A special national holiday on October 21 is Tryphon and Pelagia: history, traditions, omens
- Новости
- Local news
- A special national holiday on October 21 is Tryphon and Pelagia: history, traditions, omens
Every year on October 21, Orthodox believers remember two saints at once — St. Pelagia of Antioch and Archimandrite Tryphon of Vyatka. In the national calendar, this day is called Tryphon and Pelagia, Chills or Finches. Such names are associated with the autumn cold snap and preparation for winter. In 2025, the holiday falls on a Tuesday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.
Trifon and Pelageya — 2025: the history of the holiday
Pelagia of Antioch and Tryphon of Vyatka lived in different epochs, but their life paths became symbols of repentance, fortitude and striving for God.
St. Trifon was born in the 16th century into a pious family in the Arkhangelsk province. Even in his youth, he felt the call of monasticism and, without waiting for parental blessing, secretly left home. At first, he settled with a priest in Ustyug, then lived near the church in Orel, enduring hardships, cold and hunger.
Later, he took vows at the Pysk monastery, where he was distinguished by special diligence and strictness towards himself — he did not miss services, performed difficult obedience in the monastery bakery. At the age of 22, during a serious illness that could have cost Tryphon his life, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared to the monk, who granted him health and the grace to heal others.
Striving for a secluded spiritual life, St. Trifon left the inhabited places and went to the mouth of the Mulyanka River, where the city of Perm later grew up. In these wild lands, he began an educational mission, converting the local peoples, the Ostyaks and Voguls, to Christianity.
Later, the saint moved to the shores of Chusovaya, where he founded a monastery, dedicating it to the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1580, Trifon arrived in Khlynov, the center of Vyatka land, where he also founded a new monastery and was elevated to the rank of archimandrite, continuing to serve the cause of spiritual enlightenment.
Until his death in 1612, Trifon remained faithful to his spiritual ministry, wore a hair shirt and chains, and bequeathed to his brethren to live in love and not neglect prayer. The saint was buried in the Vyatka monastery founded by him.
Saint Pelagia lived in Antioch in the third century and in her youth led a frivolous lifestyle. She was a brilliant dancer and enjoyed the attention of wealthy men. The girl stood out from other women in the city not only by her striking appearance, but also by her love of luxury — she wore expensive clothes, lavished herself with gold and jewelry. For this, she was called Margarita, the pearl, a symbol of seductive beauty.
During one of the church councils held in Antioch, bishops from various dioceses arrived in the city. Among them was Nonnus of Iliopolis, a man of deep faith and righteousness. During one of the breaks in the meetings, the bishops left the church, and at that moment a group of young people rushed past them with noise and laughter.
Pelageya attracted special attention — provocatively dressed, with open shoulders, she was not shy of glances, dazzling everyone with her beauty. Bishop Neon, upon seeing her, was amazed at how much effort she spends for the sake of external attractiveness, and began to pray for the salvation of her soul.
The prayers were not in vain. Pelageya, driven by an inner impulse, came to the temple during St. Nonnus' sermon on the Last Judgment. Shocked by what she heard, she realized the emptiness of her former life, was baptized, renounced luxury, distributed property to the poor and went to Jerusalem. Under the name of a young man, the beauty took vows at the monastery on Mount Olivet and led a harsh ascetic life until the end of her life.
Traditions of the national holiday celebrated in Russia on October 21
In the national calendar, the date of October 21 was considered an important milestone separating the two seasons. The holiday had many names — Tryphon and Pelagia, Chills, Chaffinch, Pochinki, which symbolized the onset of real cold weather. The peasants believed that it was from this date that nature began to "plug the cracks" — the earth was preparing for freezing. "It's getting colder since Trifon Pelagia," they said in the villages.
The ancestors traditionally started the morning with a visit to the temple. The saints prayed for health, a happy family life, and protection from adversity. Tryphon, the famous miracle worker, was approached with requests for healing from serious ailments.
On October 21, the housewives inspected the storerooms, insulated the dwellings, took out warm clothes, darned the worn ones, and bought new ones. People used to say on this occasion: "It's bad if winter catches you by surprise, knocks you off your feet with a hat," "Trifon repairs a fur coat, Pelageya sews mittens."
Another tradition of the holiday was the lowering of barrels of pickles into reservoirs. This custom was of practical importance — cold water protected the blanks from spoilage and gave them a special taste. It was believed that the vegetables laid on the Pelagia would last until spring.
What not to do on the holiday of Tryphon and Pelagia
In Russia, Tryphon and Pelagia were subject to a number of prohibitions, the violation of which could lead to problems in the household and personal life. On this day, it was strictly forbidden to have empty conversations and spread gossip — the ancestors believed that Saint Pelageya does not tolerate words without meaning. Violators of this unspoken rule, according to beliefs, faced a black streak of failures and life trials.
Also, on October 21, it was strictly forbidden to cut down old trees — according to legend, the souls of the undead lived in the dry trunks. This was the reason for their ominous creaking in the wind.
Those who violated the ban faced prolonged joint pain and heaviness throughout the year. If this was necessary, for example, when clearing land for crops, then the trees were not cut down, but burned.
What else can not be done on October 21:
- To be idle and lazy is a behavior that promises poverty and hardship throughout the winter.;
- swearing and swearing — aggressive emotions attract quarrels and failures;
- Judging loved ones can lead to family conflicts and illnesses among relatives.;
- to wear torn, dirty clothes — until the very spring will be haunted by troubles and troubles.;
- women need to look in the mirror for a long time — there is a risk of getting seriously ill;
- Telling dreams until sunset — the good ones won't come true, and the bad ones will come true exactly.;
- to make a first date, especially for girls, the companion will turn out to be an unreliable person.
Folk signs for October 21st
On Tryphon and Pelagia, the peasants carefully observed nature in order to determine what the weather would be like during the winter months.
The main signs of the day:
- there are still leaves on the birches — autumn will linger for a long time, frosts will not strike soon;
- low clouds in the sky — a cold snap is expected in the near future;
- an abundance of mushrooms in the forest — the cold weather will come late;
- a morning without frost leads to a mild winter.
Earlier, Izvestia told how the national holiday of Haritina is celebrated.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
