Onisim Ovchar is a special holiday on February 28: history, traditions, omens

Every year on February 28, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Apostle Otto, Bishop Onesimus of Byzantium, who lived in the first century. In the national calendar, the date is known as Onesimus Ovchar, or Onesimus Ovcharnik. In 2026, it falls on a Saturday. Read about its history, traditions, signs of strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on February 28th?

Saint Onesimus was born in the 1st century in the Phrygian city of Kolossy (the territory of modern Turkey). He was a slave of the noble Christian Philemon. One day, the young man seriously offended his master and fled to Rome, as he was afraid of punishment. But he was eventually caught and imprisoned.

A meeting took place in prison, which determined his future fate. The saint met the Apostle Paul, who was also in prison. Under his guidance, Onesimus converted to Christianity and became his devoted follower. In the Epistle to the Colossians, the apostle calls him a faithful and beloved brother.

When it was time for Onesimus to return to his master, Paul wrote Philemon a heartfelt letter asking him to forgive the runaway slave and accept him no longer as a servant, but as a brother in Christ. As a result, he not only granted forgiveness, but also released Onesimus, after which he went back to Rome and continued to serve the apostles.

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After Paul's death, Onesimus continued his ministry with others. He preached the gospel in Spain and Carpetania, then returned to the communities in Colossae and Patras.

Already a very old man, the saint took the episcopal throne in Ephesus, replacing the Apostle Timothy on the pulpit. The finale of his earthly life dates back to the era of persecution under Emperor Trajan. Around 109, Onesimus was captured and brought to trial before the eparch Tertillus.

The saint was kept in prison for 18 days, after which he was exiled to the city of Puteoli. However, he did not abandon his faith there either. When the eparch summoned the prisoner again and was convinced of his intransigence, Onesimus was brutally tortured and then executed. According to legend, the body of the martyr was taken by a noble woman and placed in a silver shrine.

Traditions of the national holiday Onisim Ovchar on February 28

In Russia, the saint was considered the patron saint of livestock, primarily sheep, hence the name of the holiday — "Onesimus the Shepherd", "Onesimus the Shepherd". In the national calendar, the date was perceived as the boundary between the passing winter and the approaching spring. The day was also called "Onesimus Zimobor", "Onesimus Zornik", emphasizing its connection with the agricultural way of life.

According to beliefs, by February 28, winter "loses its second horn" (the first one is on February 24) and its confrontation with spring is coming to an end. The people said: "Winter becomes hornless on Onisim the Shepherd."

The holiday traditionally began with a visit to the temple. Prayers were addressed to Saint Onesimus for the health of livestock and the well-being of the farm. Special attention was paid to sheep — at the end of February they began to bear offspring, on which the future of the herd depended.

The Shepherds sought to enlist heaven's "cooperation" not only in the church. In the evening, the men went out into the courtyard, bowed three times to all four corners of the world and turned to the stars with a request to grant numerous offspring.

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On Forgiveness Sunday, quarrels and abusive words were considered undesirable.

A shepherd was sometimes invited to perform this ceremony. He stood with his feet on a sheep's fleece and pronounced a spell, inviting the stars to "look" into the yard. In the popular imagination, the number of future lambs directly correlated with the number of stars in the sky — the clearer and brighter the sky, the richer the expected year. After the sacrament, the host always treated the guest.

In some provinces, needlewomen "buried" yarn — they chose the best ball of wool or yarn and took it out into the cold. It was believed that the cold would strengthen the thread, make it clean and durable. According to beliefs, the quality of the fabric directly affected the durability of clothing, and therefore the stability of family life.

The evening of February 28th ended with a festive dinner. They tried to set the table generously, invited relatives and neighbors. The abundance of dishes was perceived as a projection of the coming year — the richer the food, the more stable the prosperity. Those who found themselves in need were treated with exaggerated cordiality — generosity on this day was considered the key to general well-being.

What not to do on the feast of Onesimus Ovcharus

In the folk tradition, the holiday was accompanied by a number of strict restrictions, the violation of which, according to beliefs, could negatively affect future prosperity. On the day dedicated to the patron saint of sheep, special attention was paid to livestock, causing harm to animals was considered a direct threat to the farm, leading to livestock diseases and losses.

What else you can't do on February 28th:

• slaughter cattle — you can "cut" luck for the whole year;
• to lend money, it will be difficult to repay it, and relations with the debtor will deteriorate.;
• discussing financial issues — talking about profits and expenses can turn into real losses;
• Sharing your plans may not come to fruition.;
• Making promises and believing someone else's words unconditionally will turn out to be empty words.;
• to swear with close relatives — a quarrel will lead to prolonged discord and even illness.;
• coming to visit empty—handed - such stinginess can be a harbinger of need.

Folk signs for February 28

In Russia, Onisim Ovchar was considered the turning point of winter, so peasants watched nature very closely on February 28 to determine what the spring and even the future harvest would be like.:

• long and large icicles — for a prolonged spring;
• the snow is actively melting, large puddles are forming — for a bountiful harvest in autumn;
• A bright moon on the night of February 28th leads to severe frosts.;
• A bright red sunset leads to a heavy snowstorm in the coming days.

The ancestors also believed that what the weather would be like on February 28, September was expected to be like that.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the signs and strict prohibitions of the special holiday Martin's Day.