What holiday is May 4 in the church calendar

On May 4, the church commemorates the holy martyr Januarius and others . What do we know about this day?

The church calendar for May 4 is the day of memory of the holy martyr Januarius and others

On Wednesday, May 4, 2022, the church honors the memory of Hieromartyr Januarius and others.

This event happened in 304, when the emperor Diocletian, known for his persecution of Christians, was sitting on the throne. In the Kingdom of Naples (the province of Campania, the city of Miseni), there lived a deacon, whose name was Sosius. This man was distinguished by great piety and other virtues. One day Sosius learned about Bishop Januarius from the city of Benevent in the same province. He, together with the reader Dyseterius and the deacon Feustus, arrived at Missen. Sosius began to secretly visit them to pray together. Once, when Deacon Sosius was reading the Holy Gospel in the church, Bishop Januarius saw a flame above his head. Then he understood that the deacon would soon be martyred. Imbued with special joy, Januarius Sosius kissed his head, and then they began to praise the Lord together.

Several days passed, and the judge of the city of Draconis ordered that Deacon Sosius be imprisoned and thrown into a dark dungeon. Then Feustus, Dyseterius, and Bishop Januarius hastened to the martyr to see him. But the watchman seized them and placed them before the judge. The interrogation began. When asked what faith they belong to, they all answered that they believe in Jesus Christ. The judge said that he would let them go if they recognized the pagan gods and sacrificed to them. However, the deacon, reader, and bishop refused.

Then Draconis ordered them to be taken, as well as the deacon Sosius, to the city of Puteol, where they were to be thrown to be torn to pieces by wild beasts. When the saints were already standing in the middle of the amphitheater, everyone was waiting only for Draconius, who was supposed to arrive, but was delayed due to urgent business. However, Draconis could not come, and therefore summoned the saints to himself. When they were brought to him, he gave another command: to remove the heads of the saints because they worship the Lord. The verdict of the tormentor began to be loudly condemned by the deacon of the church from Puteoli Accution and proculus Eutychius. They were also seized, and the judge told them to cut off their heads along with the others.

At night, Christians quietly carried away the bodies of all the dead martyrs. The relics of Bishop Januarius were buried in Naples, for which the city received protection from God. For example, when the city was threatened by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, everyone began to fervently pray to St. Januarius, and the population was completely protected.

Church calendar for May 4: video

Folk omens

• If flowers have already appeared on bird cherry on May 4, then the summer will be dry and hot.
• If there are many flowers on the bird cherry, then summer will be with rains.
• By May 4, the birch tree has already pubescent, the summer will be dry.
• The resonant and strong first thunder will be rich in the harvest of bread.
• May 4, fine and slow rain – expect bad weather.

What not to do on May 4

• Don’t argue, don’t get angry.
• Do not swear or insult others.
• Do not engage in heavy physical work.