January 27, a few days after Tatyana's Day, believers celebrate St. Nina's Day. The holiday was established in honor of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina, Enlightener of Georgia. On this day, it is necessary to restore order and it is forbidden to offend animals..

history of the holiday.

Nina was born around 280 in the city of Kolastry, in Cappadocia, where there were many Georgian settlements.. Her father Zabulon came from a noble family, and her mother Susanna was the sister of the Jerusalem Patriarch Juvenaly.

Little Nina believed in God since childhood and loved to listen to stories about the life of Jesus Christ.. When the girl was 12 years old, she decided to devote her life to serving the Lord. From adolescence, Nina was brought up in Jerusalem by the pious old woman Nianfora..

Nina learned from the mentor about the mysterious Iberia (modern Georgia), whose people worshiped idols - but the great Christian shrine was hidden in the local lands - the Chiton of Christ the Savior. Nina prayed day and night to the Most Holy Theotokos to help her see Georgia Christianized.

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Once in a dream, the Mother of God appeared to Nina and gave her her blessing on a pilgrimage to Iberia and a cross made of a vine. So Nina went to carry the word of God to Iberia. She overcame many obstacles in her path..

When Nina came to Iberia, she stopped at Urbnis. Nina found out that all the locals are going to the city of Mtskheta for a holiday. Nina decided to go because there should be a pagan festival. She believed that the Lord himself would show her what to do and how to start preaching the holy Gospel..

When they brought a bloody sacrifice to a pagan idol, Nina cried and prayed to the Savior. After her prayer, clouds moved in, thunder struck, people began to run away.. But then the sun came out and the clouds disappeared. People said: "

From that time on, St. Nina began to openly preach the Gospel and call everyone to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.. For this she is called the Enlightener of Georgia.

Saint Nina's Day Traditions.

On the holiday, believers go to the temple, where solemn services are held.. On this day, you can work, because St. Nina always worked and carried the Word of God to people.

Traditionally, on this day, they cleaned the house so that it was clean for the holiday.. The people believed that milk from a domestic cow on this day has healing powers..

It was also customary to pay special attention to animals on this day - feed something tasty, clean the barn.

Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina also protects and helps those who are connected with enlightenment (teachers).

Also on January 27, the name day is celebrated by all women and girls, whose name is Nina.

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What not to do on a holiday.

On St. Nina's Day, it was forbidden to sleep and idle for a long time - so you can live the whole year in poverty and laziness.

On this day you can not refuse food to animals.

On a holiday you should not quarrel, swear, sort things out.

It is also impossible to take out the garbage from the house on this day - among the people it was considered a bad omen..