On January 18, according to the new church calendar, believers honor the memory of saints Athanasius and Cyril, archbishops of Alexandria. At the same time, according to the old style, the Eve of the Baptism of the Lord, or Epiphany, is celebrated today.
Saint Athanasius the Great is one of the most respected fathers of the Church. Born in 297 in Alexandria, he showed deep knowledge of the Holy Scriptures from an early age. It is known that as a child, he and his friends symbolically performed the rite of baptism, which was later recognized as valid.
Saint Cyril was also a prominent theologian and student of Athanasius. In 412, he became the Archbishop of Alexandria and actively fought against heresies, strengthening the faith.
Church holiday according to the old style
According to the Julian calendar, January 18 is Epiphany. On this day, believers prepare for one of the biggest Christian holidays - Epiphany. Traditionally, temples sanctify water, which is considered healing and able to protect against evil.
Signs of January 18
Folk omens of this day helped to predict the harvest and weather:
- If it snows in the morning, there will be a good grain harvest.
- There is little snow - berries and mushrooms bear little fruit.
- Starry sky - to the harvest of wheat and peas.
What not to do on January 18
On a church holiday, you should not:
- Swear, envy and take offense.
- Telling scary stories can attract trouble.
- Getting married and getting married - the day is considered unfavorable for marriage.
What can be done on January 18
- Pray to Saints Athanasius and Cyril for forgiveness, health, well-being and strengthening of faith.
- Walk around the house with a candle and a prayer to protect the house from evil.
- Getting married - according to ancient traditions, this day was considered favorable for starting preparations for the wedding.
Angel Day is January 18
The following are celebrating their name day today: Athanasius, Kirill, Oleksandr, Mykhailo, Sergey, Mykola, Hilarion, Oksana, Ksenia, Maria. According to the old style - Polina, Tatiana, Lukyan, Hryhoriy, Yosyp, Roman, Yevgenia.
