A special Russian holiday on August 12 is Siluan and Sila: history, traditions, omens

Every year on August 12, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the 70 apostles Silvanus and Silas. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Tuesday. In the national calendar, the holiday is called Siluan and Sila or Silin Day. Read about its history, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.

Church holiday on August 12th

According to legend, Saint Silas was one of the most respected members of the Jerusalem Church. In 51 (according to other sources, in 40 or 50), he took part in the Council of the Apostles, which decided on the need for new Christians to observe the Mosaic Law. As a result of this meeting, it was decided that those who had recently been baptized did not need to follow the Old Testament laws, including offering sacrifices and circumcision.

The Apostles Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch to explain the message of the Council to the faithful. They were accompanied on their journey by the 70-year-old apostles Silas and Judas. Subsequently, Judas returned to Jerusalem, and Silas continued his journey with Peter, helping him in the difficult and dangerous task of evangelizing.

In the city of Philippi, the saints were accused of "outraging the people" and thrown into prison. At midnight, when Peter and Silas were praying, a strong earthquake began. The shackles fell from the prisoners' hands, and the cell doors opened. The guard saw the empty cells and, deciding that the prisoners had escaped, wanted to commit suicide. However, the Apostle Peter stopped him. After that, the man repented, took the preachers to his home and was baptized by them together with his family.

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Subsequently, Peter and Silas traveled through many other cities, establishing churches and gaining new followers. Silas was ordained bishop in Corinth. He spent the rest of his life caring for his flock.

Practically nothing is known about the life of Saint Silouan. Over the years, he accompanied the Apostles Peter and Paul, and then headed the episcopal see in the city of Solun (modern times). Thessaloniki, Greece). He also suffered a martyr's death there. Some researchers believe that Siluan and Sila are one person. Nevertheless, the church honors them as separate saints.

Traditions of the national holiday Siluan and Sila on August 12

In Russia, the holiday in honor of the apostles was called Siluan and Sila or Silin Day. By this day, as a rule, the rye was ripe, and the ears began to tilt towards the ground. "Rye can get drunk on Strength and Strength," the ancestors noted. Also, on August 12, we started sowing winter rye. It was believed that if you sow it on a holiday, the harvest will be rich.

The ancestors believed that anyone, even the weakest person, could gain great strength with Strength and Strength. Therefore, on the feast day, the holy apostles prayed for better health and physical fitness. They were also asked to provide energy for the completion of field work.

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In addition, on August 12, it was decided to cut aspen branches. They were used to make bath brooms, which, according to legend, could remove spoilage and rid a person of accumulated negative energy. Peasants suffering from joint pain applied burdock leaves plucked from three different bushes to the affected areas of the body.

What not to do on the national holiday of Siluan and Sila on August 12

In Russia, various restrictions and superstitions were associated with Sunday. It was believed that on a holiday, evil spirits could enter a barn in the guise of a bat or a cat and milk cows to death. Therefore, it was strictly forbidden to leave the door to the cowshed open.

What else can not be done on Silwan and Silu on August 12:

• Overeating leads to financial difficulties and illnesses;
• Picking up sharp tools is a risk of serious injury.;
• To refuse to help those in need is to find yourself in a difficult situation.;
• Being lazy leads to failures;
• for healthy people, picking burdock leaves is a deception;
• telling a dream that you had on the night of August 12, before sunset, means that a good dream will not come true, but a bad dream will come true.

Folk signs for August 12

The ancestors paid attention to Siluan and Sila for weather signs. According to popular beliefs, if it rains on a holiday, cloudy and humid weather will last for several more days.

Folk signs on August 12:

• cool and cloudy day without rain — it will be dry in the next few days;
• heat leads to heavy rain;
• There are a lot of mountain ash on the trees — autumn will be early and winter will be cold.;
• lots of cobwebs — the warm weather will linger for a few more days.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the national holiday of Prokhora-Parmen.