Folk signs for June 28: what can and cannot be done
In Russia, omens have been given special importance since ancient times. They were used to judge the weather, when to sow and harvest, and what to expect in the future. Therefore, every day of the national calendar was full of rituals and superstitions. Izvestia tells about the popular signs of June 28 and what church holidays are celebrated on this day.
Folk signs for June 28
In the national calendar, June 28 is the day of Fit and Amos, which in Russia was also called Fitov Day, or Animal Intercessor. According to legend, it is from this day that all songbirds, except the cuckoo, stop singing, and the days begin to wane. The peasants considered this date an important milestone in the agricultural year — after it it was useless to sow, since the bread would not have time to ripen before the cold weather. They said, "Whoever sows after the Harvest is simple — the bread does not ripen." But oats were actively growing at that time, which is why the holiday was also called Fit Fescue.
In the old days, on June 28, women did household chores, cleaning and weeding vegetable gardens, and men did household chores and repairs. In the villages, they tried to get up at dawn — meeting the rising sun, according to beliefs, promised good luck and prosperity in business and personal life. Herbalists went to collect medicinal plants in the early morning, when they supposedly had a special power.
The folk signs of this day are almost all related to the weather and the future harvest. If it rained on Fit day, the peasants began to worry — this was considered a bad sign for winter crops. But the abundant morning dew, on the contrary, foreshadowed a generous grain harvest. The weather for the next few days was determined by the behavior of insects. So, the loud chirping of grasshoppers foreshadowed a prolonged bad weather, and a large number of midges promised a good harvest of buckwheat.
Other signs of the day:
- In the evening, fog appeared — it's going to rain soon;
- The grasshoppers are chirping louder than usual, leading to prolonged rains for several days.;
- lots of midges — for a good buckwheat harvest;
- The wind changes direction counterclockwise, leading to prolonged bad weather.;
- Cirrus clouds are floating from the west, leading to prolonged bad weather.;
- a large number of mosquitoes lead to rain.
What not to do on June 28
This day was considered by the people to be not the most prosperous — they believed that various troubles happened on Fita, from economic troubles to serious accidents and fires. Therefore, there was a strict ban on excessive fun, noisy festivities and loud laughter — it was believed that this could attract troubles and misfortunes to the house. Evil spirits are believed to be especially active on this day, so it was not worth going to the forest, to reservoirs or to unfamiliar places, especially alone. They were also afraid of quarrels: even a minor conflict could escalate into a protracted feud.
What else can not be done on June 28:
- throwing away leftovers — luck will leave the house;
- To be greedy and stingy is to put yourself in need.;
- Accepting gifts from strangers is a disaster;
- plan important meetings and start new business — they will go to no avail.
What is the church holiday on June 28th?
On June 28, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of several saints. Among them is the Old Testament prophet Amos, one of the 12 so—called minor prophets who lived in the 8th century BC. He was a native of the Jewish village of Fekuya, a simple shepherd, unlearned, but filled with fervent faith and zeal for the glory of God. The Lord chose him for prophetic ministry and sent him to the kingdom of Israel to rebuke the wicked king Jeroboam and the apostate people. The prophet predicted great calamities to the Israelites for their idolatry and wickedness, for which he was repeatedly beaten and exiled. The priest of the idolatrous temple, Amaziah, especially hated him — the prophet predicted his and his entire house's imminent death, for which he was beaten by the priest's son and seriously wounded. Barely alive, Amos reached his native village and died there about 83 years before the Birth of Christ.
On the same day, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the holy Martyr Vitus of Rome (in the Russian folk tradition — Fit). He was born at the end of the 3rd century in Sicily into the family of a pagan noble. Even in his youth, Whit believed in Christ and received the gift of healing from the Lord. He healed many sick people and converted many pagans to Christianity. According to legend, he managed to exorcise demons from the heir of the Emperor Diocletian himself, under whom Christians were brutally persecuted.
However, even this merit did not save Vitus — after refusing to worship the Roman gods, he was imprisoned and subjected to sophisticated torture. The saint died around the year 303. Later, his relics were transferred to the Czech Republic, to St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. Together with Vitus, the church remembers his tutor Modest and his nurse Crescentia, who also suffered for their faith.
A special place in the church calendar on June 28 is occupied by the celebration in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Odigitria" Voroninskaya. This is the day of the appearance of the image, which occurred in 1518, 12 km south of Cherepovets, near the village of Voronino. John, the sexton of the Church of the Archangel Michael in the village of Ilyinskoye, went to the Konechnovsky forest and on the way back saw the image of the Virgin shining like a sunbeam on a huge lime tree. Struck by the vision, he prayed fervently and went home, but lost his way and found himself again at the same tree. Then John realized that the Mother of God Herself was giving him a sign, and with reverence he removed the icon from the tree, took it to the temple and placed it in the church. However, the icon was not in the temple the next day — it miraculously returned to the tree.
This happened several times, and the faithful, led by the priest, realized that this place was special. Then they built a chapel on the site of the apparition, and later a monastery. The monastic community that gathered around the icon gave the name of both the monastery and the image itself — Voroninskaya. In 1792, the icon was stolen and the monastery burned down; the fate of the original image is still unknown. Today, the only surviving evidence of it remains a miniature in an 18th-century collection.
Prayers on June 28
Believers make various requests to the saints venerated on this day. They pray to the Prophet Amos for the gift of repentance and strengthening in faith, as well as for protection from injustice and persecution. Saint Vitus has long been prayed for the protection of livestock from disease and death. In front of the icon of the Mother of God "Odigitria" Voroninskaya they ask for healing from ailments, especially eye diseases. They also turn to the image with prayers for help in everyday needs and intercession before the Lord.
Prayer to the Prophet Amos
"O Lord, we celebrate the memory of your Prophet Amos, and we beseech You: save our souls. Having cleansed your radiant heart with the spirit, O prophet, glorious Amos, who received the gift of prophecy from above, you cried out loudly in all countries: This is our God, and no one will be added to Him. Amen to that."
Prayer to Saint Vitus
"O holy servant of God, Martyr Vita! Having labored with a good deed on earth, you have perceived in heaven the crown of righteousness, which the Lord has prepared for all who love Him. Looking at your holy image, we rejoice at the glorious end of your residence and honor your holy memory. But you, standing before the Throne of God, accept our supplications and offer them to the All-merciful God, that He may forgive us every sin and help us against the wiles of the devil, so that, having been delivered from sorrows, diseases, troubles and misfortunes, and all evil, we may live piously and righteously in our present age and be worthy of your intercession, even if we are unworthy. May you see the good in the lands of the living, glorifying God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen to that."
Prayer to the icon of the Mother of God "Odigitria" Voroninskaya
"We pray to Thee, O Most Pure Theotokos, as a warm helper and intercessor, who glorifies the appearance of Thy most wonderful icon of Voronin, who has illuminated the borders of Cherepovets, and who, with faith, flows to Thee, quickly giving help. Pray, O Most Merciful Lady, that Your Son, Jesus, may our souls be saved. We honor You, who are rich in mercy, and we call You, O Most Pure Lady: do not forget, O Merciful One, Your people, who run to Your miraculous Voroninsky icon with faith and cry out loudly to You: Hail, Gracious Virgin, who does not forsake us with Her care. Amen to that."
Earlier, Izvestia told what they pray to Timothy of Prussia.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
