A special national holiday on June 5 is Levon Borage: history, traditions, omens

Every year on June 5, Orthodox believers remember the finding of the relics of St. Leontius, Bishop of Rostov, one of the early enlighteners of Northeastern Russia. In the national calendar, the date is known as Levon Borage, Levon Linnet. In 2026, the holiday falls on a Friday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on June 5th?

Saint Leontius lived in the 11th century. He underwent monastic obedience at the Kiev Caves Monastery under the spiritual influence of the Venerable Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves. It was this monastic environment that gave Russia a number of future archpastors, and Leonty became the first bishop to leave the Pechersk monastery.

In the 1040s, Leonty was appointed to the Rostov department. It was a difficult assignment for a Christian preacher, as the Rostov region still retained strong pagan customs, and the former bishops Theodore and Hilarion were expelled by the locals. The new archpastor arrived there not as an administrator, but as a missionary who was to speak about Christianity to people who did not want to change their habitual faith.

At first, Leonty faced fierce resistance — he was beaten and kicked out of the city. However, the saint did not leave Rostov land, he settled not far from Rostov, near the Brutovshchina stream, built a small temple there in the name of Archangel Michael and continued to preach. The children of local residents began to come to him. He taught them the basics of the Christian faith, and then baptized them. Soon, following the children, adults began to turn to the saint.

When the number of baptisms began to grow, Leontius' opponents raised the crowd again. People with clubs and weapons came to the cathedral, intending to expel or kill the priest. Leonty did not hide, he dressed in episcopal robes, took the cross and went out to meet the angry townspeople. According to legend, the archpastor's calmness and firmness stopped the crowd, and his speech made such an impression on people that many converted to Christianity.

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Subsequently, Leonty continued to go around the Rostov region, to preach and establish new Christian communities. His ministry ended with a martyr's death. Around 1073, the saint was killed by pagans at the instigation of pagan magi.

Leonty's body was buried in Rostov the Great, in the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos. In 1160, the temple burned down, and two years later, by order of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, a stone cathedral began to be built on this site. During the work, the relics of the saint were found.

In 1170, when the construction of the stone church was completed, the tomb of the saint was moved to a new church. The life tells of subsequent miracles and healings at his tomb.

Traditions of the national holiday Levon Borage on June 5

In Russia, the name Leonty was traditionally shortened to Levon in colloquial speech. The peasants considered June 5 to be the time to finish planting cucumbers. It was risky to delay, as the vegetables might not have time to ripen. Therefore, the day began to be called Levon Borage.

It was believed that cucumbers planted on June 5 would be especially good for pickling. Also, the ancestors had a belief that someone else's eye could spoil the harvest, and after that the vegetables would grow bitter. Therefore, the housewives went out to the beds early, tried to work without unnecessary conversations and did not allow outsiders to plant. If the day passed calmly, without quarrels and fuss, it was perceived as a good sign for the whole season.

On June 5, the ancestors also sowed cannabis. Hence the other name of the holiday — Levon Konoplyanik. This culture played an important role in peasant life. Hemp fiber was used to make hemp, ropes, coarse cloth, shopping bags and covering material. The seeds were used for oil, which was used in food and in home treatment. They were used to lubricate wounds, cough, skin diseases and lung-related ailments.

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Before sowing, an egg cooked for Easter was put in the seeds. In the peasant consciousness, it represented life, renewal and fertility, therefore, such a rite was supposed to enhance the growth of future seedlings. After work, the shells were scattered around the field and asked to make the hemp white and strong.

It was also considered a good day for anglers. According to legend, a man who goes fishing without boasting and making too much noise will return with a good catch.

What not to do on the Levon Borage holiday

In Russia, the Left Borage was associated with several prohibitions, the main of which was bragging, especially if it concerned work in the field and garden. The ancestors believed that unnecessary words on June 5 could harm the future harvest.

What else you can't do on June 5th:

• quarreling and swearing — the conflict can drag on for a long time.;
• Fixing old things leads to family quarrels;
• rearrange furniture and start major changes in the house — along with things, you can "shift" the home mood.;
• moving and transporting property — the road and the new location will bring unforeseen troubles;
• to lend money or things, prosperity, health and luck will go with them.;
• recalculating money unnecessarily leads to financial losses;
• Sharing plans with people you don't know well means that your plans won't come true.;
• sitting on the corner of the table — for lonely people, this promises a lack of positive changes in their personal lives.;
• washing your hair before important things can "wash off" your luck.

Folk signs for June 5th

At Levon Borage, the peasants carefully observed nature, especially plants and insects, in order to make a forecast about the weather in summer, harvest, and even about the coming winter.

• gadflies are swarming around cucumbers — the harvest will be rich;
• a lot of ants are crawling on the ground — dry days ahead;
• It's already stuffy at sunrise in the morning — the weather will turn bad soon;
• Hawthorn blooms profusely — winter is expected to be harsh;
• Beetles fly fast and noisily — the day will be sunny and warm.;
• the dew was thick in the morning — the year will be fruitful;
• clover leaves are drawn to the ground — to the rain;
• Milky Way appears dim due to wet weather;
• rowan blossomed in dense circles — hemp will grow tall.

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