Every day millions of believers ask an important question: what holiday is today in the Church calendar, what are the folk signs and customs, what is strictly forbidden on this day, whose name day is celebrated, and how to call down God’s blessing on the family through a strong prayer. September 10 is a special day in the Orthodox calendar (new calendar / Revised Julian): the Church commemorates the holy martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora — three own sisters from Bithynia who accepted a martyr’s death for Christ at the beginning of the fourth century, and also the Venerable Paul the Obedient, an ascetic of the Kyiv Caves. In folk tradition this day was called Rowan Day, for it was from September 10 that people began to gather rowan, whose berries were considered the most healing. This guide explores the lives of the holy martyrs, the folk traditions of Rowan Day, the spiritual laws, and offers the canonical prayers.
1. The Orthodox Feast — the Holy Martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora
The holy martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora lived in Bithynia (modern Turkey) at the beginning of the fourth century, during the persecutions of the emperor Maximian. They were own sisters from a rich family, but, having believed in Christ, they renounced wealth and honors and went to live as hermits in a desert place near Nicomedia, dedicating themselves to prayer and fasting. According to tradition, the sisters lived separately from one another, gathering only for common prayer, and their life was so strict and righteous that fame of them spread through all the neighborhood.
When the rumor of the sisters reached the ruler, he ordered them seized and forced to sacrifice to pagan gods. The sisters refused, and they began to torture them one after another in the sight of the others, hoping that fear would break their faith — but each of them remained unshaken, encouraging her sisters to endure to the end. All three sisters accepted a martyr’s death, beaten with rods. According to Church tradition, when the pagans wanted to burn the relics of the martyrs, lightning suddenly struck and consumed the executioners themselves, and the bodies of the saints remained unharmed; Christians buried them with honor. The relics of the holy martyrs became a source of healings, and their sisterly faithfulness became the model of how love for Christ unites even before the face of death.
On this day the Church also commemorates the Venerable Paul the Obedient, an ascetic of the Kyiv Caves, who was renowned for the special virtue of obedience — complete trust and submission to his spiritual father and the brethren. The Venerable Paul lived in the Near Caves and was glorified by gentleness, prayer and miracles; his relics rest in the Near Caves of the Kyiv Caves Lavra and are venerated as wonderworking. His life reminds us that obedience and gentleness are not weakness but great spiritual power that keeps a person in peace with God and people.
2. The Catholic Feast — the Days after the Nativity of the Theotokos
In the Roman Catholic Church the first days after the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos (September 8) continue the joyful period when the faithful continue to pray to the Theotokos and to give thanks to God for the gift of Her birth. In the Western martyrologies this day also commemorates early Christian martyrs, whose names the Church reads together with the martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora. For Ukrainian believers this day is an occasion to pray for sisters and brothers, for kin and for all who hold to the faith even in the hardest times.
3. What Is Forbidden on September 10 — Rowan Day: Signs and Customs
In the folk calendar September 10 is Rowan Day, for from this day people began to gather rowan: it was believed that after the first frosts the rowan berries become sweeter and most healing. The main customs of the day: to gather clusters of rowan, dry them and make decoctions and tinctures for winter; to hang clusters of rowan under the eaves or above the door as a charm protecting the home from evil and calamities; to pray to the holy martyrs for sisters, brothers and kin. It was believed that rowan on this day has special power: it was used to treat colds, to strengthen the heart and to protect the home. Folk signs for September 10: much rowan in the clusters — a rainy autumn and a harsh winter; if the rowan is all covered with berries — the winter will be cold; clear and calm weather — a warm autumn; rain on this day — a wet September; cranes flying high — a long autumn.
What is forbidden on September 10: one must not break rowan branches without need or beat the berries with sticks — rowan was gathered carefully, with prayer, for it was considered a sacred protective plant; one must not quarrel, swear or wish evil on one’s neighbor; one should not refuse help to sisters and brothers, for the feast is dedicated to sisterly faithfulness; swearing and envy are forbidden; by belief, one should not throw old things out of the house without need on this day, so as not to throw out prosperity. Instead, the day is best given to gathering rowan, praying for kin, a common family meal and quiet household affairs.
4. The Spiritual Laws of Life: the Law of Thanksgiving and the Commandment of Love
The prayer life of a Christian obeys unshakable spiritual laws. The first is the law of thanksgiving and spiritual abundance. The Apostle Paul teaches: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18). The holy martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora, having everything — wealth, youth and honor — gave it up for Christ, and this sacrificial thanksgiving made them immortal in the memory of the Church. When we sincerely thank God for our family, for the years lived, and continue to ask with trust, we release the power of His grace, which acts in His time. The second is the fulfilment of the Commandments of Love for God and neighbour (Mt. 22:37-39): the three sisters did not betray one another even before the face of death, and their sisterly love became the model of how love for Christ unites people. Let us care this day for our sisters and brothers, kin and friends — and our family will become stronger, like the family of the holy martyrs.
5. Hesychast Watchfulness (Nepsis) and Prayer on the Rope
In Orthodox hesychasm and the Athonite tradition, spiritual watchfulness (nepsis) is the foundation of the soul’s salvation, and the holy martyrs and the Venerable Paul the Obedient are the model of such watchfulness: they kept their hearts in God even in the hardest moments. When our mind is attacked by thoughts of fear, anxiety or despair, the hesychasts advise immediately cutting them off with the short, rhythmic prayer on the rope (komboskini), joining it with the invocation of the holy martyrs. A short prayer for the day:
Saint martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora, entreat Christ God for me and my family, teach me faithfulness to the end and have mercy on me, a sinner.
6. The Power of Communal Prayer
Communal prayer has the promise of extraordinary power from the Lord Himself: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20). Dear brothers and sisters! We invite you to join the prayer circle on Pray.ee. If you wish to pray for your sisters and brothers, kin and friends, if your loved ones are going through illness, hardship or danger, or if you simply wish to congratulate your Minodoras, Metrodoras and Nymphodoras on their name day, write the names (for health and God’s protection) and your needs in the comments below. Our great Christian family will remember them daily in prayers before the Throne of God, asking the intercession of the holy martyrs, peace for families and a good year.
7. A Living Testimony: the Prayer of Sisters for a Sister
Parish chronicles and home testimonies preserve many stories of the intercession of the holy martyrs for families. Halyna’s family from the Poltava region tells one of them. Her sister Natalia fell seriously ill: the doctors gave no encouraging prognosis, and the family was in despair. Halyna remembered the feast of the holy martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora and began to pray to them every day for her sister, reading the prayer to them together with the prayer for the sick. “I did not ask for a miracle, but for strength for my sister and patience for all of us,” Halyna recalls. After several months Natalia’s condition began to improve, and later she recovered. “I do not know whether it was a miracle in the medical sense,” Halyna says. “But I know that all those months I was not praying into emptiness, but to those who themselves know what sisterly love and faithfulness to the end mean. Now every year on the feast of the martyrs my sister and I go to church to give thanks.”
8. The Strongest Canonical Prayers of the Day
Troparion of the Holy Martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora, Tone 4:
Your ewe-lambs, O Jesus — Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora — call to You with a great voice: You, my Bridegroom, I love, and seeking You I suffer; I am crucified and buried with You in Your baptism, and I suffer for You that I may reign with You; I die for You that I may live with You. But accept them as a sacrifice without blemish, who in love have offered themselves to You. By their prayers, O Merciful One, save our souls.
Prayer to the Holy Martyrs for Sisters, Brothers and Kin (home prayer of the day)
O holy martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora, sisters faithful unto death! You did not betray one another even before the face of torments and gave your lives for Christ. Hear our prayer: intercede for our sisters and brothers, for kin and friends, ask for them from the Lord health, peace and faithfulness to one another; protect our families from every evil and teach us to love one another to the end, as you loved one another. Pray also for all who suffer and need help, so that they too by your prayers may glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who were the holy martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora?
The holy martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora were three own sisters from Bithynia (modern Turkey) who lived at the beginning of the fourth century during the persecutions of the emperor Maximian. Having believed in Christ, they renounced wealth, lived as hermits and accepted a martyr’s death without renouncing Christ. Their sisterly faithfulness became the model of love for Christ.
Why is September 10 called Rowan Day?
In the folk calendar September 10 was called Rowan Day, for from this day people began to gather rowan: it was believed that after the first frosts the berries become sweeter and healing. Clusters of rowan were hung under the eaves as a charm protecting the home, and the berries were dried for winter.
What is prayed for to the holy martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora?
They are prayed to above all for sisters and brothers, for kin and friends, for faithfulness in the family, for the health of the sick and for intercession in times of trial. They are considered patronesses of sisterly love and faithfulness.
Whose name day is September 10?
Those who bear the names of the saints of this day celebrate their name day: Minodora, Metrodora, Nymphodora, and also Andrew, Basil, Gabriel, Gleb, Eugene, John, Constantine, Nicholas, Paul, Peter, Simeon and Tatiana, whose saints are commemorated on this day.
10. Sources
1. September 10: the memory of the holy martyrs Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora — Ukrainian-language version of this article: pray.ee (10 вересня).
2. Early Christian martyrs: general overview — Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org (Martyr).