A saint's day
Sts Peter and Fevronia of Murom
Prince Peter of Murom, struck with a leprosy no one could cure, was healed by Fevronia, the pious and wise daughter of a beekeeper, and he married her as he had vowed. When the boyars would not accept a princess of humble birth, Peter chose his wife over his throne and left the city with her, until the people begged them to return. In old age they took monastic vows as David and Euphrosyne, reposed on the same day and at the same hour in 1228, and were laid in one coffin.
The dates
- Kept on
- 25 June (8 July on the Old Calendar)
- Next, New Calendar
- Next, Old Calendar
The New Calendar (the Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Bulgarian churches, the OCA and most converts) keeps fixed feasts on the church date; the Old Calendar (the Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, Jerusalem and Mount Athos) keeps them 13 days later. Pascha and the feasts that follow it are kept on the same day by both.
How the day is kept
The Church holds them up as the model of Christian marriage, and Orthodox Christians pray to them for a good spouse, for love and faithfulness in marriage and for children.
Couples ask for a moleben to Sts Peter and Fevronia on their feast.
In Russia their feast has been the civil Day of Family, Love and Fidelity since 2008; Greek, Antiochian and other churches know them but have little popular devotion.
Name days
These names keep their name day on this feast: