The Orthodox Church is commemorating the finding of the relics of Saint Demetrius, the metropolitan of Rostov, on September 21 under the new church calendar.
Saint Demetrius, whose secular name was Danylo Savych Tuptalo, is remembered as one of the most respected church writers and preachers of his time. Believers traditionally offer prayers to him on this date for general health, with specific requests for healing from lung diseases.
Under the old Julian calendar, September 21 marks the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, celebrating the birth of the Virgin Mary.
Legacy of Saint Demetrius
Born in 1651 in the town of Makariv in the Kyiv region, Danylo was the son of a centurion in the Kyiv regiment. He studied at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy before taking monastic vows at Saint Cyril's Monastery in 1668, where he received the name Demetrius. He subsequently became a hierodeacon and then a hieromonk.
Demetrius began his preaching career in Chernihiv and later served as the abbot of several monasteries. He worked extensively at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a historic Orthodox Christian monastery in Kyiv, where he wrote the lives of saints, led educational initiatives, and campaigned against drunkenness and religious schism. In 1697, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite and continued his service at the Novhorod-Siverskyi monastery.
The saint left behind a substantial body of literary work, including sermons, spiritual dramas, poems, and his famous four-volume collection of saints' lives, known as the Chet'i-Minei. Following his death, he was buried in the Trinity Cathedral of the Yakovlevsky Monastery.
Decades later, his remains were discovered incorrupt, an event that was reportedly accompanied by numerous miraculous healings. In 1760, a fortress on the Don River was named in his honour, a settlement that eventually grew into the modern city of Rostov-on-Don.
Agricultural traditions and Kondrat and Ipat
In folk tradition, September 21 is known as the day of Kondrat and Ipat, a modification of the names of the saints whose memory is also honoured on this date. These figures were considered the patrons of fertility and agriculture, and the holiday symbolised the end of one agricultural cycle and the beginning of another.
The date coincided with the start of grain threshing. In the evenings, fires were lit in barns and sheaves of grain were laid out on overhead grates, allowing the heat to dry the husks so the grain could be separated more easily.
Physical labour on this day is considered mandatory. According to folk belief, Kondrat and Ipat do not look favourably upon lazy individuals, prompting people in ancient times to work to the point of exhaustion to secure prosperity for the coming year.
Household chores remain highly relevant on this date. Traditional activities include fertilising vegetable gardens, tidying courtyards and flower beds, and painting fences. Historically, this cleaning served a practical purpose, as young women prepared their homes for the arrival of matchmakers, who took note of where prospective brides offered the warmest welcome.
Church rules and folk prohibitions
The Church strongly discourages quarrelling and swearing on this day. Believers are instructed to avoid judging others, feeling envy, displaying greed, and refusing assistance to those in need.
A number of folk prohibitions also apply. People are advised against wearing or trying on clothing or shoes belonging to someone else, as it is believed that doing so transfers the other person's troubles and illnesses.
Making significant purchases is discouraged, with the superstition suggesting that items bought on this day will not last long. Furthermore, individuals should neither lend nor borrow money, as repayment is said to be particularly difficult.
Inaction on the day of Kondrat and Ipat is believed to drive wealth away from the home and attract poverty, as the saints reportedly refuse to assist those who are lazy or aggressive. Conflicts in the workplace should be strictly avoided, with warnings that scandals, intrigues, and minor clashes can ruin not only a person's mood but their entire year ahead.
Weather omens for the seasons ahead
Our ancestors used the weather on September 21 to make predictions about the coming month, as well as the autumn, winter, and spring.
- A red dawn or sunset is taken as a sign of impending strong winds and heavy rain.
- Morning frost on the grass warns of generally poor weather approaching.
- Clear, pleasant weather on this day suggests that the autumn will be warm.
- If a large amount of cobwebs can be seen on the trees, a prolonged period of warm weather is expected.
- If leaves have already begun to fall, it indicates that winter will arrive early.
- If the leaves of birch trees start turning yellow from the top down, a warm and early spring is anticipated.
Finally, if the evening is warmer than the daytime, it is believed that the winter will bring heavy snowfall.
Name days
September 21 marks the name day for individuals named Andriy and Dmytro.
Those celebrating their name day on this date are traditionally described as brave, decisive, and charming people with strong leadership qualities. They are known for their ability to unite a team and their willingness to stand up for others, operating under the motto of one for all and all for one.
