International Museum Day was first celebrated in 1977. It is interesting to note that the proposal to introduce a new holiday was put forward by Soviet workers, namely, the director of the Pushkin Museum - I.A. Antonova at the XI General Conference of the International Council of Museums. This proposal was supported in more than 150 countries around the world. Every year, representatives of the cultural community of these countries jointly choose a new theme dedicated to museum activities, as well as the motto under which this day takes place. It is no secret that tickets to some galleries are quite expensive, and not every average person can afford to visit their favorite pinakothek or exhibition. On May 18, this opportunity is available to everyone, since on this holiday, which has become popular in many countries, this can be done absolutely free. Therefore, in some museums on May 18 there is a pre-registration for visiting, and many families prepare a rich cultural program for this day in advance. Among other things, on the eve of the celebration, or in the days leading up to it, an international event known as the “Night of Museums” is held, which has become popular. The media notify the population in advance about the upcoming event, as well as the opening of new exhibitions. For those who, for some reason, could not take advantage of such a unique opportunity, thanks to developing Internet technologies, there is the opportunity to view the world's best collections virtually. For museum workers, May 18 is not only a professional holiday, but also a lot of responsible and painstaking work. Many museums prepare for this day in advance, trying to share knowledge and interest as many people as possible: they hold thematic lectures and special classes for children, and also organize museum and theatrical performances. The experience of holding International Museum Day plays an important role in the development of interstate relations. Getting to know the cultural values ​​of different peoples helps people not only broaden their horizons and gain new knowledge, but also helps improve relations in the world.

The history of the Baltic Fleet is connected with the undertakings of Peter I. The Great Emperor not only gave the country access to the sea and created a fleet. He showed what a country needed to become a great maritime power. The day of the holiday - May 18 - was chosen for a reason. On this day, Peter I captured the Swedish boat and shnyava on thirty boats. The very fact of the Russian victory at sea, where the Europeans had no equal, turned out to be important. From the very beginning of its existence, the Baltic Fleet has had a huge influence on the victories of the Russian army. During the Northern War, with the support of sailors, a number of cities were taken and several major naval victories were won. Throughout their history, Baltic sailors have repeatedly entered into battle, defending the interests of the state in the Baltic. The beginning of the 20th century was a mournful period for the entire Russian fleet. Almost all the battleships were killed in battles with the Japanese. The restoration of numbers took several years; by 1911, the fleet was replenished with new ships. The sailors of the Baltic Fleet made a huge contribution to the development of domestic and world science. Around the world and long-distance voyages left more than four hundred geographical discoveries on maps; they received names from the names of one hundred naval officers. In World War I, ships of the Baltic Fleet destroyed more than a hundred German ships. The Battle of the Baltic was won, despite the numerical superiority of the enemy. Throughout the entire period of the Civil War, Baltic sailors defended the approaches to Petrograd not only from the sea, they participated in all land operations. Before the Great Patriotic War, the fleet underwent technical re-equipment and was replenished with new ships and aircraft. The Baltic Fleet played a large role in the creation of military fleets in the Northern and Pacific regions. Like the entire Soviet navy, the Baltic made a huge contribution to the victory over fascism. The defense of Hanko, Tallinn, the Moondzun Islands, and Leningrad became glorious pages in the heroic chronicle. On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, sailors fought shoulder to shoulder with ground forces. The fleet destroyed more than a thousand enemy ships of various classes, and two and a half thousand German aircraft were shot down. One hundred thousand Baltic sailors received orders and medals. 137 sailors received the highest award - the Hero's Star. The country appreciated the merits of the Baltic Fleet - two Orders of the Red Banner. The beginning of the 50s was marked by the successful deployment of missile ships and jet aircraft on combat duty. Fleet squadrons began carrying out missions in different regions of the world. The geography of the Baltic expeditions is extensive: the North and Mediterranean Seas, the Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean. The skating rink of history in the early 90s did not spare the navy in the Baltic. The total shortage of finances, components, ammunition, and fuel caused NATO great joy. The courage of the fleet command and the change in priorities of the country's leadership helped the fleet survive and increase its combat potential. Our Western “partners” had to give up the idea of ​​undivided ownership of the Baltic Sea. At the moment, our military fleet in the Baltic is an important element in protecting the country’s borders and interests. Over the past few years, the squad has been replenished with the latest ships, weapons and equipment. The commissioning of Dugong boats makes it possible to land marines along with equipment on any coast. The newest Raptor boats will soon go on duty en masse. The personnel and ships of the Baltic Fleet take part in dozens of exercises and training. Missile, torpedo and artillery firing is carried out. The actions of ships, aircraft and marines are coordinated. Baltic sailors have earned the respect of the country and people. Happy holiday to all officers, sailors and veterans!

Funny holidays - Whiplash Day

A large insect with a barrel-shaped body, hard wings and powerful legs is colloquially called a Khrushchev. A pest of agricultural crops and forests in Europe and Asia, it is also known as the cockchafer. It got its name from the month in which adults emerge from the larvae laid by females. In some climatic zones, the beetle hatches from the pupa not in May, but in June and even July, if the summer was late. In the 1980s, there was a sharp decline in the beetlefish population due to the use of pesticides. After the introduction of a ban on the use of a number of insecticides, the number of insects began to recover, and with it the local ecosystems at the level of biogeocenosis. The appearance of Khrushchev at the end of spring symbolizes the arrival of warmth and sunny weather. Therefore, May 18th is the Maybug's birthday. Controlling insect pests is a common task for farmers, gardeners and gardeners. The Colorado potato beetle is the main enemy of the nightshade family: peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and other crops. It got its name in 1859 from the American state of Colorado, where it devastated a potato field. The cockchafer harms a much larger number of plants. Its larvae are very tenacious, because... can live for more than 3 days without oxygen. Chafer caterpillars undermine the root system of pine trees and other plants. The adult beetle, the imago, eats the buds, leaves and flowers of both forest and garden trees and shrubs. Despite the fact that scientists have been studying the cockchafer for a long time, it still poses a mystery. The rhythm of life of a Khrushchev depends on the sun. During the day they are inactive and dormant; they fly and feed on insects in the evening and at night. Khrushchev's movement through the air at a height of more than 100 m from the ground is contrary to the laws of aerodynamics. Chafers have a very low lift coefficient, so given their body weight, scientists say they shouldn't be able to fly at all. The beetle larva, a favorite delicacy of hedgehogs, is very aggressive. In addition to the fact that during the day she can completely destroy the roots of a two-year-old pine tree, she can eat mole crickets many times larger in size. The bulging eyes of the Khrushchev have a very complex structure, which allows it to have a wide range of vision. The insect can see up to 3 km away. It is very interesting that Khrushchev have a connection with the Earth’s magnetic belt. During daytime sleep or night rest, the insect is located strictly on a north-south or west-east line. The beetle has a very good memory - having once visited an area with lush leaves and flowers of bushes or trees, it will never get lost and will easily return there again. The natural enemies of beetles, in addition to hedgehogs, are starlings, rooks and thrushes. Feeders should be hung for these birds to protect the plantings on the site from the voracious insect. Gardeners and gardeners talk about these and other features of the beetle on the Maybug's birthday.

May 18 is Pink Panther Day - an international holiday of creative, passionate and creative people. This is a fundamentally new holiday on the “map” of festive events in the world. It was established by a special body - the real “Kingdom of Love”, where unions of musicians, artists, poets, jewelers, confectioners, culinary specialists and other representatives of bohemia rule the roost. Everyone who makes the world brighter and more beautiful, in whom the passions of transformation, the spirit of rebellion, love and creative energy boil. Pink Panther Day is a young holiday that first took place in 2015. The format of the holiday is as original as the celebration itself. The holiday was celebrated for two weeks - “pink parties” took place. Guests could enjoy delicious pink sweets, visit a pink exhibition of paintings, and get acquainted with handmade works, embroidered homespun textiles and trendy accessories. Unusual creative surprises awaited guests of the holiday. The holiday got its name thanks to the famous animated character – the Pink Panther. The main character has a philosophical attitude towards life's troubles and everyday disasters, solves problems in an unconventional way, looks at things with humor and extraordinary positivity. Pink's unique feature is his unconventional approach to life and the practical implementation of the most fantastic ideas, in particular, the magical coloring of the world in a single pink color. Participants of the most creative day on the planet, who, thanks to the power of creative thought, are able to change the world, should have the same qualities. The first episode of the landmark animated series was released in 1964. Blake Edwards' directorial work received an Academy Award. The symbolic attribute of the holiday is a beautiful pink diamond. The “value” of a stone can be represented by any person, a part of nature, a piece of space, or a participant in a holiday. In general, everyone who can change the world for the better. The key slogan of the “tender day” itself is “think creatively!”, “paint the world with bright colors!” The spiritual message is that creative thinking transforms life in a new bright way. In order to change the world around you, you need to change your own thinking. Especially for the holiday, the best confectioners bake space-design cookies in the form of a binary code of ones and zeros. The tasty delicacy is served on elegant plates with pink edging. Even bikers make adjustments to their look on this day - they put on rose-colored glasses. The largest community of Pink Panther Day adherents is located in the Facebook group of the same name. It united thousands of creative people from different countries. On this day, the initiative group holds themed parties, expositions, charity events and creative competitions. The fabulous “Kingdom of Love” implements many volunteer projects on May 18 - helping orphans, disabled children, young talents. Shelters for homeless animals host events designed to help four-legged brothers find kind and sensitive owners. This is the most fun charity holiday of good deeds for nature and tailed pets.

Greeks, Tatars, Armenians and even Germans and Bulgarians took part in the settlement of the Crimean lands. Their descendants fell into disgrace with the Soviet authorities and were illegally deported by the Soviet authorities on May 18, 1944. 50 years after those tragic events that forever changed the history of Crimea, May 18 was declared the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Deportation of Crimea. After Crimea became part of Russian territory, this holiday remained in the register of official holidays. In May 1944, the Soviet army liberated the Crimean peninsula from the fascist occupiers. Almost immediately, Stalin decided to liberate the territory from national minorities, who during the occupation could have become imbued with the spirit of fascism and therefore pose a danger. In fact, his decision became the beginning of the genocide of an entire people. On the basis of hastily fabricated charges, thousands of families were detained and began to be transported en masse in Stolypin carriages to their places of settlement. The leading charges were desertion and aiding the occupiers. The beginning of Stalin's repressions fell on May 18, active actions continued over the next three days, and in total the cleansing of the peninsula lasted until 1947. Tatar families suffered the most from the genocide; in total, more than 47 thousand families left their homes. According to estimates, 238 thousand people were subjected to repression over the entire period. The fate of the deportees was unenviable; the road was long and difficult, so not everyone was able to get to their places of settlement. Those who managed to get there faced a difficult life: hunger, cold and disease continued to take their lives. In total, almost 110 thousand people died over three years. In 1967, the Soviet government admitted its mistakes and not only dropped the charges against the deported citizens and restored their civil rights, but also allowed them to return to their historical homeland. The symbol of the memorial day for the victims of deportation was a blue ribbon, symbolizing a peaceful sky and mutual understanding between peoples. On May 18, mourning memorial rallies are held throughout Crimea, in which public organizations, officials and local residents take part.

Once a year, Russia hosts a large-scale and interesting event - the night of museums. With the end of the day, most Russian historical complexes and creative halls open their doors at night, maintaining the tradition of the whole world. On this night it is possible to visit museums under the mysterious cover of darkness. Museum Night is a worldwide day of opening doors at night. In Russia, the event is celebrated every year in May. The specific date is set differently every year. Registration for participation in this event has been open for museum complexes in Russia since December of the previous year. To clarify the list of participants, you can contact the website of the same name. This website publishes a list of places to visit every year. Another remarkable fact that distinguishes visiting the gallery halls on this day is that there is no entrance fee. Visiting exhibitions on this day is free for city residents. This rule applies only to establishments that have declared their desire to participate. Considering that the doors of exhibitions are open in many historical complexes and art galleries, it is worth carefully considering the program for visiting interesting places. It is worth remembering that on this date there is a risk of encountering a large number of visitors. When a large number of people gather, you should behave especially civilly and attentively so as not to interfere with each other’s enjoyment of the opportunities of the event. The world has been celebrating nighttime visiting of galleries for four decades. The main goal of this worldwide tradition is to attract more young people to all forms of history and art. Young people, tourists and many other people visit exhibition centers on this day also because during the day people cannot attend such cultural programs. By visiting exhibitions and galleries during this global event, Russian citizens and visitors to the country can experience the beauty of exhibits at unusual times, in unusual light and in an unusual atmosphere. Thanks to this, more and more people are interested in museum life and raising their cultural level.

Every year on the third Saturday of May, Kalmyks celebrate an unofficial holiday - Kalmyk Tea Day. This date was introduced by members of the people's parliament of the republic in 2011. The main task of the institution was to preserve and revive national cultural customs. The holiday was celebrated for the first time on May 19, 2012. It is noteworthy that Kalmyk tea is not like the usual invigorating drink. It looks more like soup or stew. Proper brewing and serving tea is a real art. Usually, salt, milk and nutmeg, crushed in butter, are added to a strongly brewed drink. All ingredients are mixed thoroughly using a ladle. The national tea ceremony also has certain characteristics. For example, it is not allowed to serve guests a stale drink. This is considered a sign of disrespect. It is for this reason that tea is brewed in the direct presence of guests. In addition, each action is performed in the direction from left to right - according to the movement of the sun. The first portion is offered to the idol (Buddha): it is poured into a special sacrificial bowl and placed on the altar, and at the end of the ceremony it is given to the children. The bowl is held with both hands at chest level - a sign of respect for guests. When offering a drink, the principles of hierarchy must be observed: first of all, the bowl is served to the oldest person. It does not matter whether he is a guest or a family member. Meanwhile, the recipient takes the glass with both hands, saying parting words to the drink itself, the owner of the house and all his relatives. At the end of tea drinking, an empty bowl should not be turned upside down - this is perceived as a bad sign (a curse). A lucky sign is to get into the house for the morning ceremony of drinking a drink. It is regarded as the successful completion of the work begun. There are many versions about the appearance of Kalmyk tea. According to one of them, the famous religious figure Tsonghava once fell ill and was forced to seek help from a doctor. The doctor advised him to consume the “divine drink” on an empty stomach every day for a whole week. The philosopher listened to the doctor’s recommendations and, as a result, was cured. After that, he instructed all believers to install a burkhanam lamp and brew a miraculous drink, later called “halmg tse” by local residents. This was today's Kalmyk tea. According to the second version, the tradition of drinking tea was instilled in the Kalmyks by a lama, who decided to find food of plant origin, the calorie content of which could compete with a meat product. For a month he prayed, hoping that the desired crop would sprout, and his expectations were crowned with success. Since that time, the inhabitants of Kalmykia began the custom of organizing a tea ceremony as a divine ritual, and tea is the most revered traditional drink: it is sung every morning, without it not a single holiday is possible.

Roofer Day in Russia

World Nordic Walking Day

Culture Freedom Day

World Whiskey Day

Science Day in Ukraine - a traditional celebration of scientists and their scientific achievements - is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. Festive events last more than one day - the number of scientists worthy of traditional awards, bonuses and congratulations is so great. The decree establishing Science Day came from the pen of President L. Kuchma in 1997. The President of the country supported the appeal to him by famous scientists, heads of universities and representatives of trade unions. Back in November 1918, in Kyiv, with the support of Hetman Skoropadsky, the National Academy of Sciences was established - the highest scientific body of Ukraine, a self-governing system with the functions of organizing and conducting scientific research. All recognized areas of science are supervised in three sections of the National Academy of Sciences and 14 of its departments. The Ukrainian Academy of Sciences (the former name of the academy) was headed by Professor V. Vernadsky, the founder of biogeochemistry and the doctrine of the noosphere. As president of the UAS, Vernadsky trained a galaxy of geochemist scientists. Further, in Soviet times, powerful scientific minds became presidents of the academy: D. Zabolotny, A. Bogomolets, B. Paton. Regional scientific centers support the extensive structure of the Academy of Sciences. The main links are research institutes, design bureaus and engineering bases, national libraries and academic publishing houses. The NAS system employs about 40 thousand employees. The Academy has replenished various areas of world science with new talented achievements, works and discoveries: - V. Filatov’s operations on cadaveric cornea transplantation; - welding theory developed by E. Paton’s team; - synthesis of the antibiotic sanazin at the Institute of Organic Chemistry; - development of an anti-plague vaccine by D. Zabolotny; - M. Kholodny’s theory about the phytohormonal nature of tropisms; - V. Lyubimenko’s works on photosynthesis; - creation by Ukrainian mathematicians of a new department of mathematical physics - nonlinear mechanics; - the first computer in the Soviet Union was created in Ukraine. Scientific schools born in the National Academy of Sciences have found followers in all scientific communities. Gold medal named after. President of the Academy V. Vernadsky - an award for scientific exploits for scientists from Ukraine and other countries. On the Day of Ukrainian Science, there is an opportunity to appreciate the merits of scientists, their contribution to the global scientific sphere, to the prosperity of their homeland. Awards, diplomas, insignia from the state, and gratitude find worthy owners among brilliant representatives of the scientific community.

Ukraine is located on the European side of the continent. The country considers itself to be a Western state. The culture of Ukrainians in many ways resembles European culture. Therefore, it is not surprising that the authorities decided to unite with Europe. In this regard, a new date was included in the calendar of public holidays. Every year on the third Saturday of May, local residents celebrate Europe Day. The holiday was established by order of the President, signed in the spring of 2003. The main objective of this event is to show your desire to get closer to the members of the European Union and become a full member of this association. The holiday is celebrated by local residents who support government plans. Local governments organize all kinds of holiday programs, which include a lot of exciting events. Foreign musical groups and singers are very friendly among the Ukrainian population. Local residents happily attend events organized by the government, allowing them to get acquainted with European culture, as well as demonstrate their traditions and customs. Not only representatives of the younger generation, but also adults take part in the noisy fun with great pleasure. In addition to Ukraine, this date is also celebrated by member countries of the European Union. However, abroad it is celebrated on May 9 in honor of the adoption of the Schumann Declaration. This event occurred in 1950. During this historical era, the entire planet was engulfed in the so-called arms race, which threatened the death of almost the entire world. French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman made a written proposal calling on leading European countries to combine their coal and steel production in order to transfer control over the development of military equipment to the created supranational organization - the ECSC. Schumann's actions were the first stage towards the unification of the leading powers. The celebration of Europe Day in Ukraine traditionally begins with the opening ceremony. People from all cities come to Mikhailovskaya Square, located in Kyiv. As part of the celebration, speeches by ambassadors from EU member states are organized. However, the most exciting events take place on the famous Sofia Square: concerts of street musical groups, creative programs of youth groups, fun competitions, tournaments and numerous games for every taste.

An official holiday date formed by the merger of two separate holidays. The decision to unify on May 18 and 19 was made by the first president proclaimed Turkmenbashi, Saparmurat Niyazov. After Turkmenistan gained independence due to the collapse of the USSR, May 18 became the day the Constitution was signed, acquiring the status of a day off and one of the most important holidays in the state system. The dictatorial regime of S. Niyazov was aimed at belittling and destroying Soviet art, and the only worthy alternative was the work of Magtymguly (pseudonym of Fragi). On May 19, honors were always given to the works of the great thinker, poet, and patriot who lived from 1724 to 1807. His special merit is in changing poetry and traditional approaches to writing works. Having introduced a lot of folk epic into his poems, he managed to modify the poetic language of Turkmenistan, gaining many followers. Combining the dates of May 18 and 19 strengthened the patriotism of the holiday, the independence of the Turkmen people and at the same time emphasized the importance of cultural traditions. Festive events prepared with the participation of the government include various national and cultural events: art exhibitions, concerts, literary meetings, presentations, theatrical performances. An integral part of the honoring ceremony is the ceremonial laying of flowers at all Magtymguly monuments, of which there are quite a few throughout the country. But the main one is located in the center of the capital; it has been possible to honor the memory of the poet since 1971. Modern Turkmenistan never ceases to amaze: by the time the celebration of the Day of Revival, unity and poetry of Magtamkuli begins, unique sights appear. May 18, 2011 brought us joy with a special event – ​​the opening of the Constitution Monument. Located in Ashgabat, it is famous for its height of 185 meters. The year 2012 pleased residents with the opening of the Alem center on May 18, with a Ferris wheel installed inside, the largest in the world among closed modifications.

World AIDS Vaccine Day

Holidays of Turkmenistan - Constitution and National Flag Day (Day of Revival and Unity)

On May 18 (old style - May 5) according to the folk calendar, the day of Arina Kapustnitsa is celebrated, also called Arina Rassadnitsa. It is on this date according to the church calendar that the memory of St. Irene of Macedon, the first great martyr among women who lived in the 1st century, is honored. The girl lived in Macedonia, was the daughter of the pagan ruler Licinius, from her parents she bore the name Penelope, she was beautiful and smart. From her teacher, the girl learned about God and accepted Christianity under the name Irina, and then managed to convert both her parents and thousands of other idolaters to Christianity. When Zedekiah came to power, he began persecuting Christians. He ordered Irina to be tortured, but the torture did not harm the girl - as if the saint was protected by God’s power, and she was released. Irina lived to old age, preaching faith in Christ and healing the sick through prayer. Among the people, Saint Irina was renamed Arina. She was called the Cabbage Plant and the Rassadnitsa for the same thing as Mavra the Rassadnitsa (May 16) - for planting cabbage seedlings. On this day, women secretly planted it in the ground at dawn, so that no one would jinx the harvest. Cucumbers were planted along with cabbage. When planting seedlings, they read spells for a good harvest, so that the head of cabbage would grow large, tasty, white and not tough. The woman covered the first seedling with a pot and covered it with a white cloth, saying that the entire harvest would be like it. To ward off evil spirits, some nettle seeds were sown around the cabbage beds. On this day, women gardeners were forbidden to eat bread, believing that otherwise poultry would eat the young cabbage. Cabbage was considered a valuable garden vegetable for the people, since it could be stored in cellars for a long time, until spring. Soups, dumplings, cabbage rolls, pies and rolls were prepared from it; it was used fresh in salads. Cabbage leaves also helped get rid of skin inflammation, ulcers, strained veins, and kidney diseases. On Arina Kapustnitsa, peasants were busy burning old dry grass. This helped get rid of weeds before planting later garden crops. It was also believed that the ashes from scorched grass served as a kind of protection against fungal diseases. However, sometimes, if done incorrectly, burning could cause harm – fires. If on Arina Kapustnitsa, when watering the garden, they noticed that the water was quickly passing into the soil, the peasants expected a dry summer; if the water took a long time to drain, on the contrary, a rainy one. Observing the cessation of bird chirping, we prepared for a thunderstorm. Seeing geese preening their feathers in the water, residents expected warmer weather, but preening them on land foreshadowed a cold snap.

Twice a year, a holiday is celebrated all over the world - Astronomy Day. Spring Astronomy Day is celebrated from mid-April to mid-May, near the first quarter of the Moon, while autumn Day is celebrated from mid-September to mid-October. Not only a day is dedicated to astronomy, but even a whole week, which is called Astronomy Week. This holiday is relatively young; its date of birth is considered to be 1973. The founder of this holiday was Douglas Berger, he was the President of the Astronomical Association of Northern California. He decided that it was wrong to encourage people to visit exhibitions and museums dedicated to space, but to give them the opportunity to independently study the starry sky by installing free telescopes in parks and on the streets. The holiday is young, unlike the science to which it is dedicated. Astronomy is an ancient and fascinating science. It is thanks to her that people know what is in the neighborhood of our planet. The idea of ​​the event was appreciated by many, both astronomical organizations and ordinary people. Astronomy Day is sponsored by 14 organizations. The events on this day are truly interesting and exciting - all kinds of exhibitions, intensive work of planetariums, documentaries and themed parties. Astronauts are invited to talk about what they saw with their own eyes and what difficulties they encountered during their flights. And in some astronomy museums they conduct excursions, ranging from showing the starry sky to tasting the food from tubes that astronauts eat. Astronomy Day is held more than once a year. The holiday is divided into spring and autumn. Autumn Astronomy Day began to be celebrated in 2007. The purpose of this holiday is quite simple - to popularize astronomy and attract as many people as possible who are truly interested in this science. But astronomy is, indeed, very interesting - there are so many planets, constellations, and even universes in space! Schools also began to introduce such a subject - the basics of astronomy. This will not only broaden people's horizons, but also give them an incredible opportunity to learn more about what really matters to the future of our planet.

Orthodox holidays on May 18:

The Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of the Great Martyr Irina on May 18. The saint lived in the first century, when the Christian religion received fierce resistance in the pagan world, and the first followers of Christ endured cruel torture for the sake of their faith. At birth, the future saint was given the name Penelope. Her father was the governor of one of the regions of Macedonia, thanks to which her parents raised their daughter in luxury and wealth. Penelope was famous for both her beauty and education. Her mentor was the learned husband Apelian, who presented the student with the main Christian truths. Penelope's parents found a worthy groom and were preparing their daughter for the wedding, but one morning three birds flew into the window of the girl's room: a dove with an olive branch in its beak; an eagle carrying a wreath; and a black raven with a serpent in its claws. Apelian, having heard about the birds arriving, gave the following interpretation to the incident: his student would become a devoted Christian, but suffering and torment awaited her. Penelope realized her fate and was baptized by the Apostle Timothy himself, taking the new name Irina. The girl did not hide her choice; she began to preach Christianity and reveal the light of true faith to her loved ones. Irina's father was angry at his daughter's choice and ordered her to be severely punished. After a night of imprisonment, the girl was led to a herd of horses, under whose hooves she was destined to die. But the animals did not touch her; the herd ran towards Irina’s father and trampled him to death. The daughter's fervent prayer addressed to the Lord resurrected her father, who, having repented, wished to become a Christian. His example was followed by 3 thousand witnesses who came to watch Irina’s execution. After this incident, the saint settled in the house of the teacher Apelian and began to preach the word of God with him. The girl's story reached the ears of the new ruler of the region. The ardent pagan ordered Irina to be brought to him and persuaded her to idolatry. But this time too the Lord showed a miracle, leaving the saint unharmed. More than once the pagans tried to convert Irina’s faith; she was threatened with snakes, sharp saws and mill wheels. But each time her life was saved, and the number of people wishing to become Christians grew more and more. The martyr visited many cities, and in the city of Ephesus, while in prayer, she learned the hour of her death. The saint went to meet death in the mountains in a lonely cave. Four days later, the teacher and companions followed her, but could not find Irina’s body. Then those who came realized that the saint had ascended to Heaven. In folk tradition, the date May 18 was called the day of Irina Rassadnitsa. This was due to the start of planting cabbage seedlings in the ground. Planting was predominantly a woman's task; to ensure good luck, housewives dressed up in rags resembling cabbage leaves. They always brought a cast iron pot with nettles to the field, hoping that this ritual would help scare away insects from the future harvest. They also trusted special weather signs: - bird cherry blossoms warned of an imminent cold snap, a very early color indicated a hot summer, and too lush a rainy one; - the ground, which quickly absorbed water after watering, indicated mowing without precipitation; - damp soil that does not dry out for a long time after watering predicted rains during the haymaking period.

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice”