The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) and the faithful today celebrate the Holy Martyr Stefan Dečanski, better known among the people as Mratindan.
Saint Stefan Dečanski was the son of King Milutin and the father of Emperor Dušan.
When he came of age, he married the daughter of the Bulgarian ruler Marija and was given Zeta to govern.
By the order of his father, King Milutin, Stefan Dečanski was blinded, but Saint Nicholas appeared to him and after five years, which he spent in captivity in Constantinople, his sight was restored.
As a sign of gratitude, he erected the Visoki Dečani temple, one of the most beautiful buildings of Byzantine art and medieval architecture in Serbia.
He was strangled in 1336, most likely by the order of his son, Emperor Dušan.
His body is located in a shrine in front of the iconostasis in the Visoki Dečani monastery.
The Serbian Orthodox Church canonized him as a holy king.
Winter is announced on this holiday with the saying “Saint Mrata, snow at the door,” according to popular belief, today’s day predicts what kind of winter it will be. If the day is foggy, the winter will be changeable, and if it is clear and sunny, there will be frost.
It is also believed that if the host takes all the work in the house upon himself today, the household will improve. Otherwise, the year will be bad for that house.
The Serbian Orthodox Church also celebrates the Holy Great Martyr Mina today. As a true Christian, he left the army and went to the mountain. After several years, he returned and announced his faith in Christ before the assembled people.
He was tortured and finally beheaded with a sword around 304. A church was built over his relics in Alexandria.
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Source: Sputnik Srbija Photo: Sputnik Srbija