Photo: from open sources
Find out the main features, traditions and prohibitions of today
On December 23, the church, according to the new calendar, honors the ten Cretan martyrs, and according to the old style, they celebrated the day of remembrance of the holy martyrs Menas of Alexandria, Hermogenes and Evgraf.
Read about what you can and cannot do, and who to congratulate on their name day, in the RBC-Ukraine article.
history of the holiday
The ten holy martyrs of Crete: Theodulus, Sathorninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunicianus, Zotikos, Pompius, Agathopus, Basilides and Evarestus suffered for Christ in the 3rd century under the emperor Decius. The ruler of Crete persecuted Christians and in every possible way destroyed adherents of the church.
Once 10 Christians from different cities of Crete were brought to Decius. They were all very pious and had unshakable faith in Jesus Christ. They were brutally tortured for a whole month, but faith in God gave them the strength to endure all the torture. Before the execution, they prayed that the Lord would open the eyes of the torturers to the true faith. All ten martyrs had their heads cut off.
The holiday is popularly known as Fedul Winter. Our ancestors believed that on this day you need to tell the weather. Also on Fedula, preparations for the Holy Evening had already begun. On this day, our ancestors cleaned their huts and began preparing festive kutya, and also baked Lenten cakes in the shape of cows, bulls and horses, sheep and goats, chickens and roosters.
On Fedula it is customary to pray to the Mother of God and read the Holy Scriptures. People are trying to get their chores done before Christmas.
Signs of the day
- snow and strong wind on this day predicts a cold and rainy July
- if it’s windy, there will be a good harvest next year
- the chickens are restless – there will be a snowstorm
- the horse snores – until the snow storm
What not to do today
work with sharp objects – knives, pitchforks, axes, etc. If you get injured on this day, you will be sick all year, hem the hem of your skirt, because you will live less than fate tells you to beat someone, because the offender because of this become seriously ill slander, quarrel and curse Angel Day is celebrated today by: Basil, David, John, Paul, John and Makar.
Main prayer of the day
“Most Pure Virgin Mary! With the dawn of this day, I surrender to Your Protection and, like a good child, I beg You: My Heavenly Mother, take care of me! Into Your hands I give my soul and body – my whole life. And You, kind Heavenly Mother, be the best Mother and Intercessor! Always protect me with Your strong Protection in all dangers for soul and body. Intercede for me with Your Son and with Your prayers diminish His Holy Wrath over my sins. For I know well that You, Queen of Heaven, always successfully help! to all who trustfully surrender to Your protection. And I firmly believe that under Your Holy Guardianship I will be able to more easily avoid all dangers to soul and body and fulfill God’s Will, and after death, realize eternal happiness in Heaven.” Amen.
