7 April 2026 – a religious holiday; things to avoid doing today
On 7 April (New Style), the Orthodox tradition commemorates Saint George the Confessor, Metropolitan of Mytilene.
From a young age, George chose the monastic path and became renowned for his deep faith. During the reign of Emperor Leo the Isaurian, he suffered persecution at the hands of the iconoclasts, which is why he came to be known as the Confessor.
Later, George was appointed to the episcopal see of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. His hagiography states that he led a righteous and chaste life, was distinguished by his mercy, and constantly helped the needy. According to tradition, he received from the Lord the ability to heal serious illnesses and cast out evil spirits.
In 815, during the reign of Emperor Leo the Armenian, the saint was exiled to Cherson, where he died a few years later. According to tradition, at the moment of his death, a bright star shone over Mytilene.
In addition, on 7 April according to the new calendar, we also commemorate the martyr Calliopius, the holy martyr Rufinus the deacon, the martyr Aquilina and 200 other soldiers, the venerable Serapion the monk, and the venerable Justin of Chelia.
What does Great Tuesday mean?
This year, 7 April falls on Great Tuesday – the second day of Holy Week.
On this day, the Church commemorates the final days of Jesus Christ’s earthly life, His sermons in the Temple in Jerusalem, and His rebuke of the Pharisees and scribes. It was after this sermon, as recounted in the Gospel, that Christ’s adversaries finally resolved to destroy Him.
According to the Gospel, on this day Christ told several parables – about the ten virgins, the talents, and the Last Judgement. Through them, believers are reminded of spiritual readiness, responsibility for their actions, and the inevitability of giving an account for their lives. Also on this day, the words “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” were spoken, which have become a symbol of spiritual wisdom.
According to the Julian calendar, 7 April marks the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God – one of the most important feasts for believers.
In prayers to Saint George, people ask for healing of the soul and body, as well as help in difficult life circumstances. Great Lent is underway, and on this day it is strict, but for those who observe the Annunciation according to the old calendar, some concessions in diet are permitted – one may eat hot dishes with butter and fish.
Special services are held in churches on Great Tuesday. In folk tradition, 7 April is known as Akulin’s Day.
Holy Tuesday is traditionally considered a time of preparation for Easter. On this day, people begin to buy food for the festive table, sort through their belongings and put away winter clothes, get rid of the unnecessary, wash, iron and mend clothes, and work in the garden. Any work aimed at preparing for the holiday is considered permissible.
According to folk beliefs, it is at this time, after winter, that mermaids awaken and come to the banks of rivers and lakes. In folk imagination, they were described as pale maidens with loose hair who could lure a person into the water. To protect themselves, people carried bundles of wormwood with them – it was believed that its scent repelled water spirits. At the same time, on this day, people also asked the mermaids for protection, health and a happy future for their children.
As a reminder, on Monday, 2 February, electricity consumption restriction schedules will be in place across all regions of Ukraine for 24 hours. Hourly power cuts will apply to domestic consumers, whilst industrial enterprises will be subject to power restriction schedules.
