Church holiday September 27 signs. Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Signs for the holiday and their meaning

In ancient chronicles this day is referred to as “Stavrovy”, on which it was customary to go in religious processions around villages and cities, thus protecting them from troubles, enemies and diseases. In the villages, the fields are also looked after in order to get a rich harvest next year. On Vozdvizhenye, the last sheaf was taken from the fields and this served as the end of the harvest, the last, third holiday of welcoming autumn and the beginning of preparations for winter.

On the same day, it was forbidden to go into the forest: all living things were preparing for winter, animals went into holes, snakes crawled to one place for the winter. Even the evil spirits were preparing to hibernate until spring. Today there is a widespread belief that such a ban was based on the fact that snakes are very angry on this day and if you interfere with them, you will be bitten. But in ancient times, people simply respected all living things and tried not to disturb the unity of animals and nature. At the same time, the Slavs believed that the snake that bites you will no longer be able to return back to the hole and it is doomed to death due to the fact that it violated the laws of its tribe.

The big danger in the forest that day was not animals, but evil spirits: goblins, water creatures, werewolves were angry that they had to go into hibernation and would no longer be able to harm people. At Exaltation, the evil spirits had their last gathering, during which they said goodbye to each other and went to bed. They could harm those people who disturbed their peace, spin them into the forest, send a curse and damage.

This day was also important for domestic evil spirits. Unlike the forest spirits, these spirits were useful for the family and home, and were their protectors and guardians. Therefore, in Vozdvizhenye they celebrated the name day of Ovinnik, the keeper of the barn, the place where wheat was stored and ground. The room was not heated, no work was carried out in it, embroidered towels were laid out on the floor and treats for the spirit were left on them. This holiday was also considered cabbage day, and every housewife had to prepare as many dishes as possible from this tasty and healthy product, bake pies with cabbage, and cook dumplings. Some of the treats were carried to the church, where they were distributed to the poor.

Conspiracies and love spells for the Exaltation

From the Day of the Exaltation began the period of girls' get-togethers - Kastensky evenings, which lasted two weeks. According to tradition, all the girls going to these parties wore their best clothes, brought festive dishes with them, set tables in the upper room and feasted with the guys who were at that time and chose their brides.

In order to definitely get a groom at such gatherings, girls performed special rituals and conspiracies. Before going to the party, the girl washed herself with clean, recently collected spring water and said: “Just as the water is clean and transparent, so (name)’s love for me will be strong and constant. So be it, my word is strong.”

Preparations for the gatherings began long before they began. The girls embroidered belts for themselves and their grooms. If such a belt was presented to a boy and he accepted it, this was considered the conclusion of an engagement. From the Exaltation to the Intercession, girls were allowed to perform divination and love spells in order to get married faster.

For example, such a ritual was widespread. The girl prepared small pies with cabbage, poured milk into a glass and left it all on the table overnight with the words: “My brownie friend, become my matchmaker and marry (name) to me (name). Amen".

The girls pronounced another love spell on the eve of the holiday. At sunset before the holiday, they went out into the street, looked at the setting sun and said the following words: “Zarya-lightning, red maiden, you walk high above me, you fly - far away. Look where the servant of God (name) walks, what he does, where he rests, in what house he lives, in what mansion. Come close to him, give me love, dry him, bake him, bring him to my house, bless us for our rightful crown. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".

A fairly strong love spell was cast on the Feast of the Exaltation on smoke. On September 27, after sunset, but before midnight, it is necessary to light a fire and when it flares up, shout out the words of the love spell: “There is a dry forest in a dry forest. In that forest, all the foliage is dry, the dryness drives those foliage, the servant of God (name) feels longing, the dryness drives the dryness for me, God’s servant (name). Dry him water without me, don’t put food in his mouth without me, bypass the sleep of God’s servant (name), find him longing and dryness for me, God’s servant (name). In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

They didn’t start any important business at Exaltation, because they believed that by doing so they were insulting the resting nature, which had given them blessings and a rich harvest. According to other beliefs, everything you started doing on this day was simply useless and without results.

Signs for the Exaltation

  • Whoever goes to the forest for the Exaltation may not return.
  • On this day, snakes hide in holes.
  • In the Shift, the Leshy is walking - whoever goes into the forest will not find his way back.
  • On Exaltation, the bear goes to its den, the snake goes to its hole, and the birds go south.
  • The good housewife in Vozdvizhenie has a pie with cabbage.
  • Whoever fasts on the Exaltation will have seven sins forgiven.
  • In the Exaltation from the field, the last haystack moves.
  • With the Exaltation, autumn shifts to winter.
  • If a cold north wind blows on this day, then next summer will be hot.
  • During the Exaltation, birds carry summer over the seas.
  • Whoever does not fast for the Exaltation will be charged with seven sins.

“On Exaltation, autumn moves towards winter, it moves warmth, and the cold advances,” “Exaltation - bread moves from the field to the threshing floor,” “on Exaltation, the bird began to fly away, and the fur coat reached for the caftan.”

By all accounts, September 27 was one of those days when it was not worth starting a single more or less important business, since everything started at that time did not end well, but went to dust.

However, it was on Exaltation that votive churches, chapels, or simply roadside crosses were placed in gratitude for deliverance from misfortune or pestilence. On this day, religious processions were held around the villages or they walked around the surrounding fields with icons and prayers. And besides, on Vozdvizhenye in many regions of Russia one of the most important autumn work began - harvesting cabbage for the winter. “On Exaltation, the good fellow has cabbage on the porch,” so “be smart, woman, about cabbage - Exaltation has come.”

But those who wished could put off this troublesome pleasure for a day or two: “The cabbage evenings sat for two weeks.” So the elderly, thorough housewives were in no hurry to start cabbage preparations, finding more important things to do on September 27th. But girls of marriageable age would never miss the Vozdvizhenskaya evening. After all, according to legend, if a girl, getting ready for a holiday, reads a special spell seven times, then the guy she likes will fall in love with her. Go and try to resist this: “My word is strong as iron! Raise, Father Exaltation Day, in the heart of the good young man (name), love for me, the red maiden (name), so that this love does not end forever, so that it does not burn in fire, does not drown in water, so that the cold winter does not chill it ! My word is strong as iron!”

By the way, the number seven is not a simple quantity - it is magical. Therefore, on this day, not only was the Love Plot supposed to be repeated seven times, but also the soul had to be taken care of: “Whoever fasts on the Exaltation will have seven sins forgiven, and whoever does not honor the Exaltation will be charged with seven sins.”

And in general, as during any national holiday, on Exaltation, of course, all sorts of miracles also happened. For example, “the tits, the court birds, flew with a song from the forests,” and the animals under the control of the Leshi, on the contrary, were drawn to the forest, apparently intending to sum up the results of the year at this pre-winter “meeting.”

They also say that on September 27, only the snake that has bitten a person remains freezing, and all the rest go underground to spend the winter with their snake mother. And in that treasured place, the legendary Alatyr Stone is supposedly buried. Springs of living water gush out from under it, giving the whole world food and healing. And on this stone sits the red maiden Dawn, who does not allow the light to go out, the earth to fall asleep, and us to forget.

They say that during the Exaltation the last haystack is removed. This meant that right now the peasants were trying to collect the entire harvest and finish field work as quickly as possible. This was explained by the fact that frosts were already observed in the mornings, which could destroy everything that grew in the fields and vegetable gardens. Also on this day they began to plant apple trees and currants - this could be done until about mid-October. It was noted that birds are beginning to fly to warmer regions. We analyzed natural phenomena and tried to predict the weather for the coming days and months.

People called the holiday Cabbage Festival and they made pies with cabbage. On September 27, evening gatherings were held, which could last for two weeks.

On September 27, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. This church holiday was established in honor of the discovery of the cross in the 4th century. This happened in Jerusalem.

The pagan emperors, having decided to destroy all memories of what happened on Golgotha, ordered to cover it with earth and erect a statue of Jupiter and the temple of the goddess Venus in this place. However, 300 years later, Emperor Constantine ascended the throne, who was distinguished by his mercy towards believers.

According to legend, the cross was found by the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, Queen Helena. It was they who organized the excavations, as a result of which they discovered the cave of the Holy Sepulcher and, not far away, three crosses. It is interesting that only a miracle helped to find out where the cross on which Jesus was crucified was located. A sick woman touched him and was healed.

On September 27, churches still hold festive events today. The peasants also went to the temple, and then proceeded to their daily affairs. The name of the holiday is also reflected in proverbs and sayings. They said that autumn pushes summer back to the Exaltation. A post was being set up. They ate mostly cabbage. Three days before the holiday, all vegetables with roots were harvested, since it was believed that morning frosts would destroy the harvest. The only thing that could have been left was the turnips.

The peasants were busy preparing cabbage for the winter and often did it together, organizing so-called cabbage parties, accompanying the work with jokes and jokes. It was believed that if a girl, getting ready for a get-together, reads a special spell, she would meet a guy she would love.

We tried not to plan important things for the Exaltation, since they could end unsuccessfully. It was also forbidden to go into the forest, since, according to legend, the bear was now making a den for itself and could attack the person it met. They also believed that now the goblin was inspecting his kingdom, and it was better not to catch his eye.

Folk signs for September 27

  1. Geese flying high in the sky is a sign that there will be a big flood in the spring, and vice versa.
  2. On Exaltation you cannot start important things and go into the forest
  3. On September 27, a cold wind blows - a sign that the summer will be warm

The holiday of September 27 - the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - is one of the main Orthodox holidays.

On this day, customs and rituals are performed, and there are a number of signs.

The main sign: whoever fasts on September 27 will definitely receive forgiveness of all his sins.

For girls there was a special sign for the Exaltation: it was necessary to read a special prayer before the evenings. The words had to be read seven times. Unmarried beauties read it in order to, in turn, look extremely attractive in the eyes of the guy she really likes.

Every year on the Feast of the Exaltation people make religious processions, which, in turn, protect people from all sorts of troubles and various misfortunes. Believers walk around the fields with icons to pray for a prosperous future harvest.

On this holiday, they pray for people who are sick at a given time, so that the Lord will deliver them from ailments and all sorts of misfortunes.

Each of us can offer prayers for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The most important thing to remember is that you need to turn to the Lord from the heart - and then grace will descend on you and all your requests will definitely be heard.

Prayers for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Troparion of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victories to the faithful over their enemies and preserving Your people through Your Cross.

Kontakion of the Exaltation of the Lord's Cross

Ascended to the Cross voluntarily, grant Thy mercy to the new people named after You, O Christ God; Make your faithful people glad with Your power, giving us victories over our enemies, who have from You the weapon of peace, an invincible victory.

THE GREATNESS OF THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE LORD'S CROSS

    We magnify You, Life-Giving Christ, and honor Your Holy Cross, through which You saved us from the work of the enemy.

    PRAYERS TO THE HONEST AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS OF THE LORD

    First prayer

    Be the Honest Cross, guardian of soul and body: in your image, casting down demons, driving away enemies, exercising passions and bestowing reverence, life, and strength, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and the honest prayers of the Most Pure Mother of God. Amen.

    Second prayer

    O Most Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! In ancient times you were a shameful instrument of execution, but now you are a sign of our salvation, ever revered and glorified! How worthily can I, the unworthy, sing to You and how dare I bend the knees of my heart before my Redeemer, confessing my sins! But the mercy and ineffable love for mankind of the humble Boldness crucified upon you gives me, so that I may open my mouth to glorify You; For this reason I cry to Ti: Rejoice, Cross, the Church of Christ is the beauty and foundation, the whole universe is the affirmation, all Christians are the hope, kings are the power, the faithful are refuge, Angels are glory and praise, demons are fear, destruction and driving away, the wicked and infidels - shame, the righteous - pleasure, the burdened - weakness, the overwhelmed - refuge, the lost - a mentor, those possessed by passions - repentance, the poor - enrichment, the floating - the helmsman, the weak - strength, in battle - victory and conquest, the orphans - faithful protection, widows - intercessor, virgins - protection of chastity, hopeless - hope, sick - a doctor and the dead - resurrection! You, typified by the miraculous rod of Moses, are a life-giving source, watering those thirsty for spiritual life and delighting our sorrows; You are the bed on which the Risen Conqueror of Hell rested royally for three days. For this reason, morning, evening, and noon, I glorify Thee, blessed Tree, and I pray by the will of the One who has been crucified on Thee, may He enlighten and strengthen my mind with Thee, may He open in my heart a source of more perfect love and may all my deeds and paths be overshadowed by Thee May I take out and magnify Him who is Nailed to You, for my sin, the Lord my Savior. Amen.

    On September 27, birds begin to fly south. If you see birds flying away for a holiday, you must make a cherished wish, which will come true in any case. It is also very important to say that previously, on holiday, every housewife cleaned the house. They believed that in this way it was possible to drive out all kinds of evil spirits and damage from the house.

    The following ritual for the Exaltation will also help drive out negative energy and negativity from the house. You need to take three church candles and place them on one saucer. Next, you need to spray every corner of your home in a cross-shaped motion. At this moment, you must definitely say any prayer that you know by heart. But the best option would be the prayer “Our Father” or the ninetieth psalm.

    It is important to remember that you should not start any new business on the holiday, because, unfortunately, it is according to the sign that this business will end in failure.

    On September 27, cheerful youth holidays begin, which in turn have a name - skits. In ancient times, young beauties dressed up in festive dresses and went directly from house to house to chop cabbage. This event was carried out with cheerful songs and accompanied by delicious treats.

    If you go into the forest on the Feast of the Exaltation, there is a high probability that you will not be able to return. It was assumed that on September 27, the goblin collects every animal in the forest in order to unambiguously count each of them and find out how many living creatures live in his forest. No one should see this. And whoever disobeys and still goes into the forest will thereby show disrespect for the devil and may not return home that day.

    Based on materials from the site “Money and Luck”

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The Exaltation is one of the great church events. To avoid troubles and failures, follow the traditions and signs of the holiday.

Every year on September 27, the Orthodox Church remembers an event that happened many years ago in Jerusalem - the miraculous discovery of the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

Believers believe that during the Exaltation there is a struggle between good and evil. By following the link, you can learn more about the history of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

In addition to the Exaltation of the Cross, this day is also celebrated as a national holiday - the end of Indian summer, or the Third Autumn. Therefore, many traditions and signs of the holiday are not only religious, but also folk in nature.

Traditions of the Exaltation of the Cross

Like any other church holiday, the main tradition for the Exaltation is visiting temples and churches, listening to divine liturgies. In many cities there is a procession of the cross. On this day they prayed for the healing of loved ones, for a rich harvest next year, and asked for deliverance from sins.

The cross is a special Orthodox relic that symbolizes suffering. Therefore, strict fasting should be observed on this day. Previously, it was believed that God punishes the one who neglects this tradition with seven sins, and removes seven sins from the one who did not taste the humble food.

It was believed that prayers on this day have special power. If you sincerely pray or ask for something on this day, it will definitely be fulfilled.

It was forbidden to serve any meat dishes on the table on this holiday. It was believed that a person who tasted the meat of a killed animal on this day killed all the prayers he said.

According to folk traditions, on September 27 it was forbidden to go into the forest. It was believed that on this day the Leshy walks through the forest and counts all the forest inhabitants, and if a person gets in his way, the traveler will not find the way back from the forest.

The cross symbolizes divine protection. In ancient times, those who wanted to protect their home and their loved ones painted a cross on the door of their home on September 27th. This tradition still exists today.

For peasants, this day was considered the final end of Indian summer and the onset of autumn. By this time, all matters related to agriculture should be completed.

Signs for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Signs were very important on this day both for believers and for those who are far from religion. And many random things acquired sacred meaning.

September 27 is the last day of Indian summer. It was believed that autumn was beginning to move towards winter.

In Rus', on this day they celebrated a national holiday - cabbage. Women who served cabbage pies were considered good housewives. Young girls and boys gathered on this day for festivities, the girls set the table, and the boys chose their brides.

On September 27, many signs foreshadowed the onset of cold weather: birds flew south, bears lay down in a den, and snakes hid in a hole. Believers always attach spiritual meaning to Orthodox holidays. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, along with Easter and the Nativity of Christ, has special significance for Christians. If you also honor this great event, do not forget to observe the traditions and signs of the holiday, and then happiness will not bypass you.

Based on materials - dailyhoro.ru

On September 27, the Orthodox Church celebrates the great twelfth holiday - the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. It is dedicated to two important events related to the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. This is the discovery of the Cross, which occurred in the 4th century thanks to the efforts of Saint Helena (mother of Constantine the Great) and then, three centuries later, the deliverance of the shrine from “Persian captivity” by Emperor Heraclius.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross: traditions and customs of the day

People said: “ On Vozdvizhenie the heat will shift and the cold will move in. On Vozdvizhenie autumn is moving faster towards winter" And indeed, by this time, real autumn had arrived: the sun was shining, but no longer warmed with its warmth, a cold, gusty wind was blowing, birds were flying away to warmer climes, and people were taking warm things out of their chests. On this day, the third meeting of autumn takes place and Indian summer comes to an end.

According to popular legend, on September 27 there is a battle between " honor" And " wickedness“, two forces rise (“erect”) one upon the other: “holy” and “unholy,” truth and falsehood. With the help of the Holy Cross of the Lord rising from the bowels of the earth, truth wins. Since the Cross is a symbol of suffering, the day of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord was considered fast by the people.

This day was also called “Stavrov’s day” (translated from Greek as “cross”). For a long time, on this church holiday, religious processions were held around villages in order to protect them from harm for a year. They served a prayer service and walked around the fields with icons, asking the Lord for the future harvest. They also prayed for the sick. They believed that if you pray with faith, the Life-Giving Cross will rise from your deathbed.

It was customary to raise crosses on churches under construction, to build chapels and small churches in honor of the holiday. Peasants placed crosses carved out of wood or simply rowan branches folded crosswise into the bins, bottom drains and mangers next to the cow. In the old days, in order to protect their home, livestock and harvest from harm, crosses were burned on the door lintel and barn gates.

There was a belief that on the Feast of the Exaltation one should not begin any important or significant work, because everything started on this day would either be useless and unsuccessful, or would end in complete failure.

Our ancestors noticed that on this holiday, reptiles go to some unknown warm region, and swallows fly away with them. For this reason, people carefully locked the gates, gates and doors throughout the day so that the reptiles crawling into the yowl would not mistakenly crawl into the yard, and they tried not to go into the forest for the Exaltation.

This day was dangerous for going into the forest, not only because of snakes, but also because of werewolves, goblin and other evil spirits. According to legend, goblins gathered animals under their control in one place for inspection before the coming winter. They could harm the person they met.

In addition to the goblin, this day was also important for the barn-keeper - the spirit that lives in the barn and takes the form of the owner of the house. On September 27, the “name day” was celebrated. It was not allowed to heat the barn on this day. The threshers didn't work either. If sheaves had already been placed in the barn, then the owner pretended to unload it by removing the top two sheaves. The housewives spread an embroidered towel on the barn window, and left treats for the barn owner at night.

The third meeting of autumn – “Cabbage”

From this date began a series of cheerful autumn parties - “cabbage parties”, “cabbage parties”, which lasted two weeks. They were celebrated not only by residents of villages and villages, but also by townspeople. The girls, dressed in colorful, elegant clothes, went from house to house to chop cabbage. Single men were looking for brides.

In the evening, when the cabbage was chopped, real fun began, which quite often led to weddings taking place on Pokrov. To win the heart of the guy they liked, girls read a special plot.

Neighbors and acquaintances were invited to such parties. The woman, entering the house, congratulated the owners on the cabbage harvest. Beer was brewed and pies were baked for the guests. The evening ended with songs and dances.

September 27: signs and beliefs

  1. If the geese fly high, there is a large flood, if they fly low, there is a small one.
  2. The north wind blows - the summer will be warm.
  3. If a snake bites a person on the Exaltation, it will not crawl away to warmer climes. She will have to freeze in the winter cold.
  4. Frosts in the morning - early winter.
  5. If the weather is clear and warm, then the cold will not come soon.
  6. It has become sharply cold - spring will be early.
  7. North wind - for a hot summer.
  8. When you see a flock of migratory birds, you need to ask them to say hello to your departed relatives.
  9. Girls are not allowed to go into the forest, because the devil might steal it.
  10. During the Exaltation, you cannot pass by places where a murder was once committed - the evil spirits can lead you astray.
  11. If you see strange tracks on the ground, you should not cross them. These traces may belong to forest evil spirits. Whoever crosses them will soon become seriously ill.
  12. A person who gets lost in the forest on this day must take off his clothes, shake them and read a prayer. It is believed that this will help him find his way faster and protect him from meeting the devil.

To the person born 27 September, given the ability for artistic creativity. He should wear an amethyst .

Video: Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 27)