10 March – church holiday: what to be careful about

According to the new church calendar, on 10 March, Orthodox Christians honour the martyr Kodrat and his disciples. According to the old style, they will be commemorated on 23 March.

Codrat lived in the 3rd century, at a time when Christians were persecuted and required to renounce their faith.

He was orphaned at an early age and grew up in the desert. There, Codratus met Christians, accepted their faith, and later studied medicine.

Together with his friends and disciples – Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Criscentus and others – Codratus often spent time in the desert.

During the reign of Emperor Decius, Codratus and his companions were captured and thrown into prison. They were all tortured and asked to renounce their faith, but to no avail – they remained steadfast in their convictions.

After that, the martyrs were thrown to wild beasts to be torn apart. According to legend, the animals did not harm them, after which they were executed.

After the execution of the men, many pious women, including Vasilina of Corinth, voluntarily accepted suffering.

Also on this day, according to the new style, the martyrs Kodrat of Nicomedia, Satorin, Rufin and others, as well as the venerable Anastasia, are honoured.

According to the Julian calendar, 10 March is the day of commemoration of Saint Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople.

On this day, believers pray to the holy martyr Vasilisa, whose memory is also commemorated today. They ask her for help in recovering from serious illnesses, as well as for protection of their homes and families from floods and spring floods.

The people call this day Vasilisa's Day. According to popular belief, Saint Vasilisa controls the spring waters, "remembers" the streams and sees what is hidden from others.

The main sign of this day is water and everything related to it.

10 March is considered a favourable time to tidy up the house. There is an ancient custom of lighting a lamp or candle and sprinkling the house with holy water.

In private homes, spring chores are done on this day – ditches are dug around yards to protect the farm from possible floods. Special attention is paid to wells as sources of clean water.

On this date, men often go fishing – it is believed that at this time there are many fish in the reservoirs and the catch can be especially successful.

On the church holiday of 10 March, one should not quarrel, envy, wish evil, or indulge in excessive eating, as Lent continues.

Among the folk prohibitions of Vasylisa's Day are not to refuse alms to the needy, so as not to bring financial difficulties upon oneself, not to drink alcohol, and not to speak ill of the dead, especially relatives.

According to folk beliefs, one should also be careful with drinks on this day. It is believed that if you accidentally spill tea or water, money and luck may "leave" your home along with them.

The weather on 10 March is also used to predict what spring and the future harvest will be like.

If there is fog in the morning, it is considered a sign of a good harvest of wheat and flax.

If the clouds are moving quickly across the sky, warm but rainy weather is expected.

A cold wind on this day may indicate a poor harvest.

If cranes have arrived, spring will be warm.

According to popular belief, the first spring thunderstorms begin on Vasylisa's Day, and the fog on this day "eats away" the remnants of winter snow.