July 8, the Day of Peter and Fevronia - a holiday of family, love and fidelity
There are not many church holidays that have acquired the status of secular and national. The date of veneration of Saints Peter and Fevronia, better known to Russians as a holiday of family, love and fidelity, belongs to such a day. Despite the youth of the celebration, many new traditions have appeared that are closely intertwined with ancient rituals and folk customs.
Ever since childhood, we have loved beautiful stories that end in magnificent weddings, where young people wish to live happily ever after and die alone. It turns out that such a statement has quite real justifications. After all, it is based on an ancient legend that tells about the amazing story of a couple in love who were able to carry their feelings through their whole lives and even after death stay together. This is a legend about spouses whose love story has not been lost, despite the centuries, and became the basis for the emergence of the modern holiday on July 8, dedicated to the most important values: family, love and fidelity.
history of the holiday
The holiday in honor of the day of Saints Peter and Fevronia in the modern interpretation appeared relatively recently. The initiator of such a celebration was the mayor of Murom in 2001, since it was in this city that the historical events described in folk tales took place.
The idea of celebrating their Russian Valentine's Day was supported by the country's government. But the holiday received a deeper semantic load. Family values and, of course, love and loyalty came to the fore. This day received the status of an official national holiday in 2008, when the corresponding Decree was signed.
The day on which the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity is celebrated was associated with an Orthodox church holiday that appeared in Russia in 1547, when the faces of St. Peter and St. Fevronia were canonized.
Saints' Day falls on July 8 according to the new style. It was on this day in 1228 that the couple left this world, dying together.
To understand why the death of the Murom rulers of the 13th century became the reason for canonization, and how the spouses became the patrons of all lovers in Russia, you need to get acquainted with the amazing story of their life.
Amazing love story
According to an ancient legend, Prince Peter, after a battle with the Serpent, who took the form of his brother, fell seriously ill. Some sources indicate that the ruler of Murom was stricken with leprosy. The disease was considered incurable, and all the efforts of healers and healers were in vain.
In a dream, the young prince had a vision in which a poor peasant woman Fevronia, the daughter of a beekeeper living in a village in the Ryazan province, brought him a cure. And how great was the surprise when a girl with that name, who was well versed in herbs, was actually found in the indicated village. Moreover, she was not devoid of beauty and piety.
The prince, not believing too much in a prophetic dream, promised the girl to marry her if she would cure the ruler of his illness. The joy and shock for Peter was his cure. But the man did not keep his words, fearing to incur the wrath and misunderstanding of the boyars.
For which he was punished by the Lord - the disease returned and brought unbearable pain. Fevronya, without demanding anything in return, again relieves the prince of torment. But this time, Peter was able to discern the spiritual purity and beauty of the girl.
Contrary to all opinions, the prince marries a simple peasant woman, which causes the wrath of the Murom boyars, who refused to obey the peasant princess. Peter was forced to leave his hometown with his young wife, as the evil people left them no choice.
But ordinary people, having learned about the great love of their ruler, rebelled, demanding the return of their beloved prince. The boyars were forced to bow to Peter with a request to return to Murom.
The couple rules until old age, having won the love and respect of the townspeople. And only in old age did they go to the monastery, where they took the tonsure in order to ask the Lord to take them together.
Surprisingly, Peter and Fevronia died at the same time, and according to the covenant they were buried in the same coffin. But even after death, their love ran into non-reconciliation. The monks were against such a burial and buried a man and a woman each in their own monastery. How great was the surprise when the next day the bodies were again in the same coffin. The monks took the miraculous transfer of the bodies as an omen and did not move the bodies of the dead.
Since then, Peter and Fevronia have remained together forever, maintaining unity even after death. After 300 years, David and Euphrosyne, as they were called in the monastery, were counted among the saints, and their relics were transferred to the Holy Trinity Monastery, located in Murom, where they rest to this day.
Folk traditions and signs
Often, folk traditions contradict church canons. Therefore, they can be treated in two ways. However, many signs have taken root and become quite popular.
It was on July 8 that work began in the field to mow the grass. The hottest time began with Peter and Fevronia. Dry weather will continue for another 40 days.
Also by this day, various medicinal herbs of fields and forests were fully ripe. Therefore, it was July 8 that fell on the day of sorcerers, witches and all evil spirits. But from July 8, all aquatic inhabitants such as mermaids, mermen, go into the depths. Therefore, it is allowed to swim without fear of evil spirits until Ilyin's day.
As for love and family relationships, it was Peter and Fevronya who were made to marry. Couples who decided to tie their fate in the future asked the saints to strengthen their faith and give them happiness together. But those who did not have time to find a couple before that day were predicted to walk in bachelors or girls for another whole year, until next spring.
Modern traditions
The Day of Peter and Fevronia in 2017 will be held on July 8 and especially magnificent, as usual, it will be held in Murom. It is here that the relics of the saints rest, to which not only believers, but also people who are far from faith rush. After all, there are real legends about the miracles of the patrons of the family, which are known far beyond the borders of the Murom region.
Wedding
Lovers try to touch the holy relics so that their union becomes strong and durable. Childless couples also turn to saints. After all, a family cannot be considered complete without heirs. And indeed, miracles happen - couples who are desperate to deal with the problem find out the joy of motherhood and fatherhood.
Monuments to the famous couple are very popular. Today, such sculptural structures have been erected not only in Murom, where the idea was implemented for the first time, but also in 80 cities of Russia.
There is a sign that a marriage concluded on this day will be happy. Therefore, many couples strive, choosing in the summer what date to sign, they often stop on July 8th. In every city you can see wedding processions that rush to the monument of the patrons of the family.
But few people take into account that July 8 always falls on Peter's fast, and it is forbidden to get married on this day by the church.
New symbols of the holiday
Such a deeply symbolic holiday could not remain without its symbol and official awards. Therefore, the organizing committee, specially created to develop events dedicated to the new holiday, was instructed to think over this side of the issue.
Symbol of family, love and fidelity
This is how the official symbol appeared - chamomile, in the white petals of which a pair of bright petals of red and blue is hidden. This choice surprised no one. After all, this particular flower has always been associated with purity, fidelity, innocence. And who among us did not guess on a chamomile, tearing off the petals in the hope that it would fall out: “He loves and presses to his heart.”
There was also a special award. Families that are exemplary on this day are awarded the medal "For Love and Loyalty", which depicts Peter and Fevronia on one side and a symbolic chamomile on the back.
Even the Anthem of the Family has appeared, with which the celebration of July 8 in any city necessarily begins.
Congratulations
Today is such a beautiful day
The sun shines on us and gives us warmth,
A holiday has come to your, my family,
Filling the common house with happiness.
After all, without love, without fidelity, we know
We just can't live.
And let earthly joy come to us,
Giving the opportunity to live in the world.
We wish everyone on Family Day,
So that the nightingales sang tenderly,
And my heart beat happily
Open the secret door to happiness.
To live peacefully and, of course, together,
They could cry, well, if necessary.
But only so that from happiness,
Which will come at once.
And respect your marriage
And keep away from strangers.
And keep relationships
Love and appreciate each other.
Family is our home, hearth and happiness,
Where the light is bright and in the days of bad weather,
Loyalty and love settled here,
That warms the heart and disturbs the blood.
And may our common family
Keeps love like a real priesthood.
May loyalty give us strength,
And happiness sings a serenade to us.
Postcards for the Day of family, love and fidelity
Congratulate your loved ones on the holiday, give a beautiful card with kind words. Any picture presented in the photo gallery can be enlarged and printed.
