A special national holiday on September 9th is Two Pimens: history, traditions, omens
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- A special national holiday on September 9th is Two Pimens: history, traditions, omens
Every year on September 9, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. Pimen the Great and St. Pimen of Palestine. The holy Martyr Anfisa the New is also mentioned in the church calendar. In folk tradition, the day is known as Two Pimens or Anfisa Ryabinnitsa. In 2025, the date falls on a Tuesday. Read about its history, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.
What is the church holiday on September 9th?
St. Pimen the Great was born around 340 in Egypt. In his youth, he, along with his brothers Anuvius and Paisius, became a monk in a Hermitage monastery, devoting his life to prayer and solitude. After the ruin of the monastery by the Berbers, the hermits found refuge in the ruins of the ancient pagan temple of Terenufis.
Over time, Pimen achieved dispassion — the highest degree of spiritual perfection — and was recognized as one of the most authoritative elders of his time. He lived for about 110 years and died around 450, leaving behind a collection of teachings that became part of the Paterici. Already in the 5th century, his name became a symbol of monastic rigor and moral strength, and he himself is considered one of the pillars of early Christian monasticism.
Pimen of Palestine lived two centuries later, in the sixth century, in complete seclusion in a cave in the Ruva desert. His name and story are mentioned in chapter 167 of The Meadows of Spirituality, a collection of stories about ascetics compiled by John Moschus and Sophronius of Jerusalem. In particular, it is said that one winter monk Agathonikos came to the hermit, who spent the night in a nearby cave and complained of the cold. Pimen said that he was not cold because he was warmed by a wild lion at night.
But the main confession came after. In his youth, as a shepherd, the saint witnessed a tragedy — his dogs attacked a passerby and tore him to pieces. Pimen could have stopped the animals, but he didn't. Later, he realized what had happened as a grave sin. It was revealed to him that he himself would die from the claws of the beast. And so it happened — a few years later, at the end of the sixth century, he was found torn to pieces by wild animals. This incident is recorded in church history as an example of deep repentance and a prophecy of doom.
There is little new information about the holy Martyr Anfisa. It is known that she preached Christianity during the persecution of the followers of Jesus. She was tortured and executed for her faith.
Traditions of the national holiday Two Pimens (Anfisa Ryabinnitsa), celebrated on September 9th
In popular culture, September 9 has received several names — Pimen's Day, Two Pimens and Anfisa Ryabinnitsa. The latter is especially firmly entrenched, primarily due to mountain ash, which reaches its peak maturity by the end of summer. It was on this day that its harvesting began.
Rowan picking was not a routine activity. Before entering the forest, the peasants carefully watched the birds. There was a belief that the first berries should go to the birds. Only after that, people went to the trees, bowed to them from the waist and carefully plucked the grapes, always leaving some of the fruits on the branches — as an offering to nature and help the birds in winter.
In the morning hours of September 9, believers visited the church, where they lit candles and prayed to the Venerable Pimen the Great and Pimen of Palestine, the Holy Martyr Anfisa the New, with requests for strengthening faith, protecting family, guidance on the righteous path and peace of mind.
On this day, women processed mountain ash, brewed jam, dried berries for winter tea, and made medicinal infusions for headaches, heart ailments, and stomach problems. Men traditionally made liqueurs and tinctures according to ancient recipes.
Rowan in Russia played the role of a strong talisman. She was perceived by her ancestors as a force that protects the home and family from disasters. Her brushes were hung over the front doors, hidden under the roofs of houses, put in children's cradles. Branches and berries were carried with them as protection from the evil eye and evil forces.
September 9th is believed to be a particularly favorable day for fishing. Therefore, on the holiday it was also customary to go to the reservoirs for a rich, varied catch.
What not to do on the Two Pimens holiday
On Pimen's Day, special care should be taken with the finds. You shouldn't pick up other people's things, especially at intersections — according to legend, you can "grab" someone else's trouble or damage with them.
What else you can't do on September 9th:
- to go on long trips — the road will be difficult and may end in misfortune;
- make purchases, especially large ones — they will not be useful and will quickly deteriorate;
- lingering on the doorstep of a house leads to failure on the road;
- If you lend money, it may not come back.;
- swearing and quarreling with relatives will lead to illnesses and discord in the family.;
- to woo and marry — the union will be fragile;
- Swearing near a mountain ash tree is believed to be a tree that can "hear" and turn away a person's luck.
Folk signs of September 9th
On September 9, the ancestors observed nature, paying special attention to mountain ash, as they believed that its berries could "tell" what to expect from autumn and winter. So, the peasants had a saying: "Mountain ash on fire — winter on fire," as the abundance of berries promised severe frosts.:
- there are a lot of berries on the trees — for a cold and snowy winter;
- The mountain ash has already started to fall off — the winter months will be mild;
- To hear thunder on Anfisa Ryabinnitsa is a good sign, Indian summer is coming soon.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions of celebrating a special national holiday, Titus Listopadnik.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
