A special holiday on December 8 is St. Clement's Day: history, traditions, omens
Every year on December 8, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the 70th Apostle, Holy Martyr Clement of Rome. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Monday. In the national calendar, the holiday is called Klimentyev Day or Klim Kholodny. Read about its history, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.
What is the church holiday on December 8th?
Clement of Rome was born into a noble family that was related to the emperor. However, even in infancy, he was separated from his parents and raised by strangers. The young man received a brilliant education, but he was not interested in social life. When he reached adulthood, he left Rome and went to Palestine.
In Alexandria, Clement listened to the sermons of the evangelist Barnabas and became an ardent adherent of Christianity. Later, in his travels, he met the Apostle Peter and, having been baptized, became one of his closest disciples.
Evangelical preaching miraculously helped Clement to find a family — two of his brothers were among the disciples of the Apostle Paul. Soon the saint met with his parents, who, having reunited with their son, also converted to Christianity.
Shortly before his martyrdom, the Apostle Peter ordained Clement Bishop of Rome (Pope). The saint's virtuous life and exploits served as an example for Roman citizens, many of whom renounced the worship of idols. Once, on Easter Day, after Clement's sermon, 424 people were baptized at once. Among them were representatives of all classes, from slaves to members of the imperial family.
Concerned about the saint's success, the pagans denounced him to Emperor Trajan, accusing him of disrespecting the Roman gods. The enraged emperor ordered Clement to be exiled to the Inkerman quarries near Chersonesos. Many of the bishop's disciples followed their spiritual father.
Life in the quarries was especially difficult due to the lack of drinking water, but through the prayer of the saint, a clean spring gushed there. This miracle attracted many people to him. Listening to the zealous preacher, hundreds of pagans turned to Christ every day. A temple was cut out of the rocks, in which Clement conducted services.
In 101, the saint was killed by order of the emperor — the saint was drowned, thrown into the sea with a load around his neck. The series of miracles that glorified him during his lifetime did not stop even after his death: through the prayers of Clement's faithful disciples and the entire Christian population of Chersonesos, the sea receded. At the bottom, the faithful found the incorruptible body of their shepherd. After that, every year on the day of Clement's martyrdom, the sea retreated for seven days, giving an opportunity to pray at his relics.
In the 60s of the 9th century, the relics of the saint miraculously appeared on the surface of the sea. This was preceded by a conciliar prayer of the Chersonese clergy, as well as Constantine the philosopher and his brother Methodius. Constantine considered the Holy Martyr Clement to be the patron saint of his missionary work and saw him as an advocate for the enlightenment of the Slavic peoples.
Traditions of the national holiday Klimentyev day on December 8th
In folk tradition, December 8 was called Klimentyev Day or Klim the Cold. On the holiday, the ancestors prayed to St. Clement, asking for protection from diseases and severe cold, which threatened not only people and animals, but also crops.
It was supposed to work on Klimentyev day only on an empty stomach. This custom was connected with practical necessity. At that time, the threshing was still going on, and it was hard to work on a full stomach.
On December 8, women usually sat down to do needlework. They spun, knitted, and embroidered. The products created during the holiday could be profitably sold at Christmas fairs. With the money they earned, they bought the necessary goods for the house.
The blacksmiths revered Clement of Rome as their patron saint. On the day of his memory, it was customary to consecrate hammers and anvils. Fishermen also worshipped the Great Martyr. On the holiday, they threw copper amulets in the shape of anchors into the water to enlist the saint's support.
Special charms were made for children born on December 8. A flap with an embroidered anchor made of threads of two colors was sewn onto the clothes. Black threads were used to protect against the evil eye, and red threads were used to attract health.
What not to do on December 8 on St. Clement's Day
In Russia, various superstitions and prohibitions were associated with St. Clement's Day. The ancestors believed that one should not complain about frosts on a holiday, otherwise "cracklers" (evil spirits waking up in winter) can send illness or damage to a person.
What else can not be done on December 8
- Going out in the evening and at night can lead to wolves.;
- If you lend money, it will be difficult to repay it.;
- meddling in other people's business, giving unsolicited advice — you can be left without money.;
- Hurry up — things will go badly;
- drying clothes in the house leads to diseases;
- Drinking alcohol is going to be a tough year.
Folk signs for December 8th
On St. Clement's Day, the ancestors carefully watched for various signs. It was believed that if the first guest on the holiday was a man, the year would be successful. In order for the omen to come true, in some regions, a coin was specially placed on the threshold, which the newcomer was supposed to step on.
Other signs of the day
- A dog rides in the snow — it will get warmer in three days;
- a crow landed on the roof in the morning — for prosperity; in the evening — for the arrival of guests;
- ice on rivers is cracking, leading to warming;
- snowfall — for a good harvest;
- The smoke from the chimney is spreading smoothly — it will get colder soon;
- chickadees fly close to the window — in bad weather;
- black clouds — spring will be cold.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the national holiday Prokopiev Day.
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