Radonitsa 2026 – what not to do at home and in the cemetery
According to the new church calendar, on 21 April Orthodox Christians commemorate Bishop Januarius, the holy martyr Proculus and other martyrs who suffered for the Christian faith. This week is the Week of the Dead – a time for special remembrance of the departed, memorial services and visits to cemeteries.
In 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine switched to the New Julian calendar, which is why most fixed feasts have shifted 13 days earlier. At the same time, some believers continue to follow the Julian calendar – this remains the right of individual religious communities and monasteries. According to the old style, 21 April corresponds to 4 May.
According to church tradition, Januarius, Proculus and their companions lived in the 4th century during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, known for his brutal persecution of Christians. According to legend, Januarius devoted himself to the service of God from a young age, later becoming a bishop and supporting the imprisoned deacons Sosias and Proculus. After their arrest, the martyrs were subjected to attempts to force them to renounce their faith, thrown into the fire and fed to wild beasts, yet they remained unharmed. Eventually, on Diocletian’s orders, the Christians were executed.
On this same day, according to the new calendar, we also commemorate the martyr Theodore of Perga, his mother Philippa, as well as Dioscorus, Socrates, Dionysius, the martyrs Isaac, Apollos and Condratus, and Saint Maximian, Patriarch of Constantinople.
The main day of remembrance after Easter
From 20 to 26 April is the Week of the Resurrection, also known as the Week of Remembrance or Thomas Week. On Tuesday of this week, Radonitsa is observed – the main day of remembrance after Easter. Its meaning, as noted, lies not in mourning, but in joyful remembrance and hope for eternal life. On this day, the departed are remembered with gratitude and peace, and prayers are offered for the repose of their souls.
According to the Julian calendar, on 21 April, believers commemorate the holy apostles Herodion, Agabus, Asyncritus, Rufus, Phlegon, Hermas and other companions who spread Christian teachings in the early centuries.
On this day, one may go to church, offer a memorial service, write memorial notes and visit the cemetery. Prayer is considered the most important act, which, according to belief, helps the souls of the departed find peace. In folk tradition, there is also a custom of appealing to the deceased with requests for protection of the family, blessings for children’s marriages, and help with health. Saint Proclus is asked to protect the home, livestock and farm from evil forces. It is also considered important to show mercy and not to refuse to do good deeds.
There are no direct prohibitions on working on this day, though it is advised to refrain from heavy labour. At the same time, one may tidy the home – according to belief, there is no place for evil spirits in a clean dwelling.
In folk and church tradition, Holy Week is considered a time of special respect for the memory of the deceased. The greatest sin is said to be a disrespectful attitude towards the departed – regardless of any grievances during their lifetime, one must not speak ill of them or condemn them. It is also advised not to get angry, swear, or raise your voice at children and the elderly. As the Easter period lasts 40 days, quarrels, despair and negative emotions are considered undesirable.
It is forbidden to consume alcohol in the cemetery. It is also not advisable to leave food on graves – it is better to give it to one of the visitors. Among the folk prohibitions on Radonitsa are hard labour, particularly that involving the earth – digging, planting and sowing – as this is considered disrespectful to the deceased. One must not erect fences or carry out work involving driving stakes into the ground, as, according to belief, this may disturb the deceased and lead to a lack of rain and a poor harvest. It is also not advisable to sew, chop wood or whitewash. Furthermore, loud celebrations, weddings and merrymaking are forbidden.
Separately, the people associated 21 April with omens regarding the weather, summer and the coming harvest. Many flowers on the wild garlic were seen as a sign of a wet and cool summer, early flowering of the bird cherry as a sign of a hot and dry season, and the flowering of the alder as a sign that one could go into the forest to gather morels. According to folk wisdom, a blossoming apple tree promises a warm and favourable start to summer, light rain – prolonged bad weather, and a large number of twinkling stars at night – a possible daytime thunderstorm. Loud thunder on this day was considered a harbinger of a bountiful grain harvest.
As reported by ThePublic, on 20 April, according to the new church calendar, believers honour the miraculous Cypriot icon of the Mother of God. On this same day, the Week of the Holy Spirit begins – a special period after Easter when the dead are remembered in prayer in churches and families.
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