Church holiday on 2 March — Job Boretsky Day
This was reported by ThePublic.
On 2 March, according to the new calendar style in Orthodoxy, Saint Job Boretsky, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Rus', is commemorated. According to the old style, he is honoured on 15 March.
The saint was born in 1560 in the village of Bircha in what is now the Lviv region. His secular name was Ivan Matviyovych Boretsky. He received an education, taught Latin, headed the Lviv Brotherhood School, served as a priest in Kyiv, and became the first rector of the Kyiv Brotherhood School.
In 1619, together with his wife, he took monastic vows and became the head of the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery. In 1620, with the blessing of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, he was appointed Metropolitan of Kyiv. With the support of the Cossacks, led by Hetman Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachny, the Orthodox hierarchy in Kyiv was restored.
Despite pressure from Uniate circles and accusations, the metropolitan continued to defend the rights of the Orthodox. He issued a letter entitled "Advice on Piety" and called on believers to remain faithful to the canonical Church. He died in 1631 and was buried in St. Michael's Monastery in Kyiv.
Also commemorated on this day are the holy martyr Theodotus, the martyr Euphalia, the martyr Troadius, the venerable Agathon of Egypt, 440 Italian martyrs, and Saint Arsenius, Bishop of Tver.
According to the Julian calendar, 2 March is the day of commemoration of the Great Martyr Theodore Tyron.
The people call this day Fedot-Vitronos. According to custom, they continue to prepare for the sowing season and work with seedlings. Red geraniums are considered a good omen — if you bring them home or plant them, the year will be successful and prosperous.
On this day, believers are advised not to quarrel, not to refuse help, and to avoid negative actions. According to folk omens, it is not recommended to sew on buttons or pick up other people's money or things from the ground.
According to weather omens, a blizzard portends a long spring, snow portends many mushrooms in autumn, rain portends a fruitful summer, and the direction of the wind can indicate the nature of the summer.
