What church holiday is today, February 18, 2022
In the Orthodox world, February 18 is the day of remembrance of Saint Agathia (Agatha) of Sicily. The people called the celebration Agafya the Cowgirl, since on this day it was customary to protect the most important nurses in the village - the cows.
Agathia was born in Palermo, into a family of rich and pious Christians. During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Decius, the pagans learned about the girl, seized her and began to prepare her for trial. They settled with a woman with five daughters, who tried to seduce Agathia with clothes and jewelry, convincing her to sacrifice to idols. The Christian woman refused and prepared for the feat.
Agathia was tortured for a long time, but the Lord healed her, and then awarded her the crown of martyrdom and took her to heaven. In honor of the memory of the saint, today we celebrate the national holiday of February 18 - Agathia the Famine.
Saint Agathia is considered the protector from fire. In 252, Mount Etna began to erupt in Sicily, where she was from. Residents prayed to the saint and covered themselves with clothes from her tomb, like a shield from fire. The lava eruption stopped and did not harm people. They learned about the miracle that had happened on the island of Malta. Since then, Agathia has been revered as his patroness.
Gospel for every day - for what?
The New Testament consists of the Gospels, the Epistles of the Holy Apostles, the Acts of the Holy Apostles and the Revelation of John the Theologian. The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) are the central part of the New Testament. They are named after the apostles who wrote down the story of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. They all tell the same story. But their stories differ in style, semantic accents, depth and focus.
So, for example, Mark addresses the Roman pagan youth. His text contains few details, a lot of factual information, the narrative develops clearly and rapidly. John pays less attention to facts. Indeed, by the time his book was written, the events had already been described in detail by other evangelists. He also reveals the mystical, deep essence of the Savior’s coming to earth.
Why are there four Gospels? In the Old Testament, through the prophet Ezekiel (1:4-25), the Lord reveals four animals with human faces. The Holy Fathers Irenaeus of Lyon, Jerome of Stridon, Gregory Dvoeslov consider this episode to be a prophecy. According to their interpretation, it reveals the symbolic meaning of each of the 4 Gospels. In the Bible, the number four denotes spatial completeness. Today we see this in iconography: the Angel (from Matthew) is the image of Christ as a perfect Man. Lion (from Mark) is the image of the King. Taurus (from Luke) is the image of God who sacrificed Himself for the sins of all people. Eagle (from John) - the image of the Conqueror of death.
Traditions and rituals February 18, 2022
Agathia was considered a protector from fires. On this day, a loaf of bread was blessed in the church. In case of fire, pieces of bread were thrown into the field to put the fire aside, or into the flames to extinguish it.
The saint was also considered the patroness of livestock. They prayed to her on this holiday so that there would be enough food. On this day, bast shoes coated with tar were hung in the barn, and blessed bread was hung on the horns of the cows. It was believed that this would ward off the evil eye, death and pestilence.
In the old days they believed that on this day the death of a cow, an evil spirit, wanders around the area. To scare him away, the entire village was plowed three times with a plow with sickles, lighted splinters and pokers. A widow teller was always harnessed to the plow. If any animal was encountered along the way, it was mercilessly killed. It was believed that the spirit of death was hiding in it.
There is no fasting - eating any food is allowed.
Hymns of the Presentation of the Lord
In the Christian tradition, it is customary to sing solemn songs and poems of a religious nature. Many of them are dedicated to the Presentation of the Lord. Here are some of them.
Troparion of the Presentation of the Lord
Rejoice, Blessed Virgin Mary, / for from You has risen the Sun of Truth - Christ our God, / to enlighten those in darkness. / Rejoice also, O righteous elder, / received into the arms of the Liberator of our souls, / who gives us resurrection.
Rejoice, blessed Virgin Mary, / for from You has arisen the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, / enlightening those in darkness. / Rejoice also, O righteous elder, / who accepted into the arms of the Liberator of our souls, / who gives us resurrection.
Kontakion of the Presentation of the Lord
You sanctified the womb of the Maiden with Your Nativity / and blessed the hand of Simeon, / as it was fitting, having foreshadowed, / and now you have saved us, O Christ God, / but die in battle, / and strengthen the people whom you have loved, the only One who loves mankind.
You sanctified the Virgin’s womb with Your Birth, / and blessed the hands of Simeon, / in advance, as it should have been, / and now You have saved us, O Christ God. / But protect Your people in peace amidst wars / and strengthen those whom* You have loved, / Only Lover of Mankind.
The Greatness of the Presentation
We magnify You, Life-Giving Christ, and honor Your Most Pure Mother, Who, according to the law, has now been brought to the temple of the Lord.
Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov) about the Presentation of the Lord
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!
Dear brothers and sisters, today we celebrate the glorious and joyful feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This holiday is so called because the righteous elder Simeon, who lived in Jerusalem, met the fourty-day-old Infant Lord Jesus Christ with His Most Pure Mother in the Jerusalem Temple. This is how this sacred event is described by the Evangelist Luke: And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him before the Lord, as it is prescribed in the law of the Lord, that every male child who opens the womb should be dedicated to the Lord, and that sacrifice, as stated in the law of the Lord, two turtle doves or two chicks of pigeons. Then there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was a righteous and pious man, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. He was predicted by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw Christ the Lord. And he came by inspiration to the temple. And when the parents brought the Child Jesus to perform the legal rite over Him, he took Him in his arms, blessed God and said: Now you are releasing Your servant, Master, according to Your word, in peace, for mine eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared. before all nations, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel. Joseph and His Mother marveled at what was said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His Mother: Behold, this One is destined for the fall and the uprising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy - and a weapon will pierce Your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. There was also Anna the prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher, who had reached a very old age, having lived with her husband for seven years from her virginity, a widow of eighty-four years old, who did not leave the temple, serving God day and night with fasting and prayer. And at that time she came up, glorified the Lord and spoke about Him to everyone who was waiting for deliverance in Jerusalem. And when they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city of Nazareth. The child grew and became stronger in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him (Luke 2:22-40).
This is a wonderful story, brothers and sisters. But let us now focus our attention on the words: And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His Mother: Behold, this one is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy.
My dears, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom these prophetic words of the righteous Simeon refer, did not appear on earth to lay anyone down or be the cause of someone’s death. No, He came to earth to rebel all people, all nations. He came in order to save all humanity, to raise all people to their proper moral height and, having made them worthy of Heaven, to bring them to the Heavenly Father. Likewise, He came to earth not to serve as a subject of controversy, not to create a division between people and nations. On the contrary, He came in order to unite all people together, to become the One Shepherd of the entire human race. Desiring that all people would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, He came for this very purpose.
But the people themselves, their sins and bad inclinations were the reason that, having come into the world for the salvation of all, Christ for some became the culprit of the uprising, and for others he served as an involuntary cause of the fall - he became the subject of controversy, so that some joyfully accepted Him and believed They loved Him as God, the Savior of the world, and loved His holy teaching and His holy law, while others bitterly rejected Him as the enemy of the truth and the good of people. This is how His contemporaries treated Christ. This is how Christ has been treated throughout the existence of the Christian Church right up to the present day: some with faith and love, while others with unbelief and hatred. And this attitude will be in all ages, until the end of the world and His Coming: Behold, this One is destined for the fall and uprising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy!
In fact, immediately after the birth of Christ, controversy began about Him. Angels and good people greet His birth with rejoicing and praise and see in Him the joy and glory of Israel, while others, together with Herod, seek to kill Him. Christ appears preaching His Gospel, proclaiming to people the Divine truth and the holy law of love and doing good to them - and what do we see? Some accept His teaching, look with reverence at His deeds and become His followers, while others become bitter against Him and extend their enmity and hatred towards Him to the point that they condemn Him to terrible torment and nail Him to the Cross. Both His saving death and the glorious Resurrection did not put an end to the division of people into those who are being saved and those who are perishing: some of the witnesses of His suffering and death came to their senses and were saved, while others perished in their bitterness.
These prophetic words of the righteous Simeon: Behold, this One is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel - have found confirmation over the course of twenty past centuries. And in our time, as in all times, Christ lies for some to fall, and for others to rise, and serves as a subject of controversy. It is worthy of tears, brothers and sisters, that our Sweetest Lord, who came to give people happiness and joy, who laid down His priceless life out of love for the human race, is the subject of contradictions that cause real embitterment in some. Christ lies on the path of all people, occupies such a position in the life and destinies of mankind that, wherever people go, they will certainly meet Him and, having met, either rebel, establishing themselves in Him, or stumble over Him and fall. Behold, this One is destined for the fall and rebellion of many - not only in Israel, but in all of humanity; He was not only a subject of controversy for His contemporaries, but also for people of all times and peoples.
Dear brothers and sisters, in addition to mastering this Divine truth, this reading and holiday teach us many useful and good things about our own lives. Righteous Simeon, who, according to legend, lived three hundred and sixty years, for it was predicted to him that he would not see death until he saw Christ the Savior, when he took the Infant Christ in his arms, he rejoiced in spirit and sang a wondrous song: Now have You let Your servant go, Master, according to Thy word, be in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation (Luke 2:29-30). His eyes saw the salvation of the world, and therefore he is calm and joyful and will die peacefully, calmly. But in order for each of us to sing such a song at death, for this we also need to become God-receivers and God-bearers.
Righteous Simeon was honored to be such not only because he accepted the Baby into his arms, but most importantly because he carried Christ in his heart along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, not only Elder Simeon was given the high dignity of carrying Christ in his arms and being the Receiver of God, but many others can also have this dignity. “If anyone loves Me,” said the Lord, “he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him (John 14:23). And in another place: Behold, I stand at the door and speak: if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with Me (Rev. 3:20).
This means that in order for us to accept this high dignity, only one thing is required of us - that we love Christ and keep His holy commandments and not close our hearts when He knocks on us either through His word sent down for our admonition, or through sorrow.
What merited righteous Simeon to become the God-Receiver and God-Bearer? The fact that he was a righteous man, seeking the joy of Israel (Luke 2:25), that he lived according to the law of God and carried the expected Messiah in his heart before he accepted Him into his trembling hands. If this had not been the case in righteous Simeon, he would not have been worthy to accept Christ in his arms, or even if he had accepted, he would not have sung such a joyful song: Now do you let go of your servant, Master... After all, the external touch of Christ and touching Him without inner faith and love are useless. Many Jews touched Him and touched Him, but this did not bring them any benefit. From this it is clearly seen that only one who keeps the commandments of Christ and loves God can be called a God-bearer.
Let us, dear brothers and sisters, strive for this high dignity. Let us demonstrate our love for the Lord by observing His holy commandments, so that the Lord will create bright abodes for Himself in our hearts, so that we too can become God-bearers in our lives. And upon their departure from this temporary life to imperishable, eternal life, they could sing with all their souls, like the righteous Simeon: Now do you let go of your servant, Master. Amen.
Archimandrite Seraphim (Tyapochkin) about the Presentation of the Lord
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This is how the Divine Teacher, our Lord Jesus Christ, called to Himself during His earthly life. He called to Him those who were toiling and burdened, He called to Him the unfortunate and destitute, He called to Him all the toilers and sufferers of the earth. His Divine voice penetrated human souls, shook minds and attracted the hearts of people to Him.
This is how Christ calls you and me, dear brothers and sisters, promising to give rest to our souls. Peace of mind - what happiness this is for a person. What could be more valuable in our life than this peace?! You can have complete contentment in life, you can enjoy all the comforts of life, all the blessings of this world, you can consider yourself happy in your family and social life, but if there is no peace in your soul, then, alas, our happiness will be far from perfect.
Can something that is temporary and fleeting be called true happiness? Today we are in glory and honor, but tomorrow we may be in contempt and reproach. Today we shout “Hosanna”, and tomorrow – “Crucify”, today we are in strength and health, tomorrow – in weaknesses and illnesses, today we live, and tomorrow the veil of death may cover our eyes, and the coffin will become our last asset here on earth .
He will warm us with His love. He will comfort us. He will forgive all our sins before Him, He will forget all the insults that we so often inflict on Him, He will return His favor to us, and in the bosom of endless love we will find peace for our souls. Amen".
Folk signs February 18, 2022
• Snowing on a frosty day means warming.
• Frosts on this day foreshadow a stormy spring, dry and hot summer.
• If it is frosty outside, the summer will be dry and warm.
• No snow - expect drought in the summer.
• If frost strikes, it is a sign that the summer will most likely be sultry.
• Water in rivers and wells rises - warming.
• Leather items (belts, clamps, reins) have become more flexible and soft - for snowfall.
• The forest became darker, as if it had turned black - towards the thaw.
• If it is warm on February 18, then there will be no more big ones.
• Frost on this day foreshadows a friendly spring, a dry and hot summer.
• Frosty day - spring will be early and warm, and there will be no rain in summer.
• No snow on February 18 – expect drought in the summer. If frost strikes, it is a sign that the summer will most likely be sultry.
• If it’s warm on Agafya, then winter is already over – we can expect spring.
• If the weather is frosty outside on February 18, then summer, according to signs, will be warm and without rain.
• February 18 is considered the day of remembrance of the dead. You should remember your deceased relatives and pray for their souls in the temple. One should pray especially earnestly for those who have died a violent death.
• You were not supposed to sleep on the night of Agafya, otherwise demons from hell would enter the house through the chimney. In order not to encounter the forces of darkness, the pipes were covered with clay, and the cracks were plugged with thistle flowers.
• A time of famine is coming for the peasants - by February 18, bread and feed were running out in almost every household.
Prayers for Candlemas
Prayer for the Presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ
Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son and Word of God, seen of old as a prophet in fortune-telling, in these last days born incorruptibly in the flesh of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, and on this fortieth day in the Sanctuary at the Meeting of the Whole World from Him, like a Child held in His hands, revealed and carried in the arms of the righteous Simeon for the salvation of all who exist from Adam!
How glorious and bright is Thy offering into the hand of the Mother of God into the temple of the Lord and Thy Divine meeting from the holy elder! Today the heavens rejoice and the earth rejoices, for Thy procession has been seen, O God, the procession of our King God, Who is in the Holy One. Of old, Moses ascended to see Your glory, but it was not possible to see Your Face, You had previously shown Him Your rear.
On the bright day of this Presentation of Yours, You revealed Yourself as a man in the sanctuary, shining with the indescribable Light of the Divine, so that together with Simeon they see You face to face and with their hands, and touch You, and take You into their arms, so that they know You as God who has come in the flesh.
For this reason, we glorify Your indescribable condescension and Your great love for mankind, as by Your coming You have now granted heavenly joy to the anciently fallen human race: For by Your righteous judgment You expelled our ancestors from the paradise of sweets into this world, but now You have had mercy on us and have again opened up the heavenly abodes for us and You turned our weeping to joy, so that the fallen Adam would no longer be ashamed of You for disobedience and may Your Face not be hidden, Called by You, for You have come now, so that You may take upon Yourself his sin, and wash it with Your Blood and May you clothe him naked with the robe of salvation and the robe of joy and adorn him like a bride with beauty.
For all of us who remember Your Divine Meeting, grant us the privilege of going with the wise virgins to Thy Meeting, our Heavenly Bridegroom, with burning lamps of faith, love and purity, so that with the eyes of faith we may see Your Divine Face, may we accept You into our spiritual embrace, and may we carry You in your heart all the days of your life, that you may become God to us and we your people.
On the last and terrible day of Your Coming, when all the saints come to the last and great Meeting of Yours in the air, grant us also the ability to sleep on You, so that we will always be with the Lord.
Glory to Thy Mercy, Glory to Thy Kingdom, Glory to Thy vision, O One Lover of Mankind, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory with Thy Beginning Father and Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer for the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Oh, Most Holy, Radiant Virgin of Heavenly purity, Gentle dove, Undefiled Lamb, Good Helper to the world, Mother of Christ our God!
You are the beginning, the middle and the end of our present joy, as from You the Sun of Truth, Christ our God, rose, and You brought Him in Your holy embrace on this fortieth day in the Sanctuary for our meeting and for the joy and salvation of the whole world.
For this reason, we please and glorify Thee, for Thou art the Tabernacle of God with man, Foreseen by the Theologian, and through Her God dwells with us, so that we may be His people?
You are the Door of Heaven, Foretold by Ezekiel, Who has opened for us the entrances to the heavenly abode. You are the High Ladder, Foreseen by Jacob, Who brought God down to earth and the Bridge, leading those who exist from earth to heaven. In the same way, we pray to You, looking at You as if You have gone to the Sanctuary, carrying the Heavenly Fire in the hands of Your God, O Blessed One.
The fire of Your prayer hit the fire of our passions, so that we may be delivered from the eternal fire of Gehenna.
You came to the Sanctuary for the sake of the lawful purification, not requiring purification, as a Pure Virgin, and hereby teach us how it is proper for us to keep ourselves in chastity and purity and with what humility it is appropriate for us to carry out the feat of virginity, remembering how You, who exist above the Cherubim, became place of unclean women.
You, O Most Holy Mother, the very essence of the God-containing temple of God, brought into the lawful church Your Most Precious Son, Christ our God, grant us, above all else on earth, to love the temples of Your Son, to visit all the days of our life, to behold the beauty of the Lord there, for it is better to wander about in the courts of the Lord one day than to live in the villages of sinners. Most of all, grant us, O Most Pure One, like Simeon, to carry Thy Son and our God without condemnation in Thy heartfelt embrace, when we will be partakers of His Most Pure Body and Blood, and then help us to strictly preserve ourselves in holiness and the fear of God, so that we do not corrupt the temple of flesh ours.
And thus, O Mother of God, I will bring forth Thy Son in our hearts and souls, so that through Thy prayers we may be worthy to achieve that blessed Meeting of the Lord in the air, when together with all the saints we will glorify and sing His Most Holy Name with the Father and the Holy Spirit and Thy merciful intercession now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
What not to do today February 18, 2022
So, on February 18, it is not recommended to clean the barn in the usual way. This should be done only with the help of bast shoes smeared with tar. After cleaning, the barn must be fumigated with thistle.
- Under no circumstances should you beat a cow today - her milk may disappear forever.
— On February 18, men are not allowed to leave the house. Anyone who disobeys the prohibition will incur terrible illnesses and misfortunes.
- On the day of Agafya Korovnitsa, it is forbidden to let even the most obedient dogs off their leash. According to legend, today they can be possessed by “Cow Death”, which they bring to the barn, and the cow will wither away in a short time.
“You can’t forget about your ancestors on February 18th.” Otherwise, they will begin to come in your dreams and reproach you for forgetfulness. Therefore, on the day of Agafya Korovnitsa, it is necessary to put extra cutlery during dinner, as well as a glass of vodka, which the head of the family should drink later.
— It is not recommended to look out the window after sunset on February 18. It is believed that at this time evil spirits roam the streets and curse everyone. If a girl or woman violates this prohibition, she will lose all her beauty.
“It is forbidden on Agafya Korovnitsa to refuse help to the homeless and helpless - otherwise you yourself will find yourself in their position.” Today they need to be fed, given alms and, if possible, shelter.
— You shouldn’t cut the hair of unmarried girls and single guys on February 18 - according to the sign, they will spend the whole year alone.
- It is forbidden to take up needlework if there is a pregnant cow in the house - the cattle may die during childbirth. When there was an urgent need to sew something up, the woman, before darning on the day of Agafya the Cowgirl, had to spit three times over her left shoulder.
— You cannot give milk to a child who is under one year old on February 18th. If a cow is suddenly attacked by “Cow Death”, then it can be passed on through the milk to the baby, who still has little strength to fight it, which can lead to serious illnesses.
Angel Day February 17, male and female names
On February 17th the name day is celebrated:
Men
- Alexander from the ancient Greek name Alexandros: alex - “to protect” and andros - “man”, “person”
- Alexei from the ancient Greek name Alexios - “protector”
- Andrey from the ancient Greek name Andreas, coming from andros - “man”, “man”; there is also a translation of “courageous”, “brave”, “courageous”
- Arkady from the ancient Greek name Arkadios - “Arkadian, resident of Arcadia (region in Greece)”, as well as “happy”, “blessed” from the Greek word “arkados” - “shepherd”
- Boris from the Old Slavic name Borislav - “fighter”, “glorious in the fight” from the Turkic barysh - “benefit”
- Basil from the ancient Greek name Basileios - “royal, royal”
- George from the ancient Greek name Georgios, derived from georgos - “farmer”, “cultivator of the land”
- Dmitry from the ancient Greek name Demetrios - “dedicated to Demeter (goddess of fertility)”, “farmer”
- Egor is a Russian version of the ancient Greek name George - “farmer”, “cultivator of the land”
- Ibrahim, according to the Arabic and Turkic versions, is a “prophet”; the Arabic form of the name Abraham, translated from Hebrew as “father of nations”, “ancestor”
- Ivan from the Hebrew name Yohanan - “Yahweh is merciful” from the Hebrew John - “merciful of God”
- Joseph from the Hebrew name Yosef - “Yahweh will reward”
- Cyril from the ancient Greek name Kyrillos, derived from the word kyrios - “lord, master, lord, Lord” translated from Persian - “sun”
- Michael from the Hebrew name Michael - “equal, like God”, “asked of God”
- Nicholas from the ancient Greek name Nikolaos - “conqueror of nations”
- Ostap is the folk form of the Greek name Eustathius - “solid, unchanging, persistent”, “solid-standing” from the Greek name Eustachius - “blooming”, “fertile”, “lushly eared”
- Peter from the ancient Greek name Petros - “stone”, “solid”, “reliable”
- Seraphim from the Late Latin name Seraphinus, derived from the Hebrew sraphim - “fiery”
- Sergei from the Roman family name Sergius - “noble”, “high”
- Theodore translated from Latin means “gift of God”, “messenger of God”
- Fedor is the modern form of the Greek name Theodoros (Theodoros, Theodoros) - “given by God”, “God’s gift”
- Yuri from the ancient Greek name Georgios, derived from georgos - “farmer”, “cultivator of the land”
- Yang Polish, Belarusian and Old Russian forms of the Hebrew name Yochanan - “Yahweh is merciful”
Women
- Anna from the Hebrew name Hannah - “mercy”, “grace”, “strength”, “courage”
- Catherine from the Greek name Ekaterini, which comes from the ancient Greek katharos - “pure”
- Katarina form of the ancient Greek name Catherine - “pure”
Interpretation of dreams February 18
A dream in which an official appeared warns that your new project will literally “drown” in red tape. In addition, you will understand that your views do not coincide with the opinions of your lover, which will lead to constant quarrels and entail a series of failures.
I dreamed of some wild tribe - in the near future you will quarrel with someone close to you.
If in your dream the action took place in the Middle Ages, then in reality adventures await you.
If you saw a white fluffy dog wagging its tail in a dream, changes for the better will soon occur in your life.
