Today, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Holy Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Among the people, this celebration is called the Belt of the Virgin Mary.
In Rus', on this day it was customary to pick ripe cranberries.
The Belt of the Holy Mother of God is one of the three most important relics that are still kept in Constantinople.
According to sacred legends, in addition to the belt, the church houses the robe and icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria, which, as legends say, was painted during the life of the Mother of God by the Evangelist Luke.
It is reported that the presence of these relics gave the city the title of the city of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Church beliefs say that the robe and belt were given to widows living in Jerusalem shortly before the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Subsequently, the relics were passed down from generation to generation.
When Arcadius ruled the Eastern Roman Empire, the belt was found and soon transported to Constantinople.
What not to do in the Belt of the Virgin Mary
On this day, many people followed certain rules:
- did not think about the bad, did not slander yourself;
- do not replant house and garden plants;
- They did not organize any celebrations, including weddings.
It was on September 13 that it was considered a grave sin to commit ungodly acts, namely, to use cutting objects. Otherwise, according to beliefs, one could lose one's health.
What can you do in the Belt of the Virgin Mary
Today it is recommended to start collecting cranberries and processing them.
In addition, you can bake a good and tasty pie from the collected cranberries.
The specified day is also perfect for cleaning the apartment and tidying up the dacha.
Author: Margarita Sadkovskaya
