The Day of Peter and Fevronia in 2024 will be celebrated, like every year, on July 8th. Since the holiday falls on Saturday, nothing will prevent us from holding according to tradition - attending a service in a temple or making a pilgrimage to a monastery where the relics of these Saints are located.
History of the holiday
At the origins of the celebration is a beautiful love story. In the 12th century Murom was ruled by Prince David. He was a wise and understanding ruler, the people loved him. He was overtaken by a dangerous disease that destroys the body - leprosy. The prince courageously carried his cross, not complaining about his fate, and the Lord sent him a prophetic dream.He saw that there was a simple girl in the world named Fevronia who could heal him. Indeed, the savior was found in the Ryazan lands, and cured him with the help of healing herbs. David married a girl, and they lived a long life in peace and harmony.
All their lives, the spouses observed the laws of God, were close in grief and joy, they could not be separated by the intrigues of the boyars, who did not consider a simple girl a couple of a royal person. And when the prince was expelled from the city, putting in his place a more accommodating henchman, his wife followed him, showing an example of fidelity.
In their advanced years, both spouses asked God for only one mercy - to die on the same day, and together they took monastic vows. The prince received a new name - Peter. The husband lived in the male monastery, the wife - in the women's. They could see each other only through the loopholes. They died on July 8 (June 25 according to the old style), 1228, at one o'clock.Peter and Fevronia were buried in different monasteries, and in the morning they, unexpectedly for everyone, found themselves together. So they were buried in the stone tomb of the convent.
The canonization took place in 1547. Peter and Fevronia began to be considered the patrons of the family and marriage. The Christian Orthodox Church honors the memory of spouses who have become a model of fidelity.
Since 2008 July 8 has become an official family holiday. The initiative was put forward in 2006 by the National Assembly of the city of Murom. The proposal was supported by the Orthodox Church and the State Duma. Now the celebration of family, marriage and love is seen as the answer to Valentine's Day.
Traditions
As with any church celebration, it is advisable to set aside time to attend a church service. It is customary to read Peter and Fevronia:
- Lives of the Saints;
- voice 8 from Troparion;
- voice 8 from Kontakion;
- special prayers to the Saints.
If there is a misunderstanding between spouses in an Orthodox family, it is advisable for them to go to Murom, to the Holy Trinity Monastery, where the relics of the Holy Family are kept. After a pilgrimage and prayers in the homeland of Perth and Fevronia, all disagreements disappear.
There is a tradition to propose or arrange engagements on family holidays. According to signs, young people who begin their story on July 8 respect each other's opinions and keep their love all their lives.
It is not customary to organize a fun feast for Peter and Fevronia - it is celebrated on Petrov fast, among the people "Petrovka-Hunger Strike" . But family lunches or dinners suit. In 2024, the Day of Peter and Fevronia will be on Saturday, which means it will be possible to serve fish dishes and drink some red church wine. The same menu is followed if the celebration falls on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
In the case when July 8 is Monday, you will have to treat homemade hot food without oil, Wednesday or Friday - serve botvinia or salads. These are days of dry eating.
Not allowed on a family holiday:
- quarrel with family;
- swear;
- get married.
During Christian fasts, you need to pacify the flesh, so wedding ceremonies are not performed. But if the day was chosen for marriage, it is advisable to sign at the registry office, and organize a magnificent ceremony after July 11. In 2024, the Petrovka hunger strike will end on this day.
In pagan times on June 25 (Old Style) it was customary to dip into water to cleanse thoughts. The name of the holiday then was - Fevronia-bathroom.
Signs of the day
The people predicted the weather and the future for 40 days based on the weather and events that took place on the Christian feast of the Saints.
If on the Day of Peter and Fevronia:
- Rain - there will be a lot of honey, and it will be very tasty.
- North wind - the month will be clear, east - rainy.
- Heavy rain - to frequent weather changes.
- The sun blinded on the way - to a rich harvest.
- Hear croaking - to trouble.
- The crow sat on the roof of the house - to the illness of the household.
- Rainbow over the pond - to the rain.
- It's raining in the morning - a short summer.
- Cirrus clouds over the horizon - good weather.
- The earth quickly absorbs watering - to a dry hayfield.
- Heat - there will be no coolness for another 40 days.
- Pigs eat grass - to crop failure of cereals.
- Saw mice in the hayloft - the grain will be lost.
- Birds started to make a nest on the roof - good luck.
- In the puddles of sunshine - to change the weather.
- Turn around when leaving their house - to illness.
- There is a lot of thistle in the garden - for a frosty winter.
- Walking alone in the forest is meeting a bear.
- To pick a camomile - the family will fall apart.
And on the Day of Saints Peter and Fevronia, the Lord sends prophetic dreams. You need to try to remember and decipher them, only on your own. If you don’t tell anyone the plot, the night dream will come true the very next day, the day dream will come true in a week.
Modern beliefs have also appeared - if you get married on June 8, then even childlessness will not prevent your spouses from being happy. But so that the family does not fall apart, it is necessary to strengthen relations with joint prayers. Husband and wife can also give each other a bouquet of daisies or wreaths. This flower is a symbol of such a warm family holiday.
