A special national holiday on May 28 is Pakhom Teply: history, traditions, omens
Every year on May 28, Orthodox believers honor the memory of two Venerable Pakhomios — Pakhomios the Great, one of the founders of Cenobitic monasticism in Egypt, and also Pakhomios of Nerekhta, a 14th-century Russian ascetic. In the national calendar, the date was called Pahom Teply, or Pahom Bokogrei. In 2026, the holiday falls on a Thursday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.
What is the church holiday on May 28th?
Pachomius the Great was born in Egypt at the end of the 3rd century. In his youth, he was drafted into the army of Emperor Constantine. According to church tradition, it was during the service that he first encountered Christians — they brought food to the recruits, demanding nothing in return. Such selflessness made a strong impression on the young man.
After completing his military service, Pachomius was baptized and chose the path of asceticism. At first, he lived with the hermit Palamon, and studied prayer, humble work, discipline, and the strict routine of a hermit's life. And later he settled in Tavennisi on the banks of the Nile, where students began to gather around him.
The main task of Pakhomy was the establishment of a monastic community. There were many hermits in Egypt before him, but he proposed a different order: monks lived together, obeyed the rules, worked, prayed, ate at set times, and did not own personal property. This is how one of the first forms of communal monasticism arose.
Pachomius died around 348, leaving behind several monasteries and a tradition that influenced the further development of Christian monasticism.
On the same day, the church commemorates St. Pachomius of Nerekhta. He was born in Vladimir in the 14th century into the family of a priest and took monastic vows in his youth. For some time, Pakhomiy was associated with the Tsar Constantine Monastery near Vladimir, participated in its restoration, and for several years managed the monastery as abbot.
Later, he moved to Kostroma land, seeking a more secluded life. Near Nerekhta, Pakhomy settled in a place that was then sparsely populated and convenient for desert exploits. The locals helped him build a monastery, for which the ascetic personally painted the image of the Holy Trinity.
Over time, the brethren gathered around Pachomius. In the new monastery, he introduced a strict order: the monks had to cultivate the land themselves, live by their own labor. The monk did not separate prayer from daily work and was the first to show an example of such a life.
Pachomius died in 1384. In 1675, his relics were found incorruptible, and miracles began to happen near the tomb, according to church legend.
Traditions of the national holiday Pakhom Warm on May 28
In Russia, the name of Saint Pakhomy was shortened to the more familiar one — Pakhom. By May 28, real warmth was usually established, the earth was warming up, and the spring cold was gone. Hence the name of the holiday — Groin Warm, Groin Warm. They said in the villages: "The Groin came — it smelled warm," "The Groin came Sideways — finish the wheat quickly."
Pahom Teply was considered the frontier when spring finally unfolded by summer. At this time, they usually completed the sowing of flax and switched to wheat. We tried to work early in the morning, without delay. According to legend, important things had to be completed before lunch, while the day was "growing" and the sun was giving the seeds its power. The peasants believed that the wheat sown on the Arable land would give strong shoots.
And in the gardens, women were engaged in planting vegetables — cucumbers and other heat-loving crops continued to be sown in the fields. The house on May 28th also required attention. The housewives took out the trash, sorted out old things, changed bed linen, aired clothes, cleaned dishes and carefully wiped the table after eating. There were no crumbs left, it was believed that carelessness on the table could lead to scarce supplies.
Our ancestors believed that important dreams could occur on the night of May 28. They tried to remember them, but not to retell them to others, since, according to beliefs, a prediction uttered aloud lost its power.
What not to do on a holiday is a warm groin
In Russia, a number of prohibitions were associated with the Warm Pakhom, the violation of which, according to beliefs, could lead to hardship and business failures. On May 28, it was strictly forbidden to lie in bed for a long time, postpone business and sit around. The ancestors knew that laziness and idleness on the threshold of summer could leave a family without income.
What else you can't do on May 28th:
- Keeping trash and old things in the house can lead to financial difficulties.;
- Walking in untidy clothes is sloppiness that can "alienate" luck and people's respect.;
- Taking money from other people's hands is a way to accept other people's worries and financial problems.;
- to put on someone else's shoes — a person risks "taking away" someone else's illness or a serious fate.;
- Using someone else's towel can cause adversity and weakness.;
- sleeping on someone else's pillow — you can wake up with anxious thoughts and other people's troubles.;
- picking up valuables found on the street, accepting gifts from strangers — a thing can bring the evil eye, misfortune and illness.;
- telling about plans and desires — what you hear from other people's ears, according to legend, will not come true;
- girls can talk about matchmaking and marriage — such conversations can close the way to a wedding and a happy family.
Folk signs for May 28
On Pakhoma Teplyi, peasants carefully monitored the weather, trees, wind, and birds to determine what the summer would be like and whether to expect a good harvest.:
- the day is sunny and windless — the summer will also be warm and favorable, without drought and prolonged rains.;
- the morning sky is purple — for hot, dry summers and the threat of fires;
- The smoke from the campfire swirls and creeps low to the lingering rains.;
- An easterly wind blew during the rain, and the storm will end soon.;
- After the rain, a rainbow appeared — the weather will begin to clear up.;
- aspen was covered with catkins — for a good harvest of oats;
- Viburnum bloomed — barley will be born;
- juniper blossoms — for a rich harvest of spring berries;
- It's cold and wet — the beginning of summer will be long and cool.
Earlier, Izvestia listed rituals and conspiracies for the Trinity that attract health and wealth.
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