Festivities are being held throughout Russia today, July 8, marking the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, which has been celebrated in the Russia since 2008. This day is the day of commemoration of the saints Fevronia and Peter.
“The Peter and Fevronia story and the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity are designed to remind us of what a family is, tell us about the joys of family life and help us overcome various difficulties arising in a marriage,” said Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo- Zuyevo in an interview with Voice of Russia.
The capital of the celebration of the Family, Love and Fidelity Day this year as well as the previous ones will be the ancient Russian city of Murom. After all, it was Murom’s residents that were the initiators of the annual holiday celebration a few years ago. According to a legend, patrons of marriage and family, pious spouses Peter and Fevronia lived together and died on the same day in Murom, and their holy relics now can be seen in the cathedral of Holy Trinity Monastery of Murom.
“Their love and fidelity example is an example to each one of us,” says Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo- Zuyevo. “There is a legend saying that Fevronia was an ordinary peasant woman. Their marriage was condemned by many back then. But she helped to cure Duke Peter. And when the duke had to decide whether to choose a throne or poor wife, he chose marriage and family happiness. I‘m pretty sure that the Peter and Fevronia story and the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity are designed to remind us of what a family is, to tell us about the joys of family life and to help us overcome various difficulties arising in marriage.”
“More than a thousand various events will take place in Moscow on these days,” says Vladimir Filippov, Deputy Head of the Moscow Department of Culture. “The main event among them is an interactive festival Bright people, where every family will be able to take part in various competitions and do something with their hands. The main city’s celebration will be held in Tsaritsyno museum and reserve on 7 July. It will be an open-air concert, in which we will honour couples celebrating anniversaries of their marriages. Families will be honored with an award Parental Glory of Moscow. This year it will be awarded to 29 families.”
Russkiy Mir Foundation Information Service
