Memorial Day of the Holy Apostle and Hieromartyr Simeon

The Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Apostle and Hieromartyr Simeon on May 10. Simeon became a follower of Christ during the Savior’s earthly life. The holy apostle was a relative of Jesus, which meant that their fathers were blood brothers. After the execution and Resurrection of Christ, Simeon becomes an apostle from among the seventy chosen by the Lord himself to spread the Word of God among the pagan world. Together with other missionaries, he moves from village to village, preaching the truths of the faith of Christ and converting idolaters into Christians. Simeon's deeds were so impressive that the apostles decided to entrust him with the See of Jerusalem after the murder of the first Patriarch of Jerusalem, Joseph the Betrothed, by wicked Jews. The city at that time was in decline, devastated by the defeat of the troops of Emperor Titus Vespasian. The new patriarch calmed and instructed all those suffering in Jerusalem, helping them find hope. The Lord granted his apostle a long life, the patriarch lived to be a hundred years old, and saw the revival of the former greatness of the city, filled with followers of the faith of Christ. But even the Holy Apostle had ill-wishers who reported Simeon to the Roman authorities. The elder was accused not only of Christian views, but also remembered his origins from the ancient royal family of David. Representatives of the dynasty of Jewish kings were especially disliked by the rulers of Rome, as instigators of possible riots. As a result of the denunciation, Simeon was taken into custody and subjected to severe torture. Despite his advanced age, the apostle bravely endured all the torment and met death with dignity, crucified on the cross like his relative the Lord Jesus Christ. May 10 was popularly called Semyon Ravnopashets. The sunny days of May were the best time to start plowing. The readiness of the land for sowing could be determined by placing the palms of the hands on the plowed furrow. If your hands feel warm, it means the soil has warmed up enough and is ready for fertility. Thunder, the singing of a lark, or the croaking of frogs were considered other favorable signs for plowing. From year to year, peasants noticed weather signs on Saint Seeds Day: - the rapid running of clouds across the sky promised imminent bad weather; - the cries of owls could indicate the approaching cold weather; - dry grass in the morning foreshadowed evening rain; - the evening fog that formed in the lowlands was certain a sign of the establishment of warm weather; - by watching the clouds one could learn about approaching frosts, they should have appeared at noon in a clear sky; - heavy rain on May 10 predicted a rich harvest of rye.