A special holiday on October 4 is Kondrat da Ipat: history, traditions, omens

Every year on October 4, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Apostle of the seventy Codrates of Athens, as well as the Great Martyrs Hypatius and Andrew. In the national calendar, the holiday is known as Kondrat da Ipat. In 2025, it falls on a Saturday. Read about the history, traditions, omens and strict prohibitions on this date in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on October 4th?

On October 4, the Orthodox Church commemorates three martyrs at once — the Apostle of the seventy Codrates of Athens, Bishop Hypatius and Presbyter Andrew. These individuals, separated for centuries, are united by a single feat — devotion to the Christian faith in the face of persecution.

The Apostle Codrates, who lived in the first and second centuries, was bishop of Athens and Magnesia, actively preached the Gospel in Greek cities and converted many local residents to Christ. His activities caused sharp discontent on the part of convinced pagans. Once, an angry crowd tried to stone him, but he miraculously survived. Then the righteous man was imprisoned, where he died of exhaustion.

Codrat went down in history not only as a preacher, but also as the author of one of the first well-known defensive speeches in favor of Christianity. Around 126, he presented his apology to Emperor Hadrian, who at that time pursued a policy of persecution of believers in Jesus. The text made such a strong impression that the ruler revised his approach to such court cases and issued a decree prohibiting sentencing without sufficient evidence of guilt.

To this day, only a small part of the apostle's work has been preserved, which was quoted by the church historian Eusebius of Caesarea in the IV century.

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The origins of the holiday, rooted in Russia, and why the celebration has a "special" status

Saints Hypatius and Andrew, whose memory is also commemorated on October 4, lived in the Lydian region of Asia Minor. From a young age, they studied together at the same monastic monastery, where they showed outstanding abilities not only in spiritual science, but also in practical piety. They were distinguished by deep faith and strict asceticism.

Hypatius took monastic vows and soon went into seclusion, preferring silence, fasting and prayer to public service. On the contrary, Andrew, who was distinguished by the gift of speech, became a presbyter and devoted himself to active pastoral work, converting ordinary people to the truth. His sermons were respected, and he inspired his flock with his personal example of a righteous life.

When the Archbishop of Ephesus learned of the virtues of these men, he invited them to his house. Impressed by their prudence, wisdom and sincere humility, he appointed Hypatius — despite his resistance — bishop of one of the Asian churches, arguing that "such a lamp cannot be hidden in the desert." He ordained Andrey to the priesthood. Thus, two close-minded ascetics became pillars of the region's church life.

It was one of the most dramatic periods in the history of Byzantium — the era of iconoclasm, which began under Emperor Leo III the Isaurian. This ruler, who opposed the veneration of holy images, ordered the destruction of all icons, forbade praying in front of them.

Saints Hypatius and Andrew not only refused to obey the decree, but also inspired the faithful to remain faithful to the Orthodox tradition. The emperor tried to reason with them by inviting them to a debate organized by the court theologians. However, neither logic nor threats shook the tenacity of the saints. Then they were subjected to severe tortures (which they endured with rare fortitude and courage), and then executed.

The bodies of the martyrs were thrown out of the city to be eaten by animals, but the faithful secretly transferred them and buried them with honors. The feat of Hypatius and Andrew remained in the church's memory as an example of steadfastness and courage.

Traditions of the national holiday celebrated in Russia on October 4

In the national calendar, Saints' Day was closely associated with the agricultural cycle. The holiday was named Kondrat da Ipat, Kondratiev Day, Dvory, Zamolotki and Fertility Day. The peasants considered Codrates of Athens, Bishop Hypatius and Presbyter Andrew to be the patrons of the land and harvest, and October 4 was an important milestone when the harvest was completed in the villages and preparations for threshing began.

Our ancestors prepared sheep houses, special buildings for drying grain, and melted them so that they could start working in a few days. During this period, a special atmosphere prevailed — restrained, hardworking, without frills and idleness. People used to say, "Kondrat and Ipat help the rich get rich," meaning that only a diligent and prudent person can multiply the good received from nature and holy patronage.

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The housewives prepared hospitable treats — oatmeal porridge with honey, pies with various fillings, homemade liqueur. The workers were greeted generously, with a ceremonial verdict: "A pot of porridge for the threshers, and a pile of bread for the owner" — it was considered a conspiracy for wealth.

Also, through food, the ancestors tried to appease the spirits, provide the house with protection and prosperity. To do this, a portion of porridge was left at the stove or on the threshold as an offering to the brownie.

On this day, it was also customary to thank employees with kind words, treats, and often additional pay. The ancestors believed that the saints would help those who share.

What not to do on Kondrat da Ipat holiday

In Russia, on Kondratiev Day, there were a number of strict prohibitions. Their observance was considered a guarantee that the year would be successful. October 4 was considered a time of hard work, and idleness was disrespectful to the patron saints. The lazy were called unworthy of help from above.

What else you can't do on October 4th:

• wearing someone else's clothes and shoes can take over the troubles and misfortunes of the previous owner.;
• make large purchases — such purchases will not last long;
• walking alone, especially for women — dark forces are active and can lead you astray;
• to lend money and take it yourself — loans for Kondrat and Ipat are returned with difficulty;
• quarreling, shouting, showing aggression — actions deprive a person of the blessing of the saints;
• complaining about fate and discussing other people's troubles attracts new misfortunes.

Folk signs for October 4th

The signs of October 4 traditionally concerned the weather and the harvest. They helped the peasants plan the rest of autumn and prepare for winter. In the villages, they believed that the weather on Kondratiev Day would be the same throughout October.:

• The sky is overcast — cloudy and wet weather will last until November.;
• It's cold during the day, and warmer in the evening — the winter will be snowy.;
• strong wind — for a harsh and prolonged winter;
• puddles don't dry out all day — by the lingering autumn;
• the mushrooms in the forest have moved away, but the nuts have been born — by the fierce winter;
• There are a lot of leaves left on the birches — frosts will come late.

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