Tomorrow, January 18, is the

day of memory of the martyr Theopeptus

in the Orthodox calendar .

He lived in Nicodymia and practiced Christianity.

Everyone knew him as an ardent defender of Christ and a fighter against the idols of paganism.

Emperor Diocletian once came to the city.

He summoned Theopeptus to him and demanded that he make a sacrifice to the pagan gods.

The saint refused to do this, for which he was thrown into the furnace.

However, God made it so that Theopemptus remained unharmed.

The king did not know what to do with the martyr to force him to worship idols.

He starved him for a long time.

The saint lived for 22 days completely without food and water, but even then he did not die.

The emperor called the priest Theon to him and ordered him to give the saint poisoned bread.

The saint ate, but remained alive.

Diocletian got angry, killed Theopeptus with a sword, and buried the priest alive in the ground.

The church holiday of January 18 is the day of memory of Saint Synclitikia

The saint was born in Alexandria in the 4th century in a rich and pious family.

Even in her maidenhood, she fell in love with God, and therefore refused all bridegrooms who proposed to her.

When her parents died, Sycnlitikia gave away all her possessions to the poor, and she herself went to live in a cave, where she struggled, prayed and fasted.

Many girls and wives came to the saint for advice and consolation.

At first, Syncliticia refused because she did not want popularity.

Then she relented and took on the feat of mentoring.

The saint died in old age.

It happened around 350.

Signs of January 18

Folk signs on January 18 / Photo: Pexels

  • it snowed - wait for a fruitful year;

  • the weather on this day will indicate the weather on Shrovetide;

  • many bright stars in the sky - frost will soon hit;

  • strong southerly wind on a rainy summer.

What can't be done tomorrow

The Church forbids quarreling, cursing, slandering and deceiving others.

It is also better not to do homework and not to work physically.

Girls are not allowed to do needlework.

Believers observe fasting on this day, do not eat food of animal origin.

What can be done tomorrow

In the first half of the day, believers go to church to collect holy water.

It has long been believed that it has healing properties and can cure any disease.

In the evening, you need to wash yourself with snow in order to be healthy for the whole next year.

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