THE DORMITION FAST HAS BEGUN: Here are the folk beliefs associated with this holy day!

The Serbian Orthodox Church and its faithful today celebrate the feast dedicated to the seven saints, the seven martyrs, the Maccabee brothers, as well as the beginning of the Dormition Fast. Here are the beliefs associated with this day.

The first day of the Dormition Fast falls on the day of the Holy Martyrs Maccabees, who were Old Testament saints and martyrs from the 2nd century BC, and the books about the lives of the brothers Avim, Antonin, Gurias, Eleazar, Eusebon, Hadim and Marcellus are an integral part of Holy Scripture.

The Holy Martyrs Maccabees, their mother Solomona and their teacher Eleazar suffered martyrdom in 166 BC when they were killed by Emperor Antiochus XI Epiphanes, who attempted to introduce pagan customs in Jerusalem. Epiphanes placed a statue of the Greek pagan god Zeus in the Temple of Jerusalem, before which he forced Jews to bow.

The priest Eleazar was devoted to the Law of Moses and was the first to refuse to bow before the pagan deity, for which he was tortured to death. The seven Maccabee brothers and their mother Solomona followed his example and they too suffered martyrdom.

The relics of the Holy Martyrs Maccabees are kept in the Basilica of St. Andrew in Cologne, Germany.

When it comes to folk customs, there are not many associated with today. It is believed among the people that anything done with basil is good, as basil is believed to be a divine plant. It would be good to add this herb to a cooked dish today, or to inhale it. If you do not already have basil planted in your yard or on your terrace, today is the right time to do so, as it is believed to protect the home.

The Dormition Fast lasts from August 14 to 28. It is the shortest of the four major annual fasts, but stricter than the Christmas and Apostles’ fasts. Out of great respect for the Most Holy Theotokos, believers observe this fast like the Great Fast, which means that all days are observed with fasting “on water” except Saturday and Sunday, when oil and wine are permitted, while on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, which falls during this fast, fish is also eaten.