The Orthodox Church honors January 16 the memory of the holy martyr Gordius – Pride Day. Gordius was born and raised in a Christian Caesarian family in the 3rd century. In adulthood, he decided to follow the path of the military, achieved success, showed courage more than once and for his efforts received the rank of centurion. But with the beginning of the persecution of Christians, he left the military service and devoted himself to the service of Christ. He lived in the desert, prepared to glorify the name of Christ, and later returned to the Motherland and stood up for the protection of Christians. Because of this, he was imprisoned, tortured for a long time and beheaded.

Pride Day according to the national calendar

St. Gordius is also honored according to the folk calendar.

• People believe that on this day one should not brag in front of others about one’s wealth, success and abilities of children, good health, so that Gordius does not punish by taking away the good.
• People also believed that on Gordian Day, witches walk the streets, and when they get hungry, they go into barns and milk cows. Therefore, people protected their cattle from the unclean, so that they would not die, they put aspen branches near the barn.
• On Gordian Day, it is customary to bake cottage cheese with cheese, so that there will be happiness in the family for the whole next year.
• It was important to clean up the cattle yard, and cattle were fed milk porridge on this day to protect against diseases.