St. George's Day: what not to do today, alarming omens
Already today, December 9, believers celebrate St. George's Day. This is the folk name of the church holiday - the Memorial Day of St. George the Victorious. In the year there are several memorable dates dedicated to different events associated with the great martyr. Over the years there have been many omens, traditions and prohibitions, which are recommended to observe to this day. Read more about the holiday on December 9, its history and important events associated with it - in the material "Izvestia".
St. George's Day: what is the church holiday on December 9
St. George's Day is celebrated several times a year. The one that falls on December 9, has several similar names: Egoriev Day, Egoriy (or Yuri) autumn, cold or winter. In Russia, under these names, the Great Martyr George the Victorious is honored, who has been one of the most eulogized saints since ancient times.
The Ark with the relics of the Great Martyr George the Victorious delivered from the Holy Mount Athos to Moscow
St. George the Victorious falls on several dates in the year:
- May 6 (April 23, O.S.). The day is dedicated to the martyrdom of the saint in 303 BC. He is popularly known as Egoriy Vesenny, Veshny or Brave;
- November 16 (3). On this day Orthodox Christians celebrate the consecration of the Church of St. George in Lydda. According to legend, it was there that St. George was buried;
- December 9 (November 26). This day is associated with the consecration of St. George's Church in Kiev in 1051.
It is also marked on November 23 (10). This day is celebrated in Georgia in memory of the wheeling of the great martyr.
Reliably unknown, where George the Victorious was born. According to the most widespread data, it happened at the end of III century in Belite (now - Beirut, Lebanon) at the foot of the Lebanese mountains. However, there is also a version that he was born in Cappadocia (Turkey) or in Lydda (now Lod in Israel). It happened in a family of rich and pious parents, who raised him a true Christian.
Having entered military service, George stands out among the others by his intelligence, bravery, beauty and physical strength. All this was the reason that soon he reached the rank of thousand-officer and became a favorite of Emperor Diocletian.
Although Diocletian was considered a talented and good ruler, he was a pagan and believed in the Roman gods. His main goal was to revive paganism in the empire, and because of this Diocletian went down in history as the most ardent persecutor of Christians.
George foresaw that he too would soon become a victim of the emperor, so he gave away all his property to the poor and let the slaves go free. Then he came to Diocletian and revealed his true faith to him. Then, having failed to persuade George to renounce Christ, the emperor sent him to prison and subjected him to cruel tortures for several days, after which he executed the saint. This happened in 303.
For his courage and spiritual strength, the great martyr was nicknamed the Victorious.
St. George's Day: traditions of the holiday on December 9
In Russia since ancient times, the image of George the Victorious has a great importance. His name was baptized by princes and noblemen, among whom we can highlight Yaroslav the Wise, who initiated the construction of a temple in honor of the saint in Kiev. Among other Russian princes who were George in baptism is the founder of Moscow, Yuri Dolgoruky. In honor of this great and significant for the Russian people saint wrote many icons, created seals and coins.
Gold coin of 50 rubles nominal value "St. George the Victorious," presented at the presentation of commemorative and investment coins at the cash center of the State Department of the Bank of Russia
George the Victorious is honored as the patron saint of warriors, as well as farmers and cattle breeders. The latter is connected with the legend about the miraculous revival of the only ox at the farmer.
The image of St. George the Victorious has for centuries inspired the defenders of the Fatherland. According to legends, St. George was often seen in the image of a rider on a white horse, which helps warriors to defend their land. Thus, St. George helped the Russian army in the battle of Kulikovo Field in 1380, becoming a symbol of this victory. It is not for nothing that the highest military award in the times of the Russian Empire and today remains the Order of St. George, and the black and orange ribbon that goes with it is also called St. George.
Order of St. George (full name - Imperial Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George) in the Russian Empire was established by Catherine the Great on November 26 (old style), 1769.
It is important to note that the coat of arms of Moscow also depicts St. George the Victorious. The horseman-snake-bearer as a symbol of the Moscow principality appeared back in the XV century, when a sculpture of a saint defeating a dragon (snake) was installed over the gate of the Frolovskaya (now Spasskaya) tower of the Kremlin. The image is associated with a miracle attributed to the saint. According to legend, in Beirut a giant serpent terrorized the inhabitants, and in order to save themselves, they were forced to sacrifice to it. St. George, arriving in the city, fought the serpent and struck him with a spear. This story became a symbol of the fight against evil and is often depicted in iconography.
Officially, this image became the coat of arms of Moscow only in 1781, the corresponding decree was approved by Catherine II. "St. George on a horse against the same, as in the middle of the state coat of arms, in a red field, striking with a spear a black serpent," it said. On May 6, the day of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, the Day of the coat of arms and flag of the city of Moscow is also celebrated in the capital.
In Russia, Yuriev Day and the week before and after it were especially expected for peasants. This was due to the fact that it was then that they could pass from one landlord to another, paying the elderly. This period was also called the peasant's exit. At the end of the XVI century, such an opportunity was canceled. Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich did this on the initiative of Boris Godunov. However, the peasants still had the opportunity to escape from the landlords within the framework of the decree on the harvest years. Presumably, it was then that the saying "Here's Yuryev Day for you, grandmother!" originated.
Nevertheless, even at the time of the existence of the peasant exit, not everyone could change the landlord, but only those who worked well and could pay for it by paying off all debts. If they had them, it was impossible to leave to another landlord. Although the tradition was abolished, the omen associated with this period has survived: it is still believed that all debts must be paid before St. George's Day.
On St. George's Day winter is already coming, but it is not yet as harsh as after Christmas. Therefore, unlike other church holidays, on this day it was customary to prepare the house, yard, cellar and barn for cold weather (insulate the windows, store firewood), and not to rest.
What you can not do today, on Yuriev Day
In addition to handing out debts, it was also impossible to borrow, otherwise you can not get away from loans for the whole coming year. But there are other prohibitions:
- one must not be lazy and idle. St. George favors the industrious;
- an important prohibition was the prohibition of hunting on this day. It was believed that otherwise there would be misfortune and health problems;
- it was strictly forbidden to treat livestock roughly. St. George is the patron saint of farmers and herdsmen, so in case of inappropriate attitude to the animal could bring poverty and other problems to the house. For the same reason on St. George's Day many people refuse to eat meat;
- Also, believers have a ban on long-distance travel. If the trip cannot be canceled, it is worth making a prayer service for the welfare of the journey before the road.
It is important to remember that the folk holiday Yuriev Day echoes the church's Memorial Day of St. George the Victorious. In this regard, there are also prohibitions that apply to any religious holiday. Thus, it is not allowed to conflict and argue, you should refuse alcohol and refrain from profanity. In addition, on November 28, believers began the Christmas fast, which will last until January 6. Therefore, on Monday, December 8, hot food without oil is allowed.
In addition to prohibitions, there are also permissions. So, believers should go to a church or temple, where you can participate in the service, and pray to St. George. You can ask him to protect the house from evil spirits, and also thank him for the protection of sons and relatives in service, or for the harvest.
St. George's Day: folk weather omens
As in other days, people in ancient times followed nature, and on the basis of these observations, important omens appeared:
- a lot of snow on St. George's Day meant that in May all trees would be green, and meadows would be covered with fresh grass by May 6, on Vernal Egoriy;
- frost on December 9 heralded a cold winter;
- if there was frost in the morning, the harvest would be abundant in the coming year;
- a northerly wind meant frost.
There were also other omens. Thus, our ancestors listened to the sounds in the well and determined by them, what will be the winter. If they are quiet, winter will be warm, if, on the contrary, loud - to be strong frosts, snowfalls and winds. The howling of dogs on this day meant a sharp cold snap. It was not worth kissing the person leaving home - otherwise he would be late everywhere during the day.
Omen related to money remained important on this day. For example, one of them says that you should not pick up your fallen purse, otherwise all the money will disappear from it. It is better to ask someone else to do it.
Since St. George was considered the patron saint not only of domestic, but also of wild animals, the omen about wolves was preserved. There was a popular belief that from this day bears in dens fall asleep, and wolves become more dangerous and more often attack livestock. In this regard, some people performed special rituals and read incantations to protect livestock.
One of them was to make a cookie that represented horses. Then with it it was necessary to go to the field and bury it in the ground with the words: "Egoriy merciful, do not beat our cattle and do not eat. Here are the horses brought to you!"
Also, to protect the cattle, the elders of the village took the still burning coal from the stoves and threw it into the ice-hole to absorb the power of water. After that the coal had to be scooped out of the water with their hands, taken to the stable and thrown into the troughs from which the animals ate. This was also supposed to help the cattle survive the winter.
However, the Orthodox Church reminds us that conspiracies and omens have nothing to do with Orthodoxy and the best defense is sincere prayer.
