On March 15, 1961, John F. Kennedy gave a speech at the American Congress where he first described the meaning of the word “consumer” and announced four key consumer principles: the right to know, security, choice and to be heard. Global consumer protection organizations have made the words spoken by the president their basic Code. Later, the International Society of Consumers' Associations added several more rights: the right to a healthy environment, compensation for damage, consumer education, and satisfaction of basic needs. And from now on, the Manifesto assumes 8 rights. International Consumer Day was celebrated for the first time on March 15, 1983. Two years later, the UN General Assembly established governing principles representing consumer rights. With the introduction of these positions, consumer rights acquired global recognition and legal force. They describe the main principles that government agencies must observe when making policies and drawing up laws in this area. The establishment of the UN regulation helped to develop and strengthen international cooperation on this issue. This holiday was celebrated for the first time in the Russian Federation in 1992. It was then that a legislative act dedicated to the protection of consumer interests came into force, legally establishing the rights of residents of the country and the obligations of enterprises involved in the sale or provision of services. The need to establish in our country a separate law dedicated to the protection of the rights of all citizens was caused by the fact that the principles of previously existing legislation were based on the priority of the interests of the manufacturer and sellers, rather than consumers. The law regulates the following points: - relations between buyers and manufacturers, sellers when selling products (performing work, providing services); - consumer rights to purchase goods or use services of decent quality, harmless to the life and health of people and the surrounding atmosphere; - obtaining detailed data about products (offers) and about their manufacturers (sellers); - state and public protection of consumer interests, development of policies for the implementation of these rights. The main defender of consumer interests in the Russian Federation is the Consumer Society of Russia, founded in the winter of 1990. Today this union covers more than 100 associations located in different regions of the country. During this time, more than a million people who turned to SPRF for help were able to receive professional support from lawyers. In addition, over the past few years, regional branches of Rospotrebnadzor of Russia have also taken part in events dedicated to Consumer Rights Protection Day. Also, in many localities of the country, representatives of the organization hold “hotlines” and meetings of press workers on important issues in this area.

March 15 is International Squirrel Protection Day. The day is celebrated at the initiative of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The foundation was founded by Brian Davis in 1969 to stop the brutal hunt for seals and their pups, the pup, in Canada. The extraction of squirrels is a terrible spectacle that amazes a normal person with the level of cruelty of hunters towards completely helpless and defenseless animals. Baby squirrels are bludgeoned to death, causing them incredible pain and suffering. Squirrels suffer because of their white fluffy fur. But how can clothes made from the fur of exhausted babies—squirrels—warm and bring pleasure from new clothes? Fishermen justify this monstrous fishing by preserving the balance in nature; supposedly seals eat too much fish. But can the natural need for food be an excuse for carnage and heartlessness? Nature is able to sort out its ecological balance without the barbaric intervention of people. This is well understood by Brian Davis's associates, who work in forty countries around the world and strive to stop the ruthless extermination of pups. Among them are Pamela Anderson, Maria and Nikolai Vorontsov, Alexey Yablokov. Thanks to the efforts of like-minded people, Brian Davis, just 3 years after the creation of IFAW in 1972, the United States adopted a law on the protection of marine mammals, which prohibits the import of goods made from seals into the country. In 1983, Europe joined the rescue effort and banned the import of harp seal products. In 2009, the European Union introduced a ban on a similar product. That same year, Russia legally banned the hunting of seal pups. In 2011, Russia introduced a ban on the import of harp seal skins into the country. Harp seals are members of the family of mammals that live in the Arctic. These animals seem like cute pinnipeds. But the flippers of the lumps are armed with claws, which can easily injure their enemies, including Greenland polar sharks, killer whales, bears and humans. Pinniped seals are excellent swimmers, swimming hundreds of kilometers and diving to depths of up to 200 meters. In January–February, on solid ice, entire colonies consisting of tens of thousands of individuals await offspring. The low temperature of the ice does not allow microbes to develop, facilitating the birth of babies. Seal pups are born in late February - early March. The body of a newborn is covered with long, thick white fur with a greenish tint, which quickly disappears and the baby becomes a snow-white charming baby. At this time, he is completely helpless and completely dependent on his mother, feeds on her rich milk every four hours, and quickly gains weight. The life of the kids depends on the mother and on the person who goes hunting for the charming furry creature; it can end at any minute, or it can last. Let's wish a carefree life to the big-eyed kids. Let us wish humanity and compassion to those who, by chance, are involved in the fur trade. We wish each of us to think about what happened before the fur coat or hat ended up in our hands.

Recognition of individual merits and respectful attitude towards another person is one of the signs of education. Respect as a “code of honor” is the moral duty of any member of society. Each of us has our own understanding of what is good or bad in relationships with people around us. Lack of respect for a family member, friend or relative clearly harms their personality and destroys relationships. The ability to accept and understand without judgment the actions of other people, their behavior and statements must and can be cultivated in oneself. Respect is very important at any age. A mother who behaves rudely with her child deprives him of support and help, lowers his self-esteem, and undermines the child’s faith in the goodness and justice of the world around him. Respect is one of the rules of ethics, which presupposes the equality of rights of all members of society, the attention and interest of some people in the feelings and beliefs of others. A respectful attitude towards one's neighbor is the only correct position of a person in relation to the spiritual values ​​of others. The initiators of the unusual celebration, World Respect Day, which is celebrated on March 15, are sure of this. The holiday encourages people to begin to take into account personal boundaries and the interests of others, regardless of the degree of kinship and close relationships. Respect is manifested in recognizing the individuality of a person, interacting with him without causing psychological and physical violence. Respect and relationships with reverence help maintain harmony in society and protect people from conflicts and misunderstandings that exhaust the soul and nerves. This is what the holiday celebrated annually in mid-March calls for. The philosopher I. Kant tried to explain to Europeans and find an analogue in other languages ​​for the concept of “conscience”. The correspondence of foreign words with such a meaning is purely formal, because they do not convey the full depth and meaning that the Eastern Slavs have in it. Russians, unlike other peoples, have long lived according to their conscience. The behavior of Europeans is dominated by reason and intellect. Russian people in their lives are guided by conscience, based on the direct knowledge of truths that do not need logical proof. But the word “respect,” as some researchers believe, was absent in the Old Church Slavonic and Old Russian languages. It was borrowed from Europeans. Linguist L.G. Sverdlov claims that the noun “respect” appeared in the Russian literary language in the 40s and 50s of the 18th century. In German there is wage ("important"), in Polish there is uwazny ("to be attentive"). The cognate word waga (“weight”) further reveals the meaning of the concept. A respected person with a worthy reputation and respect is said to “have weight in society.” There is another theory of the origin of the word. “Respect” appeared in Russian as a derivative of “important”. Respectful attitude means the ability to consider the interests of another person and do what is important to another. The lexical dictionary gives the following meaning of the colloquial and outdated “respect”: “Take into account, agree to something, recognizing it as convincing, worthy of attention.” Russian people have always tried to act according to their conscience, take into account the desires and opinions of others, and treat old people who have lived a long life and had experience with honor. Respect for the freedom of choice of another person and the desire to understand him is absorbed with mother's milk. Conscience as a manifestation of moral self-control, awareness of the value of the individual and respectful attitude towards its interests are qualities that distinguish Russians from other peoples. Therefore, the initiative to celebrate World Respect Day in the Russian Federation found support and a wide response in the hearts of people.

The vast majority of ordinary people, deep down, still believe that we are not alone in the Universe. If this mysterious “other life” exists, how does it know about us? Of course, he will hear, so every year on March 15, a rather unusual holiday is celebrated - World Contact Day, which is dedicated to mental communication with extraterrestrials.

March 15 is not only the Constitution Day of the Republic of Belarus, it is the second birth day of the Belarusian people, a real holiday of Dignity and Independence. In the early 90s of the 20th century, the country gained long-awaited independence. And according to Decree of the President of the Republic No. 157 of March 26, 1998, Constitution Day began to be considered a public holiday, although it remained a working day. The country has come a long way to the Basic Law by which modern people live: from the Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which historians rightly consider one of the first and most democratic legal acts of the Middle Ages, through the “Stalinist” Constitution of 1936, where the rights of citizens, in fact, existed only on paper. The Constitution of sovereign Belarus was signed on March 15, 1994. Its main provisions are aimed at implementing independent foreign and domestic policies. They contained fundamentally new concepts at that time - “rule of law,” “division of power,” “state language,” etc., they declared the principle of multiple political institutions and thoughts, and ensured the rule of law in public relations. Using the rights reflected in the Constitution, citizens of the country bear responsibility, the laws established in the republic are implemented, and the rights of other people are respected. Various patriotic events are held on this day in all settlements of the state. On the streets of cities, government officials make speeches to the population, festivals are organized everywhere, thematic conversations are held in libraries, exhibitions of decorative works by craftsmen, competitions and quizzes, meetings of representatives of the legislative and executive authorities with the people. On this day, the ethnic groups living in the country showcase their folklore, songs, dances, art and cuisine. The birthday of the fateful State Book, along with other public holidays, is an important part of the cultural heritage of Belarus, as it recognizes the value of the national heritage and the success of a nation of free people, whose rights and freedoms are protected in accordance with the chapters prescribed in the Basic Document.

Unexpected statements or events that are even difficult to imagine cause us amazement and confusion. The stunning news practically knocks you off your feet and makes you temporarily numb with surprise. Your son was taken aback by the fact that he was urgently going to get married? Your boss is dumbfounded and asks you to go to work on the morning of January 1? Your ex-husband is puzzled by the fact that he still loves you and wants to return? Congratulations, especially if all these events happened on March 15th. That means it's time to celebrate Stunning Day. Who came up with the funny Dumbstruck Day is unknown, as are the traditions of its celebration. It is believed that on the Day of Stupor you should try to find an excuse to fall into a stupor. Or puzzle those around you: report amazing news or pull a trick - do something unexpected, leaving you dumbfounded. Good impulses and good-natured jokes are the main conditions of the holiday. Few people know about the Day of Stunning. Therefore, on March 15th it is customary to post on blogs and social media pages about Dumbstruck Day. It would be appropriate to illustrate your story about the holiday with thematic pictures and photographs that depict people in extreme surprise. You can celebrate the fun Day of Stunning with your friends and acquaintances by inviting them to show their acting talent and mastery of impersonation. Invite your friends to put aside their embarrassment and put on their faces the grimace of a person who has just been stunned by devastating news. Post the winner's photo on the Internet. Dumbstruck Day is an excellent occasion to remember synonyms and words close in meaning to the verb “to stun”. Puzzle, stun, amaze, overwhelm, confuse, confuse or confuse... Behind each of these words there is a whole range of feelings experienced by people who were taken by surprise by unexpected news or an extraordinary event. Modern man lives in a dynamic, constantly changing world. Events occur almost daily that impact entire countries and continents. According to scientists, a stunned person freezes for 1/25th of a second. The numb reaction prevents an objective assessment of the situation and increases the impact of positive or negative news on the body by 4 times. Therefore, to maintain mental health and the nervous system, you need to periodically train - to train the brain not to respond so actively to receiving any, even the most surprising information. It is especially important for people with an active psyche to begin to control their feelings - they react very quickly to any external stimuli. The ideal time for training the body's reactions, as well as trying out new jokes on others, is Stunning Day.

In many cultures around the world, the rose is associated with perfection, beauty, bliss, purity and love. The theme of flowers runs like a red line throughout the entire narrative of “The Snow Queen” by G.H. Anderson. The main characters of the fairy tale, Kai and Gerda, lived in a big city in neighboring houses with converging roofs, on which roses grew. Parents allowed the boy and girl to play together under the flower bushes growing in the boxes. Their buds have become a symbol of a happy childhood, friendship and first love. The Snow Queen shackled Kai's heart in ice, after which the boy stopped feeling warmth and enjoying the beauty of roses. But the kind and sincere Gerda, who believed in the victory of good over evil, found a friend and removed the terrible spell from him. An unusual holiday has been established in honor of Anderson's fairy tale, which glorifies friendship, loyalty and love. March 15th is Dreaming of Rose Bushes Day. The language of flowers was invented by people to express feelings that were not customary to speak openly about in the prim society of Queen Victoria's reign. Thus, according to floriography, the scarlet lily signified lofty intentions towards the object of adoration, yellow hyacinth - jealousy, narcissus - the resurrection of long-gone feelings, snowdrop - hope for reciprocity. Roses have a special role in the language of flowers. White symbolizes innocence, modesty and virtue, which is why the Virgin Mary is often depicted wearing a wreath of blossoming buds. Coral roses denote passion and carnal desires, yellow ones - happiness and friendship, red ones - strong love. G.H. Anderson was familiar with floriography, which is why plants play an important role in his fairy tales “Thumbelina”, “The Nightingale” and “Little Ida’s Flowers”. They help reveal the main theme of each work. As a child, Anderson, under the ridicule of his classmates, received a white rose as a gift from his friend, the beautiful girl Sarah, as a sign of affection and goodwill. The writer remembered its beauty and wonderful aroma for the rest of his life. The rose became for him a symbol of friendship, first love and tender dreams. According to Anderson, flowers suffer and can think just like people. The last three years of his life he was very ill - the writer was diagnosed with liver cancer. The hostess of the house in Copenhagen visited her guest, each time without fail bringing a freshly cut rose. Anderson kissed the flower like a child, enjoying its perfection and beauty. The writer died with a rose in his hands, the articles for him a symbol of hope, goodness and friendship. In honor of this unusual holiday, it is customary to exchange cards with images of flowers and express wishes for a happy and joyful future, life in peace, harmony and love. This is how all romantically minded people celebrate March 15th, Day of Dreaming of Rose Bushes.

Mother-in-law's party (5th day of Maslenitsa week)

The talent of an orator is one of the components of the success of people in public professions. Sophists taught eloquence techniques in the schools of Ancient Greece and Rome. The names of the greatest orators - Aristotle and Cicero - have survived to our time. The traditions of teaching the art of speaking in public have survived to this day. Rhetoric is taught in lyceums and universities that prepare future politicians, judges, lawyers, journalists and philologists. March 15 is World Speech Day, which celebrates the art of public speaking and its role in modern society. World Speech Day is held under the slogan “Thoughts for a better world”. The holiday has been celebrated since 2015 on the initiative of S. Gibson, a participant in the annual Athens Democratic Forum. Analyzing the speeches of speakers from different eras, he drew attention to the fact that public speaking can move society towards global changes. The talent of a rhetorician deserves respect, and the skill of composing speeches deserves special attention. S. Gibson found like-minded people who supported his initiative, and a year later the first World Speech Day took place. Events in honor of World Speech Day in 2016 were held in 30 countries, including Russia, Greece, Singapore and Malaysia. Lectures on public speaking have also been given at universities in the UK, colleges in the USA, France, India and Bangladesh, think tanks, commercial and public organizations in other countries. A year later, another 40 countries joined the list of participants, including Palestine, Mongolia, Nigeria, etc. Many of the speakers’ speeches were broadcast on the Internet, so everyone could listen to them. In 2019, more than 600 events in honor of World Speech Day were organized by WSD representatives from 102 countries. They all support the idea that public speaking on current issues has the power to make the world a better place. On March 15, people have a chance to express themselves and speak out, who with their words can influence the lives of specific people, communities and entire nations. The speech does not have to be delivered at an official event. A speech in honor of the holiday can be simply recorded on video and posted on social networks with the hashtag #unexpectedvoices or #worldspeechday. There is no need to attract media attention, have a big name and title to change the world for the better. It is enough to sincerely speak about what is important to you and other people, pointing out the problem and ways to solve it. Speech can completely transform our world, making people kinder and more sympathetic. Millions of World Speech Day participants who give lectures or organize other events on World Speech Day are confident of this.

Unreasonable use of force by police against lawbreakers and crime suspects is unacceptable and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Representatives of international organizations and members of society who are not indifferent to the problems of victims of arbitrariness are convinced of this. That's why the International Day Against Police Brutality is observed every year on March 15th. The International Day Against Police Brutality was first held in 1997. 2 years earlier, the Collective to Counteract Police Brutality was created in Montreal. Members of this organization and the Swiss “Black Flag” informed people about their rights and provided legal support to victims of arbitrariness by security forces. Participation in the events held on March 15, 1997 were real victims and witnesses of the behavior of police officers who showed aggression against sexual minorities, marginalized people, representatives of opposition political movements and other people. Activists of the movement publish a monthly magazine in which they talk about torture and other illegal actions of representatives of law enforcement agencies. March 15th, coincidentally, is the day the Montreal police force was created. The date of the first International Day Against Police Brutality fell on Saturday and, due to convenience, was chosen for the celebration. However, later, the beating of two boys aged 11 and 12 years old by police in Switzerland began to be associated with March 15, which assigned the chosen date to the International Day Against Police Brutality. In honor of the International Day against Police Brutality, demonstrations are being held around the world. In Montreal, from 2 to 3 thousand people take part in such events. In the United States, Rodney King was a symbol of resistance to police brutality in the 1990s. An African-American man became a cult figure after being brutally beaten with batons by security forces. Since 2016, taking a knee has become a symbol of the fight against police brutality and violence in the United States. Then black football player K. Kaepernick refused to stand before the match during the playing of the national anthem. The player took a knee to protest against police violence against African Americans and racial discrimination. In Russia, the “Zone of Law” deals with the rigidity and lawlessness that reigns in the security forces, which manifests itself in intimidation, unauthorized arrests and abuse of surveillance methods. Lawyers and lawyers collaborating with this organization, over several years of active work, have achieved the conviction of 41 police officers, 34 employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service and 1 FSB operative. In favor of the victims, 6 million rubles were recovered from representatives of law enforcement agencies in Russian courts and 238 thousand euros in the ECHR. These and other results of human rights activities are discussed during events for the International Day against Police Brutality.

Every year on March 15, Hungarians celebrate one of the most important national dates - the anniversary of the 1848 revolution. On this day, back in 1848, in the town of Pest (part of modern Budapest), the “Hungarian Spring” began, the so-called bourgeois uprising, the liberation movement of local residents for independence from the rule of the Habsburg dynasty (Austria), which later resulted in a military conflict against Austria and her like-minded people. Despite the fact that the rebellion was suppressed, it played an important role in the country gaining freedom. The main conditions of the revolutionaries were freedom of the press, the formation of a parliament in Pest, the creation of a state bank and a personal army. The Hungarians also demanded the abolition of serfdom and the removal of foreign soldiers from their territory. After negotiations between the rebels and the monarch Franz Joseph II, most of the demands put forward were satisfied. This was noted in the “April Laws” signed by the emperor. The head of the first Hungarian government was count and part-time politician Lajos Battyany. Despite the bloodless nature of the innovations, the freedom of Hungary was unfavorable to the Emperor of Austria, for this reason, Francis Joseph II soon turned to the Russian Tsar for help: to suppress the Hungarian revolutionaries. The confrontation of interests quickly escalated into a military conflict. In the summer of 1849, the freedom movement was suppressed. 30 army generals and 5 civilian leaders were sentenced to death. Among them was the first head of an independent state, L. Battyani. Hungary was able to partially gain independence only 2 decades later, when an Agreement was signed to transform the Habsburg Monarchy into the dual empire of Austria-Hungary. Austria and Hungary were recognized as independent parts of one country. The main role in governing the state was played by the Austrian monarch, who simultaneously held the title of King of Hungary. This date began to be celebrated as a national holiday in Hungary after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire occurred, this event occurred in 1918. Every year on March 15, national flags are hung in all cities and all kinds of festive events are organized.

According to the folk calendar, Fedot Vetronos is celebrated on March 15 (March 2, old style). In the church calendar, this date is dedicated to Saint Theodotus of Cyrene, who served as a bishop in the 3rd-4th centuries. Having received the rank of bishop in the city of Cyrene, on the territory of Cyprus, Theodotus was engaged in the open vestment of pagans and converted them to Christianity. The ruler of Cyprus, on the contrary, was a pagan, therefore, having learned about the bishop’s deed, he subjected him to painful torture. Theodotus did not renounce his faith in the Almighty and he was imprisoned. Thanks to the influence of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, Christian believers were freed from captivity, so Theodotus became free again. The people called Fedot Vetronos, since strong winds often blew on that day. There were gusts so strong that roofs were torn off and tree branches were broken. The peasants did not risk sticking their heads outside the house unnecessarily, believing that Fedot could catch a cold. Snow sometimes fell along with the winds, but they were not happy about it, because it covered the ground and blocked the appearance of grass. Hay supplies were running low, and livestock were especially in need of young grass. They believed that the snow on Fedot Vetronos melted with the help of heat coming from the ground. If the winds died down, the men went out to cultivate the land, and the women sowed seeds for seedlings. The first crops sown were cabbage, tomatoes, and peppers. Usually on Fedot Vetronos the Easter fast had already begun, so the residents tried not to swear or use foul language. It was allowed to eat only once on a given day and after sunset, and raw vegetables, nuts and fruits were taken from food. The weather on Fedot determined how July would turn out. Wind from the north predicted a cool summer, and from the south - humid and hot. Long icicles meant that spring would be delayed. Falling snowfall and frost foreshadowed poor haymaking in the summer, since the first grasses germinate later. Sunny weather promised grain yields.

Every year on March 15th the birthday of the escalator is celebrated. Without this device it is no longer even possible to imagine a modern train station, shopping center or metro station. The history of this device began in 1859. Then American inventor Nathan Ames received a patent for a ladder moving in a circle. However, this invention left everyone indifferent and was conveniently forgotten. But on March 15, 1892, another American inventor, Jess Reno, received a patent for the first inclined lift, which caused a stir among investors. And after 8 years, the Otis company bought the rights to this lift and began producing it under the Escalator brand of the same name. Interestingly, the very first escalator was located in a New York amusement park. It was made in the form of a wooden ribbon without steps and was intended purely for the amusement of visitors. The first escalator resembled a conveyor belt with wide railings on which people could sit. Strictly speaking, an escalator is a type of conveyor. As in the case of the copier and diapers, gradually the name of the brand transferred to the name of the product itself. Escalators began to be called not only products of the Otis company, but also other devices in the form of an inclined staircase with moving steps. Escalators quickly became popular due to their high throughput: already in 1911 they were installed in London. You had to stand on them on the right side, while the left side was intended for those who walked in the direction of travel. Just a few years later, the capitals of many European countries acquired their own moving stairs. In 1921, the device for transporting people was presented in its modern guise in a business center in Philadelphia. In Moscow, Finnish-made escalators appeared in 1935 at metro stations. Then the surprised townspeople called them miracle stairs. In 1938, the Krasny Metalist plant produced the first Soviet escalator. • During the day, the escalator “scrolls” about 50 km. • The speed of the device varies from 1.8 to 2.7 km/h. • The longest escalator is located at Admiralteyskaya station in St. Petersburg, it contains about 700 steps. • An escalator without steps is called a travelator, or a passenger conveyor. March 15 is celebrated not only by escalator manufacturers, but also by people who service this useful invention.

World Sleep Day is celebrated every year during the spring season (on Friday of the 2nd full week of March). The approval of the holiday was facilitated by the International Association of Sleep Medicine with the direct participation of the International Sleep Day Committee. They first learned about this holiday in 2008, when it fell on March 14th. Since then, conferences have been held on this holiday, social advertising has been intensified, and all sorts of events have been organized that highlight problems associated with violations of the rest and wakefulness regime. To attract people's attention, thematic exhibitions and art projects are organized with the participation of musicians, artists and other creative individuals. Lack of sleep and insomnia have become a problem on a global scale, which was the primary reason for the adoption of World Sleep Day, because systematic disturbances of biorhythms reduce performance and make a person irritable. Thus, people of different age categories can pay attention to their lifestyle and receive information about the harmful effects of poor sleep on the cardiovascular and other systems. Recharging during night rest is necessary for a person to accumulate energy and subsequent activities, because every new day requires both physical and mental activity. Various life situations and the desire to implement everything planned as quickly as possible force us to change the natural regime. Inadequate rest at night or its absence at all has a detrimental effect on the entire body, including the state of mind. In order for the nighttime energy accumulation to be as effective as possible and to avoid feeling tired in the morning, you should not overeat before bed and drink alcoholic beverages. You shouldn’t systematically stay late at work; it’s best to go into the arms of Morpheus between 21.00 and 22.00. It is enough for a person to devote 7 or 8 hours a day to night rest. For the health and normal development of a child’s body, rest time should be increased to 10 hours. Thanks to World Sleep Day, people can reconsider their sleep and wakefulness patterns and adjust them if necessary. Remember, a wonderful appearance and a great mood are impossible without full recharging at night!

Orthodox holidays on March 15:

On March 15, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of Remembrance of the Hieromartyr Fedot, who lived in the 3rd century AD. e. From a young age until his death, he served himself in the service of God, was subjected to inhuman torment for his faith, but did not change his views. Hieromartyr Fedot chose Cyrene on the island of Cyprus, where there were many pagans in those days, as the place of his service to God. Only through pious sermons did he manage to persuade many to undergo the rite of baptism. Emperor Licinius, who did not approve of the Christian religion, decided to deprive the former pagans of their preacher. Fedot was not afraid, he came to the emperor and told him to his face: “I am the one you are looking for. He came so that everyone would believe in One God.” Licinius was furious at his words and ordered the preacher to be hanged from a tree and beaten with rods. After such reprisals, Fedot was sent to prison. Exactly five days later he was brought to the emperor, who expected the bishop to renounce Christ, but he turned out to be unshakable. Licinius came up with new, sophisticated tortures: the unfortunate man was placed on a grate, and a fire was lit under it. After that, they drove nails into their feet and forced them to walk the streets. Even this could not break the Bishop of Cyrene. Many of those who witnessed those fanaticities, seeing the determination and steadfastness of the martyr, publicly repented and abandoned the worship of idols. Licinius ordered the poor bishop to be imprisoned, from where Constantine the Great soon freed him. The new emperor stopped the persecution of Christians and officially allowed the Christian religion. After his release, Fedot returned back to Cyrene, remained in the episcopal service for two years, after which he died. In Ancient Rus', the Day of the Hieromartyr Fedot was called Fedot the Wind-Bearer. On this day, the weather brought unexpected surprises - strong winds, frosts and snow drifts. On this day it was customary to fast; people sat down at the table only after sunset.

Memorial Day of St. Arseny, Bishop of Tver

Every year on March 15 (March 2, Old Style), Orthodox Christians celebrate a holiday in honor of the “Sovereign” Icon of the Mother of God. In 1917, on this day, Nicholas II abdicated the throne, and an icon was found in the village of Kolomenskoye, near Moscow. There is an opinion that it was the deeply religious Nicholas II who begged the Mother of God at a difficult moment to take power over the Russian people, who had abandoned the Anointed Tsar, and to become his Intercessor. It all started with the following events. Peasant Evdokia Andrianova from the settlement of Pererva (on the banks of the Moscow River) had a revelation three times in a dream about the existence of an icon of the Mother of God in the church of the village of Kolomenskoye. The Mother of God herself urged the God-fearing peasant woman to begin searching for the large black icon. Evdokia came to the Kolomna Church of the Ascension to abbot Nikolai Likhachev and said that in a dream she saw a black (dark) image of the Mother of God, which must be found, and it will become protection for the entire Russian people. The rector and Evdokia looked at all the icons in the temple, but did not find what they were looking for. Only in the basement of the church was an image of the Virgin Mary found on a black board, covered with a thick layer of dust and soot. Through the many years of raid, the face of the Mother of God sitting on the throne could be seen. In her hands were an orb and a scepter - symbols of power. Little Jesus Christ sat on his knees. His hand was raised, blessing everyone who approached the face. The Mother of God wears a red robe on her shoulders and a crown on her head. The look expressed royal power over the world. Warmth and protection emanated from the image. Evdokia confirmed that the found icon was an image from her dream. The priest served a prayer service with an akathist. Rumor spread the news of the newly acquired icon, and people began to flock from all over the country. There have been cases of miraculous healing. The image was taken to other churches, parishes, factories and factories in Moscow on weekdays; on Sundays it always remained in Kolomenskoye. Saint Tikhon composed a service and an akathist, which were read before the Sovereign Icon in almost every church. Believers witnessed miracles associated with the image of the Virgin Mary. After some time, the image of the Mother of God was miraculously renewed. In 1925, on the day of the celebration of the Sovereign Icon, Vladimir Vorobyov, the priest of the temple in Plotniki, who ardently revered the holy image, was released from prison. After the 1917 revolution, the icon was moved to the Moscow Historical Museum, where it was kept in storage. In the 90s it was returned to Kolomenskoye. People pray in front of the Sovereign Icon for healing from serious illnesses, for overcoming financial difficulties, for finding a soul mate and a strong marriage, for peace, the pacification of evil and enmity.