Representatives of many faiths celebrate January 31 Athanasius Day in honor of Athanasius the Great. The Slavs believed that on this day witches gather for a sabbath. This explains the many signs and restrictions associated with this holiday. For example, you can’t talk loudly, drink alcohol, fight and open the door wide when you enter the house.

Athanasius the Great was born at the end of the 3rd century in Egypt. The boy was brought up in the Christian faith, so at the age of 21 he was ordained a deacon of the Alexandria Church. There are preserved documents showing how in 325 Athanasius spoke at the Council of Nicea, refuting the heresy of Arius. Soon after that, he was elected the Patriarch of the Church of Alexandria, and later – the Archbishop of Alexandria.

In this position, Athanasius the Great continued to fight against the followers of the Arian doctrine. But he was slandered and convicted of murder, sent to exile in Trier. After Constantine’s death, Athanasius went to the Pope, where he was excused. Returning to Alexandria, he suffered many more times from the persuasions of supporters of the Arian doctrine.

But until his death, which occurred in 373, Saint Athanasius did not renounce his faith and continued to tell about the teachings of Christ, returning heretics to true Christianity.