Feast of the Forty Saints. Spring equinox in Russia: Larks - traditions and signs, cookies and nicknames

In 313, the Holy Emperor Constantine the Great granted Christians freedom of religion. But power in many provinces still belonged to the Gentiles, persecutors of Christians. So it was in the province of Armenia, located on the territory of modern Turkey. Here, in the city of Sevastia, the garrison was commanded by a zealous pagan Agricolai. And in the winter of 320, he ordered all his soldiers to make sacrifices to idols. Forty people refused, stating that they are Christians and worship only the true God, and not idols.

Forty martyrs of Sebaste. 12th century fresco in the church of Panagia Forvietis in Aspen. Cyprus. Photo by Igor Samolygo

At first, Agricolaus persuaded them, promised a promotion, money. Then he began to threaten prison and shameful death. But the soldiers rejected all promises and threats, and then the ruler imprisoned them. The prisoners prayed earnestly and at night heard a voice: “The endured person will be saved to the end.”

A week later, a noble dignitary Lysy arrived in the city and ordered to stone the Christian soldiers. But the stones flew past the target; the stone thrown by Lysias himself fell into the face of Agricolaus. Embarrassed tormentors returned the prisoners to prison to think about what to do with them. At night in prison, the soldiers again heard the comforting voice of the Lord: “He who believes in Me, even if he dies, will come to life. Dare and do not be afraid, for you will perceive the incorruptible crowns. ”

The next day, the bound soldiers were led to a lake near the city of Sevastia. That day was a severe frost. The soldiers were ordered to undress and put right in the icy water. And on the shore a bath was heated, and the tormentors said that any of them could immediately warm in it if they renounced Christ. All night warriors courageously endured the cold, encouraging each other. They sang psalms in spite of the pain caused by frostbite. And this flour is comparable in strength to burns from fire. One of the soldiers after several hours could not stand it, ran to the shore, to the bathhouse. But as soon as he entered the threshold of a hotly flooded bath, due to a sharp temperature difference, his skin and flesh began to separate, and he died.

The night lasted, and the guards guarding the place of torment dozed off. Only one of them, Aglai, could not fall asleep. He was amazed: how do these Christians, despite unheard of torment, not stop prayers? At three o’clock in the morning he saw a bright light pouring over the lake, just like in summer. It became so warm that the ice melted. Aglaus wondered: what was going on? Looking up, he saw luminous crowns above the heads of the soldiers. There were thirty-nine crowns — the number of martyrs remaining steadfast. Then Aglaus threw off his clothes, shouted, waking the other guards: “And I am a Christian!” - and ran to the martyrs. He prayed: “Lord God, I believe in Thee in whom these soldiers believe. Join me to them, so that I will be able to suffer with Your slaves. ”

In the morning, the leaders of the tormentors returned and saw that the warriors were still alive, and in addition to them, one of the jailers! Enraged, Lysias and Agricoleaus ordered the martyrs to be slaughtered with hammers to make the suffering unbearable. But even while dying from torment, the soldiers did not stop praying and glorifying the True God.

Lysis ordered the destruction of the remains of the soldiers, so that Christians do not honor the relics of the new martyrs. The bodies of the saints were burned at the stake, and the bones were thrown into the river. Three days later, the martyrs appeared in a dream to the Bishop of Sevastia Peter and ordered him to take the bones from the river. The bishop with several priests at night secretly came to the river. Oh miracle: the bones of the martyrs shone in the water like stars! Christians gathered the remains of the saints and buried them with honor.

It has long been a custom in Russia on the day of remembrance of the Sebaste martyrs. Why larks?

The peasants, paying attention to the fact that the singing lark soars upward, sometimes “falls” to the ground with a stone, explained this by the special boldness and humility of these birds before God. The Lark quickly rises upward, but, struck by the greatness of the Lord, bows down in deep awe. So the larks, according to the thought of our pious ancestors, depicted a song of glory to the Lord, exalted by the martyrs, their humility and aspiration upward, into the Kingdom of Heaven, to the Sun of Truth - to Christ.

Forty martyrs of Sebastia is an enduring holiday, traditionally it is celebrated on the same day - March 22 (new style). If the day of the holiday of the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia coincides with the environment of the Cross, it can be rescheduled, as happened in 2017. Previously, in pre-Christian Russia, this day was considered the final date for the beginning of spring. At that time, larks were also baked, but they invested a completely different meaning in baking, there were different traditions and “cries” of spring, when it was called in the hope that the heat would come as soon as possible. The church does not celebrate the vernal equinox, but this day has a new Christian meaning. And the lark began to symbolize the soul, which aspires to God and worships the greatness of the Creator. Therefore, the people love the feast of the Forty Sebastian Martyrs, who endured to the end all torment and accepted death, so as not to betray Christ. On the Day of the Forty Sebastian Martyrs, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated.

Names of the Forty Sebastian Martyrs: Kirion, Candide, Domnius, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragd, Eunoic, Ualent (Valens), Vivian, Claudius, Priscus, Feodulus, Eutychius, John, Xanthus, Ilyan, Sisinius, Angius, Aetius, Flavius, Akaki, Ecdius, Lysimachus, Alexander , Elijah, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leonty, Athanasius, Cyril, Sakerdon, Nikolay, Ualeriy (Valery), Filoctimon, Severian, Hudion, Meliton and Aglai.

Zhavoronkov is baked on the day of remembrance of 40 martyrs who were tormented in Lake Sevastia. This holiday in the Russian Orthodox Church is celebrated on March 22. The stove in the Lent of the Larks is a beautiful folk tradition associated with Memorial Day. How is the memory of these saints connected with the beautiful folk custom of baking lean buns in the form of birds? About this in our material, along with a proven recipe.

What is the "Lark"

Larks are baked lean dough birds. Their mistresses in Russia were preparing for the feast of the forty martyrs of Sebaste, which is celebrated in the Church on March 22 in a new style. In the Orthodox tradition, they symbolize the souls of martyrs flying to God. According to another version - the song of these birds symbolizes the prayer of the Sevastian martyrs to God.

Who are the 40 Sebastian martyrs

The forty martyrs of Sebaste are the saints of the first centuries of Christianity, soldiers of the valiant army, Christians. They refused to renounce the Savior and received death from the Gentiles in 313 - they froze in the ice lake, guarded by guards.

The tradition of oven larks

Folk traditions of the celebration of the memory of 40 Sebastian martyrs

In Great Lent in Russia, the mistresses baked the "larks". These are buns from lean dough, sometimes fashioned together with nests and testicles. Zhavoronkov was usually baked with the whole family on the day of remembrance of 40 martyrs in the Sevastia tormented lake, which is celebrated on March 22. In the Christian tradition, bird buns symbolized the souls of martyrs flying away to God.

But the custom of baking larks has existed since pagan times. In the pagan folk calendar, it was the day of the vernal equinox. It was believed that on this day larks from warm places returned, and after them other migratory birds. Birds were symbols of the coming spring. A variety of rituals by the calling of spring (“clicking" of spring) were associated with the "early birds". Ready birds were “planted” on the window, and some of them were given to children for their amusement. Children of baked birds clung to long rods, carried to the highest hill and shouted various rhymes calling for spring.

These traditions have nothing to do with the Christian Orthodox tradition. The church did not include the vernal equinox on its calendar, but gave the folk traditions an opportunity to find a new Christian meaning. And buns in the form of larks became a symbol, and the holiday received a second popular name - C aboutrock (with emphasis on the first syllable).

How to Bake Larks - Larks Recipe

You will need:

For the test: 2 kg of flour, 50 g of yeast (or dry yeast in the amount indicated on their packaging for 2 kg of flour), 250 g of vegetable oil, 1 cup of sugar, 0.5 l of water, a pinch of salt.
For pasting larks: sweet strong tea.

Cooking:

Preparation of the test:

Larks are made from strong, resilient dough.

Dissolve 2 tablespoons of sugar and yeast in heated (approximately 38 g) water, mix.
Sift the flour through a sieve or using a special sifter (then the dough will be easier to mix and rise).
Pour the dissolved yeast into the flour, add sugar and salt. Shuffle.
Pour in vegetable oil. Knead the dough for at least 10 minutes. Wait until it stops sticking to your hands and becomes elastic.
Roll out an even ball from the dough, put in a pan, cover the dough with a towel, leave to rise by about 1.5. hours (until the dough doubles).

How to mold larks:

Mash the dough, mix for a few more minutes. Cut into pieces weighing about 100 g, roll out of them bundles. Then:

1. Tie the knot in a knot, give the head an appropriate shape, stick in the raisins-eyes, gently squeeze the tail with your fingers, make incisions-feathers with a small knife, grease the surface with infusion of strong tea with sugar, bake.

2. The tourniquet should be rolled out so that one end is thin and flexible - the head, and the whole body is thicker, elongated, it should be slightly crushed with your fingers. Tail fan-like incision with a knife. Thinly roll out the dough for the wings, cut the wing, cut the feathers, grease with tea, the last detail is the raisins and eyes.

March 22 - Magpies, a holiday of great importance c. Today is the holiday of 40 Saints, and therefore many are wondering if it is possible to work for 40 Saints, what traditions and signs of the day, as well as for the holiday of 40 Saints? what not to do. Therefore, the editors WANT decided to devote time to this issue.

Rating

In response to the question, what is a church holiday today, we inform you: church holidays 2019 include one important date - 40 Saints. Regarding the history of the festival of 40 Saints, it is known that the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste were the best squad in the army of the ancient Roman emperor Licinius. The ruler himself was a cruel pagan, persecutor of the Christian faith and those who tried to preach it. And these forty warriors were bound by love for Jesus Christ, refused all worldly goods, riches and honors did not agree to sacrifice to pagan gods. So, 40 soldiers did not abandon the Christian faith and were put to death.

Thus, in the traditions of Christianity, a day appeared when 40 Sebastian martyrs are worshiped.

Customs and traditions on the feast of forty saints

The Orthodox calendar 2019 in folk traditions is often intertwined with pagan rituals, due to the long existence in the culture of the ancient Slavs. Holiday 40 Saints in this regard is no exception. So, on March 22, girls need to break forty wooden dies, break forty ropes - this will drive away evil spirits that have been frozen. Thus, they got rid of winter, paving the way in spring. There is also a tradition on March 22 to swing on a swing - the more you swing and fly higher, the more productive the year will be, and people will be happier. March 22 is the feast of the Magpies or 40 Saints, and therefore another tradition will also be very appropriate. In honor of spring, trees are decorated on this day with paper, or rag flowers, bright ribbons, bells, so that spring quickly comes into its own.

Good housewives bake forty buns with honey in the shape of larks this day. The tradition tells them to distribute them to children so that the poultry is healthy on the farm. Girls should also show the ability to do household chores: cook forty dumplings and treat the guys.

Holiday 40 Saints: Signs

40 Holy signs indicate that on this day, March 22, winter ends and spring comes. Very often this day coincides with the equinox. In folk tradition, it is also called Sorochintsy, Magpies, Larks, because after winter wandering from the south migratory birds fly to us and bring spring with them. Usually on this day, gardeners can get an answer to when to start planting seedlings. All signs on this day are usually related to the weather. So, on this day you can judge the weather for the next 40 days. If it is frosty, then this weather will last another 40 days. If birds arrive, then this is to early heat.

Holiday 40 Saints: what can not be done

The church calendar, according to tradition, has its own instructions regarding the holding of church dates. Therefore, many are wondering whether it is possible to work on the feast of 40 Saints. In general, it is important that on this day you should not be lazy, but it is better to prepare for the meeting of spring and appease it with your own.

March 22 is the feast of the Forty Holy Martyrs, which is annually celebrated during. And this means that on this day the prohibitions are the same as in. The only difference is that you can eat food with vegetable oil. Allowed and Cahors wine on this day. Also, working and cleaning the house is not advisable on this day. Answering the question whether it is possible to work on the feast of 40 Saints, we inform you that work is prohibited for personal gain, for good purposes it is possible.

Photos from free sources

The “Magpies” folk festival is celebrated on March 22 (according to the old style - March 9). In the Orthodox church calendar, this is a day of reverence for the memory of the forty martyrs of Sebaste. Other names for the holiday: “Forty Magpies”, “Forty Saints”, “Day of the Lark”, “Lark”. According to the national calendar, winter ends on this day - spring begins, day by night is measured - it is equal (the equinox sets in). Larks (sandpipers, grouse) were also called cookies in the form of birds or the sun, baked for this holiday.

Story

The date got its name in honor of the forty Sevastian martyrs - Christian warriors who suffered martyrdom. They were all from Cappadocia and served in the Roman army. The warlord demanded that Christians, along with the rest of the soldiers, sacrifice to the pagan gods. After the refusal, they were tortured and then stripped and forced to stand in an ice-covered lake during the night. By morning, one of the soldiers could not stand it - and ran to a warm bath. However, his place among the martyrs was taken by the Roman Aglaus, who was impressed by the steadfastness of the spirit of Christians. The military leader saw that the soldiers did not despair and did not surrender, and ordered everyone to kneel and then execute.

Traditions

In the people this day was considered the day of the second meeting of spring (the first was on, the third was waiting for the Annunciation), one of the biggest holidays of the year. The peasants said that “On Magpies day and night is measured, winter is ending, spring is beginning”. And the forerunners of spring were larks (although, according to legend, 40 different birds came from Soroki from across the sea).

In Russia, by this day, the mistresses used to bake cookies in the form of birds, usually forty pieces, according to the number of dead martyrs. For this, elastic, well-kneaded dough was used, and sweet strong tea was used as a lubricant. Cookies were given to the children, saying: "Larks flew in, sat on the head of the children." The kids climbed onto the rooftops, tied the "larks" to the poles and invited the birds to fly in and bring spring as soon as possible. Then the baked goods were crumbled and scattered around.

However, spring could be deceiving - morning frosts were still strong. If morning frost occurred on March 22, they said that Magpies had begun - forty frosty days. To protect themselves from “matinees,” the housewives baked forty balls from rye or oatmeal flour. They were said about them: "Forty saints, gold Kolobans." The balls were supposed to be thrown out of the window one day for forty days.

Young people had their own fun and games that day. They were going to dance. At first, the girls performed the rite of closing the winter and breaking the spring. They broke forty strings or broke forty sticks. This action, according to our ancestors, tore the fetters of evil spirits, chained the ground in winter, and contributed to the onset of spring. Then mass festivities began.

Signs

On Magpies, day and night are measured, equal.
What Magpies, and then Petrovka.
If the frost lasts forty days, then in the summer it will be warm.
The frost that happened on March 22 promises a harvest, especially millet.
What is the weather like on Soroki, such it will be for another forty days.
Thunder is heard - for a hungry year.
Warm wind promises a rainy summer.
Jackdaws and magpies are found in large numbers, which means that it will be warm soon.
The seagull has flown in - soon the ice will go, spring will begin, the lark has flown in - for heat, the finch - in the cold.

Based on information from free sources

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March 22 - Magpies, a holiday of great importance in the church calendar for March 2018. Today is the holiday of 40 Saints, and therefore many are wondering if it is possible to work for 40 Saints, what traditions and signs of the day, as well as for the holiday of 40 Saints? what not to do. Therefore, the editors WANT decided to devote time to this issue.

In response to the question, what is a church holiday today, we inform you: Church holidays 2017 include one important date - 40 Saints. Regarding the history of the festival of 40 Saints, it is known that the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste were the best squad in the army of the ancient Roman emperor Licinius. The ruler himself was a cruel pagan, persecutor of the Christian faith and those who tried to preach it. And these forty warriors were bound by love for Jesus Christ, refused all worldly goods, riches and honors did not agree to sacrifice to pagan gods. So, 40 soldiers did not abandon the Christian faith and were put to death.

Thus, in the traditions of Christianity, a day appeared when 40 Sebastian martyrs are worshiped.

Customs and traditions on the feast of forty saints

The Orthodox calendar 2017 in folk traditions is often intertwined with pagan rituals, due to the long existence in the culture of the ancient Slavs. Holiday 40 Saints in this regard is no exception. So, on March 22, girls need to break forty wooden dies, break forty ropes - this will drive away evil spirits that have been frozen. Thus, they got rid of winter, paving the way in spring. There is also a tradition on March 22 to swing on a swing - the more you swing and fly higher, the more productive the year will be, and people will be happier. March 22 is the feast of the Magpies or 40 Saints, and therefore another tradition will also be very appropriate. In honor of spring, trees are decorated on this day with paper, or rag flowers, bright ribbons, bells, so that spring quickly comes into its own.

Holiday 40 Saints: Signs

Holiday 40 Saints: what can not be done

The church calendar, according to tradition, has its own instructions regarding the holding of church dates. Therefore, many are wondering whether it is possible to work on the feast of 40 Saints. In general, it is important that you should not be lazy on this day, but it’s better to get ready for the spring and appease it with your culinary pastries.

March 22 is the feast of the Forty Holy Martyrs, which is celebrated annually during And this means that on this day the prohibitions are the same as on any day of fasting. The only difference is that you can eat food with vegetable oil. Allowed and Cahors wine on this day. Also, working and cleaning the house is not advisable on this day. Answering the question whether it is possible to work on the feast of 40 Saints, we inform you that work is prohibited for personal gain, for good purposes it is possible.

Every Orthodox holiday is complete without prohibitions. Basically, this is a ban on food, thoughts and actions of a person. It is necessary to be with a clean head, not biased, not angry, not sin, eat only lean food. And it’s better to refrain from eating on this day altogether - you can sit on dry hunger or at least just drink water all day.

You cannot work on this day. It is better to spend it with the family, baking rolls in the form of birds, which marks the arrival of spring, the awakening of all nature from hibernation.

According to legend, the holiday of 40 saints can not lend money. Also on this day you can not clean, wash, sew, make repairs. It’s also very important not to quarrel, not to swear on this day.

And you can go to church that day, pray.