The religious scholar spoke about the appearance of the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity

Religious scholar Fominykh: July 8 is the memorial day of Saints Peter and Fevronia

Wed, 07/08/2026 - 04:00

Photo: RIA Novosti/Pavel Lisitsyn

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The Day of Family, Love and Fidelity was formed as a multi—stage tradition - from the religious memory of Saints Peter and Fevronia to the official state holiday and a public symbol of family values. This was reported by religious scholar Natalia Fominykh in a conversation with Izvestia.

Initially, July 8 was celebrated only as a church holiday — the memorial day of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, who are considered patrons of family and marriage.

"According to legend, the prince and the peasant woman sincerely fell in love with each other, they went through all the hardships that were destined for them, and, according to legend, they died on the same day, and bequeathed to bury themselves together," said the religious scholar.

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The tradition of celebration originated in the 1990s in Murom, where the relics of the saints rest. In 2006, about 20,000 signatures were collected in the city in support of the creation of a family holiday in Russia. Already in 2008, the Federation Council approved the initiative.

The first official events took place in the same year in Murom— the birthplace of Peter and Fevronia. At the same time, the holiday was named the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, and its symbol was a daisy, embodying purity and sincerity of feelings.

Gradually, the holiday spread throughout the country. In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that established July 8 as the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. The document notes that it is aimed at preserving traditional family values and the spiritual and moral education of the younger generation.