In some areas of our country (Moldova, Wallachia, but especially in Transylvania), popular tradition has preserved some holidays that are not found in the Orthodox calendar, nor in any church writing or synaxarion. We have certainly heard our grandparents say that, on these days, no activity should be performed and that divine wrath will immediately descend on those who do not honor them. In reality, these statements are born from eternal popular superstitions that have nothing in common with church tradition.
Ilie-Pălie and Foca are two such pseudo-holidays in which people do not work, for fear of disease or fire. About Ilie-Pălie, held on July 21, it is said that he is the brother, father or driver of the fiery chariot of Saint Elijah. There is a popular belief that all those who work on this day are “struck” (struck) the very next day by trouble or serious illness.
As for the Holy Martyr Phocas, he lived during the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117), being originally from the city of Sinope. His father, Pamphilus, a shipbuilder by trade, and his mother, Maria, were Christians. Therefore, according to the Synaxarion, even from his youth, Saint Phocas was filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit: he cast out devils from people and healed infirmities. During a persecution against Christians, launched by Emperor Trajan, the Holy Martyr Phocas was captured and subjected to torture and, in the end, received a martyr’s death. His holy relics were moved from Sinope to Constantinople on July 23, 403 or 404.
Although July 23 in Romania and August 4 in the Republic of Moldova, according to the old style, is not marked with a red cross in the calendar, in the village people keep it to protect themselves from fire. The elders say that Phoca punishes with scorching heat and hail if the holiday is not honored, and therefore, on this day, no fire is lit and no bread is baked in the oven. Tradition says that Saint Phoca rides through the sky in a fiery chariot, carrying a burning whip in his hand, impatiently waiting for the day of his commemoration. Therefore, God tells him about it only when it has passed, so that he does not scorch the earth.
So we ask ourselves how to relate to these pseudo-holidays? A relevant answer can be found in an article published in 1907 in the magazine "Romanian Orthodox Church", the official bulletin for the clergy and the faithful regarding the activity of the Holy Synod of our Church, which states the following:
"Since many villagers still observe idolatrous customs and holidays today, although the hierarchs of the Church have always advised our Christians to avoid them. The Holy Synod of our Holy Autocephalous Romanian Orthodox Church itself voted, in the meeting of May 29, 1874, a regulation against holidays of idolatrous origin. This regulation, promulgated on July 3, 1874, first includes the church and national holidays that every Romanian Orthodox Christian is obliged to observe, then provides in art. 3 the following: Any other superstitious holidays such as: Thursday after Easter, Pentecost, Ilie Pale, Foca, Pintilie Călătorul, The Rapot, the Dragaica, the Paparuda, the Circovii, the Filipii, the Chirică the Lame, are forbidden to be celebrated, as remnants of the time of idolatry and which bring no spiritual benefit, but only harm to those who celebrate them, preventing them from useful works and giving occasion to vain and harmful parties. We recommend that priests advise parishioners to abandon such pagan celebrations, which are not in keeping with the dignity of a Christian and with the teachings of the Holy Gospel and of the Church”.
In addition, we know that the Orthodox Church has always condemned pagan superstitions and customs. For example, canon 62 of the Council of Trullo (692) emphasizes that pagan festivals and customs must be removed from the lives of believers, and those who violate this provision will be deposed or anathema:
“Therefore, those who from now on would undertake to do any of the things mentioned above, after having been informed, we command that they, if they were clerics, should be deposed, and if they were laymen, should be anathema.”
Thus, following the exhortation of the Holy Apostle Paul, who tells us that a believer cannot also be superstitious – “What agreement has Christ with Veliarum? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?” (II Corinthians 6:15) – we understand that we are wrong in giving special importance to these popular traditions and beliefs to the detriment of those established by the Church, and this attitude is not only far from the Christian spirit, but also has a content contrary to authentic Orthodox confession and living.
Source: doxologia.ro
Foto: expresul.md
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