A special holiday on March 17 is Gerasim Grachevnik: history, traditions, omens
Every year on March 17, Orthodox believers honor the memory of two saints named Gerasim — Jordan and Vologda. In the national calendar, the holiday is known as Gerasim Grachevnik. In 2026, it falls on a Tuesday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.
What is the church holiday on March 17th?
St. Gerasimus of Jordan was born in the 5th century in Lycia in Asia Minor. Since his youth, he was distinguished by piety and decided to choose the path of monastic service for himself. First, he went to the Egyptian Thebaid, a harsh land of hermits, where monastic life involved strict asceticism and almost complete renunciation of worldly things.
Later, around 450, the ascetic went to Palestine, where he founded a monastery near Jordan, which was distinguished by an unusually strict way of life. The monks spent most of the week alone, praying, weaving baskets, and eating bread, roots, and water without lighting a fire.
Only on Saturday and Sunday did the brethren gather for the Divine Liturgy and Communion, after which they returned to their secluded cells. The monastery's lifestyle was extremely simple – dilapidated clothes, matting instead of a bed, unlocked doors as a sign of non-possessiveness and complete trust. The monk himself was an example of an even harsher life for the disciples. In Lent, according to his life, he did not eat until the feast of the Resurrection of Christ, when he received communion of the Holy Mysteries.
The spiritual path of Gerasim of Jordan was not devoid of trials. For some time he was carried away by the heresy of Eutychius and Dioscorus, who recognized only the Divine nature in Christ, but then returned to Orthodox teaching, thanks to St. Euthymius the Great.
The name of Gerasim of Jordan is associated with the story of a lion that the saint healed in the desert. According to legend, the beast did not leave the elder until the end of his life, and after his death he came to his grave and died there. That is why the icons of the monk are often depicted with a predator at his feet.
Gerasim of Vologda, whose memory believers also honor on March 17, is considered one of the key figures in the early spiritual history of the Russian North. He was born in Kiev and has been drawn to a hermit life since childhood. In his youth, the future saint went to the Gniletsk monastery, where he became a monk. Under the guidance of experienced elders, he passed the school of monastic obedience, and later was ordained a presbyter.
After that, Gerasim left Kievan land and headed north to a region where the Christian community was only strengthening and where the need for preaching and church building was especially acute. After a difficult journey through forests and swamps, he reached the banks of the Vologda River on August 19, 1147.
There, on the site of the future city, there was a small village with the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. In the deep forest beyond the Kaisar Stream, the monk built a cell. His name soon became known to the locals – they went to the ascetic who lived in solitude for prayer and advice. As a result, Gerasim decided to build a temple in the name of the Life-Giving Trinity and found a monastery at it.
The business was not easy – for the northern lands of the XII century, the monastery was a new phenomenon. The monk also encountered the resistance of a wealthy landowner who did not want to give the territory to the temple. But Gerasim did not leave what he had started. He cut down the forest himself, cleared the construction site, patiently conducted conversations with people and gradually gained their trust.
Over time, his steadfastness, asceticism and fatherly instructions endeared him to the inhabitants. Some started helping with the construction, while others wanted to live nearby under his spiritual guidance. This is how the Trinity Kaisarovsky Monastery arose, one of the oldest monasteries in the Russian North.
Gerasim died in 1178. The monastery he founded lasted for several centuries. During the Time of Troubles, in 1612, the monastery was devastated during an attack by Polish-Lithuanian troops, and the saint's burial place eventually turned out to be forgotten. Later, according to church tradition, the monk miraculously pointed it out, appearing in a dream to a blind woman and healing her.
Traditions of the national holiday Gerasim Grachevnik on March 17th
In Russia, March 17 was associated with the arrival of rooks. The peasants considered their return a sign of a seasonal turning point. Hence the famous saying: "A rook on the mountain is spring in the yard." Our ancestors made and hung birdhouses, welcoming birds as welcome guests.
On this day, the housewives baked lean "rooks" – small figures of birds made of sour rye dough, as if inviting spring into the house. Sometimes a small object was secretly placed in each figure — a button, a coin, an onion or other small thing. Treats were distributed to the household, and the resulting "surprise" was perceived as a prediction for the coming months.
In the villages, the middle of March was considered the right time to put things in order in the hut, sweep out the accumulated debris over the winter, and free up space for a new life. It was too early to start active field work, so a big cleaning was arranged for Gerasim. They cleaned the far corners, dismantled closets, ventilated rooms, got rid of old and unnecessary things.
According to popular beliefs, the off-season was a time of activity of evil spirits, primarily kikimores, who were considered "responsible" for the disorder in the house, poverty and minor misfortunes. Special rituals were performed to protect against evil spirits. A witch doctor was invited to the hut, who walked around the dwelling with a candle, read spells, examined corners and swept the stove – the center of family well-being in a peasant house. On this occasion, the ancestors sentenced: "Gerasim the Rooker will return the rook to Russia, and kick out the kikimora."
On this day, young girls were guessing about their personal lives. On the morning of March 17th, they went outside and saw who would meet first. If it was a woman, they expected an early wedding, if it was a man, they believed that marriage would have to wait until next year.
What not to do on Gerasim Grachevnik holiday
In Russia, on the Gerasim Grachevnik holiday, there were a number of prohibitions – according to popular beliefs, on March 17 one should behave cautiously in order to prevent evil spirits from "clinging" to the house and depriving the family of well-being. So, on this day it was not necessary to leave the dwelling dirty and cluttered. Our ancestors believed that disorder attracts poverty and failure.
What else you can't do on March 17th:
- to wear worn, dirty shoes — evil spirits can "settle" in them and lead a person astray.;
- starting the day with irritation, quarrels and harsh words — there is a risk to spend the whole spring in anxiety and tension.;
- Spending money on large purchases is not going to do any good.;
- to refuse help to those who need it — generosity will be rewarded with future well-being at home.
Folk signs for March 17th
On March 17, peasants in the villages carefully observed nature. Gerasim Grachevnik was associated with many weather and economic signs. Most of them were built around the arrival of rooks and their behavior, helping to orient themselves in the coming season and determine when to start field work. "A rook on the mountain is like spring in the yard," "If you see a rook, meet the spring," the ancestors said.
- the rooks are returning to their old nests – spring will be favorable, the flood will pass quickly;
- sunny and warm day – in autumn you can count on a good harvest of grain, vegetables, fruits and mushrooms;
- The rooks are screaming especially loudly – the summer will be rainy.;
- The rooks returned earlier than March 17 – a difficult, lean year is ahead.;
- Nature is noticeably reviving on Gerasim – the year promises to be calm and fruitful.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and strict prohibitions of the special Fedot Vetronos holiday.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
