Today, Orthodox believers honor the memory of Saint Prince Vladimir the Red Sun.
Among the people, this celebration is called the Day of the Baptism of Rus.
In Rus', on this day it was customary to visit church and be sure to say morning, afternoon and evening prayers.
It was believed that it was today that evil spirits could have a particularly noticeable impact on a person’s well-being.
The great Kiev prince Vladimir, nicknamed by the people the Red Sun, lived at the turn of the 10th–11th centuries AD.
The ruler is most remembered for the fact that he carried out the Christian baptism of Rus'.
Grand Duke Vladimir was the son of the ruler Svyatoslav and the grandson of Princess Olga. He was the first of all the rulers to embrace Christian beliefs.
Prince Vladimir's worldview was largely influenced by his grandmother Olga.
During her lifetime, the princess herself introduced reforms affecting tax issues. In addition, she built many Orthodox churches and monasteries from stone.
Grand Duke Vladimir showed himself to be Olga's true grandson and carried out the Great Baptism of Rus.
What you shouldn't do on the Day of the Baptism of Rus
On this day, many people followed certain rules:
- did not look at the sky, fearing to see a falling star;
- did not complain about life and did not grumble;
- did not start any business to avoid failure.
It was on July 28 that it was considered a grave sin to commit ungodly acts, namely, to leave children alone. Otherwise, according to beliefs, they could be frightened by evil spirits.
What can you do on the Day of the Baptism of Rus
Today it is recommended to spend more time outdoors, namely in the sun.
In addition, it is recommended to open the windows and doors in the house wider in order to drive away evil spirits.
It is also worth going to the forest to pick mushrooms.
