A special holiday on April 25 is Vasily Parilshchik: history, traditions, omens

Every year on April 25, Orthodox believers honor the memory of Confessor Basil of Paria, who suffered during the period of iconoclasm in Byzantium. In the national calendar, the holiday was named Vasily Parilshchik. In 2026, it falls on a Saturday. About its history, traditions, signs and prohibitions — in the material of Izvestia.

What is the church holiday on April 25?

Saint Basil lived in the 8th–9th centuries in Paria, a city on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara, which was part of the metropolis of Cyzicus. He was elected bishop for his righteous life.

The saint's ministry fell during one of the most disturbing periods of Byzantine church history, the time of iconoclasm. In 754, Emperor Constantine V Copronymus convened the Council of St. Jerome, which officially supported the destruction of the shrines.

Vasily Pariysky resolutely opposed and openly sided with Orthodox icon worship. The life emphasizes that he refused to sign the decree of the Council of St. Jerome, which entered the church's memory as an "unrighteous scroll." For the bishop of that time, a conscious refusal to compromise with the authorities almost inevitably meant persecution.

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On this day, Orthodox Christians share the joy of Easter with the dead.

Church sources note that Basil not only openly voiced his position, but also avoided communication with heretics, did not allow their influence in his diocese and remained faithful to the confession of the Church to the end.

For this firmness, Basil suffered persecution, hunger, hardship and other hardships, but did not change his beliefs and Orthodox confession until the end of his life. That is why in the Orthodox tradition he is revered as a confessor — not a martyr who died for his faith, but a man who endured prolonged pressure while maintaining inner and dogmatic firmness.

Traditions of the national holiday Vasily Parilshchik on April 25

In Russia, by the end of April, the sun was already noticeably gaining strength, warming the land well, and it seemed to the peasants that it was beginning to breathe warmth and "soar." Therefore, the memorial day of St. Basil the Parian in the national calendar was named Vasily the Parian. "Antipas pours water, and Vasily soars the earth," "Spring soars the earth on Vasily," the ancestors said.

In the morning, the faithful went to church, attended the service, and prayed to Basil of Paria for the most pressing things — for health, freedom from disease, fortitude, fortitude in faith, and spiritual courage.

The ancestors considered this day favorable for physical and mental purification. It was absolutely necessary to steam on Vasily Parilshchik in order to expel the winter weakness and illness from the body, to gain strength and vigor. And after the bath, put on clean clothes to "fix" the rite of renewal, which symbolically "cut off" a person from the ailments accumulated during the cold season.

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In 2026, Orthodox Christians will celebrate the event on April 19th.

It was not customary to arrange noisy festivities or large feasts on Vasily Parilshchik. The ancestors considered the day to be economical and quiet, and on April 25 it was necessary to do the usual things calmly, without fuss. The women were busy around the house, tidying up, cooking. The men checked their inventory and began to prepare for the upcoming work on the land.

What not to do on a holiday Vasily Parilshchik

In Russia, on the Vasily Parilshchik holiday, there were a number of household warnings, the observance of which helped the ancestors to keep their luck and not cause unnecessary trouble at home. So, in the old days, on April 25, you should not have gone to the sauna before lunch. According to legend, a brownie could be in charge there in the morning. It was considered bad luck to disturb him. The spirit of the house could "take revenge" with various breakdowns and domestic troubles.

What else you can't do on April 25:

• quarreling, giving free rein to irritation, speaking in a hurry — any harsh words can turn into protracted conflicts and troubles.;
• disassembling cabinets, sorting through things — there is a risk of multiplying household problems;
• There is no special need to go into the forest — by this time, belated bears come out of their dens, looking for easy prey.;
• Drinking too much water is a day when it can "take away strength" and make a person sick.;
• making casual acquaintances, trusting the first people you meet — a person can bring misfortune into life.;
• lending food and money is fraught with monetary losses and poverty.;
• talking about dreams and plans will not come true.

Folk signs for April 25

At Vasily Parilshchik, the peasants carefully observed nature to determine what the end of spring would be like, whether to expect a rich harvest or, conversely, a lean summer.

• The sun is very hot on Basil — it will be a fertile year.;
• The snow had completely disappeared by April 25, and the cold weather would not return.;
• it turned out to be a rainy day — the first third of May will also be stormy;
• the morning is clear and cold — the summer will be dry and lean.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and strict prohibitions of the special Antip Vodogon holiday.