The 8th of July in Russia is an Assumption Day of saint martyr Fevronia and prince Petr.
Their wonder-working icon is in one of the Murom's church.
This couple is a nice model of Christian matrimony.
They are protectors of love, marriage, family.
The legend tells the following about them:
The prince Petr was Yury Dolgoruky's second son, the gran duke of Susdal and Kiev. Before came to the throne in 1203 Petr was taken ill with leprosy, and no one of savant doctors could help him. In dreaming it was opened to him that he could be healed by one peasant girl, the wild-hive beekeeper's daughter, Fevronia. She was a very beautiful, kind and wise, she could cure people and animals.
The prince Petr sent his guards to her place. When she came, he told her that if Fevronia healed him he would marry her. The girl healed him, but the prince didn't keep promise. And as soon as Fevronia went away, he fell ill again. So Fevronia saved him once more and became his wife.
But boyars were very angry with Petr because Fevronia was a commoner and wanted Petr to leave her. The prince Petr refused to do it, so he and his wife had to go away. They left Murom and became to live as commoners but in great love to each other.
In a short time Murom was chastised by God for greed and cruelty. To stop it the boyars begged Petr and Fevronia pardon for all they did and asked them to come back. After their return Fevronia was treated with respect.
When Petr and Fevronia became older, they took of monastic vows as David and Ephrosinia, and prayed God that they might die the same day. They left by will to bury them in one coffin with thin partition-wall.
Indeed they died the same day and hour - the 25th of July (in new style - the 8th of July). But the monks put them in different coffins. The next day the sweet-lovers were founded together in one coffin.
"A man will be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Matthieu, 19:6)
Today their relics sleep in the temple of Saint Trinity in Murom. And those who believe in eternel love pray Petr and Fevronia for it.
For all Russians this day is not a day of frivolous lovers as the 14th of February but the day of the true beloved and the happy matrimonies. This year in our country is declared as Familly Year. Certainly it's no coincidence that the 8th of July become a red-letter day, the Day of Love, Familly and Matrimony's Fidelity. The symbol of this day will be camomile (or ox-eye daisy), the very beautiful flower. From of old times this flower with white petals remains the most dearly feelings for beloved in Russia. The bunch of daisies tells about tender true love a la russe.
It's very difficult to find a true love, but to know how to keep it is doubly difficult. The true love doesn't need gold mountains, but the comprehension and the shining eyes. If you love dearly don't let your love to be ruined.
If you haven't got it yet, let this day help you to find it.
And I dedicate my poem to those who are in search of love.
(Sorry I have only french variant).
Après la pluie le beau temps
après la nuit le beau jour
après le travail le beau repos
après le passé l'extra-futur!
Mais où y est, demanderiez-vous, l'amour?!
Il est caché dans tous ces tours.....
Si vous ne l'avez pas su attraper
Il faut tout simplement recommencer
Et il retourne chez vous
peut-être
après
la pluie
la nuit
le travail
ou le passé.
