday is Peter the Fisherman. On June 25, it was customary to go fishing, and fish soup was always cooked in the houses. For a long time, all soups, including meat and vegetable soups, were called fish soup in Russia. It was only in the 19th century that the name was assigned exclusively to the first fish dishes.

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Culinary traditions varied depending on the region. Tomatoes were added to the soup in the south, and milk in the north. A white, black or even red ear could appear on the table — the latter was prepared from valuable fish species and seasoned with saffron. There was also a belief that if you cook fish soup on this day and eat the last spoonful, making a wish, it will certainly come true.

The holiday was often accompanied by rituals of sun worship. People went up to the hills to meet the dawn and thank the sun for its warmth and fertility. The ancestors believed that participation in the celebration, reverence for St. Peter, prayer and gratitude to the sun strengthened man's connection with nature and filled life with harmony.

What not to do on the feast of Peter the Great

Since the day of Peter the Great was associated not only with spiritual memory, but also with the "seasonal transition" in nature, in the folk tradition it was considered a time of extreme caution.

It was not recommended to start major cases on this day, especially those related to conflicts, debts and courts. They also tried to avoid quarrels, rudeness and deception. It was believed that all the evil done to Peter could return within a year.

In addition, in Russia, peasants did not undertake heavy household work for Peter. The chores in the field on the holiday were supposed to be completed before lunch. We tried to devote the rest of the day to family, rest, prayer and observing nature.

Folk signs for June 25

Weather signs associated with Peter the Great occupied a special place in the village calendar. A clear dawn promised good mowing and favorable weather in the coming weeks. Morning dew was considered a harbinger of a rich harvest. If it fell in the late afternoon, a hot summer was expected. The restless behavior of birds, especially sparrows, was perceived by the peasants as a signal for the imminent rain.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions of the national holiday of the Green Loach.