Folk signs for June 18: what can and cannot be done
In Russia, signs and beliefs were given special importance. They were used to determine when to sow and harvest, have weddings and go on a trip. Every day of the national calendar was full of rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about the signs for June 18 and the church holidays that fall on this date.
Folk signs for June 18, 2026
In Russia, Dorotheus Day was celebrated on June 18. The Slavs believed that on this holiday a magical dream-grass blooms, a plant from the buttercup family that blooms at night. Because of this feature, the flower was endowed with mystical properties: it was believed that it could evoke prophetic dreams.
Dream grass was widely used during fortune-telling, worn as a talisman, laid in the foundation during the construction of a new house. It was also used to ward off evil spirits, and medicinal potions for pain and inflammation were prepared from the stems and flowers.
On Dorofeyev Day, the housewives replenished their stocks of medicinal herbs and did household chores: they cleaned the house, did laundry, and tidied up the barns and stables. There was a belief that fatigue did not take a person on this day, so they tried to do as many things as possible.
Much attention was paid to dreams, which were considered prophetic, as well as various omens. The peasants closely monitored the natural phenomena to determine what the summer would be like. A warm and clear day promised a rich harvest, and the fog over the water promised an abundance of mushrooms in the forest.
Other signs of the day
- lots of dew in the morning — for a rich harvest of grain crops;
- northwest wind — for rainy and wet summer;
- lots of spiders — for good, warm weather;
- rain — the whole week will be wet;
- bees are sitting in the hive in the morning — the rains will start soon;
- a bright sunset on a cloudy day — the weather will turn bad.
What not to do on June 18
Dorotheus Day in Russia was associated with several important prohibitions designed to protect people from troubles and the influence of dark forces. So, the ancestors tried not to leave the house at night — it was believed that after that you could get seriously ill.
What else can not be done on June 18
- Telling bad dreams can make them come true;
- making new acquaintances leads to disappointment and trouble;
- to quarrel, swear and sort things out — it will be difficult to reconcile.;
- Picking up stabbing and cutting objects can attract trouble.;
- engaging in conversations with strangers — evil spirits may be hiding under the guise of a passerby.
What is the church holiday on June 18?
On June 18, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Martyr Dorotheus of Tyre, who lived in the III–IV centuries. He was bishop of the Phoenician city of Tyre during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian. Hiding from his tormentors, the saint fled the city, but returned to the pulpit during the reign of Constantine the Great and led the flock for more than 50 years, converting many pagans to Christianity.
When Emperor Julian the Apostate again began openly persecuting Christians, Saint Dorotheus was already over 100 years old. The saint was arrested and brutally tortured for refusing to sacrifice to idols, as a result of which the elder died. The Holy Martyr Dorotheus is credited with compiling the Synopsis, a collection of tales about the lives of the holy prophets and apostles.
Also on June 18, believers remember Blessed St. Constantine, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia, who occupied the pulpit in the middle of the XII century. On the initiative of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, he was ordained in Constantinople in January 1156 and arrived in Kiev the same year. Together with trusted bishops, he began to restore the canonical norms of church life, violated by the troubles in the Russian Church.
After the death of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky in 1158, the people of Kiev, who did not like the late prince, began to rob his property. Metropolitan Konstantin, fearing revenge from Mstislav Izyaslavich, whose father was anathematized under him, retired to Chernigov, where Svyatoslav Olgovich ruled. There he suddenly fell ill and, anticipating his demise, bequeathed not to bury his body, but to throw it to the dogs.
Bishop Anthony fulfilled the will of the deceased. The body lay unharmed for three days and three nights, and every night pillars of fire were seen above it. Amazed by this miracle, Prince Svyatoslav ordered the remains to be honorably transferred to the Transfiguration Cathedral of Chernigov, where they were buried. Numerous miraculous healings began to take place at the relics of the saint.
Prayers for June 18
Orthodox believers pray to the Holy Martyr Dorotheus of Tyre on June 18. He is asked to strengthen his faith, help in pastoral ministry, and protect him from persecution and injustice. They also pray to Blessed Constantine on this day. People turn to him with requests for peace, help in strengthening faith and saving the lost.
Troparion to the Holy Martyr Dorotheus of Tyre
"When you were a communicant of the spirit and a vicar of the throne as an apostle, you found an act inspired by God, in the ascension of a vision: correcting the word of truth for this, and suffering even to the point of blood for the sake of faith, Holy Martyr Dorothea, pray to Christ God for our souls."
Kontakion to the Holy Martyr Dorotheus of Tyre
"Shining with virtue, and with divine teachings greater than the sun, and suffering, blessed one, thou didst turn over and enlighten the earth, Dorothea, banishing the darkness of polytheism and fierce heresy. For this reason, we celebrate your memory with light."
Prayer to Blessed St. Constantine, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia
"O most honorable and sacred head and full of the grace of the Holy Spirit, dwelling of the Savior with the Father, great bishop, our warm intercessor, to St. Constantine, standing at the Throne of all Kings and enjoying the light of the consubstantial Trinity and cherubic angels, proclaiming the trisagion hymn, and having great and unexplored boldness towards the all-merciful Master, pray for the salvation of the flock of Christ by the people Confirm the well-being of the holy churches: bishops, adorn the monks with the splendor of holiness, strengthen the monks with the asceticism of the good current, preserve the reigning city and all cities and countries with goodness, and keep the holy immaculate faith, pacify the whole world through your intercession, deliver us from gladness and destruction, and preserve us from the attacks of foreigners, comfort the old, guide the young, Be wise to the insane, have mercy on widows, intercede for orphans, raise up infants, bring back captives, free those who are weak and pray to you from all adversity and troubles through your intercession: pray for us to the All-merciful and Loving Christ our God, that on the day of His Terrible Coming He may deliver us from our suffering, and grant us the joys of the saints with all the saints in forever and ever. Amen to that."
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and prohibitions of the national holiday Mitrofan Dung Man.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
