A special holiday on December 27 is Filimonov Day: history, traditions, omens
Every year on December 27, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of several early Christian martyrs — Philemon, Apollonius, Arianus and Theotichus, who suffered for their faith in Egypt in the third century. In the national calendar, the holiday is known as Philemon's Day. In 2025, it falls on a Saturday. Read about its history, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.
What is the church holiday on December 27th?
Philemon, Apollonius, Arianus and Theotichus lived in Egypt in the third century during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, known for his uncompromising policy towards Christianity.
In the last years of Diocletian's reign, 37 Christians were captured and imprisoned in the city of Thebes. One of them was Deacon Apollonius, who was the first to believe in Christ. However, under threat of severe torture, he faltered and tried to save his life by seeking help from the famous actor and flutist Filimon.
According to Apollonius, Philemon was supposed to put on his clothes and sacrifice to pagan idols in his place. But the unexpected happened — during the ceremony, Philemon, who had not previously belonged to the Christian community, publicly confessed his faith in Jesus. This act was a turning point. Seeing his determination, Apollonius also revealed the truth.
Both were captured, tortured for a long time, and eventually executed for refusing to renounce their faith. But the story didn't end there. Arianus, the pagan appointed chief executioner and torturer of Christians, suddenly fell ill after their execution. He was tormented by severe pain in his eye, he stopped seeing.
According to legend, the executioner applied the ashes from Philemon's grave to the sore spot and his eyesight was miraculously restored. This event became a sign for him — Arianus, and with him his bodyguard Theotikhus, came to believe in Christ.
Upon learning of the incident, the authorities tortured the converts and then executed them. So Arianus and Theotichus shared the fate of those who had previously been persecuted.
Traditions of the national holiday Filimonov Day on December 27
In Russia, Philemon's Day was perceived as a time when the boundary between the world of the dead and the world of the living becomes especially thin. In popular beliefs, the end of December was considered a time when darkness intensified, and with it evil spirits became bolder — echidnas and kikimores roamed the earth, pressed against windows, scratched at doors, trying to get into the house. Therefore, December 27 was dedicated to the protection of the home and the symbolic purification of space.
There was a popular belief that dirt and disorder attracted evil spirits no worse than an open door. Therefore, one of the main traditions of Filimonov Day was general cleaning. The women washed and tidied the floors, benches, dishes, and household equipment in barns and barns, while the men cleaned the chimneys.
At night, the gates to the courtyard and the doors to the huts were closed as tightly as possible. The ancestors feared that even a small gap could become a "passage" for troubles, diseases and misfortunes. When leaving home, people took with them an extinct ember from the stove, it was considered a personal talisman against the evil eye and unwanted encounters with evil spirits.
In Russia, water was considered the main protective agent against evil spirits, so in the morning, before leaving the gate, it was necessary to rinse your face. Those who ignored this rule could expect trouble on the road or business failures. For example, the ancestors believed that if you get on a horse without washing, the animal can carry, throw off the rider or injure itself.
They washed their faces several times, and if there was an important matter or a difficult conversation to be had, they symbolically sprinkled themselves with water — a few drops were enough. In the evening, they tried to visit the sauna — steaming with a broom was perceived not only as a hygienic procedure, but as a way to energetically "burn out" all the bad things before the new year.
What not to do on the national holiday Philemon Day
On Philemon's Day, the ancestors tried to be careful and not provoke trouble by rash actions. So, on December 27, they avoided leaving children alone without supervision. It was believed that they could be afraid of evil spirits and become especially vulnerable to evil influences.
What else is forbidden to do on December 27:
- to enter into quarrels and protracted conflicts with loved ones — shouting and swearing "open" the doors to evil;
- commemorating suicides and people who died in accidents — according to beliefs, their souls can come into the house and harm;
- going to bed with an unwashed head is an evil spirit that can "get into" dirty hair.;
- making large purchases and making serious deals — what you purchase on this day may not be useful or result in financial losses.;
- talking to strangers on the doorstep of a house is believed to hide an evil spirit behind the appearance of an ordinary person, looking for a way to enter the home.
In addition, the Christmas Fast continued during this period, and it was forbidden to consume meat, eggs, dairy products, and alcohol. Violating it was considered not only a sin, but also a bad omen for the next year.
Folk signs for December 27
On December 27, nature was closely monitored in Russia, which helped peasants make predictions for the rest of winter and next summer. "Philemon will tell you what year is ahead," they said.:
- At night, the trees were covered with thick frost, leading to heavy snowfall.;
- the day is mild and relatively warm — by the hot, sultry summer;
- rain or thick fog — there will be a lot of snow in February;
- Crows are cawing loudly in the early morning, leading to a rapid cooling and increased frosts.;
- by Filimonov Day, the snow had not fallen — spring would come later than usual.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions of the Catholic Christmas and its differences from Orthodoxy.
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