Orthodox Christianity celebrates December 18 the day of Saint Sava the Sanctified. He devoted his life to the service of God and people. Several monasteries and laurels were created under his leadership. Sava was also remembered by the laity as the founder of the Jerusalem monastic charter.

Born in 439 in Cappadocia, the boy learned about Christianity from childhood and at the age of eight moved to live in the monastery of St. Flaviana. At the age of 17, Sava was ordained and revealed his gift as a miracle worker.

Later, traveling as a hermit, he decided to stay in one of the caves. But the fame about him was so great that a community was quickly formed near the cave and the construction of a lavra named after Saint Sava the Sanctified began.

According to folk traditions, you should rest from any work on Sava’s day. Housewives baked pies with apples and cabbage, prepared Lenten borscht, because the holiday always falls on Lent. And so that there was prosperity in the house, they put money under the pillow and prayed to Saint Sava.