Which church holiday is today? September 9, 2023

On September 9th, according to the new church calendar, Saints Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are commemorated and the post-feast of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also celebrated. We talk in the material about the traditions of this day and what should not be done on a church holiday.

September 9, 2023 – which today is a new style church holiday

According to legend, Joachim and Anna were pious spouses. Joachim was the son of Barpaphir and a descendant of King David. According to one version, the couple lived in Jerusalem, according to another, in Nazareth in Galilee. Joachim and Anna only had children when they were old – at that time this was considered a punishment from God.

For this reason, the priest of the temple refused to accept a sacrifice from Joachim in honor of the great holiday. Joachim was upset and went to the desert, where he began to pray to God to give him a child. On the 40th day, an angel appeared in the desert in front of Joachim and Anna’s house – he announced that they would soon become parents. They will have a daughter who will be a blessing to humanity. And so it happened: the couple had a daughter, Mary, who became the Mother of God. When she was three years old, she was taken to the Jerusalem Temple, where she grew up until she was twelve years old.

Joachim died several years after the Blessed Mother entered the temple – he was 80 years old at the time. Anna died two years later, which she also spent in the temple; she was 70 years old.

Saints are venerated 9 September according to the new church calendar (from September 1, 2023). They are remembered in the old style 22 September.

Folk signs for September 9th

The signs of the day show what autumn and winter will look like:

• there are a lot of cobwebs in the house – there will be a warm autumn and a frosty winter;
• Snow fell on this day – next year there will be a bad harvest;
• Mosquitoes have appeared – the winter will be mild;
• The willow has shed its leaves – winter is coming early.

In the folk calendar, September 9 is the holiday of Akim and Anna. Also on this day people celebrated Spozhinki, the end of the harvest. From this day begins the second Indian summer, which will last until the intercession on October 1st.

September 9th – what not to do today

There are a number of strict prohibitions on this day:

• It is forbidden to use swear words or curse.
• You cannot borrow or borrow money – you will be in debt for a long time;
• Envy is strictly forbidden.

You also cannot refuse help and alms.

What can you do on September 9th?

On this holiday you can ask the Lord to give you children. For this reason, it is advisable for women who want to have children to go to church, and if this is not possible, then to pray at home. Traditionally, birthing mothers and midwives are honored on this day.

Akim and Anna used to renew the fire in the house – they put out the old one and lit a new one. It was also common to burn old clothes to get rid of disease, damage and the evil eye. On Akim and Anna they visit the young spouses – they set the table for the guests and show how they have settled in and are running the household.

Previously, we published the Orthodox calendar for September 2023 with dates in the new style.

You might also be interested in news: