On April 4, believers celebrate the day of memory of St. Joseph the Songwriter and St. Joseph the Many-Sick of Kyiv-Pechersk, as well as the icon of the Mother of God “Gerontis”, writes IZ. This day is important not only for spiritual practice, but also for folk traditions and signs.
Content
- Church holiday day according to the new style
- Icon of the Mother of God “Gerontis”
- Church holiday in the old style
- Folk omens for April 4
- What not to do on April 4th
- What to do on April 4th
- Name Day April 4
Church holiday day according to the new style
On April 4 according to the new calendar (April 17 according to the old style), the Orthodox Church commemorates Saints Joseph the Songwriter, Joseph the All-Poverty-Sick of Kyiv-Pechersk, and the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Gerontis”. Saint Joseph the All-Poverty-Sick, who lived in Kyiv in the 14th century, experienced a serious illness, during which he prayed to God for healing. Having vowed to serve in the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery, he recovered and took monastic tonsure, dedicating his life to service. He is buried in the Far Caves of the Lavra.
Icon of the Mother of God “Gerontis”
The icon of “Gerontis”, located on Mount Athos in Greece, is one of the most revered shrines. The first miracles from it occurred during the construction of the monastery, when the icon and working tools disappeared from the place of work to return to another place indicated by the Mother of God. The second miracle occurred when, before his death, the elder abbot asked the priest to give him communion, and a voice from the icon ordered to immediately fulfill the request. Since then, the icon has been considered the patron saint of the elderly, also helping with serious illnesses and during childbirth.
Church holiday in the old style
According to the Julian calendar, April 4 is the feast day of the Holy Martyr Basil, Presbyter of Ancyra. This holiday is honored by those who faithfully served God despite difficult trials and struggles.
Folk omens for April 4
On April 4, the people celebrate the Alder Lookout, which predicts the weather forecast for the summer. Signs indicate:
- A clear day promises a warm and sunny summer;
- Rain in the morning – to a rainy summer;
- The bark on the trees is cracking – good weather is expected;
- Birds that have returned from warmer climes but are not singing predict more frost.
What not to do on April 4th
On this day, you should not swear, gossip, or insult others, especially the elderly. It is also important to follow the rules of Lent, limiting yourself in food and maintaining spiritual purity. You need to monitor your thoughts and words so that this day brings only blessings.
What to do on April 4th
On the day of the holiday, people pray before the miraculous icon of “Gerontisa”, asking for help in the treatment of serious illnesses, for help in sorrowful circumstances, in childbirth and in education. Also on this day, you can prepare alder bark to treat bleeding and inflammation.
Name Day April 4
On April 4, Angel Day is celebrated by people with the names: Maria, Adrian, Benjamin, George, Joseph, Ivan, Zosima, Nikita, Nikolay, Nikifor, Fedor and Jacob. According to the old style, Vasily, Daria and Taisia celebrate their name day.
As a reminder, we previously wrote about the church holiday of April 3.