On April 7, believers celebrate special church events — depending on the calendar the community follows. According to the new style, this day honors the memory of Saint George, Metropolitan of Mytilene, and also marks the beginning of Palm Week — the sixth week of Great Lent. At the same time, according to the old style, today is the great holiday of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary , writes IZ.
Content
- New Julian calendar: who is honored on April 7
- What is celebrated on April 7 according to the Julian calendar?
- Folk signs for April 7
- What is prohibited on April 7
- What is allowed and worth doing today
- Name day April 7
New Julian calendar: who is honored on April 7
According to the new church style, approved by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2023, April 7 is the day of memory of Saint George, Metropolitan of Mytilene. From a young age, George dedicated himself to monastic life, and later suffered persecution from iconoclasts. For his steadfastness in faith, he began to be called the Confessor.
Later, George became archbishop of Lesbos, where he became famous for his righteous life, mercy and the gift of healing. During the next period of persecution, he was exiled to Kherson, where he departed to the Lord. Traditions indicate that at the moment of his death a bright star appeared over Mytilene.
This day also marks the beginning of Palm Week, a period of spiritual concentration, repentance, and preparation for the events of Holy Week and Easter. In 2025, it will last from April 7 to 13. It ends with two great holidays: Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday.
What is celebrated on April 7 according to the Julian calendar?
Those believers who follow the old style celebrate today one of the 12 main holidays of Orthodoxy – the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. This is the day when the Virgin Mary heard from the archangel Gabriel the good news that she would become the Mother of the Savior.
Folk signs for April 7
Folk wisdom has long associated this date with signs regarding the harvest. For example:
- morning thunder before rain – to a good harvest of vegetables;
- thunder without rain – you should expect bad weather in the evening;
- if there are many earrings on an aspen tree, there will be many peas;
- starry sky – to a bountiful harvest of berries and mushrooms.
They also said: “Good viburnum is bad spring crops.” If it rains on this day, expect plenty of viburnum, but not a very productive year for spring crops.
What is prohibited on April 7
The Church warns believers against swearing, envy, lies, gossip, laziness, and cruelty. One should not refuse help or insult others. According to popular belief, on this day it is especially sinful to pass by someone in need, to have fun without moderation, or to drink alcohol.
What is allowed and worth doing today
On this day, believers turn to Saint George with prayers for the healing of body and soul. The beginning of Palm Week is a wonderful opportunity for deeper spiritual cleansing, more frequent church visits, reflection, and prayer.
Those who observe Great Lent should adhere to strict dietary restraint on this day – dry food. At the same time, those who celebrate the Annunciation according to the Julian calendar are allowed to consume hot dishes with oil and even fish.
Name day April 7
Name days in the new style are celebrated by: George, Arkady, Evdokia, Danilo, Prokip, Peter.
According to the old style – Savva and Tikhon.
We remind you that we previously wrote about what holiday is celebrated in Ukraine on April 6.