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 7 is a special day in the Orthodox calendar (new calendar / Revised Julian): the Church celebrates the forefeast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and commemorates the Martyr Sozon of Pompeiopolis, the Venerable Martyr Macarius of Kanev, Archimandrite of Ovruch and Wonderworker of Pereyaslav, and the Apostles of the Seventy Evodus and Onesiphorus. This day unites an early Christian martyr-shepherd, a Ukrainian saint who gave his life for the faith in the seventeenth century, and the quiet expectation of the great feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos. This guide explores the lives of the saints of this day, the folk traditions, and offers the canonical prayers.
1. The Orthodox Feast — the Martyr Sozon and the Venerable Martyr Macarius of Kanev
Saint Martyr Sozon (3rd century) was born in Cilicia and was a simple shepherd of sheep. Having neither wealth nor education, he had what is more important than all: a sincere heart seeking God. Having heard the Gospel, Sozon believed in Christ and began to preach Him to others. Once, when he came to the city of Pompeiopolis, where pagans were sacrificing to golden idols, Sozon entered the temple, broke off the golden hand of one idol and distributed it to the poor, and then openly confessed everything to the ruler, explaining that idols are not gods and the gold belongs to the needy. He was subjected to cruel tortures but did not renounce Christ and accepted a martyr’s death. According to Church tradition, the relics of Saint Sozon became a source of healings, and his simplicity and courage made him one of the most beloved early Christian saints, to whom shepherds, simple workers and all who seek the courage to speak the truth pray.
On this day the Ukrainian Church especially honors the Venerable Martyr Macarius of Kanev (c. 1605–1678), one of the most venerated Ukrainian saints. Coming from Volhynia, he took monastic vows, later became Archimandrite of the Ovruch monastery and Hegumen of Pereyaslav, and was renowned for wisdom, gentleness and miracles of healing. In times of frequent attacks on Ukrainian lands he remained with his flock in Kanev until the end. In 1678, when Turks and Tatars attacked the city, Macarius did not flee but prayed in the Dormition Cathedral, calling the people to repentance and courage; the attackers seized him, tortured him demanding the church treasures, and he died under torture without betraying either the faith or his flock. His incorrupt relics were found many years later and were glorified by numerous miracles; today they rest in Kanev, and thousands of pilgrims come to them every year. The Apostles of the Seventy Evodus and Onesiphorus, whom the Apostle Paul mentions in his second epistle to Timothy, complete this day with the memory of the first preachers of the Gospel.
2. The Forefeast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos
September 7 by the new calendar is also the forefeast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the great feast that the Church will celebrate the next day, September 8. On the eve of the feast a solemn all-night vigil is served in the churches, and the faithful prepare themselves in prayer: at this time special hymns are sung that tell of the birth of the Virgin Mary in the family of the righteous Joachim and Anna, who for many years were barren and received a child through sincere prayer. The forefeast is a time of quiet joy and expectation, similar to Advent in the Western tradition: the Church invites the faithful to stop, be silent and prepare the heart for the feast. The Venerable Martyr Macarius and the Martyr Sozon, honored on this day, teach precisely this combination: courage in faith and quiet inner expectation.
3. The Catholic Feast — Saint Cloud (Clodoald)
In the Roman Catholic Church, September 7 honors Saint Cloud, also known as Clodoald (c. 522–560), a Frankish prince of the Merovingian dynasty, son of King Chlodomer. Having survived in childhood the death of his father and the murder of his brothers in dynastic wars, he miraculously escaped death, and later voluntarily renounced the throne and royal honors, took monastic vows and founded a monastery near Paris, where he lived in prayer and service to the poor. The name of this saint is preserved in the name of a suburb of Paris — Saint-Cloud. His life reminds us that true greatness is not in power but in the freedom of a heart that knows how to give everything to God.
4. What Is Forbidden on September 7 — Folk Signs and Customs
In the folk calendar September 7 is connected with the forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos and the memory of the Martyr Sozon, so the day was also called Sozon’s Day. The main customs: to prepare for tomorrow’s feast — to clean the house, to prepare everything for church, to pray for pastors and mentors (for Sozon was a shepherd and Macarius a shepherd of souls), to give thanks to all who have guided us in life. It was believed that on this day teachers, mentors and all who have given their life or labor for us are especially remembered in prayer. Folk signs for September 7: clear and calm weather — a good end of the week; much spiderweb — a warm autumn; birch leaves beginning to yellow — an early spring next year; cranes flying high — a long autumn; rain on this day — a wet September.
What is forbidden on September 7: one must not quarrel or swear, especially on the eve of a great feast; one should not begin heavy works, it is better to finish what was begun and prepare for the feast; swearing, envy and wishing evil on one’s neighbor are forbidden; one must not refuse help to those who ask, especially simple workers and shepherds; by belief, one should not lend money on this day, so as not to carry want into the feast. Instead, the day is best given to prayer, preparation for church, gratitude to mentors and quiet family affairs.
5. 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 Martyr Sozon, having nothing, gave everything — even the golden hand of the idol he distributed to the poor; the Venerable Martyr Macarius gave for his flock life itself. Their lives teach: true abundance begins where the heart knows how to give. When we sincerely thank God 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): let us give thanks this day to those who have led us in life — teachers, mentors, parents, pastors — and our gratitude will become a prayer that heaven will hear.
6. 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. The forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos is a time of special inner silence: the Church invites us to stop, to cut off what is unnecessary and to prepare the heart for the feast. When our mind is attacked by thoughts of haste, anxiety or fuss, the hesychasts advise immediately cutting them off with the short, rhythmic prayer on the rope (komboskini). A short prayer for the day:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, by the prayers of the Martyr Sozon, of the Venerable Martyr Macarius and of Your Most Pure Mother, teach me the quietness of heart in expectation of the feast, and have mercy on me, a sinner.
7. 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 mentors, teachers and pastors, if your loved ones are going through illness, hardship or danger, or if you yourself are preparing for the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos and wish to ask Her intercession, 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 saints of this day and of the Most Holy Theotokos, peace for families and a good year.
8. A Living Testimony: Prayer to the Venerable Martyr Macarius
Parish chronicles and home testimonies preserve many stories of the intercession of the Venerable Martyr Macarius of Kanev. Hanna’s family from the Cherkasy region tells one of them. Their son Taras was serving at the front, and for several months there was no news of him at all. “We wrote letters, searched through his comrades, but the silence was more terrible than any news,” Hanna recalls. Once she read the life of the Venerable Martyr Macarius, who himself gave his life without betraying his own, and began to pray to the saint every day, asking at least for news of her son. “I did not ask for anything great — only to know that he was alive,” says Hanna. Two weeks later the search brought a phone call: Taras had been in captivity, but he was exchanged and returned home. “I understand that the exchange is not a miracle in the direct sense,” Hanna says. “But I know that all those two weeks I was not praying into emptiness, but to one who himself knows what it means to give everything and to wait for God’s will. Now every year on September 7 Taras and I go to Kanev to give thanks to the Venerable Martyr Macarius.”
9. The Strongest Canonical Prayers of the Day
Troparion of the Martyr Sozon, Tone 4:
Your martyr, O Lord, Sozon, in his suffering received an incorruptible crown from You, our God; for he had Your strength, conquered the tormentors, and crushed the powerless insolence of demons. By his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.
Prayer to the Venerable Martyr Macarius of Kanev (home prayer of the day)
Venerable Martyr Macarius, Wonderworker of Kanev! You remained with your flock until the end, betraying neither the faith nor the people entrusted to you, and gave your life for them. Hear our prayer: intercede for all who stand in defense of their native land, for all who have given their life and labor for others, for our pastors and mentors. Ask for us from the Lord courage in faith, gentleness of heart and faithfulness to the end, so that we too, like you, may betray no one and nothing, but glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who was the Martyr Sozon?
Saint Martyr Sozon (3rd century) was an early Christian martyr from Cilicia, a simple shepherd who believed in Christ, distributed the golden hand of an idol to the poor, openly confessed the faith before the ruler and accepted a martyr’s death. His relics became a source of healings, and he is venerated as the patron of shepherds and simple workers.
Who was the Venerable Martyr Macarius of Kanev, and why is he important for Ukraine?
The Venerable Martyr Macarius of Kanev (c. 1605–1678) is a Ukrainian saint, Archimandrite of Ovruch and Hegumen of Pereyaslav, a wonderworker. During the attack of Turks and Tatars on Kanev in 1678 he did not flee but prayed with his flock and died under torture without betraying the faith. His incorrupt relics rest in Kanev and are glorified by miracles; he is one of the most venerated Ukrainian saints.
What is the forefeast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos?
The forefeast is the day of preparation for the great feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, which the Church celebrates on September 8. On the eve a solemn all-night vigil is served, and the faithful prepare themselves in prayer, remembering the birth of the Virgin Mary in the family of the righteous Joachim and Anna.
Whose name day is September 7?
Sozon and Macarius celebrate their name days, as well as Evodus and Onesiphorus (Apostles of the Seventy) and all whose saints are commemorated on this day.
11. Sources
1. Saint Sozon of Pompeiopolis — Wikipedia article: uk.wikipedia.org (Созонт, мученик).
2. Saint Cloud (Clodoald): life and veneration — Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org (Cloud of Paris).
3. 7 вересня: мученик Созонт, преподобномученик Макарій Канівський — Ukrainian-language version of this article: pray.ee (7 вересня).