Today, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Apostle of the Seventy, Stephen.
Among the people, this celebration is called Stepanov Day.
In Rus', it was customary to harvest hay on this day, which is why this holiday is also called Hayloft.
It is also believed that children born on this day will be very happy.
Apostle of the Seventy Stephen lived in the first century after the birth of Christ. He was one of the first assistants of Jesus Christ.
In addition, Stephen included the number of apostles from seventy.
The believer is primarily known for being the first Christian martyr of Jewish origin.
Despite the fact that Stephen was chosen as a deacon, he also preached in Jerusalem along with the twelve apostles.
In those years, there was a strong persecution of Christians. However, Stephen was not afraid of the fate of being executed. He carried the Word of God without fear of reprisal.
One day, the pagans finally caught Stephen. He was tried as a blasphemer and eventually executed.
The saint's relics were found only 400 years after his death. They are known to be miraculous.
What you shouldn't do on Stepanov's Day
On this day, many people followed certain rules:
- did not quarrel or argue, especially with loved ones;
- did not participate in any adventures;
- did not engage in gluttony.
It was on August 15 that it was considered a grave sin to commit ungodly acts, namely, to borrow money. Otherwise, according to beliefs, one could bring financial problems upon oneself.
What can you do on Stepanov's Day?
Today it is recommended to go to a festive service.
Then you should bless the water in the temple and then set the table, be sure to decorate it with honey.
It is also worth making kvass or sbiten based on honey.
