What Orthodox holiday do believers celebrate on January 15 – find out at .
Saint Sylvester was born in Rome, in a family of pious parents. The young man was brought up to love God and people, so from childhood he treated the sick and beggars with care. The emperor of the city persuaded him to renounce Christ, but Sylvester refused and was subjected to torture. However, he endured the torment and predicted a quick death for the mayor.
For such an act, people respected the saint even more, many pagans came to him with conversations and turned to Christianity. At the age of 30, Sylvester became a priest and then a bishop. He was famous as a connoisseur of the Holy Scriptures and a preacher of God. He repeatedly defeated Jews and pagans in disputes, baptized Tsar Constantine. He ruled the Roman Church for 20 years and died around 335.
In honor of the memory of the saint, a national holiday is celebrated today on January 15 – Sylvester’s Day.
The Orthodox holiday of January 15 is the day of memory of Seraphim of Sarovsky
Reverend Seraphim was born in 1759, was originally from Kursk, and was brought up in a pious merchant family. At the age of 17, he took monastic vows with the name Prokhor, lived for two years in the Sarov Assumption Desert. In December 1787 he became an archdeacon, after 1810 he was awarded the gift of clairvoyance and miracle-working for many exploits.
Seraphim was known as a glorifier of Christ’s faith, he talked a lot about Russian saints. Convinced many schismatics to leave their beliefs and join the church. He said that the purity of Orthodoxy consists only in steadfastness of faith.
Signs of January 15
Folk omens today / Illustration by REUTERS
- the moon shines brightly – the weather will be clear, covered with fog – it will snow;
- chickens fall asleep early – to rapid cold weather;
- magpies hide under the roof – to heavy snowfall;
- Roosters crow very early – thaws will begin.
What can’t be done today
Our ancestors noticed that if it is frosty on this day, spring will be cold. According to beliefs, a man should prepare dinner today, a woman should not be allowed to do such things in the evening, otherwise the domestic bird may get sick. As on any other church holiday, on January 15 it is forbidden to quarrel and speak badly.
What can be done on January 15
Today, special attention should be paid to poultry. In the old days, people smoked chicken coops with herbs to scare away evil spirits. They cleaned the premises, fed the animals. It was also customary to make caramel “roosters” and treat them to children. On January 15, housewives washed windows and doors with holy water, diluting it with ordinary water – they protected their homes from enemies.
