A special national holiday on October 25 is Andron the Stargazer: history, traditions, omens

Every year on October 25, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Holy Great Martyrs Prova, Tarakh and Andronik, staunch confessors of the faith who were martyred during the era of persecution of Christians. In folk tradition, the day is known as Andron the Stargazer. In 2025, it falls on a Saturday. Read about the history of the holiday, its traditions and prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

Andron the Stargazer — 2025: the history of the holiday

The Holy Great Martyrs Prov, Tarach and Andronikos, whose names have become a symbol of religious courage and spiritual freedom, lived in the territory of modern Turkey at the height of the persecution of Christians during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

Tarach, an elderly soldier of Roman origin, Prov., a native of Pamphylia, and Andronikos— the young son of a noble citizen of Ephesus, openly called themselves by Christian names and refused to worship pagan gods, even under pain of torture.

All three were captured and handed over to the executioners. According to the surviving documents drawn up by notaries and subsequently bought by Christians, it is known that the martyrs were subjected to repeated interrogations and severe tortures. However, they did not lose heart, they continued to pray, showing exceptional fortitude.

After sophisticated tortures, the martyrs were thrown into the arena among the wild animals. But a miracle happened — the animals did not touch them, although the other convicts were torn to pieces in a matter of minutes. Discouraged by this fact, Proconsul Numerius Maximus ordered the saints to be killed with spears and guards to be posted at the bodies.

However, a storm broke out in the evening, and the Christians took advantage of the moment to take and bury the remains of the martyrs in the cave. In the 5th century, Bishop Auxentius II built a church in Mopsuestia in honor of Saints Prova, Tarakh and Andronik, and in 484, Patriarch of Jerusalem Martyrius laid their relics under the altar of a new church in the monastery of St. Euphemia.

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Traditions of the national holiday celebrated in Russia on October 25

In popular culture, this day was named Andron the Stargazer, in honor of Saint Andronikos, who was considered the protector of those who seek answers among the stars. This metaphorical nickname symbolized a person's deep connection with heavenly wisdom.

Among the peasants, October 25 was considered the time when celestial signs were revealed and a person's spiritual connection with the cosmos was strengthened. This is how the expression arose: "Andron takes out the sky with the sixth, scoops up the stars with a scoop," which symbolizes not only observation, but also a special gift of epiphany.

On Andron the Astrologer, our ancestors used to arrange evening stargazing. It was a rare day in the peasant calendar when everyday worries gave way to contemplation. People believed that the heavenly bodies could tell what the harvest would be like, how cold the winter would be, and whether their cherished desires would come true.

It was mandatory on this day to prepare treats from the products of the new harvest — porridge made from fresh cereals, bread or pies made from fresh flour. These dishes were served to relatives, friends, and neighbors. It was believed that delicious porridge was the key to good luck, well—being and financial stability in the coming winter.

If they could see a shooting star in the sky, they made a wish, believing that it would definitely come true.

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What not to do on the Andron Stargazer holiday

Since ancient times, Andron the Stargazer has been considered a time of silence and concentration. The ancestors believed that it was especially important to be careful in actions and words on a holiday. The prohibitions primarily concerned haste, hard work and fuss — any attempts to go against the flow of the day were perceived as a risk of disturbing mental balance and attracting trouble.

What else can not be done on October 25:

• washing, shaking blankets, carrying out general cleaning, doing repairs — insomnia may develop.;
• Engage in physically demanding work, such as rearranging furniture, and those who violate the ban will suffer from back and joint pain.;
• Being offended by other people can lead to a loss of luck for a long time.;
• buying church candles is a risk of "acquiring" a serious illness;
• Laughing out loud, especially at night, can attract the attention of evil spirits.;
• in response to a knock at the door at night, asking: "Who is there?" — you can let trouble into the house.;
• fortune—telling on maps - Andron allowed predictions based solely on the stars, otherwise, according to legend, one could face financial losses.

Folk signs for October 25

In the folk tradition, Andron the Stargazer was considered the day when the sky tells you what the rest of autumn and the coming winter will be like. It was on this particular evening that the stars were carefully observed — their light, color and behavior helped determine future weather changes and even predict the harvest.

The main signs:

• twinkling stars — for a quick change in the weather;
• brightly shining stars — for strong winds and a dry year;
• lots of bright stars in the sky — for a rich harvest next year;
• A dim starry sky leads to a thaw and unstable weather.;
• the blue reflection from the stars is for frosts and the first snow.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions, signs and prohibitions of the special Filippov Kanitel national holiday.