6 April 2026: a church holiday, Great Monday and prohibitions
On 6 April, the Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Methodius, Archbishop of Moravia. According to the Old Style calendar, he is commemorated on 19 April.
Methodius of Moravia, also known as Methodius of Thessaloniki, was an equal-to-the-apostles Greek missionary and Archbishop of Great Moravia. He was born in 815 in Thessaloniki in the Byzantine Empire; his birth name was Michael, and he was the brother of Cyril, with whom he created the Slavic alphabet.
Initially, Michael pursued a military and administrative career in Constantinople, but later left secular life, took monastic vows on Mount Olympus and became abbot of the ‘Polychron’ monastery on the shores of the Marmara Sea.
In 863, at the invitation of Prince Rostislav, the brothers arrived in Great Moravia to preach Christianity with the permission of the Pope. Together with their disciples, they translated the Gospel, the Epistles, the Psalter and selected liturgical texts into the Slavic language. Later, Methodius became Archbishop of Great Moravia and Pannonia and continued to translate the Old Testament and other books. He died in Moravia, where he was buried in the capital, Velegrád.
On this day, according to the new calendar, we also honour Saint Eutychius, Archbishop of Constantinople, the Venerable Platonida, the 120 Persian Martyrs, and the Martyrs Jeremiah and Archilius.
Great Monday and Holy Week
6 April this year marks the beginning of the final week of Great Lent – Holy Week. Its first day is known as Great Monday.
On this day, during the services, the Gospel account is recalled in which Jesus Christ withered the barren fig tree. In the Church’s interpretation, this serves as a reminder that a soul without faith, prayer and good deeds remains empty and unrepentant.
On this day, we also commemorate Patriarch Joseph, whom his brothers sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver, whilst telling their father that he had been torn to pieces by wild beasts.
On Great Monday, the rite of myrrh-making begins – the preparation of myrrh, a mixture of 50 fragrances, herbs and resins, which is later used for anointing.
According to the Julian calendar, 6 April commemorates the Venerable Zacharias of the Caves, a fasting monk, and is also the eve of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God.
What you can and cannot do today
On 6 April, people pray to the saints for health for themselves and their loved ones.
A strict fast begins, during which only bread, honey, nuts, vegetables and fruit are permitted.
In popular tradition, this day is known as ‘Eutychius the Quiet’ – in honour of Saint Eutychius, who is also commemorated on 6 April. Great Monday is associated with preparations for Easter, so on this day it is recommended to be actively engaged in household chores: cleaning the home, washing windows, working in the garden, carrying out minor repairs, and doing the laundry, so as to welcome the holiday in a clean and tidy state. It is also traditional to whitewash apple trees on this day.
The day is considered auspicious for fishing.
As a reminder, Ukrainian gardeners are preparing for a difficult season. Following a harsh winter reminiscent of the anomalies of 15 years ago, the trees have faced an unusually early spring. Whilst orchards are already in bloom in Zakarpattia, farmers in Bukovina and Vinnytsia are anxiously awaiting the return of frosts, which could completely destroy the stone fruit crop
