A special national holiday on October 9th is Ivan the Theologian: history, traditions, omens

Every year on October 9, Orthodox believers remember the apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, one of the closest disciples of Jesus Christ. In the national calendar, the holiday is called "Ivan the Traveler", it is associated with the patronage of the saint to all who go on the road. In 2025, the date falls on Thursday. Read about its history, spiritual significance, folk traditions, signs and prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on October 9th?

The Holy Apostle John the Theologian, nicknamed Christ the Son of Thunder, is a figure of exceptional importance for the Christian tradition. One of the 12 disciples of Jesus, the author of one of the four Gospels was born in Galilee in the 1st century.

John was the younger brother of the Apostle James and the son of Zebedee and Salome, who, according to legend, was the daughter of Joseph the Betrothed from his first marriage. Consequently, the saint was the Savior's nephew.

Together with his brother James, he was called by Christ at Lake Gennisaret. From that moment on, the path of service began, full of trials and miracles. Being one of the three closest disciples of Christ, John witnessed the Transfiguration on Tabor and prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. During the Last Supper, he sat next to the Savior, and at the Crucifixion he remained alone at the Cross with the Mother of God. It was to him that Christ entrusted the care of his Mother, with whom the apostle did not part until her Dormition.

After this, John received the lot to leave Jerusalem and preach in Asia Minor. According to the Greek hagiography, he was afraid of a sea voyage, anticipating trouble, but he set out anyway. His premonition did not deceive him — the saint's ship, en route to Ephesus, was caught in a storm and sank. The apostle spent 40 days in the depths of the sea, but miraculously his body was thrown out by the wave unharmed.

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Believers honor their ancestors in the temple and at home, continuing the ancient customs of commemoration.

After arriving in Ephesus, John the Theologian and his disciple Prochorus began active missionary service. The apostle's sermons among the pagans were accompanied by numerous miracles — healings and exorcisms of unclean spirits. The number of followers increased every day, which caused concern among local priests and authorities.

At the height of the persecution under Emperor Nero, John was arrested and taken to Rome. He was sentenced to death for professing the Christian faith. However, despite the fact that the apostle drank a deadly poison and was thrown into boiling oil, he remained alive, which amazed even his executioners. After that, he was exiled to the island of Patmos, the place where one of the most important stages of his spiritual ministry began. There the saint wrote Revelation, the prophetic book of the New Testament, which reveals the fate of the Church, prophecies about the Second Coming and the final victory of good.

After returning from exile, John continued his preaching in Ephesus, wrote his Gospel and three Epistles. His understanding of the Holy Scriptures is deep, which is why he is the only one among the apostles who received the title of "Theologian" from the Church. At the center of his teaching is love as the main virtue connecting man with God. The eagle became his symbol as a sign of height and depth of thought.

The Apostle John died at a very old age, having lived more than 100 years. He was the only one of the 12 students who died of natural causes. Anticipating the end, the saint asked his disciples to bury him in a pre-prepared cruciform grave. A few days later, when the grave was opened, the body disappeared. It was believed that the apostle was taken alive to heaven.

Subsequently, every year on May 21 (May 8, Old style), thin, fragrant ashes appeared at the burial site of the saint. Believers collected it as a shrine capable of healing bodily ailments.

Traditions of the national holiday Ivan the Theologian on October 9th

In the national calendar, October 9 was called "Ivan the Theologian", "Ivan the Autumn", "Whisperer pokrovny", "Ivan the Traveler" or simply "The Traveler". Since ancient times, St. John the Theologian has been considered the patron saint of travelers. Therefore, before the long journey, he was asked for a safe return. Interestingly, the crossroads of the ancestors were considered places of power and risk. People believed that evil spirits were lurking there for a lonely traveler, so the believers prayed to John for protection.

The holiday in Russia was traditionally celebrated with the family. The day began with a visit to the temple, where special divine services dedicated to the saint were held. This time was perceived as an opportunity for spiritual purification and strengthening of faith. Believers asked the apostle not only for protection on the road and protection for travelers, but also for support in moments of mental pain, resentment and injustice. The ancestors also believed that he helps the sick to heal, protects those who study and engage in creative work, primarily writers, artists and thinkers.

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After the service, the faithful spent the day peacefully, in an atmosphere of goodwill. Housework and field work were allowed before lunch. The afternoon was a time of peace and humility. The women baked pies and treated passersby and neighbors to them. If there was a beggar or a wanderer, it was considered a good sign. Giving him bread meant bringing happiness into the house. If there were no travelers, the pastries were fed to the birds.

On this day, it was customary in Russia to arrange a viewing. The groom's parents came to the girl's house to get acquainted, if they were greeted as dear guests, seated at a lavishly set table, one could count on a positive response. If the girl was not ready for marriage, the treats were taken out the gate. And the matchmakers were given a pumpkin decorated with ribbons, symbolizing rejection.

What not to do on the feast of Ivan the Theologian on October 9th

Folk tradition strictly regulated the behavior of October 9, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the holiday. Any non-observance of prohibitions was considered not just a violation, but a source of troubles and misfortunes in the future. So, it was forbidden to swear and swear at Ivan the Theologian. In Russia, the day of the apostle's memory was a time of inner silence, purification and rejection of conflicts. Swearing on this day was considered especially destructive.

What else you can't do on October 9th:

• drinking alcohol and overeating — libations were perceived as a sign of disrespect for the saint and could cause illness and failure.;
• to refuse alms — St. John patronizes the offended and the needy, so the miser could lose support from above.;
• wearing someone else's shoes is a risk of "trying on" someone else's fate, incurring other people's troubles and illnesses.;
• picking up sharp objects — a knife, needle or awl in your hands on this day foreshadowed quarrels, conflicts and possible injuries.;
• to do hard physical labor after lunch — you can "attract" 40 troubles to yourself;
• Eating garlic and onions can cause nightmares and illnesses.;
• to hold a wedding or a wedding — a marriage concluded on St. John the Theologian's day was considered unlucky and fleeting, the holiday should be spent in meditation and prayer, avoiding noisy celebrations.

Folk signs for October 9th

On Ivan the Theologian, peasants observed nature to determine what the weather would be like during the winter months:

• First snow on October 9th — winter will come in 40 days;
• pink sky in the evening — for good weather;
• wind after a lull leads to precipitation;
• A white cloud at sunset is a sign of bad weather;
• rain and snow at the same time — there will be a thaw in January;
• mice hide grass in burrows — for the harsh winter;
• bright stars at night lead to warming, dim stars lead to snowfall.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions and signs of a special national holiday Sergey Kapustnik.