The Orthodox Church of Ukraine marks September 5, 2026 as the feast day of Prince Gleb, a son of Grand Prince Volodymyr of Kyiv and one of the first canonized saints of Kyivan Rus, remembered as a symbol of meekness and non-resistance to evil.
According to church tradition, a host of folk omens and religious prohibitions have long been attached to the date, which our ancestors observed strictly.
Who was Prince Gleb
Gleb was the younger brother of both Sviatopolk and Borys, all sons of Prince Volodymyr. After Volodymyr's death, Sviatopolk seized power in Kyiv and became known in history by the nickname "the Damned." Fearing that his brothers might claim the throne, even though neither had shown any intention of doing so, he resolved to have them both killed. Borys was the first victim, and Gleb suffered the same fate soon after, lured away from the city of Murom by trickery and killed.
Once Yaroslav the Wise stripped Sviatopolk of power, the remains of the two brothers were moved with honors to Vyshhorod, where a church was built to house them. The relics themselves were lost during the Mongol invasion, but the church in Vyshhorod remains active to this day.
Borys and Gleb are regarded as the first Rus saints venerated by the public. They are known as "passion-bearers," a term for saints who accepted death without responding to violence with violence, bearing witness to their faith and love at the cost of their own lives.
Believers pray to Prince Gleb for protection from envy, jealousy and hostility, and ask for his intercession against enemies and ill-wishers. He is also considered a helper in cases of illness, particularly ailments of the eyes and legs.
The same day also honors the righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth. The faithful ask the couple to grant them children, while expectant mothers pray for a safe birth and a healthy baby.
The feast day under the old calendar
Under the church's old calendar, September 5 corresponds to September 18, when the faithful commemorate the martyr Lupus of Thessaloniki.
Folk traditions and what not to do
In folk tradition, the day is known as Zechariah and Elizabeth's Day. It is customary to clean the house and, in the evening, to bathe or visit a bathhouse, a practice believed to guard against illness and clear the home of negative energy for the year ahead. Getting rid of old, unneeded belongings is also considered useful, as folklore holds that it helps protect the household from sickness and misfortune in future.
The day is also considered favorable for weddings, with a marriage entered into on this date said to promise a strong and lasting union.
The church warns against quarrels, swearing and unkind words on this day, holding that anything ill spoken about others returns to the speaker. Gossiping, slander, envy and harboring revenge are all discouraged, along with laziness, despair and refusing to help those in need.
Folk beliefs add a number of everyday warnings to the church's prohibitions. People are advised against making empty promises, since failing to keep one's word is said to bring financial loss. Wearing dirty or torn clothing is considered likely to attract illness and poverty, according to tradition. Gambling, swearing and cursing are also frowned upon.
What the day's omens predict for autumn and winter
Beyond the immediate weather, folk omens tied to September 5 were traditionally used to predict what autumn and winter would bring. If the leaves on trees had already turned yellow by this date, it was said winter would arrive early and be cold. Clouds tinged red at dawn were taken as a sign of bad weather ahead, while frogs suddenly falling silent and hiding was read as a sign that rain was about to start.
People also looked to the rowan tree for clues. A tree heavy with berries was said to foretell a rainy, damp autumn followed by a frosty winter, while a tree bearing little fruit suggested the whole autumn would pass dry.
Who celebrates their name day on September 5
Those marking their name day on September 5 include Hlib, David, Elizabeth, Zakhar, Maksym, Raisa and Fedir.
Folk belief holds that people born on this day carry particular inner strength, with some said to possess a gift of foresight. Such people are described as bold and fearless, yet wise enough to avoid unnecessary risks and sidestep conflict where it can be avoided.
