A special national holiday on April 19th is Eutychius the Quiet and Yerema the Proletarian
- Новости
- Local news
- A special national holiday on April 19th is Eutychius the Quiet and Yerema the Proletarian
Every year on April 19, Orthodox believers honor the memory of two Christian saints, Archbishop Eutychius and the Martyr Jeremiah, who suffered at different times for their faith in Christ. In the national calendar, the holiday is called "Eutychius the Quiet and Yerema the Proletarian." In 2026, it falls on a Sunday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.
Eutychius Tikhy and Yerema Proletny – 2026: the history of the holiday
Saint Eutychius was born at the beginning of the sixth century in Phrygia, on the territory of modern Turkey, into a Christian family. He received his first education in the house of his grandfather, a priest, and then was sent to study in Constantinople. It was there that the young man chose the monastic path.
His life was associated with strict asceticism, the defense of the Orthodox faith and the fight against heresies. Over time, Eutyches occupied the patriarchal throne of Constantinople and went down in history as one of the most influential church figures of his time.
A few years later, the saint fell out of favor with the emperor, condemning the heresy of the Orthodox authors who believed that the body of Jesus Christ was incorruptible from the moment of the incarnation. As a result, he was defrocked and sent to the Amasi monastery in exile, which lasted 12 years.
According to his life, it was in exile that Eutyches' spiritual gift was revealed most vividly. With his prayer, he cast out demons from the possessed, healed suffering pilgrims from the most serious ailments — deafness, dumbness, infertility and other diseases. According to legend, in difficult times, when the inhabitants suffered from want and hunger, through the prayers of the saint, grain did not run out in the monastery barns.
In addition, Eutychius was credited with the gift of prophecy — he named the names of two future emperors in advance. In the last four years of his life, the saint was restored to his patriarchal dignity and called back to the capital. Less is known about the martyr Jeremiah. He lived in the third century in the Roman Empire and was martyred, refusing to renounce the faith.
Traditions of the national holiday celebrated in Russia on April 19th
In Russia, the names of saints gradually transformed into more familiar ones. Eutychius became known as the Quiet One, hoping for calm, windless weather, which the peasants considered a good sign for the field season. Jeremiah became a Flyover because during this period, migratory birds returned, the land revived, and important work began in the field and garden.
Special attention was paid to apple trees on April 19. In the old days, it was said that on this day they needed to bow down, support the branches so that they could withstand the future harvest. In the gardens, the trees were inspected after the winter, the trunks were whitewashed from pests, the supports were adjusted and the condition of the young branches was monitored.
By how the tree feels in mid-April, it was also judged whether there would be apples in the new season. Maiden fortune-telling for marriage was also associated with the apple tree. It was believed that the one who first notices a flower on a tree and takes it to the church threshold will marry before others, and for love. If a primrose fell from a tree, it was also attributed to the temple.
There was a belief that on April 19, only apples or peas should be chosen for filling pies. Other fillers were considered undesirable, they allegedly could take away the forces that are especially needed in the midst of spring work. Therefore, the hostess's festive table was served with just such pastries, pea porridge, chowder and soaked apples from the stocks left over from autumn. Eutychius and Erema also collected birch catkins, which were used to prepare decoctions for colds.
What can not be done on the feast of Eutychius the Quiet and Yerema the Flying
In Russia, on April 19, there were a number of restrictions, the violation of which, according to the ancestors, could deprive a person of good luck in business and personal life. The main prohibition seemed to be the handling of apple trees. So, on Eutychius the Quiet, it was not necessary to bend branches, break young shoots and tear off the buds that had begun. It could bring family troubles and disappointment in love.
What else is forbidden to do on April 19th:
- quarreling, swearing, and having noisy conflicts are negative emotions that contradict the spirit of the holiday and can ruin a relationship for a long time.;
- to refuse help to those who need it — indifference can turn into protracted life difficulties.;
- scaring away birds promises diseases and a general unfavorable background in the house.;
- recalculate money and food supplies — prosperity can quickly "melt away";
- to wear clothes in black, blue and green colors — such shades "scare away" luck, it is better to choose a warm, calm range.;
- pregnant women should wear their hair down — tidied hair helps to avoid difficult childbirth.
Folk signs for April 19th
On Eutychius and Yeremu, the peasants carefully observed nature in order to determine what the next summer would be like and whether the agricultural season would be successful.
- a quiet, windless day leads to a good harvest of early grain;
- strong wind on April 19 leads to a poor harvest and a weak ear;
- clear, calm weather — for a prosperous spring and a successful agricultural season;
- See a spider in the corner of the house — summer will be hot;
- a lot of sap flows from the birch tree — for a rainy summer;
- The swallows did not arrive by April 19th — spring will be late and not too warm.;
- apple trees bloom well and look strong — the year promises to be fertile.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the ancient prohibition of Krasnaya Gorka, the violation of which leads to disease and poverty.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
