Stepan's day on January 9th: what is famous for the First Martyr Stephen and what is forbidden to do

On January 9, Orthodox believers celebrate Stepan Day — the memory of the First Martyr Stephen, one of the key figures of the early Christian community. This holiday is traditionally associated with the history of the formation of the first deacons, as well as with the rituals that have been formed over the centuries in the national calendar. In different regions, the date has acquired its own customs and household prohibitions that have survived to the present day. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

Who is the First Martyr Stephen?

The First Martyr Stephen is one of the key figures of the early Christian community, an archdeacon whom the Christian tradition considers the first to be martyred for his faith in Christ.

His life and feat are described in detail in the book "Acts of the Holy Apostles" (Chapters 6-8): Stephen was elected deacon under the apostles to serve the needs of the community, boldly preached and exposed the unbelief of those who rejected the preaching of Christ. For this, he was tried by the Sanhedrin and stoned to death. Before his death, he prayed for his abusers, asking the Lord not to impute their sin to them.

In the theological tradition, this gesture of forgiveness and voluntary acceptance of death are the highest degree of following the Gospel and the image of humility that Christ presents.

After Stephen's martyrdom, Christians remembered him as a "protomartyr" — the first among the numerous class of saints whose blood was shed for the faith. Around 415, according to legend, Stephen's body was discovered and moved to a revered place. His life and cult were further developed in the Byzantine and Eastern Christian traditions. It was this veneration that formed the basis for the establishment of the saint's memorial day in the church calendar.

The history of the Stepan's Day holiday

The memorial Day of the First Martyr Stephen in the Orthodox tradition falls on January 9th. The celebration of this date is ingrained in liturgical practice and the national calendar — Stepan's Day takes its place among the celebrations as a reminder of the price that the Christian community paid for faithfulness to Christ.

In the history of rituals, this day has often passed from church rituals into everyday culture. January 9 was popularly known by various names — Stepan's Day, Winter Stepans, Shepherds' Day — and was associated with the completion of the Christmas cycle and the resumption of a number of rural works. In different regions of Russia, the date has acquired its own local features and customs, which is typical for Slavic Yuletide, in which ecclesiastical and pre-Christian elements were intertwined.

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Traditions and customs of January 9th

The folk customs associated with Stepan's Day largely reflect the motivation to keep the household in order after the festive season of Yuletide. In some places, January 9th was considered a "home" day: families gathered together, summed up household chores, checked supplies and paid attention to everyday life.

Housewives often prepared hearty meals, as the date fell during the "meat-eating" period after Christmas, the table could be more plentiful than on fast days. Specific practices also persisted in rural communities, such as rounds of outbuildings, prayers for livestock and homes, recitation of protective prayers and incantations, as well as simple family rituals of reconciliation and strengthening family ties.

There were also elements of youth fun in the traditional rituals: gatherings, singing, folk games and, in some places, symbolic checks of brides and grooms, which was part of the marriage calendar in rural environments.

Even today, Stepan's Day is more often perceived in cities as a church holiday, with visits to temples and participation in the liturgy, while in villages the features of the old household practice have been preserved.

What not to do on this day

Folk prohibitions related to January 9 reflect the traditional logic of protective and ritual prescriptions: on Household Day and on Stepanov's Day, it was advised to avoid quarrels, major economic conflicts and "dangerous" work that could harm the house or livestock.

The signs prescribed not to take out excess ashes or garbage from the house, not to break bread and not to borrow money, so as not to "take out" happiness and prosperity from the family. In some regions, it was recommended not to start new big things — it is better to finish what you started and devote time to household order and prayer.

From the point of view of church regulations, Stepan's Day is primarily the memory of a martyr and an occasion for prayer and repentance; the church does not impose any special household prohibitions, but encourages believers to celebrate calmly and participate in worship.

Modern priests emphasize that it is not formal prohibitions that are more important, but an inner mood — humility, forgiveness and attention to others, which are symbolically connected with the feat of Stephen, who prayed for the forgiveness of his murderers.