November 4th, what holidays are celebrated in Russia, Ukraine and other countries?

Celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (November 4)

The Kazan Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been one of the most revered icons in Holy Rus' since ancient times. Many temples are erected in honor of the image of the Queen of Heaven. All churches in Russia hold festive services on this day. After all, the icon has always served as protection and consolation for the entire Russian people.

Many miracles revealed by the Most Holy Theotokos are associated with the Kazan Icon. The image was found under the ruins of a church after a strong fire in the city of Kazan (1579). At the same time, the icon was completely undamaged by the fire, which was already no small miracle. A religious procession was organized with the image of the Kazan Mother of God, during which two blind men became sighted. This was the first miraculous sign. Further, many sick people began to be healed by the miraculous face, and the sufferers received deliverance from their troubles.

Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

The face of the Kazan Mother of God helped the Russian people in the most difficult periods. When the Poles invaded the territory of Russia, it was with this icon in his hands and a prayer on his lips that Prince Pozharsky was the first to enter white-stone Moscow in 1612, putting an end to the unrest and the Polish invaders. Kutuzov, through prayers before a miraculous image, won victories over French troops in 1812. The cities of Moscow, Leningrad and Stalingrad were flown around with the iconographic face of the Mother of God. As a result, the first years of the terrible Great Patriotic War were survived, and the war itself was won. This miraculous image should be in every home to protect everyone living in it.

Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

On this day, Christian believers celebrate in honor of the miraculous Kazan Icon of the Mother of God - one of the most revered in the Orthodox Church.
It is worth noting that the feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God has always been an important date. It was considered a kind of boundary between autumn and real winter. From that day on, our ancestors waited for the onset of frost. People judged the weather by signs: if they harvested a good harvest in the fall, they were preparing for a harsh winter. Moreover, if it rains on this day, it means the imminent onset of winter.

“The frost from Kazanskaya is not great, but it’s not good to stand,” people said. At the same time, it was possible to update the sleigh track: “Go to Kazanskaya on wheels, and put the runners in the cart.”

Dmitrievskaya Parents' Saturday (November 7)

On this day, the Orthodox Church calls on all Orthodox Christians to remember their deceased relatives and friends. Only the prayers of believers can help them after physical death, in mitigating their posthumous fate, in achieving the salvation of the soul and a blissful stay with God and his saints in the Heavenly Kingdom. Many people ended their lives on the battlefield, some died tragically, and there was no one to pray for. The Mother Church, out of love for her deceased children, established this day as a date for special commemoration of all deceased Orthodox Christians.

On Parents' Saturday there are always a lot of people in churches. They come not only to light a candle for repose or to submit a note for a memorial service, but also to pray collectively, confess, and partake of the holy mysteries of Christ. The commemoration of the dead was legalized by the holy fathers due to the fact that many people die an unexpected death, without having time to properly prepare for this event.

On Mother's Saturday there are especially many people at churches where there are necropolises. When they come to the cemetery and perform funeral services, they fulfill the order of the holy fathers that it is necessary to honor their relatives. What can we give to souls who have gone to another world? Only prayer, which they need as bodily food for living people.

Orthodox calendar for November 2020

7	main church holidays

strict fast

days of special remembrance of the departedfood without meat

Easter Post

Today

Church fasts
Multi-day
November 28 - January 6 ‒ Nativity fast

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October 2019November 2019December 2019

Memorial Day of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (November 8)

The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius is widely known and loved throughout the Orthodox world. In Rus', the saint of God is revered as the patron of warriors and defender of the Fatherland. After the Battle of Kulikovo, the custom of commemorating fallen soldiers was established on the coming Saturday before the day of celebration of the memory of Demetrius of Thessalonica. Later this tradition spread to all deceased Orthodox Christians. The Day of Remembrance of the Dead began to be called Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday.

Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica

Traditions associated with the church holiday November 7 Grandfather's laments

During Grandfather's laments, people gave generous alms to the poor, thus they performed good deeds in memory of the deceased. They held a wake for them, and traditionally prepared the dishes that the deceased loved during their lifetime.

On this day in Ancient Rus' it was customary to take care of orphans; they were fed and watered to their full with various delicacies. Usually the entire village took part in this event. Orphans are people who are offended by fate, so stealing from or offending an orphan was considered a great sin. Also in Rus' on November 7, they fed beggars and other disadvantaged people, since their life was not sweet. Children without parents were looked after by the entire village in order to somehow brighten up their lives.

In those days, there was a tradition of mourning the dead during Grandfather’s Lamentations, so women and girls cried on this day and remembered their dead relatives. You couldn't just cry into your pillow; it was considered a bad omen.

For centuries, there was a sign that merchants were not allowed to eat bread on this day, otherwise trade would not work out. Also, traders who sold grain were not allowed to change their place of trade on this day, otherwise they could frighten away their luck.

Memorial Day of St. Job, Abbot of Pochaev the Wonderworker (November 10)

At the age of 10, the Monk Job left his father’s house and went to a monastery. He was a zealous man of prayer and a guardian of the Orthodox faith. The young monk led a strict ascetic life. Even the elders who labored in the monastery for many years were amazed at his asceticism. The Monk Job zealously attended church services, was tireless in obedience, meek with his superiors, silent, and prayed unceasingly.

Being the abbot of the monastic monastery in Pochaev and engaged in its good organization, the monk never abandoned heartfelt prayer. For everyone, he was the brightest example of meekness, humility and love for others. The holy abbot lived to be one hundred years old, devoting his entire adult life to God and monastic feats.

History of the church holiday November 7, Day of the Righteous Tabitha

Day of Veneration of St. Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov (November 10)

Saint Demetrius of Rostov made a huge contribution to education. In addition to his monastic works, he did not abandon his scientific studies. Dimitri Rostovsky is the author of “The Lives of the Saints,” on which he worked for many years.

Books "Lives of the Saints"

During this period, saints repeatedly appeared to him and provided assistance. The main task of Dmitry of Rostov was to truthfully depict events in the biographies of Orthodox ascetics. To compile the Lives of the Saints, all the best manuals on hagiography were sought not only in Russia, but also in Europe.

Dimitry Rostovsky

RAILWAY WORKER'S DAY

The professional holiday of railway workers was established in July 1993 by decree of President Leonid Kravchuk in support of the initiative of railway transport workers in Ukraine. Celebrated on the first Sunday in August. In December 2002, by decree of President Leonid Kuchma, the celebration was postponed to November 4.

The State Administration of Railway Transport of Ukraine “Ukrzaliznytsia” was created by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 356 of December 14, 1991 and is a public railway transport management body subordinate to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.

What is celebrated in other countries on November 4th:

UK - Guy Fawkes Night: from 4 to 5 November.
Italy - Day of National Unity and Armed Forces
Russia - Day of National Unity.
UN - International Day of Kindness

On this day, congratulations on Angel Day are accepted by:

Anna
Alexander
Anfisa
Basil
Vladimir
Denis
Hermann
Gregory
Elizabeth
Emelyan
Ivan
Konstantin
Maksim
Nikolai
Paul
Fedor

Honoring the memory of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa (November 10)

Saint Paraskeva, called Friday, has been loved by Orthodox people from time immemorial and is famous as an intercessor and helper along with Nicholas the Wonderworker and the Most Holy Theotokos. In the pre-revolutionary period, her veneration was especially widespread among believers. The name Paraskeva was borne by queens, boyars, and simple peasant women. She is considered the patroness of wives and mothers, a helper of family and marriage, and temples are built in her honor.

Saint Paraskeva

Signs and beliefs for November 7

On November 7, people have developed signs and beliefs, here are the most famous of them:

If the stars shine dimly at night, it means the day will be cold.
When there are a lot of leaves left on the trees, it means a frosty and long winter.
If it snowed heavily on this day, then this means a generous harvest of cereals.
When the weather is windy and stormy on this day, the rest of the fall will be cold.
If fog forms in the morning, it means a thaw.
When crows sat on the lower branch of a tree on this day, it meant windy weather.
Usually on November 7 it rains or sleet, which means that nature itself is crying for the dead.
You cannot eat bread on this day, otherwise the year will be difficult.
If you wake up in the morning and read a prayer to God and go to church and light a candle for the repose of the souls of deceased relatives, then you can then ask them for advice on solving the pressing problem and then the problem will certainly be solved by itself.

Beginning of the Nativity Fast (November 28)

The Nativity Fast begins at the end of November and lasts forty days. It is intended to prepare Orthodox Christians for the Nativity of Christ, although it is not as strict as Easter. Meat and dairy foods, chicken and eggs are completely excluded from the diet. On Saturdays and Sundays, as well as on major holidays, you can eat fish. There should be no fanaticism or vanity in observing food restrictions. Sick people are not required to strictly abstain from their usual foods. It should be remembered that fasting is not a diet, but a special repentant state of mind.

Video on the topic: Orthodox holidays, memorial days in November

Summarize

Having saved for yourself the calendar of church holidays for November 2020, you no longer need to guess on what days the celebrations are in Russia. When and to whom to pray or light a candle today, when to start fasting - the calendar of Orthodox dates will remind you of all this.

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Folk signs on November 7

The wind howls means the current weather will continue for a few more days.
At sunset, the color of the sun is golden-bronze - a sign of bad weather.
The crows sat on the lower branches of the trees - there will be a strong wind.
If the ice on the river becomes piles, there will be piles of bread.
The day will begin with fog - there will be a thaw.
It usually rains or snows on this day.
Traders cannot travel anywhere with goods - there will be no luck in business. In addition, they cannot eat bread - so that the whole year will be “bread”.
If you stand in front of a candle on this day and ask deceased loved ones for advice, the solution to the problem will come the very next day.
Women should not cry into their pillows - the feather remembers tears. The one who then lies down on this pillow will receive all the tears and sorrows. In addition, such a rash action could turn into nightmares for the hostess herself.
If there is food left in the cemetery after the funeral, it should be distributed to the poor so that they can pray for the deceased.
If an orphan girl makes a request to her deceased mother on this day, she will definitely fulfill it.
If an orphan prays to God on this day, heaven will definitely hear this prayer.

If you were asked for alms on November 7, but you did not give it, this promises trouble.

Traven 2020, which church saints are identified

6 May, Wednesday – Great Martyr George the Victorious

22 May, Friday – Day of Mikoli the Wonderworker

24 May, week – St. Cyril and Methodius

May 28, Thursday – Ascension of the Lord

The Ascension of the Lord in 2020 falls on the 28th of May / photo politeka.net

Churches are holy in Travna / vedmochka.net

The most common folk signs associated with November 7

Some of the most famous signs for November 7 are:

On this day it was forbidden to cry into the pillow, otherwise you could invite trouble on yourself. Then it will be painful to sleep on such a pillow and you will have bad dreams.
In Ancient Rus', the food that was left over after the funeral was distributed to the poor and they were told to remember this and that deceased person and called his name.
If an orphan turns to his late mother for help on November 7, she will definitely help.
Orphans are supposed to read a prayer to God at Grandfather's Lament, and then Heaven will certainly help them.
On this day you cannot refuse the poor and disadvantaged, this is not good. In this way you can bring trouble upon yourself.

Our ancestors dedicated this day to good deeds and deceased relatives. They believed that if they followed traditions and folk signs, then Heaven would certainly help them. Grandfather's lament is considered not only a national holiday, but also a church holiday. Catholics have exactly the same holiday, only it is called All Dead Day and is celebrated on November 2.