Family, Love, and Fidelity Day: The Story of a Kind Holiday
The day of Saints Peter and Fevronia was widely celebrated in Russia from the times of Kievan Rus' until 1917, as Saints Peter and Fevronia were considered heavenly patrons of marriage and family, as well as symbols of love and fidelity. On this day, it was customary to go to church to ask for love and family grace.
The tradition of celebrating this day was lost during the Soviet era. Later, at the suggestion of the people of Murom, the holiday was revived with the support of the Russian Orthodox Church and the government. July 8 began to be celebrated as Family, Love, and Fidelity Day.
The main symbol of this holiday is the chamomile flower, with which lovers "ask" the question "loves me, loves me not."
The chamomile, known as "fevronka," became an equivalent of valentines.
The love story and life of Peter and Fevronia is like a sad, kind fairy tale - they lived in joy and sorrow, wealth and poverty, and not even death could separate them.
Peter, the prince, the second son of Prince Yuri Vladimirovich of Murom, ascended to the throne in 1203. Several years before that, he fell seriously ill with leprosy. Many doctors tried to cure the prince, but without success. In desperation, Peter turned to God in prayer. After some time, according to tradition, the Lord sent him a prophetic dream.
In the vision, it was revealed to the prince that the daughter of a beekeeper was ready to heal him: the pious maiden Fevronia, a peasant girl from the village of Laskovo.
She was wise, knew the properties of herbs, and could heal ailments. Peter fell in love with Fevronia and vowed to marry her after being healed. Later, she cured the prince of a serious illness and became his wife.
However, the marriage of a ruler to a commoner caused a mixed reaction in society. Eventually, the nobles revolted and demanded that the prince divorce. Peter could not part with his beloved wife and voluntarily renounced power and wealth. They went into exile together. Fevronia dealt with all the household difficulties and supported her distraught husband in every way. Ahead of the lovers were many hardships and trials, but they overcame them.
Of course, without the prince, the city immediately fell into internal strife. Exhausted by constant clashes and bloodshed, the nobles decided to recall Peter. Fevronia and Peter humbly returned to the city and ruled until old age, earning the love of the people. In the end of their lives, after taking monastic vows in different monasteries, they asked God for death on the same day and hour and bequeathed to be buried together in one coffin. According to tradition, Peter and Fevronia passed away on June 25 (July 8), 1228. Monks considered burial in the same coffin incompatible with monastic rank and placed the bodies of Peter and Fevronia in different monasteries, but the next day they were found together. Despite their wishes, they were separated again.
After the miracle recurred, the monks understood that it was God's will and dared not touch the bodies anymore. The spouses were buried together in the Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in Murom.
In 1547, Metropolitan Makariy of Moscow canonized Peter and Fevronia as saints at the Makaryev Monastery, declaring the holy couple as patrons of Love and Marriage.
Today, the relics of Peter and Fevronia are kept in Murom, in the Holy Trinity Monastery. Hundreds of Orthodox believers come daily to venerate them.
For the residents of the capital, however, there is no need to travel to Murom to pay homage to the saints. Prayers can be offered right in Moscow. To do this, you need to visit the "Malyy Voznesenskiy" church.
The icon of Peter and Fevronia is both edifying and miraculous.
Looking at this icon, we remember the story of Peter and Fevronia, all that they went through together, remaining with each other despite everything. Their story is very beautiful and poetic, teaching us the importance of sincere love and unwavering fidelity in our lives. That is why Peter and Fevronia became the patrons of the family hearth in Orthodoxy, and their icon securely protects family ties, helps to dispel dark thoughts of betrayal, and dissipate resentments that can destroy a strong family from within.