Many citizens of our country consider themselves Orthodox Christians. They honor the traditions of their ancestors and celebrate Orthodox holidays. They will probably be interested to know what will be church holidays in May 2018.

Important church events in May

IN last month In the spring, all Orthodox Christians will celebrate two very important holidays:

• 05/17/18 - Ascension of the Lord;
• 05/27/18 – Trinity.

In addition, there will be two days of remembrance of the dead:

09.05.18	Day of Remembrance of Dead Soldiers
26.05.18	Trinity Saturday

From 05.28.18 to 06.03.18, a continuous Trinity Week will take place. It is notable for the fact that there will be no need to fast on Friday and Wednesday.

Ascension of the Lord

This holiday is widely known to all Orthodox Christians in Russia. It is always celebrated on Thursday, so it occurs on the fortieth day from Easter Sunday. In 2018, the holiday falls on May 17, 2018.

In different places this celebration has different names:

• Saved;
• Spasov day;
• Ascension Day;
• Ascension.
• In the church calendar it is listed as the Ascension of the Lord.

Very often it is associated with farewell to spring.
When this day is mentioned, some moments associated with this celebration are immediately remembered:

• funeral bread;
• solemn worship in churches;
• "Heavenly stairs";
• commemoration of the dead;
• funeral pancakes, etc.

This day belongs to the twelve holidays and is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in Europe. This holiday reminds us of how the Son of God ascended to heaven about two thousand years ago. New Testament describes this point in detail. As you know, the resurrected Jesus appeared before the eyes of his disciples more than once. When the fortieth day arrived, he asked them to gather in the ancient city of Jerusalem. In the presence of his apostles, he ascended again into heaven. True, after this, two angels descended from heaven, dressed all in white. They told the students that their teacher would definitely return. In fact, the Gospels of Mark and Luke tell us that Jesus told his disciples about his Ascension in advance.

Until the end of the fourth century, Trinity and Ascension were one celebration. Then these holidays were divided.

How the Ascension is celebrated

The holiday is celebrated for 10 days. Wednesday is called the day of forefeast. All churches perform the rite of commemoration of the Holy Resurrection. The service lasts all night. The clergy read the stichera of the Colored Triodion. In the morning, paremias from the Gospel of Mark are heard. The following days are called after-feast. In churches, priests glorify the Ascension of the Savior into heaven. On Friday the Ascension ceremony takes place. From Easter until Ascension, clergy wear white robes.

Among other actions on this day, it is customary to remember the deceased. In Russia, there used to be a tradition - housewives made “heavenly ladders” from dough so that deceased relatives could more easily get to heaven. It was customary to bring them to the graves of their ancestors. Sometimes they were taken directly to the field. It was believed that this contributed to a good harvest. The ladders helped the grain rise to the sky faster.

Also in Rus' there was a tradition of baking “Christ’s Lapotki” - these are pancakes made in a special way. Ancient legends said that Jesus goes around all believers between Easter and Ascension. These culinary products were baked “for him.”

You are not allowed to work on Ascension. Usually believers go to visit or invite the closest people to their home.

Even on this day there was a tradition of helping the poor. It was believed that the Savior himself could walk under the guise of such people.

It was also forbidden to spit and litter, so as not to accidentally harm Jesus, who at that time was walking among living people under the guise of a beggar.

Signs for the Ascension

Day of the Holy Trinity

Also refers to the twelve feasts. It has a moving date and is celebrated on the fiftieth day from Easter Sunday. In 2018, the holiday falls on 05/27/18, Sunday.

This celebration has special features:

• decorating homes with flowers, tree branches and field herbs;
• special worship service;
• blessing of water;
• baking special flour products, etc.

The name of the holiday comes from an event that happened more than two thousand years ago. It was then that the Holy Spirit appeared before the eyes of the Virgin Mary and the apostles, declaring that Jesus is the Son of God. The Trinity is evidence that the Holy Spirit, God the Son and God the Father are one.

It was established in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Virgin Mary on the 50th day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The holiday symbolizes the unity of the Holy Spirit, God the Father and God the Son.

As ancient manuscripts testify, on the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday, the Holy Spirit descended on the mother of Jesus and his disciples. This happened in Jerusalem in the Upper Room of Zion. First, everyone present heard an extraordinary noise, then the Holy Fire appeared. After these events, the followers of Jesus began to be able to speak different languages. At the behest of God, this was done so that the apostles could carry Christian teaching to different peoples living on Earth.

How Trinity is celebrated in Russia

This holiday is celebrated for three days. Temples and homes of believers are decorated with green tree branches, meadow herbs and flowers. The clergy wear green clothes, which personify life-giving.

Church services begin on Saturday and continue throughout the night. On Trinity itself a solemn liturgy sounds. The third day is dedicated to the Holy Spirit. During the service, the water is blessed.

Parishioners dry the blessed branches, flowers and herbs and use them as a talisman throughout the year.

On Trinity days, in addition to churches, Christians must visit the graves of their ancestors in order to treat the spirits.

Before the holiday, general cleaning is done. Housewives decorate their homes with a variety of greenery and prepare festive dishes. Among them there must be a loaf, which should bring prosperity and well-being to the house.

After the church and the cemetery there comes a time folk festivals. First, family, relatives and friends gather for round table to congratulate each other on Trinity and taste the hostess’s festive dishes. After the meal, the people go outside into nature, where they dance and sing ritual songs. In some places it is customary to light a fire at this time.

On this day, healers collect herbs. These days they are believed to have special healing properties.

Even on Trinity Day, it is customary to tell fortunes. Young girls perform all sorts of rituals and tell fortunes about their future life and groom. In doing so, they use collected herbs and tree branches.

On Trinity you cannot:

• work and do household chores;
• sew, wash and cut hair;
• swear and quarrel;
• swim in natural reservoirs. They say that these days there are mermen, mermaids and other evil spirits there.

Signs of the Trinity

Complete church calendar for May 2018

• May 1, Tuesday
  St. John of Thessalonica (Thessaloniki), disciple of St. Gregory Dekapolite
• May 2, Wednesday
  Venerable John Paleolaurite of the Ancient Cave, hieromonk
  Blessed Matrona of Moscow
• May 3, Thursday
  Venerable Theodore Trikhina
  Venerable Alexander Oshevensky, abbot
  Martyr of the Child Gabriel of Bialystok
• May 4, Friday
  Discovery of the relics of St. Theodore of Sanaksar
  Hieromartyr Iannuarius, Bishop of Benevento, and with him the martyrs Proculus, Sossius, Faustus, deacons, Disiderius, reader, Eutyches, Akution
• May 5, Saturday
  Venerable Theodore Sikeot, Bishop of Anastasioupol
  Transfer of the relics of the blessed Prince Vsevolod (at the Baptism of Gabriel) of Novgorod, Pskov wonderworker
  Apostle Bartholomew (Nathanael), apostles of the 70 Luke and Clement
  Venerable Vitaly of Alexandria
• May 6, Sunday
  Great Martyr George the Victorious
  Martyr of Queen Alexandra of Rome
  Iveron Icon of the Mother of God
• May 7, Monday
  Martyr Sava Stratelates and with him 70 soldiers
  Venerable Savva of Pechersk, and Alexy, the recluse of Pechersk
• May 8, Tuesday
  Apostle and Evangelist Mark (John)
  Venerable Sylvester of Obnor
• May 9, Wednesday
  Commemoration of deceased warriors
  Hieromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasia
  Saint Stephen, Bishop of Perm (Velikoperm)
  Venerable Ioannikis of Devichensky
  Righteous Glafira Virgin
• May 10, Thursday
  Apostle of the 70 Simeon of Jerusalem, relative of the Lord
  Venerable Stephen, Abbot of Pechersk, Bishop of Vladimir-Volyn
• May 11, Friday
  Apostles from the 70 Jason, Sosipater, the virgin martyr of Kerkyra and others who suffered with them
  Martyrs Dada, Maximus and Quintilian
  Saint Cyril, Bishop of Turov
• May 12, Saturday
  Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus
  Venerable Memnon the Wonderworker, Abbot of Egypt
  Saint Basil of Ostrog, Metropolitan
• May 13, Sunday
  Apostle James Zebedee
  Discovery of the relics of St. Nikita, recluse of Pechersk, Bishop of Novgorod
  Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Bishop of the Caucasus
  Saint Donatus, Bishop of Europe
• May 14, Monday
  Prophet Jeremiah
  Venerable Paphnutius Borovsky, abbot
  Hieromartyr Macarius, Metropolitan of Kyiv
  Blessed Tamara, Queen of Georgia
  Venerable Martyrs of Athonite Euthymius, Ignatius, Akakios
• May 15, Tuesday
  Saint Athanasius the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria (373)
  Transfer of the relics of the martyrs of the blessed princes Boris (in the Holy Baptism of Roman) and Gleb (in the Holy Baptism of David)
  Saint Athanasius Seated, Patriarch of Constantinople, Wonderworker of Lubensk
  Blessed and Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Boris (in Holy Baptism of Michael)
• May 16, Wednesday
  Martyr Timothy and Martyr Maura
  Venerable Theodosius, abbot of Kiev-Pechersk
• May 17, Thursday
  Ascension of the Lord
  Martyr Pelagia the Virgin of Tarsus
  Saints Nikita (Nifont), Cyril, Nikifor, Clement, Isaac, brothers Alfanov (Sokolnitsky) in Novgorod
• May 18, Friday
  Great Martyr Irene of Macedonia
  Discovery of the relics of St. Jacob of Zheleznoborovsk
• May 19, Saturday
  Righteous Job the Long-Suffering
  Venerable Micah of Radonezh
  Martyr Vukashin Jasenovac
  Martyr Barbara of Lukan, former robber
• May 20, Sunday
  Remembrance of the appearance in heaven of the Lord's Cross in Jerusalem
  Martyr Akakios, centurion
  Venerable Nile of Sorsky
• May 21, Monday
  Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
  Venerable Arseny the Great
  Venerable Arseny the Hardworking and Pimen the Faster, Pechersk
• May 22, Tuesday
  Prophet Isaiah
  Martyr Christopher of Lycia
  Transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
  Venerable Shio (Simeon) of Mgvimsky
  Venerable Joseph of Optina
• May 23, Wednesday
  Apostle Simon the Zealot
  Saint Simon of Pechersk, Bishop of Vladimir and Suzdal
  Blessed Simon, Christ for the sake of the holy fool, Yuryevetsky
• May 24, Thursday
  Equal to the Apostles Methodius and Cyril, Slovenian teachers
  Hieromartyr Mokiya
  Hieromartyr Joseph, Metropolitan of Astrakhan
  Saint Nicodemus, Archbishop of Serbia
  Venerable Sophrony of Pechersk, recluse
• May 25, Friday
  Hieromartyr Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, wonderworker
  Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus
  Saint Herman, Patriarch of Constantinople
  Venerable Dionysius of Radonezh, Archimandrite
• May 26, Saturday
  Saturday Trinity
  Martyr Glyceria virgin and with her, martyr Laodicea of ​​Heraclea, prison guard
  Transfer of the relics of the Venerable Martyr Macarius of Kanevsky, Abbot of Pinsk, Pereyaslavl Wonderworker
  Martyr Alexander of Rome
• May 27, Sunday
  Trinity Day (Pentecost)
  Martyr Isidore of Chios
  Blessed Isidore, Christ for the Fool's sake, Rostov Wonderworker
  Saint Nikita, recluse of Pechersk, Bishop of Novgorod

• May 28, Monday
  Trinity Week 1 day
  Venerable Pachomius the Great
  Saint Isaiah, Bishop of Rostov, wonderworker
  Blessed Tsarevich Dimitri of Uglich and Moscow
  Venerable Euphrosynus and his disciple, Serapion, of Pskov
• May 29, Tuesday
  Trinity Week Day 2
  Venerable Theodore the Sanctified, abbot
  Transfer of the relics of St. Ephraim of Perekom, abbot, Novgorod wonderworker
• May 30, Wednesday
  Trinity Week Day 3
  Apostle Andronicus of the 70 and Saint Junia (Junia)
  Venerable Euphrosyne (in nuns Evdokia), Grand Duchess of Moscow
• May 31, Thursday
  Trinity Week Day 4
  Memory of the Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils
  Martyr Theodotus Korchemnik and seven virgins, martyrs Alexandra, Tecusa, Claudia, Faina, Euphrasia, Matrona and Julia
  Martyrs Peter, Dionysius, Andrew, Paul and Martyr Christina

Every Orthodox believer is obliged to know the dates of the biggest holidays. But, in addition to the big ones, there are also small ones that are often forgotten, as well as those holidays that have a moving date. Therefore, counting some of them is not so easy.

In this case, he will always come to the rescue church calendar holidays. It is he who will tell you what day this or that holiday falls on, and will also tell you how to properly celebrate this holiday, and what it is better not to do at this time. This calendar for May of this year was presented by the clergy.

Church holidays in May 2018 calendar: Ascension of the Lord

This month Orthodox Christians expect three big holiday. This is the Ascension of the Lord, the Day of the Holy Trinity and the Day of the Holy Spirit.

So, the first great holiday is the Ascension of the Lord. Like the rest May holidays, it is transferable. Since it directly depends on what date Easter falls on.

This year, the celebration of this great day will fall on May 17th. The Ascension of the Lord is celebrated by Orthodox Christians on the 40th day after Easter. This number of days was not chosen by chance. After all, just as newborns must be brought to church on the 40th day, so Jesus Christ ascended when he entered the heavenly temple of His Father and appeared as the savior of all mankind.

The Ascension of the Lord is a special holiday when Heaven opens to all believers as an eternal home and a true family.

Church holidays in May 2018 calendar: Pentecost

Another moving holiday, which falls this year in May, is Holy Trinity Day. It was popularly called Pentecost. And this is not strange, because it is celebrated precisely on the 50th day after Easter. Therefore, this year, the Orthodox world will celebrate this Great holiday May 27.

On this day, Jews initially celebrated a holiday called Pentecost, which was dedicated to the Sinai Legislation, the Wordyou website reports. At this time, the Holy Spirit of the Savior descended to the believers in the form of tongues of fire. This happened at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Jewish time, and translated into Moscow, this is 9 o’clock in the morning.

This type of Savior is explained very simply. The tongues symbolize the sermons his disciples are to preach. But fire symbolizes the cleansing of sins and the sanctification of souls. After this, the apostles left the temple and began to preach the Christian faith.

In honor of such a miracle, a tradition arose on this day of decorating their homes with greenery. This is done so that the souls of deceased relatives can visit their native places. This is also a symbol of Pentecost, since during the time Moses received the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai, where the ascension of the Holy Spirit soon took place, it was green and blossoming.

Church holidays in May 2018 calendar: Holy Spirit Day

The day after the Holy Trinity, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Day of the Holy Spirit. And, despite the fact that after the celebration of the Holy Trinity, Peter's Fast begins, fasting does not extend to this day.

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, which is equivalent to God the Father and the Son. Therefore, like everything in the Holy Trinity, it has the same power and dignity. And it is celebrated as a single holiday together with the Holy Trinity.

There is a tradition on this day to visit church, since in the evening of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit descends to the earth and illuminates it. After visiting the church, you should definitely visit the cemetery and remember your deceased relatives. At the same time, it is worth decorating their graves with greenery and flowers, and having a funeral dinner in the evening.

Church holidays

Church calendar for May 2019: Orthodox holidays

Artichoke

1st of May

Light Wednesday

St. John, disciple of St. Gregory Decapolite (820-850)

Martyrs Victor, Zotik, Zenon, Akindinus and Severian (303)

Saint Cosmas of Spain, Bishop of Chalcedon, and Venerable Auxentius (815-820)

Martyr John the New of Ioannina (1526)

Hieromartyr Vissarion Selinin the Presbyter (1918)

Venerable Martyr Tamara Satsi (1942)

Maximovskaya Icon of the Mother of God (1299)

Bright Week

May 2

Holy Thursday

Venerable John of the Old Cave (VIII)

Blessed Matrona of Moscow (1952)

Martyrs Theona, Christopher and Antoninus (303)

Hieromartyr Paphnutius, Bishop of Jerusalem

Saint George of Spain, Bishop of Antioch of Pisidia (813-820)

Saint Tryphon, Patriarch of Constantinople (933)

Venerable Nikephoros Abbot

Saint Victor of Spain, Bishop of Glazov (1934)

Bright Week

May 3

Happy Friday

Venerable Theodore Trikhina

Venerable Alexander Oshevensky (1479)

Martyr of the Child Gabriel of Bialystok (1690)

Saints Gregory (593) and Anastasia Sinaita (599), Patriarchs of Antioch

Venerable Anastasius, abbot of Mount Sinai (685)

St. Nicholas Velimirović, Bishop of Ohrid and Žić (1956) (Serb.)

Saint Theodosius of Spain, Bishop of Kolomna (1937)

Cyprus Icon of the Mother of God (392)

Signs of the day May 3:

• On Fyodor, the dead yearn for the earth.
• On this day they visited cemeteries: they wailed or called out to their parents in the graveyard.
• On Theodore's day the earth opens and the souls of those who have left us fly out into God's light.

Bright Week

May 4th

Bright Saturday

Hieromartyr Iannuarius the bishop and with him the Martyrs Proculus, Sossius and Faustus the deacons, Disiderius the reader, Eutyches and Akution (c. 305)

Martyr Theodore, also in Perga, his mother Philippia, Dioscorus, Socrates and Dionysius (II)

Discovery of the relics of St. Theodore of Sanaksar (1999)

Righteous Alexy Bortsurmansky (1848)

Martyrs Isaac, Apollos and Codratus (303)

Saint Maximian, Patriarch of Constantinople (434)

Hieromartyr John of Prigorovsky Presbyter (1918)

St. Nicholas of Pisarevsky, presbyter (1933)

Hieromartyr Alexy Protopopov presbyter (1938)

Bright Week

5 May

Antipascha

Venerable Theodore Sikeot, Bishop of Anastasioupol (613)

Transfer of the relics of the blessed Prince Vsevolod, in Holy Baptism of Gabriel, Pskov (1834)

Apostles Nathanael, Luke and Clement (I)

Venerable Vitaly (609-620)

Hieromartyr Plato, Bishop of Banyaluk (1941) (Serb.)

Hieromartyr Eustathius Malakhovsky presbyter (1918)

Martyr Dimitri Vlasenkov (1942)

Signs of the day on May 5:

• Onions are planted on Luka.
• Warm May ushers in spring.
• If it freezes at night, then forty morning frosts will fall on the bread, forty morning frosts for the whole summer, while the grain is standing in the field.

the 6th of May

Great Martyr George the Victorious (303) - spring St. George's Day

Iveron Icon of the Mother of God (second discovery of the list of icons 2012)

Martyrs of Queen Alexandra (303)

Martyrs of Anatoly and Protoleon (303)

Venerable Sophia (1974)

Hieromartyr John Anserov presbyter (1940)

Signs of the day for Yuri, May 6:

• Yuri brought spring to the threshold.
• Yegory unlocks the land.
• Yegory came - and spring will not leave.
• Egory begins spring, Ilya (August 2) ends summer.
• If the spring Yegoriy is with food (grass will appear), then the winter Nikola (December 19) will be with a bridge (winter will set in, there will be a good sleigh ride).
• On Yurya, snow means a harvest for buckwheat; on Yurya, rain means a shortage of buckwheat.
• With George they begin to plant beets, sow carrots and seedlings.

May 7

Martyr Sava Stratilates and with him 70 soldiers (272)

Venerable Savva of Pechersk, in the Near Caves (XIII)

Venerable Alexy, recluse of Pechersk, in the Near Caves (XIII)

Martyrs Pasikrates and Valentinus (228)

Martyrs Eusebius, Neon, Leontius, Longinus and others (303) - Evseev day

St. Thomas the Holy Fool (546-560)

Venerable Elizabeth the Wonderworker (V)

Hieromartyr Branko Presbyter (1941) (Serb.)

Martyr Sergius of Arkhangelsk (1938)

Molchensk Icon of the Mother of God (1405)

Signs of the day May 7:

• Yevsey came - cut off the oats.
• When there is dirt on the road, then oats are king.
• This rye will turn into ashes for an hour, and the oats will turn into water, but at the right time.
• Oats should be sown two days after or before the full moon and never during an eclipse.

May 8

Apostle and Evangelist Mark (63) - Day of Mark the Keyholder

Venerable Sylvester of Obnor (1379)

Venerable Basil of Polyanomerul (1767) (Romanian)

Hieromartyr Sergius Rokhletsov presbyter (1938)

Constantinople Icon of the Mother of God (1071)

Signs of the day on May 8:

• Mark holds the keys to the rains.
• Mark unlocked the heights of heaven, summoned moisture, and asked it to descend to earth.
• If three good rains fall after Mark, then there will be enough grain for three years.

Fast day

9th May

Commemoration of deceased warriors

Hieromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasia (c. 322)

Saint Stephen, Bishop of Great Perm (1396)

Righteous Glafira the Virgin (322) - Day of Glafira the Goroshnitsa

Venerable Ioannikios of Devichensky (XIII) (Serb.)

Hieromartyr John Pankov the presbyter and his sons Martyrs Nicholas and Peter (1918)

Signs of the day May 9:

• Heavy dew or a clear day on Goroshnitsa means a harvest of cucumbers.
• If you sow peas in the north wind, they will be thin; if you sow them in the west wind, they will be shallow; if you sow them with the south wind, they will be rotten and wormy; It is necessary to sow peas in the east wind.

May 10

Apostle and Hieromartyr Simeon, relative of the Lord (107)

Venerable Stephen, Abbot of Pechersk, Bishop of Vladimir-Volyn (1094)

Righteous Eulogius the Stranger (IV)

Hieromartyrs Pavel Svetozarov and John of the Nativity presbyters, Martyrs Peter Yazykov, Nikolai Malkov, Avksentiy Kalashnikov, Sergius Methodiev and Martyr Anastasia (1922)

Venerable Martyr Maria Nosova (1938)

Hieromartyr John the Savior Presbyter (1941)

Signs of the day May 10:

• In the morning the grass is dry - expect rain by night.
• The owl screams - to the cold.
• Inclement weather will end if fog appears in low areas in the evening.
• Frost is possible if the weather is clear in the morning, and by midday cumulus clouds appear, which disappear again in the evening.

Fast day

May 11

Apostles from the 70 Jason and Sosipater, the virgins of Kerkyra and others who suffered with them (I)

Martyrs of Dada, Maximus and Quintilian (286)

Saint Cyril, Bishop of Turov (1183)

Martyrs Satornius, Iacishola, Favstian, Iannuarius, Marsalia, Euphrasius, Mammias, Murinas, Zenon, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalius (c. 63)

Martyr Anna Shashkina (1940)

Signs of the day May 11:

The healers on Maxim treated prolonged fevers: a sunny day was considered a sure sign that a person’s illness would go away.

On this day you cannot:

• Trim babies' nails and hair.
• If you pierce your ears, you will hear worse.
• Planning an engagement means the marriage will not last long.
• Whitewash the walls or ceiling - you can part with luck and health.

12 May

Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus: Theognis, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artema, Magnus, Theodotus, Thaumasius and Philemon (286-299)

Venerable Memnon the Wonderworker

Venerable Nectarius of Optina (1928)

Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaev (1970)

Martyrs Diodorus and Rhodopian Deacon (284-305)

St. Basil of Ostrog (1671) (Serb.)

Three hundred martyrs, victims in the mountains of Dudikvati and Papati (Turkey) (XVII-XVIII) (Georgian)

Signs of the day May 12:

• On this day, healers continued to treat patients with fever, making petitions to the nine martyrs.

may 13

Apostle James Zebedee (44) - James the Apostle

Discovery of the relics of St. Nikita, Bishop of Novgorod (1558)

Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, Bishop of the Caucasus (1867)

Saint Donatus, Bishop of Euria (c. 387)

Discovery of the relics of the Holy Martyr Basil, Bishop of Amasia (IV)

Martyr Maximus

Signs of the day May 13:

• If the sunrise on Jacob is clear, then the whole summer will be sunny, and if the weather is cloudy in the morning, then the summer will be tormented by rain and hay.
• If the stars rise in the evening and a warm wind blows from the south, the summer will be warm, with abundant fertility.

May 14

Prophet Jeremiah (VI century BC)

Venerable Paphnutius of Borovsk (1477)

Hieromartyr Macarius, Metropolitan of Kyiv (1497)

Venerable Gerasim of Boldinsky (1554)

Venerable Martyr Vata the Persian (IV)

Blessed Tamara, Queen of Georgia (1213)

Saints of Athonite Martyrs Euthymius (1814), Ignatius (1814) and Akakios (1816)

Martyr Nina Kuznetsova (1938)

Tsarevokokshaiskaya, or Myronositskaya (1647), Andronikovskaya and called “Unexpected Joy” icons of the Mother of God

Signs of the day on May 14:

• If the sun rises clear, then the whole summer will be clear.
• If it’s better weather on Eremey, harvesting bread will be better.
• There is bad weather on Yeremey - you will be wet all winter (it will be a harsh winter).
• The dew fell in the evening - to a clear day.
• Early spring season, when the water drains, and later - when the color of the viburnum is in the circle.
• This week is after Yegory (May 6), and another week after Eremey.

May 15

Saint Athanasius the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria (373)

Transfer of the relics of the noble Russian princes Boris and Gleb, in Holy Baptism of Roman and David (1072 and 1115)

The younger sons of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir were the first saints to be canonized by both the Russian and Constantinople orthodox churches. Other names for the holiday are Boris's Day (Boris-day, Boris and Gleb - sowers, profit-day, nightingale holiday, nightingale day, whistling day, whistling, whistling).

Saint Athanasius, Patriarch of Constantinople, Wonderworker of Lubensk (1654)

Martyrs Esper and Zoe and their children Cyriacus and Theodulus (II)

Blessed and Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Boris, in Holy Baptism Michael (907), who received Baptism with his people in the 9th century (Bulgarian)

Putivl Icon of the Mother of God (1635)

Signs of the day May 15:

• Healers speak to Boris and Gleb of people suffering from mental disorders.
• They read a spell over milk, which the patient should then use to wash his face.

Fast day

16th of May

Martyrs Timothy and Maura (c. 286) - Day of Martha the Thrush

Venerable Theodosius, abbot of Kiev-Pechersk (1074)

Venerable Peter the Wonderworker, Bishop of Argos (X)

St. Juliana (1393) and Eupraxia (1394), Moscow St. Theophan of Peritheoria (after 1353)

Hieromartyr Nicholas of Benevolensky Presbyter (1941)

Icons of the Mother of God: the Dormition of the Kiev-Pechersk, brought from Constantinople (1073), Pechersk (with Anthony and Theodosius in attendance) (1085) and Svenskaya (Pechersk) (1288)

Signs of the day May 16:

• They began to plant cabbage seedlings and sow vegetable gardens.
• The nightingales sang in front of Mavra - spring is blooming together.
• Spruce shoots begin to grow.
• The color of bird cherry brings cold.

May 17

Martyr Pelagia, Virgin of Tarsus (c. 290)

Pelageya is the crow's protector. Protects young crows, teaches them wisdom.

St. Nikita, Cyril, Nicephorus, Clement and Isaac, brothers Alfanov (Sokolnitsky) in Novgorod (XIV-XV)

Hieromartyr Erasmus, Bishop of Formia (303)

Hieromartyr Alvian, Bishop of Aneia, and his disciples (304)

Hieromartyr Silvanus, Bishop of Gaza, and with him 40 martyrs (311)

Hieromartyr John Vasilyev Presbyter (1942)

Hieromartyr Nicholas Tokhtuev deacon (1943)

Old Russian Icon of the Mother of God (1570)

Fast day

May 18

Great Martyr Irene (I-II) - Day of Irene the Nursery

Discovery of the relics of St. Jacob of Zheleznoborovsk

Venerable Varlaam of Serpukhov (1377)

Reverend Martyr Ephraim the New (1426)

Icon of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice” (1878)

Signs of the day on May 18:

• On this day cabbage was planted.
• Early in the morning, housewives went out into the garden, completely alone, so that no one would jinx them, and planted seedlings.
• You cannot eat bread on Irina Rassadnitsa, otherwise the chickens will eat the crop.
• If the seedlings drink a lot of water, it means dry mowing, but does not absorb water, the mowing will be wet.
• Fields, meadows and meadows were burned on Irina.

May 19

Righteous Job the Long-Suffering (c. 2000-1500 BC)

Venerable Micah of Radonezh (1385)

Venerable Job of Pochaev (XVII)

Martyrs Barbarian the warrior, Bacchus, Callimachus and Dionysius (c. 362)

Martyr Barbara, former robber

Signs of the day May 19:

• The dew that falls on this day was considered healing.
• Early in the morning, peasants went out to the meadows and walked barefoot on the grass, and children rolled on the ground, “absorbing” strength and health.
• The healers on Job collected dew on towels, squeezed them out and stored the healing moisture, which helped in the treatment of many diseases.
• Heavy dew and a clear day mean a good harvest of cucumbers.
• The absence of morning dew after its daily appearance means a change in the weather.

May 20

Remembrance of the appearance in heaven of the Cross of the Lord in Jerusalem (351)

Martyr Acacius the Centurion (303)

Venerable Nile of Sorsky (1508)

Venerable John of Zedazni and his disciples: Aviv, Bishop of Nekres, Anthony of Martkop, David of Gareji, Zenon of Ikaltoi, Thaddeus of Stepantsminda, Isa (Jesseus), Bishop of Tsilkan, Joseph, Bishop of Alaverdi, Isidore of Samtavi, Michael of Ulumbia, Pyrrhus of Bretta, Stefan of Hira and Shio Mgvimsky (VI) (Georgian)

Finding the relics of St. Nile the Myrrh-Streaming, Athos (1815)

Lyubechskaya (XI) and Zhirovitskaya (1470) icons of the Mother of God

The beginning of Vespers, Matins and the Easter Liturgy. The end and dismissal of the liturgy according to the Easter rite. In the Greek Colored Triodion, on this day a rite is also given, similar to the service of Easter week, with the singing of the Easter hours.

Signs of the day May 20:

• The earlier the bird cherry tree begins to bloom, the hotter the summer will be.
• The bird cherry buds have burst - spring is in full force.
• When the bird cherry has a lot of color, the summer will be wet.
• Bird cherry blossoms - best time planting potatoes.
• If the dew does not dry before noon, expect bad weather.
• If small patches of clouds are scattered across the sky in the evening, expect rain the next day.

May 21st

Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (98-117) - Day of Ivan the Theologian

Venerable Arseny the Great (449-450) - Arsenyev's Day

Venerable Arseny the Hardworking (XIV) and Pimen the Faster (XII), Pechersk, in the Far Caves

Martyr Nikifor Zaitsev (1942)

Signs of the day May 21:

• Night rains and daytime sun will fill the storerooms, barrels and casks.
• The red sky in the evening promises good weather, the morning redness gives water.
• Clouds are rising - to clear weather; they go down or gather in one place - to the rain.
• A day with rain - the mushroom will be on the shelves.

22nd of May

Prophet Isaiah (8th century BC)

Martyr Christopher (c. 250)

Transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra in Lycia to Bar (1087) - Day of St. Nicholas of the Vernal

Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of horses, the holiday of grooms. The first night (pasting the horses to the meadows for the whole night).

Venerable Joseph of Optina (1911)

Venerable Shio Mgvimsky (VI) (Georgian)

Hieromartyr Demetrius of the Resurrection Presbyter (1938)

Hieromartyr Vasily Kolosov presbyter (1939)

Signs for Nicholas, May 22:

• On the first day of the night, no one worked.
• The boys and children lit fires in the meadows, sat in a circle by the fire, treated themselves to pies and baked potatoes in the ashes.
• The swimming season opened on Nikola.
• You should not swim before St. Nicholas.

Fast day

May, 23rd

Apostle Simon the Zealot (I)

Saint Simon, Bishop of Vladimir and Suzdal (1226)

Blessed Simon, Christ for the Fool's sake, Yuryevetsky (XVI)

Martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus, Cyprian, Onesimus, Erasmus and others (251)

Martyr Hesychius of Antioch (IV)

Venerable Isidora the Holy Fool (IV)

Blessed Taisiya (V)

Kiev-Brotherly Icon of the Mother of God (1654)

Signs of the day May 23:

• Bees are flying merrily in the morning - it will be a sunny day.
• If it rains on this day, it will be rainy all summer.
• A strong wind during rain portends good weather.
• Cold and windy May is good for the harvest.

May 24

Hieromartyr Mokios (c. 295) - Mokeyev day

Equal to the Apostles Methodius (885) and Cyril (869), Slovenian teachers

Equal to the Apostles Rostislav, Prince of Great Moravia (870)

Venerable Sophronius, recluse of Pechersk, in the Far Caves (XIII)

Hieromartyr Joseph, Metropolitan of Astrakhan (1671)

Saint Nicodemus, Archbishop of Serbia (1325)

Hieromartyr Mikhail Belorossov presbyter (1920)

Hieromartyr Alexander, Archbishop of Kharkov (1940)

Signs of the day May 24:

• The sunrise is crimson - summer is coming with thunderstorms.
• If it is foggy and the sunrise is purple, and it rains during the day, the summer will be wet and stormy.

Fast day

May 25

Holy Martyr Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Wonderworker (glorification 1913)

Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus (403) - Epiphanius Day

Saint Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople (740)

Venerable Dionysius of Radonezh (1633)

Second discovery of the relics of the righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye (1992)

Saints Savin, Archbishop of Cyprus (V), and Poluvius, Bishop of Rhinocyra (V)

Martyr John Wallach (1662) (Romanian)

Hieromartyr Peter Popov presbyter (1937)

Martyr Evdokia Martishkina (1938)

Signs of the day May 25:

• If the morning on Epifan is warm and sunny, expect a dry summer.
• In dry weather, acacia does not have insects; the same happens with currants, sweet clover and honeysuckle.
• Yellow acacia leaves open and release a lot of nectar - for rain.

26 of May

The Martyr Glyceria Virgin and with her the Martyr Laodicea, the Prison Guard (c. 177) - Day of Lukeria the Mosquito

Righteous Virgin Glyceria, Novgorod (1522)

Transfer of the relics of the Venerable Martyr Macarius, Archimandrite Kanevsky, Abbot of Pinsk, Pereyaslavl Wonderworker (1688)

Martyr Alexander of Rome (284-305)

Saint Pausicacius, Bishop of Sinada (606)

Saints George isp. with his wife Irina and children (IX)

Venerable Euthymius of Iveron (1028) (Georgian)

Hieromartyrs Vasily Sokolov, Alexander Zaozersky and Christopher Nadezhdin presbyters, venerable martyr Macarius Telegin and martyr Sergius Tikhomirov (1922)

Martyrs of Cherkasy (XX)

Signs of the day May 26:

• If there are a lot of mosquitoes, it means rain.
• Expect warmer weather from Lukerya Komarnitsa.
• Mosquitoes have appeared - wait for warmth and rain.
• A large mosquito means a good year.
• When the mosquito is not alive, then May is dry.
• Mosquitoes hover - for a sunny day.
• There are a lot of mosquitoes - prepare a lot of boxes for berries, a lot of midges - prepare baskets for mushrooms.

May 27

Martyr Isidore (251) - Day of Sidor the Borage

Blessed Isidore, Christ for the Fool's sake, Rostov Wonderworker (1474)

Saint Nikita, recluse of Pechersk, Bishop of Novgorod (XII)

Martyr Maximus (c. 250)

Venerable Serapion Sindonite (V)

Saint Leontius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (1175)

Hieromartyr Peter the Nativity of the Presbyter (1939)

Terebenskaya (1654) and Yaroslavl (Pecherskaya) (1823) icons of the Mother of God

Signs of the day May 27:

• Plant cucumbers and this flax on Sidor.
• If the whole day is clear and warm, there will be a good harvest of cucumbers.
• The weather is bad - the cucumbers are bad.
• There are frosts before Sidor.

May 28

Venerable Pachomius the Great (c. 348) - Day of Pachomius the Warm

Saint Isaiah, Bishop of Rostov, wonderworker (1090)

Blessed Tsarevich Dimitri, Uglich and Moscow (1591) (son of Ivan the Terrible)

Venerable Isaiah of Pechersk (1115)

Venerable Pachomius of Nerekhta (1384)

Saint Euphrosynus (1481) and his disciple Serapion, Pskov

Venerable Achillius, Bishop of Larissa (c. 330)

Signs of the day May 28:

• Pakhom came - there was a smell of warmth.
• The end of frost on the soil.
• It's warm in Pahoma - warm all summer.
• When the aspen is covered with catkins, young leaves hatch on the birches, and ferns unfold curls of leaves - the first mushroom season begins.

May 29

Venerable Theodore the Sanctified (368) - Day of Theodore the Granary

Transfer of the relics of St. Ephraim of Perekom, Novgorod miracle worker (1545) (he personally dug a canal from Lake Ilmen and brought it to the monastery)

Venerable Cassian (1537) and Lawrence (1548) of Komel

Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem (III)

Martyrs Vitus, Modestus and Criscentia (c. 303)

Blessed Maiden Muse (V)

Reverend Fathers, in the Lavra of St. Savva beaten (614)

Saint George II, Bishop of Mytilene (IX)

Martyr Vukasin (1943) (Serb.)

Signs of the day May 29:

• On this day we looked at the moon: if it is fiery red, it means there will be a strong wind.
• Don’t lend money to Fyodor - the harvest will fail for both the giver and the taker.

Fast day

May 30

Apostle Andronicus and Saint Juneas (I)

Venerable Euphrosyne, in the world of Evdokia, Grand Duchess of Moscow (1407) - Day of Evdokia the Whistler

Martyrs Solokhon, Pamfamir and Pamphalon warriors (284-305)

Saint Stephen, Patriarch of Constantinople (893)

Signs of the day May 30:

• Evdokia is the day when the winds whistle.
• As is Evdokia, so is summer.
• The moon born on rainy Evdokia means a wet summer, and if the north wind also blows, the summer will be cold and rainy.

May 31

Memory of the Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils

Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra and the seven martyrs: Alexandra, Tekusa, Claudius, Faina, Euphrasia, Matrona and Julia (303) - Day of Theodotus the Oatmeal

Martyrs Peter, Dionysius, Andrew, Paul and Christina (249-251)

Venerable Macarius of Altai (1847)

Martyrs Simeon, Isaac and Vakhtisiy (IV)

Martyrs Heraclius, Paulinus and Venedim

Martyrs David and Tarichan (693) (Georgian)

St. Michael Vinogradov, presbyter (1932)

Hieromartyr Vasily Krylov presbyter (1942)

Signs of the day May 31:

• Fedot is the helper of spring.
• The red sun sets - towards the wind, into darkness (light haze) - there will be rain, into a cloud - the next day will turn out to be stormy.
• A wave hits the flowing water - it will rain.
• If the cumulus clouds do not dissipate by the evening, we expect worsening weather and rain.

Fast day

The majority of citizens of our country consider themselves Orthodox Christians. They adhere to all traditions and celebrate all holidays.

In May, believers celebrate the two most important holidays: the Ascension of the Lord - on May 17, and Trinity - on May 27. In addition, two days are memorial days: May 9 and May 26.

Ascension is known Orthodox holiday. It is always celebrated on Thursday, as it falls on the 40th day from Easter Sunday. This year the holiday falls on May 17th.

When this day is mentioned, some moments that are associated with this celebration are immediately remembered:
- funeral bread;
- solemn worship in churches;
— “Heavenly stairs”;
- commemoration of the dead;
- funeral pancakes, etc.

This day belongs to the twelfth holiday and is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in Europe. The holiday commemorates the ascension of the Son of God into heaven.

The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated for 10 days. Wednesday is the pre-holiday day; in all churches the rite of commemoration of Bright Resurrection takes place. The service lasts all night. In churches, priests glorify the Ascension of the Savior into heaven. On Friday the Ascension ceremony takes place.

From Easter until the Ascension, priests wore white robes. On this day it is customary to remember the dead.

This holiday also belongs to the twelfths. It does not have a specific date; it is celebrated on the fiftieth day from Easter Sunday. This year the holiday falls on 05/27/18, Sunday. This holiday is special in its own way, since on this day it is customary to decorate homes with branches, flowers, and grass.

Orthodox Christians celebrate the holiday for three days. All homes are decorated with greenery and herbs. In churches, clergy wear green clothes, which are the personification of life-giving, the Ros-Registr website reports. The service in the temple begins on Saturday and lasts all night. On Trinity itself a solemn liturgy sounds. The third day is dedicated to the Holy Spirit. During the service, the water is blessed.

Believers keep grass and branches for a whole year; they are a talisman for their home. On the holiday of Trinity, Christians should not only visit the temple, but also visit their loved ones and relatives at the cemetery. On the eve of the holiday, it is customary to carry out general cleaning in your homes.

A must-have dish on holiday is a loaf of bread, which brings prosperity and prosperity to the home. After returning from the church and cemetery, it is time for folk festivities. First, all the relatives gather at one table to congratulate each other on the holiday, and also to taste the hostess’s festive dishes.

After finishing the meal, people go out into the street, dance and sing ritual songs. On this day, healers collect herbs. Even on Trinity Day, it is customary to tell fortunes.

On holiday it is prohibited to work and do household chores:
- sew, wash and cut hair;
- use foul language and quarrel;
- swim in natural reservoirs.