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Which Orthodox holiday on January 26 is important not to miss – find out at UNIAN.

Religious holiday on January 26 / pixabay.com
Saints Yermil and Stratonic lived in the early 4th century under Emperor Licinia, who persecuted Christians. At that time, everyone who pointed the Orthodox to the king received a reward. Ermil, who held the rank of deacon, was also brought in this way. Licinius offered him to be a servant of the pagan gods.
The saint refused, then he was put in prison and after 3 days he was released, again expressing the offer. Yermil didn’t agree this time, he was brutally tortured. Seeing his friend’s torment, Stratonic wept. Then Licinius found out they were friends, started torturing him, and then drowned them both in the river.
In honor of the memory of the saints, a national holiday is celebrated today on January 26 – the day of Yermilov.
The Orthodox holiday of January 26 is the day of the memory of Saint Irinarchus
Irinarchus came from a peasant family, engaged in trade. When he grew up, he entered the Borys-Hlib monastery in Rostov, where he became a monk. In order to strengthen the man’s will, the abbot ordered to lock him in a cold cell and send him to ring the bells in the cold. Irinarch firmly followed all instructions, thanked God, struggled alone for three years.
He slept only 2 hours a day, the rest of the time being devoted to trials, work and prayer. For such actions, the Lord endowed the saint with the gift of foresight and he predicted the invasion of the Poles in 1609. The saint died in 1616 and was buried in the monastery, where many sick people still receive healing.
Signs of January 26

Folk signs today / photo UNIAN
- you can hear the crackling of the trees in the forest – until the lingering frosts;
- the cat sleeps on its stomach and stretches – wait until it warms up;
- the dog is curled up – has a cold;
- a circle is visible around the moon – there will soon be a blizzard.
What we can’t do today
On this day it is absolutely forbidden to offend pets – it can end badly for you. It’s even better to feed a homeless cat, if there is an opportunity – St. Yermil will reward for this. You should also not wash your face before 1:00 p.m., argue and talk too much – watch your words carefully.
What can be done on January 26
Our ancestors believed that on this day you can heal a sick person if you put him where a cat likes to sleep. But you cannot fall asleep with it – on the contrary, it will lead to illnesses.
You can organize a ceremony to attract money. To do this, you need to take the fur of a black cat – collect it in the house or comb the animal without harming it. Then place the wool on a green cloth, light a candle and drip wax over the wool, drawing a triangle. At this time, read the plot:
Hair falls out of a cat – money luck comes into life, how many hairs come off a cat – so much luck will come to me. Furry – piece by piece they will sound in my pocket like naughty children, and day after day they will come to me – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and also at Easter and at baptism. So be it ! Amen!
At the end, fold the fabric with the contents inside, forming a bag, tie it up and hide it in the workplace. In gratitude for the help, the cat must be fed.