Special national holiday on February 25 — Alexey Rybny: history, traditions, omens

Every year on February 25, Orthodox believers honor the memory of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, who lived in the 14th century. In the national calendar, the date was named Alexey Rybny. In 2026, the holiday falls on a Wednesday. Read about the history of the holiday, why it is called "fish", about its signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on February 25th?

St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, one of the most influential church and state figures of the 14th century, according to legend, came from a wealthy boyar family of the Chernigov Principality and was known internationally as Eleutherius. From a young age, he was given to "learn to read and write," but very early, according to his life, he discovered a special spiritual vocation in himself.

In 1320, the young man joined the Moscow Epiphany Monastery and was tonsured a monk with the name Alexy. He spent twenty years in the monastery, practicing fasting, vigil, and studying church books. In the monastery, he became close to Stephen, the brother of St. Sergius of Radonezh. They shared a common choir service and spiritual friendship.

Metropolitan Theognost, appreciating the monk's talents, brought him closer to himself and entrusted him with the management of the Church's judicial affairs. Alexy served as the vicar of the Metropolitan Court for 12 years, studied Greek and deeply mastered canon law. This experience became the foundation of his future work as a church leader.

At the end of 1352, Theognost consecrated Alexy as bishop of Vladimir, and in 1354 he became metropolitan. The saint went to Constantinople, where Patriarch Kallistos confirmed his authority as Archbishop of Kiev and "all great Russia."

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The return was accompanied by a sea storm, during which Alexy vowed to build a temple in honor of the day when the ship would reach the shore. The ship landed on August 16, which is how one of his votive monasteries appeared.

In Moscow, the metropolitan began to restore the church structure, installed bishops in Rostov, Smolensk, and Ryazan, reformed the administration, and deposed violators of canonical discipline. He actively established cenobitic monasteries modeled on the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh, strengthening the spiritual life of the country.

According to legend, the saint possessed the gift of healing, especially helped with eye diseases and blindness. It is known that in 1357, Khan Janibek Taydul's wife became blind, and at the request of the ruler, Alexy arrived in the capital of the Golden Horde to help. After a prayer service with a wonderful candle and sprinkling with holy water, the woman regained her sight. This event strengthened Russia's diplomatic position.

The metropolitan went down in history not only as a church hierarch, but also as a statesman. After the death of Grand Duke Ivan II Ivanovich in 1359, he became the guardian of his son Dmitry, the future Dmitry Donskoy. For several years, he actually combined spiritual leadership and civil administration.

He reconciled the princes, helped strengthen power, and supported the idea of Moscow as the center of unification of Russia. On his advice, a stone Kremlin was built in the capital — the most important defensive and symbolic object of the era.

The saint actively built monasteries — a nunnery in the name of his guardian angel, the Andronikov Monastery on the Yauza, and the Vladychny Monastery near Serpukhov. He also restored ancient monasteries in Nizhny Novgorod and Vladimir. He founded the Chudov Monastery in the Kremlin.

The saint died on February 12, 1378, at the age of about 78. According to his humble desire, the body was to be laid behind the altar of the Chudov monastery, but Prince Dmitry Donskoy ordered the saint to be buried in the temple. After 50 years, his relics were found incorruptible.

Traditions of the national holiday Andrey Rybny on February 25

In the folk tradition, February 25 was named "Alexey Rybny". In Russia, from that time on, snow began to melt actively, and fish were added to the reservoirs. It was believed that on this day the catch would be successful.

Hence the main rule of the holiday — there must be fish dishes on the table, then health and prosperity will remain in the house. "Fish on the table is health in the family," "If there were a fish, there would be a fish," the ancestors said on this day.

The morning traditionally began with a visit to the temple, the faithful asked St. Alexy to strengthen faith, raise children, and protect orphans and widows. Also on February 25, it was customary to pray for the sick, whose health suffered from fright.

On this day, the men went fishing. The catch was shared with the elderly and infirm, those who could not go to the river. This custom emphasized the communal nature of the holiday.

The women were preparing a festive treat. Meat was not welcome on this day, and fish pies with a hole in the top crust were considered the main dish. Before serving, hot broth with herbs was poured inside so that the filling remained juicy. Sometimes a small "surprise" was put in one of the pies. Whoever got it was predicted to have a good year.

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On Forgiveness Sunday, quarrels and abusive words were considered undesirable.

In Russia, Alexeyev Day was considered the right time to restore order. Housewives got rid of old, unnecessary things, washed clothes, and put storerooms and outbuildings in order. People believed that clearing the space helps to bring good luck and prosperity into the house.

The holiday was also associated with preparations for spring field work. The peasants took the seeds out into the cold for "hardening". They believed that after such a test, the grain would be stronger, the plants more resistant to diseases, and the harvest more plentiful.

They did the same with yarn. They took her out into the cold, saying, "If you freeze yarn after Christmas, you'll have money for Shrovetide." As a result, the threads became smoother, not "curly", and the fabric became neat and durable.

Dreams on the night of February 25th were considered prophetic. They tried to remember them, but they were in no hurry to tell what they saw, so as not to "scare off" the fulfillment of good omens.

What not to do on holiday Alexey Rybny

In folk tradition, February 25 was considered a day when any careless action could "consolidate" failure, so it was important to maintain internal order in the house, words and deeds in order to meet spring without unnecessary worries. For example, Alexey Rybny should not have started new businesses: it was believed that they would not develop and would quickly come to naught.

What else you can't do on February 25:

• plan long—distance trips - the road will be difficult or bring trouble;
• to put on old, dilapidated clothes — old resentments and troubles return with it.;
• Inviting guests to an untidy house is a mess that can scare away luck;
• cursing and entering into conflicts — quarrels promise protracted troubles;
• to deceive and exaggerate — a lie will turn against the person himself;
• succumbing to gloomy thoughts — a bad mood can attract trouble.

Folk signs for February 25

At Alexey Rybny, the peasants carefully observed nature in order to make a forecast of what the weather would be like in spring and summer.:

• Red stars at night — for a snowstorm;
• The fog is spreading over the ground — for a rainy summer;
• frost on the windows in the morning — to a sudden change in the weather;
• sparrows are screaming loudly in the yard — to the warming soon.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and strict prohibitions of the special holiday Vlasyov Day.

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