A special holiday on September 3 is Thaddeus the Preacher: history, traditions, omens

Every year in Russia, on September 3, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Apostle Otto Thaddeus, a disciple of Christ, one of the first Christian preachers. In the national calendar, the holiday is called Thaddeus Day, or Thaddeus the Preacher. In 2025, it falls on a Wednesday. Read about its history, traditions and folk signs in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on September 3rd?

The Holy Apostle Thaddeus was one of the closest disciples of Jesus Christ. He was born in the ancient Syrian city of Edessa and aspired to spiritual truth from his youth. One day he went to Jerusalem for a feast, where he was among the listeners of John the Baptist's sermon. According to church traditions, after hearing the prophet's words about the coming Messiah and seeing the power of his asceticism, Thaddeus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan.

Later, the saint became a direct witness of Christ's miracles and followed him without hesitation. He was included among the 70 apostles sent by the Savior to preach in the cities to which he intended to appear. This mission became the basis of his further apostolic ministry.

After the Ascension of Christ, Thaddeus continued to preach the gospel in Syria and Mesopotamia. His sermons were accompanied by significant events — through his prayers, healings took place, and the sick regained their eyesight and health. The apostle's word had a powerful influence on the listeners, and many were baptized.

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Returning to his native Edessa, Thaddeus converted the local ruler Avgar, the inhabitants of the city, and even the priests to Christianity. He organized a church community in the city and appointed priests, laying the foundations of Christianity in the region.

Despite Abgar's desire to reward him handsomely, Thaddeus refused any gifts and went on to preach in other lands. The last stage of his mission was the Phoenician city of Virit (now Beirut), where he founded a church.

In the Orthodox Church, Thaddeus is revered as a miracle worker and enlightener. His works became an important part of the history of early Christianity in the East, leaving a mark on the church tradition and culture of entire nations.

Traditions of the national holiday Thaddeus the Preacher, celebrated on September 3

In popular culture, Thaddeus Day was the time for completing field work, harvesting flax and picking apples. Flax was considered a symbol of good luck and protection, and apples — fertility and health. People worked late, trying to get everything done before the cold weather set in.

After harvesting, the flax was carefully laid out in meadows for so-called settling in order to rid it of excess moisture and make the stems more pliable and soft. In the process, the women recited a traditional spell: "Lie down, my Lenok, white and soft, do not be afraid of the wind, nor the whirlwind, nor the frequent rain, nor the red sun."

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This day was associated not only with household chores, but also with rituals to protect the home and family. The ancestors had a saying on this occasion: "Save your health from the garden for Thaddeus, and protect your house with prayer."

On Thaddeus the Preacher on September 3, you can:

• visit the temple, pray to the Apostle Thaddeus for health and well-being;
• scatter eggshells in the corners of the house so that peace and quiet reign in the house.;
• to wear linen clothes and put a spik of flax in your pocket is for good luck on the road.;
• it is necessary to leaven the cabbage — it was believed that it was on this day that it turned out to be especially tasty and healthy.;
• Unmarried girls should stay at home on September 3. It was believed that on this day a future spouse could pass under the windows.

The ancestors also believed that Thaddeus Day was especially favorable for traveling. Before the journey, they always read a prayer to the holy apostle and took consecrated bread or water with them.

What not to do on the holiday of Thaddeus the Preacher

To preserve well-being and attract good luck, a number of prohibitions had to be observed on September 3. The ancestors believed that Thaddeus the Preacher was a day when one should not make hasty decisions, allow fuss and impulsiveness, otherwise one could incur adversity. Spontaneous purchases are especially dangerous — such things will quickly become unusable.

What else you can't do on September 3rd:

• Arguing, gossiping, and swearing, especially with loved ones, promises discord for months to come.;
• going on a visit or inviting guests into the house leads to conflicts in the family;
• Listening to other people's advice could lead to trouble.;
• cooking apple dishes leads to quarrels with loved ones;
• Harvesting after sunset was considered to "take away the power of the earth."

Folk signs for September 3rd

Like many other days in the peasant calendar, on Thaddeus, the ancestors observed nature and made predictions about what the weather would be like in the coming months.:

• a clear day leads to four weeks of dry and warm weather.
• birch turns yellow from top to bottom — autumn will come early, and if from bottom to top - Indian summer will drag on.;
• mountain ash is covered with berries — for rainy and wet autumn;
• a spider weaves a web at the entrance to the house — for financial luck.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions and signs of a special national holiday, Thekla Beetroot.