Orthodox Christians today celebrate the day of remembrance of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky or Spyridon Solstice. The nickname was given because it is on this day that the sun turns to summer, and winter to frost, according to popular belief. It was believed that the winter solstice falls on December 25, the day begins to slowly increase.
On Spiridon Solstice, it used to be customary to feed the chickens abundantly so that they would rush well in the summer. Another old tradition is to shake off snow from apple trees and say “Spiridon’s day, come up!” This was done in order to protect fruit trees from caterpillars in the coming spring.
In Prionezhie from this day began “Crooked Christmastide”: a special period of preparation for the holiday of Christmas.
There was a proverb among the peasants: “After the sun swirl, a day will arrive at least on a sparrow gallop.” They also believed that it was on Spiridon of the solstice that “the bear in the den turns on the other side.”
It was believed that it was impossible to work on this day. The peasants wondered about the weather and harvest for the coming year. According to old signs, if there is a change in the wind on Spiridon, then next year there will be a good harvest of buckwheat. The old men noticed from which side the wind would blow on that day, from that side it would blow until the “forty martyrs.” According to the weather of the first 12 days following Spiridon, one can judge the weather of each of the 12 months of the coming year.
We will remind, Spiridon was born in Cyprus at the end of the III century. From childhood, she tended sheep. Then he got a family and lived like everyone else, differing from his fellow villagers only in extraordinary benevolence and emotional responsiveness: the homeless found shelter in his house, the wanderers – food and rest.
After the death of his wife, Spiridon was elected bishop of the Cypriot city of Trimifunt. According to church tradition, Saint Spyridon performed many miracles: through his prayers, the drought ended, the sick were healed, the oil in the church lamp multiplied. Foreseeing the secret sins of people, the saint called them to repentance and correction. He himself, even as a bishop, still tended sheep and worked in the field.
His last words were about love for God and neighbors. About 348 during prayer, Saint Spyridon died and was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Trimifunt.
In the middle of the 7th century, his relics were transferred to Constantinople, and in 1453 – to the island of Corfu. Here, in the city of Kerkyra, they are still kept in the temple in the name of Spyridon of Trimifuntsky. Twice a day they are opened for viewing by believers.
There is a belief that Saint Spyridon walks around the world even after death and helps people, “wearing out” shoes. Therefore, once a year, the relics are changed, and the shoes are presented. At one time such a gift was received by the Moscow St. Danilov and the Uglich Epiphany monasteries.
Source: Rosbalt
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