What is the church holiday on 16 March and what not to do on St. Saviour’s Day

Savin’s Day is celebrated in Ukraine on Sunday, 16 March. Christians honour the memory of the martyr Savin of Yermopol.
Today, on this Orthodox holiday, believers turn to the venerable fathers of the Kyiv Caves with prayers. They ask them to pray to God for us, to grant us peace and to guide us on the right path.

On this day, the fast continues, and those who observe it do not eat meat, eggs or dairy products. People also try not to quarrel or drink alcohol. Christians try to pass the period of fasting without loud entertainment, in peace and quiet.

What not to do on the Day of Unleavened Bread:

• Do not lend money;
• It is not recommended to go fishing or hunting;
• Do not engage in hard physical labour.

Folk signs on 16 March also have an impact on people. In particular, Christians believe that:

• If the sky is cloudy, the weather will be good in the near future;
• If it is sunny outside, the spring will be warm;
• If you see a flock of birds, expect warming;
• If it rains today, there will be a poor harvest this year.

Savin’s Day

The day of remembrance of the holy martyr Savin of Yermopol is celebrated on 16 March. It is known that he lived in Egypt in the third century.

The Roman Emperor Diocletian did not like the fact that he professed Christianity, because he himself was a pagan. The ruler organised persecution of believers throughout the Roman Empire.

Saul began to hide with other believers from the emperor, leaving his home. One day he decided to help a poor man, but the man was not grateful and brought trouble on him. He told the Romans about the whereabouts of the Christians. Later, Saul was captured and drowned in the Nile River.