5 June 2026: which church holiday is it and what should not be done
On Friday, 5 June, Orthodox Christians following the New Julian calendar commemorate the memory of the Righteous Prince Igor of Chernihiv and Kyiv.
Prince Igor lived in the 12th century and was a member of the Rurikid dynasty. He was the son of Oleg Sviatoslavich and the great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise.
During the struggle for the throne of Kyiv, Igor was drawn into internecine conflicts. After his brother’s death, he ascended the grand princely throne in Kyiv, but his reign was short-lived.
After being defeated in one of the battles, the prince was taken prisoner and fell seriously ill. He subsequently decided to renounce the struggle for power, took monastic vows and devoted himself to prayer.
In 1147, Igor met a tragic end: according to legend, an enraged mob stormed the church and killed him whilst he was praying before an icon of the Mother of God.
For his humble acceptance of suffering and martyrdom, the Church counted Igor among the ranks of the righteous princes and passion-bearers.
The Igor Icon of the Mother of God
On 5 June, the Igor Icon of the Mother of God is also venerated. According to church tradition, it was before this very icon that Prince Igor prayed in the final moments of his life.
The Igor Icon is considered miraculous. People pray before it for protection from ill-wishers, betrayal and slander.
People also ask the Mother of God for healing from illness, relief from anxiety, fears and spiritual despair. In folk tradition, it is believed that praying before this icon helps to restore peace in the family and find a way out of difficult circumstances.
What to do on 5 June
In the folk calendar, 5 June was known as Dorofey’s Day. It was also called ‘The Night of the Rowan’, as it was believed that the shortest nights of the year began during this period.
The day was considered auspicious for household and domestic chores. You can clean, do the washing, tidy up the yard and tend to the vegetable patch.
Weeding was particularly recommended. According to folk belief, if you do this on Dorofey’s Day, the vegetable beds will remain clear for a long time to come.
What not to do on 5 June
On this day, as always, the Church urges people to avoid quarrels, foul language, envy, greed, despair and laziness.
In folk tradition, it was not advisable to recount dreams on 5 June. It was believed that dreams on this night could be prophetic, so it was better to keep them to oneself.
It was also advised not to pick up money, jewellery or other items found on the road. According to popular belief, along with the find, one might take on someone else’s misfortunes, illnesses or financial problems.
It was considered unwise to make new acquaintances. People believed that chance encounters on this day could lead to deception or disappointment.
Folk omens for 5 June
Our ancestors used the weather on 5 June to try and predict the harvest and the summer.
A clear and warm day was considered a sign of a good harvest of grain and oats.
Heavy morning dew foreshadowed a bountiful harvest of vegetables and grain.
Fog over water was associated with a mushroom-rich summer.
A north or north-westerly wind was seen as a sign of bad weather.
Another sign concerned the scent of herbs: if at dawn the air is filled with the aroma of meadow plants, rain may be on the way.
Name days on 5 June
According to the new church calendar, 5 June is the name day for Igor, Konstantin, Leonid, Mark and Theodore.
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