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, today they celebrate the Eve of the Baptism of the Lord, or Epiphany.
Saint Athanasius the Great is one of the most revered Fathers of the Church. Born in 297 in Alexandria, he demonstrated a 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 disciple of Athanasius. In 412 he became Archbishop of Alexandria and actively fought against heresies, strengthening the faith.
Church holiday in the old style
According to the Julian calendar, January 18 is Epiphany. On this day, believers prepare for one of the greatest Christian holidays - Epiphany. Traditionally, water is blessed in churches, which is considered healing and able to protect against evil.
Signs of January 18
Folk signs on this day helped predict the harvest and weather:
- If snow falls in the morning, there will be a good grain harvest.
- There is little snow - berries and mushrooms will produce poorly.
- Starry sky - to the harvest of wheat and peas.
What not to do on January 18
On a church holiday you should not:
- To swear, to be jealous, and to be offended.
- Telling scary stories can attract trouble.
- Getting married - the day is considered unfavorable for marriage.
What to do on January 18
- To 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 home from evil.
- To get married - according to ancient traditions, this day was considered favorable for starting preparations for the wedding.
Angel Day January 18
Today's name days are celebrated by: Athanasius, Cyril, Alexander, Mikhail, Sergey, Nikolay, Hilarion, Oksana, Ksenia, Maria. According to the old style - Polina, Tatyana, Lukyan, Grigory, Joseph, Roman, Yevgenia.
