Memorial Day of Saints Peter and Fevronia

Many ardent opponents of the Catholic Valentine's Day (February 14) propose replacing it with the traditional Orthodox holiday of family, love and fidelity. The last one was officially set for July 8 in 2008. It all started with the fact that in 2001 the head of Murom moved the date of City Day to July 8, subsequently achieving the creation of the All-Russian Day of Married Love and Family Happiness. The symbol of the holiday - a simple chamomile flower - was invented by the wife of the then president, Svetlana Medvedeva. On this day, large families and couples who have lived a long married life are awarded. It is considered great luck to get married on this happy day for love relationships. On this day, the Orthodox Church remembers the holy wonderworkers Peter and Fevronia, who are deservedly considered the blessed patrons of Christian marriage. Researchers believe that the image of the good Prince Peter is identified by the people with the figure of the Murom Prince David, who was tonsured as Peter. Peter and Fevronia became famous among the Russian people after the 16th century, when, following their canonization, the publicist Ermolai-Erasmus wrote “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom.” Its plot is similar to a fairy tale. The brother of the Murom prince Peter fell ill after he killed the insidious snake: his body was completely covered with scabs. The peasant woman Fevronia cured him, but in exchange she promised to become her husband. Peter, having been healed, forgot about this word and fell ill again. He had to marry a wise commoner, whom the boyars later did not want to mistake for a princess, because at that time Peter had already become the prince of Murom. Then the spouses who loved each other decided to sail away from the city along the river. The boyars began to fight for the vacant throne, killing each other and bringing unrest to the city. The local residents persuaded Peter and Fevronia to return. This married couple ruled for a long time and peacefully. They loved and respected each other all their lives. Peter and Fevronia died at the same hour, asking to bury their bodies together. Their people disobeyed, separating their bodies, but the next day the loving spouses found themselves together. This happened twice. The people gave up and put them in one tomb. The relics of the couple were preserved in the Trinity Convent. They pray to her, asking for family harmony and well-being. Before the adoption of Orthodoxy, the Eastern Slavs began to mow the grass and prepare medicinal herbs and roots on this day or close to it. The pagans believed that the last mermaids went to sleep at the bottom of reservoirs, now you can swim without fear. Therefore, people call this day Fevronia the Mermaid. The day before (July 7), the Slavs took part in festivities and games dedicated to Kupala. On Fevronia Rusalnitsa, couples who would soon have weddings were established, and so-called engagements took place.