Every day, millions of believers ask the same important question: what holiday is today according to the Church’s liturgical calendar, what folk signs and customs belong to the day, what is forbidden, whose name day is being celebrated, and which prayer will help us ask God for protection and peace of heart. September 12 is a special day in the Orthodox calendar (new style / revised Julian calendar): the Church commemorates the Hieromartyr Autonomus, Bishop of Italy — a fourth-century preacher who received a martyr’s death at the altar of the church he had built with his own hands. On the same day, the celebration of the Nativity of the Mother of God comes to its close with the leave-taking (apodosis) of the feast. In folk tradition the day was called Artamon the Snake Day, for people believed that snakes finally depart into the underground realm until spring, and true autumn arrives on earth. This complete guide tells the story of Hieromartyr Autonomus in detail, explains the leave-taking of the Nativity of the Theotokos and the Catholic memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary, gathers the folk customs of the day, and provides the canonical prayer texts.
Understanding the liturgical year helps us realize that every day is dedicated to a particular saint or a key Gospel event. Our ancestors always began the day with prayer, because prayer is the key to peace of soul. When we say the Lord’s Prayer or turn to Hieromartyr Autonomus in the morning before work, or in the evening to quiet our hearts, we place our minds under God’s care and calm our souls before life’s worries and anxieties. On this day the Church reminds us in a special way: true courage is born of faith, and true victory comes from God’s help, not from human strength.
To strengthen your faith and your spiritual watchfulness (nepsis) amid daily temptations, we invite you to the spiritual treasury of the Christian East: the Philokalia (Dobrotolyubiye), where you will find the priceless counsel of the Holy Fathers on the struggle against sinful thoughts and on how to gain peace of soul even amid persecution and fear.
The Orthodox Feast of September 12: Hieromartyr Autonomus, Bishop of Italy
The Life of Saint Autonomus: From Italy to Bithynia
Saint Autonomus lived in the fourth century, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284–305), one of the cruelest persecutors of the Christians. Autonomus was a bishop in Italy and zealously preached the Gospel, converting a great number of pagans to Christ. When the imperial persecution reached his region and orders were given to seize the saint, by God’s providence he managed to leave Italy in time and crossed into Bithynia in Asia Minor — to the small town of Soreoi, near Nicomedia [1][3].
There, in his new home, the saint did not fall silent: he continued to preach, and a large community of new converts gathered around him. For them Autonomus built a church and consecrated it in the name of the Archangel Michael, the heavenly commander and protector of all who struggle against the powers of darkness. His disciple Cornelius he first ordained deacon and then presbyter, preparing worthy ministers for the church [3]. Remarkably, on the following day, September 13, the Church commemorates another Cornelius — the Roman centurion converted by the Apostle Peter: in this unexpected way the liturgical calendar joins master and namesake together.
A Martyr’s Death at the Altar
The end of Saint Autonomus’s earthly journey became a true confession of faith. According to tradition, the newly converted Christians, in their zeal for God, destroyed a pagan shrine with its idols. The enraged pagans resolved on revenge: they attacked the Christian church precisely while the divine service was being celebrated, and killed Bishop Autonomus right at the ambo, so that his blood was poured out upon the holy altar [1][4]. Thus the bishop who had spent his life building up the Church became himself her living stone — a hieromartyr.
The deaconess Maria recovered the saint’s body from beneath the stones and buried it with Christian honor. And when Saint Constantine the Great became emperor and the persecutions ceased, a church was raised on the place of the saint’s martyrdom. Later, according to tradition, the relics of Hieromartyr Autonomus were found incorrupt — and the Church saw in this a sign that God had glorified His servant [2][5].
What Believers Ask of Hieromartyr Autonomus
Believers pray to Hieromartyr Autonomus for courage in trials and persecution, for steadfastness in faith when circumstances force us to hide or fall silent, for protection from violence and injustice, and for the pastors of the Church who, like him, carry out their ministry in dangerous times. His life reminds us: even when we are forced to withdraw, as Autonomus withdrew from Italy into Bithynia, God does not abandon us — He simply transplants us to another soil, so that even there we may bear fruit.
The Leave-Taking of the Nativity of the Mother of God: The Last Day of the Feast
September 12, new style, is also the leave-taking (apodosis) of the Nativity of the Mother of God. This is a special liturgical term: the leave-taking is the last day of the afterfeast, when the Church sings the festal hymns for the final time this year and, as it were, bids farewell to the feast until next year [5]. The feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, which we solemnly celebrated on September 8, has a several-day afterfeast, and September 12 is its final chord.
The Nativity of the Mother of God is the first great feast of the church year, since the church year (the indiction) begins on September 1. And it is precisely with the birth of the Most Pure Virgin that the history of our salvation begins: she is born who will become the Mother of the Savior. On the leave-taking of the feast, the troparion of the feast is sung solemnly in church for the last time: “Your nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, proclaimed joy to the whole universe.” For believers this is a good occasion to recall the event of the feast once more, to thank God for the gift of the Mother of God, and to pray to her for their families.
In folk tradition, the leave-taking was considered a day of quiet joy: people avoided heavy work, went to church, lit a candle before the icon of the Theotokos, and asked her protection for the coming autumn and winter.
The Catholic Feast of September 12: The Most Holy Name of Mary
On September 12 the Roman Catholic Church keeps the memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary. This feast has a deep history closely tied to the deliverance of Europe. The honoring of Mary’s name with a special feast was first permitted by the Apostolic See in 1513 for the diocese of Cuenca in Spain. In 1671 it was extended to the kingdoms of Naples and Milan [5][6].
It became a feast of the whole Church after the Battle of Vienna on September 12, 1683. That day the united Christian forces led by the Polish King John III Sobieski defeated the Ottoman army that had been besieging Vienna and threatening all of Europe. Before the battle the king consecrated his army to the Virgin Mary, and the soldiers went into battle under banners bearing her name. After the victory Sobieski wrote to Pope Innocent XI the famous words: “Venimus, vidimus, Deus vicit” — “We came, we saw, God conquered.” In thanksgiving for the deliverance of Europe, the pope extended the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary to the whole Church, and in 1911 Pope Pius X fixed it permanently on September 12 [5][6].
According to a tradition going back to Saint Jerome, the name Mary is translated as “Lady,” and in Western spirituality it is also called “Star of the Sea” (Stella Maris) — the star that guides travelers across stormy waters to a safe harbor. Christians of the East honor the same name with the prayer “Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God,” while Catholics honor it with the “Ave Maria” [6].
What does this memorial teach us? That the name of Mary is not merely a sound, but a prayer in itself. In times of anxiety, war, and uncertainty, a simple invocation of the Mother of God’s name calms the heart, as a mother’s voice calms a child. The lesson of this page of history remains strikingly modern: victory comes where people kneel down to pray.
The Folk Feast of Artamon the Snake Day: Traditions, Signs, and Prohibitions
In the folk calendar, September 12 is known as Artamon the Snake Day (the people reshaped the name of Saint Autonomus into Artamon). It was believed that on this very day the snakes gather and finally depart into the underground realm until spring, and that true autumn comes upon the earth. Therefore the day was considered a kind of “threshold” — a time when nature bids farewell to summer, and it required special caution [2][4].
What Is Forbidden on September 12
Folk tradition preserved a clear list of prohibitions for Artamon the Snake Day [2][4]:
- Do not go into the forest, the fields, or the marshes — so as not to meet a snake that has not yet reached its burrow.
- It is strictly forbidden to kill snakes — even if one is seen, no aggression is shown, for it is already “on its way out” of this world.
- Do not quarrel, swear, wish evil on anyone, or envy — this was believed to bring poverty into the home.
- Do not refuse help or alms — good deeds are especially valued on this day.
- Avoid heavy labor and deep cleaning — so as not to invite illness and exhaustion.
- Do not cut your hair or nails — according to belief, you might “cut away” your health.
- Do not pick up lost articles from the ground — evil might cling to them.
- Do not take revenge, betray secrets, or break trust — this leads to the loss of your own honor.
Weather Signs for September 12
On Artamon the Snake Day people observed nature carefully to forecast the autumn and winter [2]:
- Clear weather on Artamon’s day — fine weather will hold for several days more.
- Rain on September 12 — a cold and snowy winter.
- Thunder on Artamon’s day — the autumn will be warm and long.
- Many acorns on the oaks — a rich harvest next year.
- Many rowan berries — a rainy autumn and snowy winter.
Name days on September 12 are celebrated, according to folk calendars, by Daniel, John, Nicholas, Alexis, and Simon [3]. If your loved ones bear these names, greet them on their name day with a warm prayer and a kind word.
The Spiritual Laws of This Day: Thanksgiving and the Commandment of Love
The law of thanksgiving. The leave-taking of the Nativity of the Theotokos is a school of gratitude. The Church teaches us not merely to celebrate, but at the close of the feast to thank God for all He has given us through it: for the joy, for the prayer, for the loved ones who stood beside us. Thanksgiving is the shortest road to joy: whoever knows how to give thanks does not know how to complain. Tonight, recall three things for which you are grateful this week, and say a simple “thank you” to God.
The commandment of love. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another” (John 13:34). In folk tradition it was strictly forbidden to refuse help on Artamon’s day — and this is no accident, for it matches the Gospel law of love. Helping one’s neighbor is the simplest form of prayer in action: to lend a hand, to give time, to share bread. Whoever helps someone in need drives fear away from himself, for “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).
The law of courage. The life of Hieromartyr Autonomus reveals one more spiritual law: courage is not the absence of fear, but fidelity to Christ in spite of fear. Autonomus did not seek martyr’s glory; he simply continued to do what God had called him to do — preach, serve, and pray. And it was this quiet fidelity that made him a saint. For us today this means: do not wait for great exploits — be faithful in little things.
Hesychast Watchfulness: Nepsis and Prayer with the Chotki
Artamon the Snake Day holds an unexpectedly deep spiritual symbol when we read it in the language of hesychasm — the ancient Eastern tradition of inner prayer. The ascetic Fathers taught that in the human heart, as in a meadow in May, “snakes” crawl about — sinful thoughts (logismoi) that try to sting the soul with anger, fear, envy, or impurity. Saint Hesychios of Jerusalem wrote that watchfulness (nepsis) is the constant guarding of the thoughts at the doors of the heart, and that the best weapon against them is the Jesus Prayer [7].
September 12, when the snakes “leave the earth,” is a good time for us to drive the spiritual snakes out of our own hearts. The practice for this day is simple:
- Take your prayer rope and say 33 knots of the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
- When an anxious thought appears during prayer, do not argue with it; simply return to the name of Jesus, as one turns back to the light after turning away from the darkness.
- At the end, add one “Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God” — in honor of the leave-taking of the feast of her Nativity.
- Finish with thanksgiving: “Glory to You, O our God, glory to You.”
The short prayer of the day. “Lord Jesus Christ, as You gave Your hieromartyr Autonomus courage in the midst of persecution, grant me courage in my daily trials. Most Holy Mother of God, whose feast we bid farewell today — cover me with your veil this autumn and all the days of my life. Amen.”
Common Prayer on September 12 on Pray.ee
Prayer offered together has a special power: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). On this day, when the Church bids farewell to the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos and remembers the courage of Hieromartyr Autonomus, invite your family to pray together in the evening — even for a few minutes, even with one Lord’s Prayer.
On our prayer portal Pray.ee you can leave your prayer intention in the comments under this article — and the community of believers will pray for you and your loved ones. Write down whom or what you ask prayer for: for health, for the protection of soldiers, for peace in the family, for overcoming fear and anxiety. Do not remain alone with your cares — in common prayer we bear one another’s burdens.
A Living Testimony: A Story from Our Community
“Last September, on Artamon’s day itself, I was driving to visit my son in the Carpathians and saw a large viper right in the middle of the road. The car stopped, my heart was pounding — and for some reason my grandmother’s advice came to mind: don’t touch it, and it won’t touch you. I simply sat there and prayed: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.’ The snake calmly slid away into the grass. And I understood: the same thing happens in my soul. The anxious thoughts that had been crawling inside me for weeks calmed down the moment I stopped arguing with them and began to pray. Now September 12 is my day of silence and thanksgiving.” — Oksana, Ivano-Frankivsk.
If you have your own testimony of God’s help, share it in the comments on Pray.ee. Your word may be the very spark of faith that someone is missing right now.
The Canonical Prayers of September 12
Troparion to Hieromartyr Autonomus, Tone 4
Your martyr Autonomus, O Lord, in his suffering received an imperishable crown from You, our God; for having Your strength, he overcame the persecutors and destroyed the feeble insolence of demons. By his prayers save our souls.
Troparion of the Nativity of the Theotokos (sung on the leave-taking), Tone 4
Your nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, proclaimed joy to the whole universe; for from you rose the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, and destroying the curse, He gave the blessing, and abolishing death, He granted us eternal life.
Prayer to Hieromartyr Autonomus (for home use)
O holy hieromartyr Autonomus, you did not abandon your flock either in exile or in death, and with your blood you consecrated the altar you had built with your hands. Entreat Christ God for us sinners: grant us courage in persecution, patience in sorrows, and faithfulness in service. Protect the pastors of our Church from all evil, and obtain for us forgiveness of sins and great mercy. Amen.
Prayer for the Leave-Taking of the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos
Most Holy Lady, Mother of God, we thank you for the feast of your Nativity, which has gladdened your Church. Accept our thanksgiving, cover us with your precious veil, and keep us in peace until the next feast, and for all the days of our life. Amen.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About September 12
What church feast falls on September 12, 2026?
According to the new style (revised Julian calendar), the Orthodox Church commemorates Hieromartyr Autonomus, Bishop of Italy, and keeps the leave-taking of the Nativity of the Mother of God — the last day of the afterfeast of the feast that began on September 8. The Roman Catholic Church keeps the memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary.
Who was Hieromartyr Autonomus?
A fourth-century bishop of Italy who, during the persecution under Emperor Diocletian, moved to Bithynia, where he preached the Gospel, built a church of the Archangel Michael, and converted many pagans. He was killed by enraged pagans during the divine service, and his relics were later found incorrupt.
What is a leave-taking of a feast, and why is it on September 12?
The leave-taking (apodosis) is the last day of the afterfeast, when the Church sings the festal hymns for the final time. The Nativity of the Mother of God is celebrated on September 8 and has a several-day afterfeast, which concludes precisely on September 12 — on this day believers “say farewell” to the feast until next year.
Why is September 12 called Artamon the Snake Day, and what is forbidden?
The folk name comes from the name of Saint Autonomus (Artamon in the folk form). It was believed that on this day the snakes depart into the underground realm until spring. Therefore people were advised not to go into the forest or fields, not to kill snakes, not to quarrel, not to refuse help, to avoid heavy work, and not to cut hair or nails.
Who celebrates name days on September 12?
According to folk calendars, name days on this day are celebrated by Daniel, John, Nicholas, Alexis, and Simon. Greet your loved ones on their name day with prayer and a kind word.
Sources
- [1] ChasDiy — September 12: what feast is today, traditions and prohibitions (in Ukrainian)
- [2] UNIAN — The church feast of September 12: customs, signs and prohibitions (in Ukrainian)
- [3] NSN — September 12: today’s feast, signs and name days (in Ukrainian)
- [4] Apostrophe — Artamon the Snake Day: signs and prohibitions of September 12 (in Ukrainian)
- [5] AhroHazda — September 12: the leave-taking of the Nativity of the Theotokos and Hieromartyr Autonomus (in Ukrainian)
- [6] Velych Lvova — September 12: the feast of the Most Holy Name of the Virgin Mary (in Ukrainian) and Immaculate.one — Mary of the Day: Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary
- [7] The Philokalia (Dobrotolyubiye) — Pray.ee