7 May 2026: What is today’s church holiday and what should not be done

On 7 May (New Style), Orthodox Christians venerate the Lyubech Icon of the Mother of God. This image is associated with the ancient town of Lyubech, near Chernihiv.

According to legend, the history of the icon dates back to the 11th century. The image is said to have appeared to a simple resident of Lyubech – a poor butcher who had suffered a terrible loss: he had lost his wife and two sons.

In despair, the man went to the Dnieper and fell asleep in a boat. When he awoke, he found himself near the shore of Lyubech, and an icon of the Mother of God lay beside him. He took this as a sign, began to pray before the image and took it home.

According to legend, a miracle awaited him at home – his family was found to be alive and unharmed.

In 1653, the relic was moved to Kyiv to protect it from raids on the Chernihiv region. The icon was placed in St. Sophia Cathedral, but was lost following the revolutionary events.

Today, copies of the miraculous image are kept in St. Sophia Cathedral and the Church of the Transfiguration in Lyubech.

Who else is commemorated on 7 May

According to the new church calendar, 7 May also commemorates the appearance of the Cross of the Lord in the sky over Jerusalem, the martyr Akakios, the centurion, the Venerable John of Zedazni and his disciples, the Venerable Martyr Pachomius the Rusyn of Mount Athos, as well as the Zhirovitsa Icon of the Mother of God.

According to the old calendar, on this day in Ukraine, the martyr Savva Stratilates, the Venerable Savva of Kiev-Pechersk, and the Molchensk Icon of the Mother of God are honoured.

What is asked of the Lyubetsk Icon of the Mother of God

People pray before the Lyubets Icon of the Mother of God for protection from misfortune and illness. Believers ask to be spared from danger and death, and also to find solace in their grief.

In folk tradition, it is believed that the Mother of God hears everyone who turns to her sincerely.

Traditions on Kupalnica

In the folk calendar, 7 May is known as Kupalnica. This day is associated with water and its special power.

It was believed that it is at this time that water acquires healing properties. In ancient times, people would place buckets of water out in the sun in the morning so that it might ‘draw strength’ from nature.

During the day, they drank this water, washed with it, and sometimes even doused themselves with it. It was also customary on this day to sprinkle the corners of the house with holy water.

Kupalnica falls during the busy period of garden and field work. Therefore, working on this day was considered a good deed – one could plant, weed and tidy up the plot.

There was also an interesting custom for a good harvest: one had to take a few seeds from one’s neighbours. In ancient times, people would visit one another and discreetly ‘borrow’ seeds. This was seen as a mutual tradition, not as theft.

What not to do on 7 May

On this church holiday, it is advised to avoid quarrels, anger, envy and idle talk.

You should also not refuse to help people or animals if you are able to do so.

According to folk beliefs, 7 May is not a good day for serious undertakings. It was believed that they could turn into futile efforts.

On Kupalina, one must not gossip, lie or be hypocritical – according to belief, this can lead to trouble and bad changes in life.

It was also advised not to handle sharp objects or play with fire to avoid injuries and fires. A separate prohibition applied to fortune-telling – it was believed that this could ‘distort one’s fate’.

It was advised to spend the day calmly, in good spirits, without making rash decisions, and paying attention to one’s own thoughts and actions.

Folk omens for 7 May

People used the omens of this day to predict the weather, the coming September and the harvest.

If swallows fly low to the ground, rain is coming soon.

A rainbow in the morning foreshadowed bad weather and prolonged rain, whilst one in the evening promised clear and calm weather.

Many people considered an abundance of ants to be a sign of heat.

It was also said among the people: if you sow in time, there will be a good harvest, but if you delay, you may be left without a harvest.

The most famous sign associated with Kupalnica concerned rain. If it rained on 7 May, September was expected to be warm and favourable.

Name days on 7 May

7 May is the name day for Anton, David, Ivan, Mykhailo, Semen and Stepan.

It was believed that people born on this day are distinguished by their hard work. They are eager to learn, acquire new knowledge and skills, and share them with others.

They were also said to have the ability to avoid conflict and take life’s difficulties in their stride.

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