A special Russian holiday on June 30 is Manuilo and Saveli: history, traditions, omens

Every year on June 30, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the holy Martyrs Manuel, Savela and Ismail, who suffered for their faith in Christ in the fourth century. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Monday. In the national calendar, the holiday was named Manuilo and Saveli. Read about his stories, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.

What is the holiday on June 30 — Manuilo and Savely

Saints Manuel, Savel and Ismail were brothers and came from a noble Persian family. Their father was a pagan, and their mother was a Christian. Despite her husband's protest, she baptized the children and raised them in the spirit of Christian piety.

When the brothers grew up, they joined the military. Thanks to their sharp minds and hard work, Manuel, Savel and Ismail quickly rose through the ranks and attracted the attention of the Persian king Alamundar. It was their tsar who appointed ambassadors to the Roman Empire, with which Persia intended to form an alliance.

The Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, known for his cruelty to Christians, initially welcomed the ambassadors. He also invited the brothers to participate in the pagan festival, but the saints politely declined. After that, the emperor flew into a rage and ordered the Persian envoys to be thrown into prison for disrespecting the gods.

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Manuel, Savel and Ismail were subjected to terrible tortures, but they did not renounce Christ. Seeing the firmness of their faith, Julian ordered the brothers to be beheaded and their bodies burned. But after the execution, a terrible earthquake suddenly began, and the bodies of the martyrs were swallowed up by the earth. Through the prayers of Christians, the remains of the saints were returned on the second day. When the relics were taken out of the ground, a fragrance spread from them. Many pagans who witnessed this miracle were subsequently baptized.

Meanwhile, Julian decided to go to war against Persia. Upon learning of the death of his envoys, King Alamundar gathered an army and met the enemy at the border. In a fierce battle, the Roman army was defeated, and the pagan emperor died at the hands of the great Martyr Mercury.

Traditions of the national holiday Manuilo and Saveli on June 30

In Russia, the holiday in honor of Saints Manuel, Savela and Ismail was called Manuilo and Saveli. On this day, large celebrations dedicated to the Slavic god of the sun Yarila were held in many villages and villages. As a result, Christian traditions were mixed with pagan rituals and mystical superstitions.

Traditionally, a fair day called "Young Yarilo" was held on June 30. There were also noisy festivities with games and songs. The main festive treat was eggs — they were boiled, fried, added to the dough and other dishes. It was believed that the more eggs were eaten, the better the laying hens would be.

The festivities were not only entertaining, but also ritualistic. The ancestors believed that on June 30, the sun "stagnates" and the earth is covered with thick fogs, which are easy to get lost in. Hence the second name of the holiday — Solntsestoy. According to beliefs, evil spirits are especially active at this time and take on different forms in order to destroy as many people as possible. Noisy fun, burning bonfires and sincere laughter could scare away evil spirits.

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Orthodox Christians celebrate the holiday on July 7 every year.

Nevertheless, after dark, the villagers tried to be careful. It was said that at night you could hear plaintive crying and requests for help outside the gate, but you couldn't respond to them, otherwise the house would be attacked by pestilence. If a white cow appeared at the gate in the evening, it was not brought into the yard. It was believed that in this way evil spirits were trying to get into the barn to spoil the milk.

Manuilo and Savely's day was considered favorable for household chores and changes in appearance. A man who wanted to get rid of fears and bad thoughts cut his hair. It was believed that this way you can get rid of negative energy and find peace.

What can and cannot be done on the Manuilo and Savely holiday on June 30

The Orthodox Church does not impose any special restrictions on the memorial day of Manuel, Savela and Ismail. Nevertheless, believers should remember that the holiday falls on Peter's Fast, during which those who are sick are not allowed to eat meat and dairy products.

In Russia, Manuilo and Savelia were associated with various prohibitions and superstitions. On this day, they did not enter into conflicts, fearing that even a small quarrel could lead to a breakup. They also did not lend money or groceries on June 30. According to beliefs, this could lead to poverty.

In Manuilo and Savely, the ancestors tried not to stay alone and quiet for long. It was believed that such a person would become easy prey for evil spirits.

During the holiday, they avoided ponds so as not to encounter mermaids. Young girls and children were strictly forbidden to pick white water lilies, which were just blooming at the end of June. They believed that for this, the inhabitants of the underwater kingdom would take a person to the bottom.

Folk signs of June 30th

On the day of Manuilo and Savely, the ancestors carefully watched the nature. If it started to rain in the evening, it was understood that the precipitation would not stop in the near future. The scarlet dawn foreshadowed a rich harvest, but at the same time indicated a long period of bad weather. A nighttime thunderstorm opposite promised warm and sunny days. A rainbow appearing on the horizon in the evening was also considered a sign of good weather.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the Akulina Buckwheat national holiday.