January 8 — Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos: history and traditions of the holiday

In the first days after Christmas, Orthodox believers celebrate the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the oldest holidays, which is celebrated on the day after Christmas. On this day, believers visit churches to glorify the Mother of God, as well as Saints Joseph the Betrothed and James, the Lord's brother. Read more about the history, meaning and traditions of the holiday in the Izvestia article.

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The feast of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos was officially fixed by the decisions of the VI Ecumenical Council, held in 681 in Constantinople under Emperor Constantine IV Pogonat. At the same time, the celebration existed before. It got its name from an ancient church tradition — to gather the whole world in temples for joint prayer and glorification of the Virgin Mary. By the same principle, other "cathedrals" appeared in the church calendar, including the Cathedral of John the Baptist, as well as holidays dedicated to several saints at once.

On the day of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos, the church remembers not only the Mother of God herself, but also the closest participants in the evangelical events. Special veneration is paid to the righteous Joseph the Betrothed, Saint James, the son of Joseph from his first marriage and the first bishop of Jerusalem, whom the Holy Scriptures call the brother of the Lord, as well as King David, the earthly ancestor of Jesus Christ.

The central meaning of the holiday is the thanksgiving glorification of the Mother of God, through whom the Savior was given to the world. This theme is widely reflected in church iconography: the icons depict the Mother of God with the Christ Child, surrounded by shepherds and magi who came to worship the newborn, as well as angels and saints. Animals are often present in the images, which, according to legend, were in the Bethlehem cave at the time of Christmas.

In Russia, the holiday became widely celebrated after the adoption of Christianity. Over time, it acquired national significance, becoming a day of special reverence for women in labor and midwives. Traditionally, this day was called Midwives' Day and was associated with gratitude for the gift of a new life.

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How the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated in 2026

On the day of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated in all Orthodox churches, which gathers a large number of believers. The central divine service is traditionally led by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia at the Patriarchal Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin.

Festive services are also held in other churches in the country: liturgy is celebrated in the morning, and Vespers is celebrated in the evening. On this day, conciliar prayers dedicated to the saints involved in the Nativity of Christ are performed, as well as petitions are offered before the icon of the Mother of God of the "Three Joys".

In this image, the Infant Jesus is depicted on the lap of the Most Holy Theotokos with a white flower in His hands; on either side of Him are Joseph the Betrothed and John the Baptist. Before the icon, they pray for peace and harmony in the family, protection of loved ones, help in difficult life circumstances and deliverance from sorrows.

The folk tradition of baking bread and bringing it to the temple for consecration is also connected with the holiday. It is customary to leave part of the loaves in the church, and divide the rest of the bread between family members as a sign of blessing and unity.

What can and cannot be done on a church holiday on January 8th

On this holiday, it is customary to offer prayers for the health of children and gratefully remember the doctors and midwives who helped babies to be born. Gratitude can be expressed both through acts of mercy and through prayerful commemoration.

Certain warnings are also associated with the folk tradition. It was believed that strangers should not be invited into the house where there is a newborn and random guests should be allowed in to protect the child from the evil eye. Pregnant women were advised to avoid any hard work and needlework on this day, believing that excessive stress could harm the unborn child.

Also, on the day of the celebration, they tried to keep the peace in the family, not to quarrel, not to allow bad words and thoughts, and not to refuse help to those who need it, so as not to overshadow the meaning of the holiday.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history, traditions and signs of the national holiday of St. Nicholas the Winter.