A special holiday on September 10, Anna and Savva Skirdniki: history, traditions, omens

Every year on September 10, Orthodox believers remember the righteous Anna the Prophetess and St. Sava Krypetsky. In the national calendar, the holiday was called Anna and Savva Ricks, since during this period the harvest was coming to an end, the peasants were building sheaves into ricks. In 2025, the date falls on Wednesday. Read about its history, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on September 10th?

Anna is the only woman whom the New Testament calls a prophetess. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher (one of the tribes of Israel). The saint was widowed early, having lived with her husband for only seven years, after which she decided to devote the rest of her life to serving God in the Jerusalem temple.

At the age of 84, Anna witnessed the Presentation of the Lord, the meeting of the infant Jesus with Simeon the God—receiver. According to the Gospel of Luke, the Messiah was brought to the temple on the 40th day after his birth to perform a ceremony according to Jewish law. The saint heard the pious righteous man utter a prophecy about the future of Christ, addressing the Virgin Mary.

Shocked by the revelation, Anna glorified Jesus and announced the birth of the Savior of mankind to all who were waiting for deliverance in Jerusalem. The saint became the first messenger among the Jews to openly proclaim his coming.

In the iconography of Ancient Russia, her image appeared on the scenes of the Presentation of the Lord. The figure of the saint was often depicted behind the Virgin Mary, either in profile, with her hand raised in a prophetic gesture, or with her finger pointing at the Christ Child.

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Savva Krypetsky, the founder of the monastery of the same name, arrived in Pskov in the middle of the 15th century, presumably from Mount Athos or Serbia. At first he asceticized in the Snetogorsky monastery, then in the monastery of St. Euphrosyne on the Tolva River. In search of solitude, he retired to a swampy area near Lake Krypets, where he founded a monastery and built a church in the name of John the Theologian.

Savva led a strict ascetic life, did not accept gifts, and taught the brethren hard work and abstinence, insisting on living according to the example of the ancient ascetics. After renouncing the abbacy, he continued to spiritually instruct and heal those who came. According to legend, through his prayers, the wife of Prince Yaroslav of Pskov was healed, for which he obtained a charter for the monastery in 1487.

The monk died on August 28, 1495. Soon after Savva's death, miracles began to happen in the monastery. The thieves who tried to rob the monastery fled in fear after the appearance of the saint, and their chieftain subsequently became a monk.

In 1555, after a revelation to one of the monks, the relics of Savva were found. At the same time, his life was compiled and a church celebration was established. The saint is revered as a miracle worker, and believers still come to his relics with prayers for healing and help.

Traditions of the national holiday celebrated in Russia on September 10

In Russia, the feast of Anna and Savva was an important milestone in the agricultural cycle. It was called Skirdniki — from the word "stack". By that day, the harvest was over, and the peasants were piling sheaves of grain into tall stacks and taking them out of the fields. There was a popular saying on this occasion: "A field is red with sheaves, and a threshing floor with stacks."

In the morning, the ancestors went to the temples, where they addressed the saints with requests. Saint Anna, revered as the patroness of women and babies, was prayed for the health of children, spiritual fortitude, humility and the ability to overcome temptations. Widows, nuns, and single women sought her support.

Reverend Savva Krypetsky was asked to heal loved ones, protect them from diseases, ailments, disasters, strengthen the spirit and help them overcome life's trials.

For the ancestors, Anna and Savva Skirdnikov Day was not just the end of the harvest, but an important event in the life of the peasant community. On September 10, it was customary to hold feasts, to thank nature for the harvest. From early in the morning, the housewives prepared pies with viburnum, set generous tables, inviting relatives, neighbors and friends.

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Viburnum in Russia was considered a symbol of good luck. The housewives began to prepare the filling for the pies in advance, giving the preparation an almost ritual significance.

The day also favored commercial activity. It was believed that the deals concluded on Skirdnikov would be particularly successful. And on this day, merchants put spikelets in their goods to attract customers and increase profits.

What not to do on the holiday of Anna and Savva Skirdniki

On September 10, according to beliefs, it was necessary to postpone matchmaking, wedding and any business related to the wedding. Otherwise, the marriage could turn out to be unhappy.

What else you can't do on September 10:

• go on long walks, especially in the forest — the ancestors believed that the goblin is active in September;
• Doing hard physical work can lead to problems in the family.;
• look at your reflection in the mirror or in the water for a long time so as not to become exhausted or invite misfortune.;
• indulging in malicious thoughts, revenge, gossiping — bad wishes and actions will return with a vengeance;
• indulging in sadness will only increase the troubles.;
• making promises, especially those that a person is not sure about, will not be able to fulfill them.

Folk signs for September 10

• On September 10, peasants observed nature to determine the weather for the coming months:
• A thunderstorm on this day will lead to a warm autumn;
• The weather is sunny and warm — there will be no frost in the near future.;
• yellowed birches — for a plentiful harvest of honey mushrooms;
• Red sunset — bad weather;
• If the birds haven't flown away yet, winter will come late and it will be mild.;
• lots of nuts, but few mushrooms — a harsh winter is expected.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.