National holiday on September 25 — Artamon the Serpentine: history, traditions, omens

Every year on September 25, Orthodox believers celebrate the celebration of the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and honor the memory of the holy Martyr Avtonomos, who lived in the IV century. In the national calendar, this day is known as Artamon the Serpentine. In 2025, the date falls on Thursday. Read about its history, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on September 25?

Orthodox believers celebrate several important dates on September 25. This day marks the end of the celebration of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the twelve Orthodox celebrations. This day commemorates the birth of the Virgin Mary, destined to become the Mother of the Savior.

On the same day, the Church commemorates the Holy Martyr Avtonomos, a preacher who was born in Italy in the fourth century. He lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, known for the brutal persecution of Christians.

Avtonomus was a bishop in the city of Praeneste in Italy, but realizing the danger to his flock and wanting to continue his ministry, he left his homeland and moved to Bithynia— the region of Asia Minor where the village of Sorea was located. The preacher was sheltered by the pious Cornelius, who was later baptized by him.

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The saint's preaching proved to be extremely successful, and he managed to convert many pagans to Christ. Soon the community grew so much that it became necessary to build a temple. Avtonomus built a church in the name of the Archangel Michael, and Cornelius was ordained first as a deacon and then as a presbyter.

After that, the saint went on to Lycaonia and Isauria, where he continued to spread Christian teaching. Returning to Sorea, Autonomus ordained Cornelius to the episcopate and himself went to the neighboring village of Limna. There he regained followers and destroyed a pagan temple, which provoked the fury of the priests.

During the Divine Liturgy in the church, the saint was attacked by a crowd of pagans. Avtonom was killed at the altar, and his blood sprinkled the shrine. Believers secretly buried his body. Already under Constantine the Great, a church was erected at the burial site of the saint. Decades later, when the old building was dismantled, the relics of the saint were found incorruptible, and a new church was built in his honor.

Traditions of the Artamon Serpentine folk festival, celebrated on September 25

In Russia, the holiday received a special name — Artamon the Serpentine, since by this time the warm season was over, the snakes finally crawled into burrows to spend the winter underground. "Artamon lets the snakes loose for the last time, then locks them up until spring," the peasants said.

In the popular consciousness, Artamon Serpentine was considered a dangerous day, since snakes were especially aggressive at that time. The male hunters wore high boots and took enchanted items with them for protection.

Women, old men, and children were picking rowan trees. The berry had gained strength by this time and became especially useful after the first frost. It was used to make jams, fruit drinks, liqueurs, and dried for winter tea. People used to say: "There is no mountain ash, and autumn is not autumn."

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Rowan was considered not only a delicacy and medicine, but also a powerful talisman. Its branches were hung at the entrance to the house to protect against evil forces, and the roots were used in rituals to protect marriage from the evil eye. According to legend, picking berries should be done with caution. The ancestors believed that breaking a mountain ash tree would bring disaster, but accuracy would bring health and prosperity.

What not to do on the Artamon Serpentine holiday on September 25

Artamon the Serpentine was considered a difficult day with many prohibitions in the national calendar. Some of them were related to snakes. For example, it was forbidden to kill reptiles, so as not to bring illness, discord and poverty on the family. It was also not necessary to go deep into the forest or into the places where they live, as it was believed that meeting them on this day could be deadly.

If a trip to the thicket could not be avoided, you should take a small "gift" with you — milk or eggs were left for the snake on the way. If she ate the offering, it promised great luck.

What else you can't do on September 25:

• indulge in bad thoughts and commit evil deeds;
• Doing hard work is a time for spiritual peace and prayer, not for exhausting work.;
• Avoiding those in need — mercy attracts heavenly blessings;
• cutting your hair and nails can "cut off" your health and luck;
• accepting gifts from strangers — together with them, you can receive poverty or illness as a "gift".;
• to put things in order in the house — with the garbage from the dwelling, you can "sweep out" prosperity and luck.

Folk signs for September 25

On Artamon Serpentine, the peasants observed nature in order to make a forecast of what the weather would be like in the winter months.

• The oaks and birches have already shed all their leaves — the winter will be mild.;
• The leaves remain on the trees — severe frosts are expected from December to February.;
• Thunder is thundering — towards a warm and long autumn;
• rain on this day will lead to a long and frosty winter.

Hunters who set out on September 25 for their first autumn fishing had their own signs: meeting a hare foreshadowed a successful hunt and a well-fed winter for the whole family.

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