A special church holiday on April 5: Nikon Day — traditions, omens, prohibitions
Every year on April 5, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of two saints: the Venerable Martyr Nikon of Sicily and the Venerable Nikon of the Caves, one of the first leaders of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Saturday. In the national calendar, it is called Nikon Day. Read about the history, traditions and signs of the holiday in the Izvestia article.
Nikon Day in 2025 — the history of the holiday
Nikon of Sicily was born in the 3rd century in Naples. His father was a notable pagan, and his mother was a Christian. The future saint also worshipped idols, but he also remembered his mother's instructions. When he matured, he joined the military and became the commander of a small detachment. The soldiers respected him for his courage and incredible strength.
One day Nikon and his squad found themselves surrounded by enemies. At the moment of mortal danger, he remembered his mother and, making the sign of the cross over himself, promised to be baptized if he could be saved. Nikon survived and, returning from a hike, went in search of a priest who could perform the sacrament.
At that time, Christians were severely persecuted, so it was not easy to find the right person. For eight days Nikon prayed on the small island of Chios, asking God to help him. Finally, an angel appeared to him in a dream and pointed out the place where the monks, led by Bishop Theodosius, were hiding. From him the saint received baptism and monastic tonsure.
Nikon soon became an example for the monks living on the island. Before his death, Theodosius gave him the episcopate and ordered him to move with the brethren to Sicily. The saint fulfilled the request of his spiritual mentor and transported all 190 monks there. Along the way, he managed to visit his hometown and spend the last days of her life with her elderly mother. In Nepal, nine former Nikon colleagues who had come to believe in Christ also joined the monks.
The Sicilian monastery existed for several years. When the persecution of Christians gained momentum again, the ruler of the island, Quintian, ordered the execution of the monks. He ordered Nikon to be tortured and only then beheaded. The saint's body was thrown to the beasts, but thanks to miraculous signs, the bishop of the city of Messina found him and organized a decent burial.
St. Nikon of the Caves lived in the 11th century. He became the first disciple and associate of the founder of the Kiev Caves Lavra, St. Anthony. During his time, he tonsured all the newly arrived monks, including Saint Theodosius of the Caves, who later headed the monastery and became famous for many miracles.
Saint Nikon was always strict and consistent in his faith. With his blessing, boyar Varlaam and Prince Izyaslav Yaroslavich's confidant Ephraim were tonsured monks. When the prince found out about this, he threatened to expel all the monks of the lavra and demanded that the saint convince them to return to the world. However, Nikon stood firm, and the prince had to retreat.
When there were too many monks in the monastery, the Monk Nikon wished for solitude and retired to the island of Tmutarakan on the shore of the Kerch Strait. However, the fame of his spiritual exploits soon spread around the area, and monks began to come to the saint. Nikon founded a new monastery for them with a church in the name of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Later, the saint returned to the Kiev Caves Lavra and was elected abbot. For many years, he took care of his brethren and was buried in the Nearby Caves of St. Anthony.
Traditions and prohibitions on Nikon Day on April 5th
In Russia, Nikon's Day was celebrated on April 5. On the holiday, it was necessary to carry out a general cleaning: wash the floors, wash clothes, change the straw in the mattresses, etc. To prevent evil spirits from entering the house, all surfaces were wiped with mint infusion. It was believed that its smell deters "uninvited guests." According to legend, fresh whitewashing on the stove also helped to protect against otherworldly things.
On this day, order was restored not only in the house, but also in the area adjacent to it. To protect the garden from pests, the owners lured birds there. To do this, bread crumbs and grains were scattered around the beds, and fruit trees were planted nearby.
Nikon also paid attention to water sources: springs and streams were cleared of debris, and wells were cleaned. After a hard day, the whole family went to the sauna. The ancestors believed that in this way it is possible to purify not only the body, but also the soul.
What can and cannot be done on Nikon Day
Various superstitions were associated with Nikon Day in Russia. It was believed that you should not be lazy on a holiday, otherwise you can lose your health and prosperity. On April 5, we tried not to lie down on other people's pillows, so as not to suffer from nightmares later. Gossip was also banned — according to beliefs, those who spread rumors could face problems in the family.
Many of the prohibitions of Nikonov's day were related to the financial sphere. On the holiday, our ancestors tried not to leave money in a prominent place, fearing poverty. To increase wealth, on the contrary, it was necessary to hide all the cash in a secluded place. The housewives did not go through the beans and cereals that day, so as not to encounter unexpected expenses.
On Nikon, even avid fishermen did not go to the reservoirs with a fishing rod. People believed that at that time there was a merman in charge, and meeting with him could cause serious injuries.
Folk signs of April 5
On the holiday, our ancestors paid attention to the signs. If it was warm during the day and frosts hit at night, they understood that April would be fine. If the first spring thunder sounded on Nikon, and the snow had not yet come down, they were preparing for a cold summer. A clear sky at noon indicated a hot summer, while clouds promised a rainy season.
The weather for the next few days was judged by the behavior of the animals. If the cat sneezed frequently, heavy precipitation was expected. Squirrels calmly leaving their nests indicated a rapid warming.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and superstitions of the national holiday Vasily Teply.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
