What church holiday is celebrated in Ukraine according to the new and old calendars, and whom do believers pray to – read in the TSN.ua article.
Church holiday September 5 / © pexels.com
September 5 (September 18), in the Orthodox calendar, is the day of remembrance of Saint Prophet Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. Zechariah was a priest from the priestly lineage of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth also came from a priestly lineage – she was a relative of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Evangelist Luke describes the couple as righteous before God, who observed God’s commandments. However, they had no children. For Jewish society at that time, childlessness was a severe trial, so the couple lived with this sorrow for many years.
Despite this, Zechariah and Elizabeth did not abandon their faith and continued to serve God.
Once, Zechariah was performing his priestly service in the Jerusalem Temple. He was chosen to enter the sanctuary and offer incense before God. During his prayer, the angel of the Lord appeared before him.
The angel informed Zechariah that his prayer had been heard and that Elizabeth would give birth to a son. He was to name the child John. The angel also said that the boy would have a special calling: he would be great before the Lord and prepare people for the coming of the Messiah.
Zechariah was surprised by this news. Due to doubt in the angel’s words, he received a sign: he could not speak until the child’s birth.
After some time, Elizabeth became pregnant. The couple received what they had waited for many years.
When the son was born, relatives wanted to name him Zechariah – after his father. However, Elizabeth insisted that the child should be named John.
Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote: “His name is John.” At that moment, his ability to speak returned.
Zechariah’s first words were the glorification of God. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he uttered a prophetic hymn, which in Christian tradition is called the Benedictus. In it, Zechariah glorified the Lord and prophesied about the future mission of his son.
He called John a prophet of the Most High, who would go before the Lord to prepare His way.
Church holiday on September 5 – the day of remembrance of Venerable Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje into an Albanian Catholic family. At baptism, she received the name Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. She was the youngest child of Nikola and Drana Bojaxhiu.
Her family was religious, and her mother paid a lot of attention to the upbringing of her children, teaching them compassion for the poor and needy. When Agnes was about eight years old, her father suddenly died, and the family found itself in difficult financial circumstances. Her mother, who raised her children in love, discipline, and Christian faith, had a significant influence on the girl’s future calling.
Even in her youth, Agnes felt a desire to dedicate her life to God and become a missionary. At the age of 18, in September 1928, she left her native home and entered the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Congregation of Loreto Sisters, in Ireland. There she received the name Sister Mary Teresa – in honor of Saint Therese of Lisieux.
In December 1928, Sister Teresa set off for India, and on January 6, 1929, she arrived in Calcutta. There she began her service at the school of the Loreto Sisters, where she taught girls.
In 1931, she took her first religious vows, and on May 24, 1937, her perpetual vows. From then on, she was called Mother Teresa. For many years, she worked at the school and later became its headmistress.
Despite a relatively peaceful life in the monastery and school, Teresa became increasingly aware of the suffering of people living in extreme poverty. Mother Teresa particularly cared for people often overlooked by society: the homeless, the terminally ill, orphans, the elderly, and those dying without proper care.
After Mother Teresa’s death, it became known from her letters and spiritual records about a long period of inner darkness – a feeling of distance from God and spiritual loneliness. At the same time, she continued to pray and serve people. In church biography, this experience is considered an important part of her spiritual journey.
Church holiday in Ukraine on September 5 according to the old calendar
According to the old calendar, on September 5, Ukraine honored the memory of the Holy Martyr Luppus of Thessalonica. After the martyrdom of Demetrius, Luppus took his clothes, soaked in blood, and the martyr’s ring. According to tradition, these relics helped him perform miracles and heal the sick. At the same time, Luppus openly confessed the Christian faith and called on others to renounce paganism.
Omens for September 5
Folk omens September 5 / © pexels.com
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If cranes fly low to the ground, severe winter frosts are not expected.
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If thunder is heard on September 5, according to popular belief, autumn will be warm, and winter will be harsh.
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If dense fog appears in the morning, the weather in the coming days may be stable.
What not to do on September 5
People were urged not to make promises they did not intend to keep, as empty words, according to popular beliefs, could lead to trouble. It was also not recommended to wear old, torn, or dirty clothes. It was believed that tidiness on this day helps preserve health and ward off ailments.
What to do on September 5
In the folk calendar, this day was associated with Zechariah and Elizabeth. It was believed that on September 5, special attention should be paid to cleanliness – both in the home and in the body. Housewives tried to tidy up their homes, and after household chores, they went to the bathhouse. According to belief, steaming with a birch broom helped cleanse from all negativity, brought peace and tranquility to the home, and was supposed to protect the family from illnesses throughout the year.
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