Return of the relics of St. Bartholomew on September 7: what not to do on this day

Every year on September 7, Orthodox believers celebrate the Return of the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew, one of the twelve closest disciples of Jesus Christ. This holiday dates back to the events of the end of the sixth century, when the shrine was rediscovered and widely revered after long wanderings. The history and traditions of the holiday are in the material of Izvestia.

The Apostle Bartholomew: What kind of holiday is September 7th?

Every year on September 7, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Return (transfer) of the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew. The date is fixed in the calendar and is celebrated in many Orthodox local Churches. In liturgical calendars, this day stands next to the memory of the apostle Titus of 70.

The holiday dates back to the events of the end of the sixth century, when the relics of the apostle, after a long series of movements, were rediscovered and glorified by the faithful. For the church tradition, it means a confirmation of the continuity of apostolic veneration and attention to the shrines associated with the first witnesses of the Resurrection.

The Apostle Bartholomew is one of the twelve closest disciples of Jesus Christ (in the Gospels he is mentioned in the lists of the Twelve; in church tradition he is identified with Nathanael).

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After Pentecost, he preached in Syria, Asia Minor, and, according to several ancient reports, in the region of India. In Armenia, according to Christian tradition, his preaching was accompanied by healings, for which he suffered a martyr's death.

According to historical descriptions, the posthumous fate of the relics of the apostle was extremely complicated. They were transported from Akhbak to Martyropolis, then to Daru (Mesopotamia). During the Persian invasion, a shrine with relics, according to medieval authors, was thrown into the sea, and it miraculously arrived on the island of Lipari.

Later, the relics were transferred to Benevento, where they are venerated in the Basilica of San Bartolomeo. Since the 10th century, part of the shrine has been located in the Roman church on the island of Tiberina.

In the liturgical practice of the Russian Orthodox Church, September 7 is a day dedicated specifically to the transfer (return) of the relics of the apostle. It has the character of a six-day celebration, and includes the reading of appropriate prayer books and hymns.

The Apostle Bartholomew is a common Christian figure: in the Catholic Church he is honored on August 24, while in the Armenian Apostolic Church he is commemorated on other days due to his own tradition.

For believers, the relevant forms of worship on this day are participation in the Divine Liturgy, prayer to the apostle for strengthening in faith and for health, reading the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, as well as charity as a continuation of the apostolic ministry. Historical evidence of miracles from the relics of Bartholomew, including the flow of peace and healing, formed a stable practice of turning to the saint with petitions for help in illnesses.

The return of the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew: folk signs

In the old days, the day was considered favorable for shopping and traveling. In some regional traditions, it was recommended to wash with silver, that is, with water in which the silver object had lain overnight, or to go to the sauna.

The agricultural observations of the day also included harvest signs. A lot of grain was ground — for the harsh winter. If birds land on the ground on this day, this indicates an imminent warming, and if on the roofs, stable dry weather is coming.

Return of the relics of St. Bartholomew on September 7: what not to do

It was believed that it was forbidden to hunt rodents on this day: catching mice and rats could lead to poverty and lack of food in the future. It was also not recommended to start construction or major repairs, as such work promised misfortune and short-lived buildings.

There was a special attitude towards mushrooms — crushing or knocking down inedible mushrooms, such as fly agaric, was considered a bad omen, which could lead to confusion in the forest or even to a meeting with a Goblin. Conducting magical rituals was also considered dangerous, especially in rainy weather: according to beliefs, rainwater washed away any efforts and deprived rituals of their power. In addition, on this day they tried to avoid quarrels and conflicts that could escalate into protracted disagreements and lead to a breakup of relations.

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At the same time, folk traditions prescribed certain actions that could be beneficial. It was believed that it was on St. Bartholomew's Day that the mushroom season ended: mushrooms harvested later were no longer suitable for salting and were used only fresh.

Mountain ash was also harvested, dried or stored in cool places, believing that berries harvested before the first frost retained their healing properties. People carefully observed nature, trying to guess the weather: if the leaves began to actively fall, it was perceived as a sign of an early and cold winter.