Behind last years The list of holiday dates in our country has expanded significantly. New holidays appear, old ones are remembered and revived. And some, having come to us from abroad, quickly win hearts and receive loyal fans. But before supporting foreign traditions, you should pay attention to your own, primordial ones, rooted deep in the history of our country. This is what happened with the Western Valentine's Day, celebrated. He quickly caught the fancy of Russian youth. However, not everyone knows about the existence of a Russian “analogue” of Valentine’s Day. Perhaps because it was established only a few years ago, but it is celebrated today with no less scope. This Russian Valentine's Day, fixed to the date of July 8th, is called Peter and Fevronia Day, which honors family, love and fidelity.
Peter and Fevronia
On a note! The holiday has very deep roots, originating in ancient Russian chronicles and legends telling about the lives of two saints who lived a long, righteous life and died not just on the same day, but on the same hour and minute.
Below we will tell you how this holiday came about, where it came from, and when it was officially established.
Russian Valentine's Day, falling on July 8th, is the date when Orthodox saints named Fevronia and Peter are remembered. Officially (in the state, secular sense) it is called the Day of Family, Love, and Fidelity. The most interesting thing is that if you turn to official documents - chronicles - there is no mention in them of a prince named Peter. However, most researchers agree that the two saints, the heroes of the story, do have real prototypes - the prince who ruled in Murom, named David Yuryevich and his wife (her name has not been preserved at all). His reign spanned the period from 1205 to 1228. David was tonsured a monk and took the name Peter. And the couple was canonized in 1547. Later, a story appeared in ancient Russian literature telling about the wonderful love of Fevronia and Peter with a rather poetic, even fairy-tale content. It combines two plots: one tells about the prince’s battle with a snake spitting fire, and the other about a miracle worker who healed him after the battle. Let's briefly touch on these legends and tell the plot of the essay about the people whose lives gave rise to such a holiday as Russian Valentine's Day.
At a time when Peter had not yet accepted the principality, he had to fight a huge fiery serpent. He defeated the creature, but was stained with the blood of the monster, which infected him with leprosy. None of the doctors could cure him. Salvation came in a dream, from which Peter learned that in the Ryazan lands, in the village of Laskovo, there lives a certain tree climber (in other words, a beekeeper or someone who knows how to extract wild honey), whose daughter is a miracle worker named Fevronia. And only she can heal him. Therefore, we can assume that the future patrons of all Russian families whose names the Russian holiday Valentine's Day bears met in a dream.
Peter turned to Fevronia, but she demanded payment, namely: in case of a good outcome, marriage to herself. Peter, naturally, agreed, but when he began to recover, he did not keep his word, since he did not need the common princess. The healer used a trick and did not completely cure one of the prince’s wounds. Soon the illness returned, Peter again turned to Fevronia for treatment, after which he finally married the girl.
The future patrons of all Russian families, whose names the Russian holiday Valentine's Day bears, met in a dream
When it was Peter's turn to accept the principality, the boyars of Murom did not want a princess of a non-noble family, since they regarded this as an insult to the position of their women. They gave an ultimatum: either give up your wife or the principality. Peter did not leave Fevronia, and they left Murom together. Left without a ruler, the principality plunged into turmoil. Murders, rapes, and robberies began. The boyars came to their senses and again called Peter to reign. The couple returned to the city, and after some time the townspeople began to sincerely respect Fevronia for her qualities and actions. Having lived to an advanced age, Peter became a monk in one monastery, taking the name David, and Fevronia in another, taking the name Euphrosyne. And right up to last day both asked God to grant them death in the same hour and day, and to be surrounded by them - to be buried in the same coffin, which was even prepared in advance. They actually died on the same day. But their monastic status did not allow them to lie in the same coffin. But being buried in different graves and monasteries, literally a day later they found themselves in the same coffin and grave.
How was the holiday established?
Saint Febronia and Saint Peter have been considered the patrons of the family since ancient times. However, the day of their death acquired the status All-Russian holiday only in 2008. This event was preceded by many years of work by the residents of Murom, led by their mayor, so that this holiday changed its status from municipal to all-Russian. According to residents of the city, in the Trinity Convent of which the relics of saints are kept, the couple, whose remains were miraculous, are more than worthy to patronize love and family at the state level.
The “struggle” for Russian Valentine’s Day began in 2001, when the then mayor decided to hold the day of the city of Murom on July 8th. Thus, he took care of observing historical traditions. Over the next five years, the Murom administration took various steps to ensure that their city holiday became nationwide. In 2006, a petition signed by fifteen thousand citizens was sent to the State Duma. And on March 26, 2008, the holiday was established unanimously, receiving the name Day of Married Love and Family Happiness. And the symbol of this holiday became summer flower chamomile, which Russians traditionally regard with great love and warmth.
In order to popularize the holiday and strengthen its status, since 2008, in almost every Russian city began erecting monuments to the canonized couple
On a note! By the way, one of the reasons for the approval of the holiday was the need to have an alternative to Valentine's Day. And this was confirmed at the official level.
According to various surveys, from 65 to 85 percent of the Russian population call themselves Orthodox Christians. But at the same time, Russian people in recent years have been celebrating non-Russian, I would say Busurman, religious festivals that are far from Orthodoxy.
For some time now, in Russia, on February 14, it has become customary to celebrate a certain Valentine's Day - the day of all lovers. Residents of our predominantly Orthodox country succeed a lot in celebrating the day of this saint, which has nothing to do with the calendar of Ecumenical Orthodoxy, and even more so with Russian traditional holidays.
Valentine is a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. No life of this saint has been compiled; there are only legends. Moreover, the Catholic Church cannot unequivocally assert that such a saint even existed. There are two Valentine saints in the Roman Catholic calendar - Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Interamna. Catholic theologians and patrists cannot say with certainty which of them was the patron saint of all lovers. What is known is that a certain Valentin, who suffered during the years of persecution for Christ, united the hearts of lovers. There is no life of this early Christian martyr Valentine, there are only legends written by impressed and warmly loved lovers.
That is why, in the Roman Catholic Church, on February 14, it is customary to celebrate not Valentine’s Day as such, but the day of all lovers, which, it is unclear how, came to Russia in the 1990s, where people ignorant of religious dogmas immediately picked it up and began note. And in Russia, as you know, just give a reason to celebrate an extra holiday.
The legend of Valentine's Day and St. Valentine is deeply rooted in Ancient Rome, even before the birth of Christ. Then a pagan holiday called Lupercalia was celebrated - a fertility festival in honor of the goddess of feverish love and the god Faun, patron of flocks, which was celebrated on February 15. On this day, it was customary to publicly flog naked women who had few or no children. This was done in order to cleanse the woman, to knock out the impurity that was preventing childbearing from her. Women were beaten by naked young men running around Rome. Moreover, they beat exclusively with whips made from the skin of animals sacrificed to God. Women willingly agreed to be beaten, even those who had many children. It was believed that after these games, women became pregnant more often and gave birth more easily.
This holiday became very popular in Rome and was attended by members of noble families.
The holiday has a long history. It continued to exist after the fall of paganism and the arrival of Christianity in the Roman Empire.
In 494, Pope Gelasius I tried to ban the Lupercalia festival. But it was in vain, naked young men continued to run around Rome after women who, in fact, did not try to hide from them. And then the Pope, trying to somehow guide the Romans on the right path, decided to introduce on this day new holiday, closer to Christianity - Valentine's Day. Because the task of Lupercalia was to find love and bear children.
Roman Catholic historians William Friend and Jack Oruch, in their study published in the mid-twentieth century, argued that the Pope was thereby replacing an ordinary pagan holiday with something less pagan. The spankings and running around gradually began to stop, and in return the young people began to organize banal romantic meetings, and under the pressure of the pope, these meetings began to take place closer to Catholic churches.
According to some data, which now naturally cannot be proven by anything, one of the instigators of a new type of celebration of Valentine's Day was a certain Christian named Valentine, who was tortured by ardent supporters of the pagan holiday of Lupercalia. For this, he was actually canonized. And they tortured him just on the very day of the celebration of Lupercalia - February 14th.
Over the years, the life of the tortured Valentin became overgrown with legends associated with the secret wedding. Even during the life of Saint Valentine, Rome was ruled by the powerful and cruel Emperor Claudius II. He believed that a single man, unencumbered by a family, would be better off fighting on the battlefield. And so he forbade men to marry. And Valentin, being a priest, sympathized with the lovers and secretly married them. For this he was imprisoned and sentenced to death. In conclusion, Valentin met the warden's daughter with whom he fell madly in love. Before his death, he wrote her a declaration of love, where he told her about his feelings and signed “Your Valentine.” The letter was read after the execution of Valentine, which occurred on February 14, 269.
There are many such legends about the life of Valentine. Which of them is true will now never be known. But the fact remains that nothing is known about the life of a certain martyr Valentine, and what is known is most likely a myth. The fact remains that Valentine’s Day itself originated precisely from the pagan flagellation festival Lupercalia, which is more like a banal perversion.
And it is very unfortunate that Russian people, most of whom consider themselves Orthodox Christians, have become like pagans and Catholics, celebrating this “holiday” that has no reliable basis, theological understanding and moral foundations.
In Russia (especially here in the Yaroslavl region), in many schools teachers hold competitions among students to write love letters and postcards, the so-called “Valentines”. They cut out hearts and organize other events that are far from Russian Orthodox culture, cultivating in the younger generation the seeds of Western European and pagan culture based on sadism and perversion.
In many, even Catholic countries, the holiday of all lovers as Valentine's Day is not celebrated today as widely as in Russia. In France, for example, there are only lovers exchanging modest gifts. In Denmark, dried white flowers are given as gifts. But in Russia, a country with a great thousand-year-old culture based on the Orthodox Christian faith, since the 1990s, Valentine's Day has been celebrated with mass messages of love, romantic dates and other disfigured forms. According to the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, 81 percent of young people aged 18 to 24 years, one way or another, celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14. This is a very poor indicator that the Russian people, 92 percent of whom call themselves Orthodox, celebrate this day. Fortunately, recently in Russia they began to massively suppress this phenomenon. For example, Belgorod Governor Evgeny Savchenko in 2011 gave instructions to ban the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day “as part of an action plan to ensure spiritual security.”
By the way, in Saudi Arabia it is forbidden to celebrate Valentine's Day under threat of heavy fines.
We, Russian Orthodox people, must celebrate another holiday - the Day of Love, Family and Fidelity - the day of remembrance of the holy noble princes of Murom Peter, in monasticism David and Fevronia, in monasticism Euphrosyne.
These Russian saints, monuments to which there are in many cities of Russia, were and remain a pillar and example of pious and pure love, chastity and beauty, and not pagan flagellation of each other and not a Catholic saint covered in myths.
Russian saints Peter and Fevronia were and remain the heavenly patrons of all families, family values and love. Their remembrance day is celebrated twice a year on July 8 and in September. The latter was recently established. Many young families want to celebrate their wedding and get married on the day of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom. But July 8 falls on the Apostolic Fast and therefore, by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Another day of their memory was established - Sunday, preceding September 19, in memory of the transfer of their honorable relics, which today rest in the Holy Trinity Convent of the city of Murom, Vladimir region.
To avoid mistakes and for the benefit of the reader, I quote a brief life of the holy noble princes Peter and Fevronia from the book “The Fourth Menaion” (venerated by month) by St. Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov:
“This pious prince Peter, came from a pious and holy family, was raised in the Orthodox faith and chastity in the city of Murom and ruled his principality, observing strict justice in everything. When the time came, he married the blessed princess Fevronia, who also came from a pious family and was carefully instructed in piety. Being, thus, both holy and righteous people, blessed Peter and Fevronia loved purity and chastity and were always merciful, just and meek. They delivered from the power of those who offended those who had been insulted, they worthily honored persons of monastic and priestly rank, giving them material benefits, treated the poor with great mercy and diligently practiced fasting and abstinence. Desiring, according to the word of the Lord, to inherit the land of the meek and to gain for themselves the eternal bliss of the righteous, they, in addition, and in everything else, greatly pleased Christ with their good deeds. Having then reached venerable old age, blessed Peter fell into physical illness and took monastic vows, and in monasticism he was given the name of David. After this, having been a little ill, he reposed with firm faith in God into the Kingdom of Heaven. In the same way, the holy princess Fevronia, fulfilling her sincere desire, took monastic vows, receiving the monastic title of Euphrosyne and, like her husband, reposed with unshakable faith and a clear conscience, surrendering her soul into the hands of God. Thus, both holy spouses inherited the land of the meek, which they had so desired from their youth. After the death of blessed Prince Peter, the nobles and boyars mourned him as a father, the townspeople as their intercessor and protector, the poor widows and those without food as their feeder and helper. The honorable bodies of the saints, the prince and princess, were celebrated in triumph by all the inhabitants of the city and buried in one coffin in the city of Murom. The saints, to this day, through their venerable relics, perform miracles for the glory of God to those who turn to them with faith.”
I liked today's news: http://www.ami-tass.ru/article/33915.html
“MOSCOW, March 26 /AMI-TASS/ The Federation Council Committee on Social Policy unanimously approved today the initiative to establish a new public holiday « All-Russian Day marital love and family happiness,” which is proposed to be celebrated on July 8, the Day of the Patrons of the Holy Princes Peter and Fevronia. The organizing committee for organizing the celebration was headed by the chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy, Valentina Petrenko.
As reported in the press service of the upper house of parliament, the communiqué on the establishment of a new state holiday in honor of the faithful Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia was signed by the initiators on January 18 of this year in Murom. Among them are representatives of the Federation Council, the administration of the Vladimir region, the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, which took patronage over the Murom Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.
For the first time, the new holiday will be widely celebrated in Murom this year.
Saints Peter and Fevronia reigned in Murom. But Fevronia was a peasant woman and the boyars were against their marriage; they did not want to see as their prince a man who married a simple peasant woman. Peter and Fevronia preferred family life reign on the Murom throne. They lived happily ever after, and died on the same day and at the same hour in 1228. And although they were buried separately, their bodies miraculously ended up in the same grave. Their union is a model of marital fidelity and the ideal of a family based on the personal piety of both spouses and their love. They were revered in Rus' as patrons married life.
“This should be a celebration of marital love and family happiness, based on national cultural traditions. We must take advantage of this holiday to give our youth an example of morality, purity and warmth in the family. To show what a family should be like, the relationships in it, and what responsibility lies with the man and woman who create a family,” Petrenko noted.
And the holiday must be organized as widely and openly as possible, the senator emphasized, so that all Russian regions know about it. By the way, in Murom the Day of the Holy Princes Peter and Fevronia has been celebrated for several years now, and there people in love give each other “Fevronia” cards, not “Valentines”.
“Neither the Orthodox nor the Catholic churches celebrate, in their common opinion, the “vulgar pagan” holiday of “all lovers,” into which Western folk tradition has turned February 14 according to the Gregorian calendar - the day of remembrance of the Christian saint of the third century, Valentine.
“Now we can note with positive side“that the celebration of “Valentine’s Day” (“Valentine’s Day”) in Russia is no longer so bright and large-scale,” priest Georgy Ryabykh, head of the secretariat for relations between the Church and society of the Moscow Patriarchate, told RIA Novosti.
He explained the emerging trend by the fact that people finally saw that the widespread interpretation and commercialization of this holiday “simply vulgarizes high idea love,” “emasculates its sublime essence” and turns love into “another product for market trade.”
"According to him, in Orthodox tradition special holidays of love and family happiness are considered to be the days of remembrance of saints who were distinguished in their earthly life by marital fidelity and mutual understanding, for example, Peter and Fevronia of Murom or the Royal Passion-Bearers.”
A real protest against the vulgarity and commercialization of the world is possible only in Christianity.
All over the world it is customary to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th. This holiday is called Valentine's Day and belongs to the Catholic branch of religion. The holiday came to Russia not so long ago, and unlike European countries, it does not have strong traditions. With us it has become secular and youthful. It’s just that spring is coming, everyone wants love...
Not many people know, but since the sixteenth century, Rus' had its own holiday, the patrons of which are Peter and Fevronia, ranked among the Saints by the Church. Valentine's Day in Russia is July 8th!
In our country, the holiday was officially established by the Federation Council on March 26, 2008, at a meeting on social and cultural policy. The official name is “Day of Family, Love and Fidelity.” The initiator of the introduction of this day in the country was Svetlana Medvedeva, the wife of our Prime Minister. She also suggested making a delicate chamomile a symbol of the holiday.
Where did the roots of the holiday come from?
This day dates back to the 13th century, when a number of significant events took place. According to legends, the noble prince Peter fell into a terrible illness after destroying a snake that flew to his brother’s wife. The blood of the creature that got on him poisoned the man, and the most experienced doctors could not cure him.
Once in a dream the prince had a vision that the wonderworker Virgin Fevronia lived in Ryazan, and only her power could save him from torment. After a long search, the girl was found, and she gave her consent to the prince’s treatment, but in return she said that Peter should become her husband. The prince agreed, but after healing he changed his mind about getting married - the boyars dissuaded him because Fevronia was from the common people. Soon the disease struck Peter again, and the peasant woman, taking pity on him, healed him again. This time Peter got married.
From then on, the couple began to live in love and took monastic vows. They carried out many good deeds for their own people, both of them died on July 8th. Ignoring their request for burial in one coffin, burial in different places. But then in the morning everyone was stunned when they found the spouses together. Such strong love spouses even after leaving for Eternal life struck the population, and after three centuries the couple began to be considered Saints.
Today their relics are carefully kept in the monastery Church of the Holy Trinity, and Peter and Fevronia are considered patrons of married couples. The relics help to find a soul mate, as well as strengthen existing families. In addition, there are many facts of healing from various diseases. The monastery even keeps a special book for recording the miracles that the relics performed.
Signs and traditions of the holiday
Valentine's Day in Russia - July 8th is considered to be the day when you can receive a blessing for marriage. According to legends, it is believed that the union concluded on July 8 is happy and eternal. Considering that the holiday falls on Peter's Fast, getting married is prohibited.
There is a sign for families of traders: if a spouse begins to trade with his significant other on July 8, the family will always live in abundance. The weather is also determined on this day. If the sun is shining, then for the next 40 days it will be sunny and warm. If July 8 is cloudy, then the month ahead will be cold.
Swimming is not allowed on this day, because according to legend, mermaids can lure people to the bottom. However, those who have not yet found a match will be able to give the girl a red ribbon and make a wish that will definitely come true!
How do you celebrate the holiday and what do you give?
Valentine's Day in Russia - July 8th cannot be celebrated in drinking establishments. A couple can take a walk in the park, ride a yacht or boat, and also have a picnic with their familiar families or go on a trip. An excellent and useful option for spending time is a trip to Murom, where you can venerate the relics of Peter and Fevronia.
According to the customs of the Orthodox people, they write kind notes and give various souvenirs in the shape of a heart. Those who understand Russian rituals say that girls can give their friend who is in love a figurine of a hare for good luck. Young people give each other knives. However, be sure to take at least a couple of kopecks in change for this gift!
Festive symbol of Valentine's Day in Russia
Main symbol have a beautiful holiday has become everyone's favorite chamomile. This delicate flower in Rus' it has always been considered a sign of pure and true love. It is chamomile that is considered a flower that fights for love in fortune telling until the last petal. In addition, the holiday falls during the flowering period of daisies!
The place for holding special events is decorated with fresh and artificial flowers, and daisies collected from balloons and paper. In addition, they give cards with drawings of daisies and, of course, flowers!
This day is held exclusively on family circle. This Russian holiday is designed for people with families at any age, and not just for the younger generation.
Source: www.krasulya.ru
What date is Valentine's Day in Russia?
Who should lovers pray to?
Most of our compatriots associate “Valentine’s Day” with “Valentine’s Day,” which came to us from the West. As February 14 approaches, store shelves are filled to capacity with the attributes of this thoroughly commercial holiday. There are plump cupids with arrows, red hearts, pink ribbons, and other festive tinsel. Everyone is carried away by sending love notes, the empty giving of hearts, the active manifestation of feelings towards each other with public kisses... Lustful hugs, outright obscenities - all this pours like a dirty stream from the television screen directly into inexperienced souls absorbing an irresponsible attitude towards friendship and love, accustoming a child from a young age to lightweight expressions of feelings of love.
For some reason, representatives of sexual minorities especially loved this holiday. At the same time, it is forgotten that the Hieromartyr Valentine - although revered mainly by Catholics - is still a saint of the Christian Church, and the attitude of traditional religions towards representatives of non-traditional sexual orientation has always been, to put it mildly, disrespectful.
Meanwhile, in almost every person’s life there comes a time when he is visited by a new, unknown feeling - falling in love. As a rule, this is not yet real love, but often it is difficult for a person in love to figure out what kind of feeling visited him. It seems that love has come, but time passes and bitter disappointment sets in.
It's very easy to fall in love. But most of all friction and disagreement, as we know, arises when people try to live together. “Nevertheless, surveys conducted everywhere tell us that almost everyone strives for marriage,” notes liberal philosopher José Antonio Marina, an adherent of the new sexual revolution. - Such a statement seems surprising if we remember that in developed countries everything becomes more people voluntarily choosing loneliness." And this means, the philosopher further reflects, that “happy love is long years is still desired by so many, but society has been consumed by the idea that such love is unattainable... Stories about unhappy love have gained a monopoly in society, but it would be worth turning again to stories about happy loving couples, because those also happen.”
The cause of the crisis modern family the philosopher sees that in the West “they have been grooming and nurturing their own individuality for so long, grooming themselves, caring about their individual development, their self-sufficiency, that they have lost the ability - if they ever had it at all - communicate emotionally with other people. The world has turned into a giant billiard table, where each individual ball, isolated from the others, rolls on its own and collides with other similar balls only for an instant.”
In the traditional culture of Russia, the attitude towards the feeling of falling in love, love, is based on Christian morality. How to maintain a bright feeling of love? Above all, respect each other and remember that true love always involves self-sacrifice. Therefore, think about whether you are ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of your loved one?
Try to communicate more, but remember that in the old days it was not customary to kiss before marriage! Nowadays young people give their kisses left and right, without even thinking about the strength own feelings. If a person does this, then he must remember that he is taking on great responsibility. He not only completely trusts his loved one, but he himself is ready not to enter into such a close relationship with anyone else! Well, what about even more intimate relationships, then they are certainly not allowed by the Church before the wedding. However, in our society, which is experiencing a sexual revolution, almost immediately after meeting young people they try to persuade girls to get closer to them. Promises like “ honestly“I’ll marry you.” As a result, girls lose their virginity - a priceless treasure that should be given to their only chosen one for life. And the guys in such cases simply satisfy their ambition. Having achieved what he wanted, such a young man often loses all interest in the “frivolous” girl who yielded to him and begins to seek the love of his next “victim.” In turn, the girls, deceived in their most sincere feelings, no longer trust anyone. Therefore, you must strictly adhere to the rules: intimate life- After the wedding only! This has always been the case in Russia, and now, by the way, it is becoming the rule in the West. If there is really big, true love, then loving guy will treat his chosen one with tenderness, protecting her maiden honor, and will not defect to another, “more liberated” person.
Russia should celebrate its own day of loving hearts (not Valentine's Day)
It seems that a new Christian holiday may appear in Russia, designed to become a kind of response to the Catholic Valentine's Day. Recently, during a visit to the Holy Trinity Monastery in Murom, the Chairman of the Accounts Chamber Russian Federation, who is the chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, came up with the idea in 2008, declared the Year of the Family, to establish a new holiday - the Day of Married Love and Family Happiness. According to Sergei Stepashin, Russia should have its own holiday, based on national and cultural traditions, personifying love, loyalty and family foundations. Among the initiators of the establishment of a new holiday is the auditor of the Accounts Chamber Sergei RYABUKHIN, who is the chairman of the board of trustees of the Murom Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. A PG correspondent contacted him for comments.
Valentine's Day in Russia - the day of remembrance of Saints Peter and Fevronia
Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom
In Europe, the holiday of all lovers is Valentine's Day. In the Russian Orthodox tradition there is also a Valentine's Day. This is the Day of Remembrance of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, highly revered Christian Church and celebrated on July 8th.
In fact, this holiday was lost in the pre-revolutionary era. But the images of the saints were not forgotten thanks to the story of the writer-publicist Ermolai-Erasmus, who lived in the 16th century. In his work he says that Peter and Fevronia of Murom reigned in Murom at the beginning of the 13th century. And many folk legends have developed around their historical names, based on the facts of the victory of female wisdom over the male mind.
. When Peter defeated the snake, who was torturing the wife of his older brother due to devilish obsession, a terrible thing happened: before his death, the snake sprinkled the winner with his poisonous blood, as a result of which the body of the young prince Petra covered with ulcers and scabs.
No one could heal him from this serious illness. Sent in search of a doctor, the young man accidentally wandered into the house of a lonely peasant woman named Fevronia who agreed to cure Petra, but on the condition that he marries her. The prince agreed.
Fevronia prepared a healing potion and ordered the prince to wash himself in the bathhouse, and then lubricate all the ulcers on his body, except one.
But here’s the main intrigue: when the prince promised Fevronia marry her, he had no intention of keeping his word. Moreover, his princely origin would not allow him to agree to such a marriage. Therefore, he refused to take a simple peasant woman as his wife and soon fell ill again. To get rid of a serious illness forever, Petru had to go back to Fevronia, obey her and fulfill his promise.
Peter and Fevronia lived in love and harmony happily ever after. In old age, they took monasticism and bequeathed to bury themselves in the same coffin. They died on the same day and hour. However, people considered it impious to bury monks in this way. And they violated the will of the deceased. Since then, twice their bodies were carried to different temples, but by some miracle they ended up nearby.
The relics of the saints are still kept in Murom - in the Trinity Monastery. Local people say that by touching the holy relics, people to this day receive the gift of the most precious thing - to love and be loved.
Russians and Russian women who want to meet their soulmate or receive God's blessing can pray on July 8 Saints Peter and Fevronia- they will not refuse help even to those who have already lost faith and are desperate to find their love.
One old woman standing near the church said approximately the following: “Every Fevronia you will find yours Peter on the appointed day and hour." This is true words of wisdom. So love each other and believe in your happiness, no matter what.
July 8 is a holiday dedicated to the patron saints of fidelity and love, Peter and Fevronia. It has existed since the 16th century, when saints were recognized by the church. This is love, the fidelity of lovers.
Roots of the 8th of July holiday
In the 13th century, events took place thanks to which Russia now has such a bright holiday.
According to legend, Prince Peter became very seriously ill after killing a snake that was flying to his brother's wife. The blood of the serpent fell on the prince and poisoned him. Even the best doctors at the court could not cure him.
One day, the Murom prince had a dream about a maiden - the wonderworker Fevronia from Ryazan. In a dream, he was shown that only she could cure him of a terrible illness. The girl was found, and she agreed to cure Peter. But in exchange for recovery, she demanded that the prince marry her. Peter agreed. Fevronia cured him. But the prince did not keep his word. The boyars dissuaded him from marrying a commoner. Then the illness overcame him again. And again the peasant woman took pity on the prince and healed him. This time the prince kept his word. And they got married.
Since then they lived in love and harmony. They accepted monasticism. They did a lot of good for their people. And they died on the same day. Despite their order, the couple were buried in different places. However, already in the morning next day They were found together in one coffin. So, loving couple I didn’t want to leave even after going to eternal sleep.
Three centuries later, Peter and Fevronia were canonized. Now their relics are located at the monastery of the Church of the Holy Trinity. And the saints themselves are considered patrons of families.
Traditions and signs associated with the holiday
July 8 is the day of marriage blessing. It is believed that a marriage concluded on this bright day will be eternal and happy.
There is a sign associated with family trading. If a male seller trades with his wife all day on July 8, then their family will always have material wealth.
You can predict the weather on this day. The sun is clear all day on July 8 - a sign that the next forty days will be warm and clear. A cloudy day is a sign that the whole month will be cool and rainy.
On the day of Saints Peter and Fevronia, it is forbidden to swim in reservoirs. According to legend, on this day mermaids pull people to their bottom. But people who have not yet found their love can give a red ribbon to the water maiden on this day, make a love wish, and it will come true.
The appearance of the holiday
Despite the fact that for several centuries the saints have been considered family patrons, and the day of their death, the eighth of July, is considered a special day, the holiday was recognized as an all-Russian holiday only in 2008, in the Year of the Family. Now the whole country celebrates July 8th
The idea of creating, or rather renewing, the holiday initially came to the minds of the residents of Murom. After all, it was on their land that all the legendary events associated with Peter and his wife Fevronia took place. And it is in Murom, in the convent, that the relics of these two saints are kept, who work miracles: they heal from illnesses and help to start and strengthen a family. The Holy Trinity Monastery even keeps a book of records of miracles performed by the relics of saints.
In March, the idea of the Murom residents was approved by the Russian Council. Thus a new holiday appeared on the calendar.
Love day symbol
The symbol of the holiday was chamomile. It is this flower that has always been considered a sign of love in Russia. I immediately remember fortune-telling on petals - “loves - does not love.” In addition, the summer holiday is the time of flowering. And this symbol is clear to everyone, because chamomile flowers grow throughout the country.
It is customary to decorate the venue of the celebration on holiday with daisies, both live and artificial, and made from paper and other things. You can also give it to your loved ones Greeting Cards with images of these flowers, as well as the flowers themselves.
The holiday should be spent with your family. It would be nice for the spouses to have a romantic one. In general, this day can be celebrated in the same way as they celebrate. But our Russian holiday is no longer aimed only at young people, but at lovers and family people of all ages.
