Hypatius the Wonderworker is a folk-Christian holiday dedicated to the life’s feat of the first bishop of one of the provinces of Turkey in the 3-4th centuries AD. Hypatia (Ganges). The holiday unites Christian and folk traditions and is celebrated on April 13 in the new style or on March 31 – in the old.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – April 13, 2021 – Ukraine society and culture
History
Hypatius stood at the origins of the foundations of Christianity, participated in the First Council of Nicaea. Opponents of Christianity treacherously killed him. The bishop accepted martyrdom: he was stoned and stabbed. Then they hid the traces of the crime, throwing the body into the swamp. All the while he was alive, Hypatius did not stop praying for the health of his killers. Some sources mention that the fatal blow from which the bishop died was inflicted by a woman. After that, she went mad and began to stroke herself with the same stone. She later lost her temper at the tomb of Hypatia.
The body of the saint was found and buried with honors. Later miracles of healing took place at his burial place. That is why Hypatius the Wonderworker is one of the names of the holiday that honors the holy martyr Hypatia. Service was written in honor of the great martyr, which is read in honor of Hypatius the Wonderworker. It is believed that the icon depicting the Saint is able to heal the sick. It is given to people who need help.
There are numerous legends about miracles attributed to Hypatia. One of them tells about the transformation of bitter water into sweet. Another is that Hypatius helped a source of healing water to break out of the ground. One day, when Hypatius found himself by a river in the dark of night and could fall into the water, bright lights rose from the water to illuminate his path.
Chronicle sources state that after the death of Hypatia on his grave, many sick people regained their health. The saint is revered by Orthodox and Catholics.
Traditions and rites
In Russia, Hypatius the Wonderworker was revered as an assistant to infertile women, to him prayed for offspring, easy pregnancy, difficult childbirth. They also turned to the Saint for help if the mother did not have enough milk for the baby.
It was believed that a woman born on the day of Hypatia could control fire and use it to heal a sick person. To do this, she had to take hot coals from the furnace, with it to dilute in the garden or fire field. A sick man was carried through the flames. The same fire is able to clean the agricultural tool from negative energy.
It is believed that Hypatia helps protect homes from evil spirits. It was thought that it was on April 13 that evil forces gained power. It was forbidden to even mention them on this day. Therefore, crosses were painted with wax on all doors and windows of houses, thistles were laid out in houses, and Hypatia was asked to be protected from evil. To protect themselves from disease, fires, even old things were burned on Hypatius Day.
People believed that on this day an evil spirit could inhabit a person. To protect themselves from this, they advised communicating more with young children. Numbness of the extremities was considered a true sign of the “settlement” of the devil. To get rid of the plague, it was necessary to attend church and pray.
Divination at the birth of a child, the fate of the family on the day of Hypatia the Wonderworker was of particular importance. If the freebie of a boot thrown in the yard was directed towards the porch of the house, it foretold the birth of a boy in the family, good luck in business. If she returned to the street, a girl would appear in the family, the year would be productive, and the pets would be healthy. The worst result was if the boot stood up and pointed to the sky for free: they said that the child would die at birth.
Signs
The people endowed the feast of Hypatius the Wonderworker with numerous signs:
A sunny and sunny day promised a sunny and warm summer.
If in the morning the fog spreads in the clouds – to the rain if the fog fell to the ground – to dry weather.
Morning rain – until the rainy summer.
Juicing of maple and birch began – before warming.
People born on this day have power over fire.
Read also: Annunciation 2021, The Traditions of This Holiday
Source: Ukrgate
