Society

07 July, 2025 / 17:47

/ 8 hours ago

Old-style Orthodox Christians celebrate Birth of Saint John the Baptist

The old-style Orthodox Christians on July 7 mark the Birth of Saint John the Baptist.

Saint John the Baptist is one of the most important figures in Christianity, considered the Forerunner of the Lord. The celebration of his birth is one of the oldest and most significant in the Church, celebrated six months before the Birth of the Savior Jesus Christ.

According to popular tradition, July 7 is also associated with Sânziene—the good fairies of the forests and fields, bringers of bounty, health and love. On this day, in some areas of the country, girls weave garlands from the yellow Sânziene flowers, which are worn on the head or thrown onto rooftops as a sign of good luck.

Special services dedicated to Saint John the Baptist are held in places of worship, and believers pray for health, forgiveness and strengthening of faith. At the same time, this is a day of pilgrimage for many who bear the name Ion, Ioana, or their derivatives.

The Birth of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated by the Orthodox Church in the old style on July 7, corresponding to June 24 in the new calendar.

Comment

Latest News

VIDEO // Students who got perfect score at Baccalaureate exam awarded at festive event in Moldova

PHOTO // Exhibition Soviet Terror in Moldavian SSR returns to PMAN for third consecutive year

Moldovans working in Switzerland to have access to pensions and social guarantees

Gagauzia's bashkan to hear sentence on 5 August

National culture preserved by Moldovans in Kazakhstan

295,000 students to receive 1,000 lei before new school year

Budget Plus // Over 4.8 million lei to be allocated for modernizing canteens in Ungheni schools

State to provide more funds for early detection of breast cancer

Cîrnățeni village - model of rural development

Seventy six years since July 1949 deportations: Moldovan president attends commemoration rally for victims of Stalinist regime

Strengthening Moldova-U.S. relations topic of discussion in Washington

Moldovan wrestlers win bronze at European U20 Wrestling Championship

Moldovan president's message at rally on commemoration of 76th anniversary of second deportation operation from July 5-6, 1949

Requiem rally dedicated to day of remembrance for victims of communist deportations takes place in Moldovan capital

Moldovan PM says deportations from Soviet Moldova living wound carried by thousands of families of Moldova

Exhibition about state terror in Soviet Moldovia inaugurated in Chisinau

Moldovan parliament speaker says signing of EU accession treaty by 2028 Moldova's national goal

PHOTO // Group of journalists from Moldova visits Shanghai United Media Group, Zhejiang Media Group, more Chinese companies specializing in robotics, and artificial intelligence

Hydrological warning: yellow, red codes for low water runoff on rivers in Moldova; authorities provide recommendations

Paris – Chisinau flight delayed over technical malfunction

Honorary Consulate of Moldova in Zurich officially inaugurated

Moldova purchases 4,442 vials of rabies vaccine

Moldova, Switzerland to strengthen bilateral relations

Moldova's Customs Service identifies unpaid taxes exceeding 3 million lei following last week's audits

First Moldova – European Union Summit: EU announces allocation of initial instalment of 270 million euros from Moldova Growth Plan

See more