January 8: What is absolutely forbidden to do on the day of Saints Emilianos and Dominica.

According to ТСН: Tomorrow, in the Orthodox calendar, the feast day of Saint Confessor Emilianos is celebrated. Emilianos was born, took monastic vows, and later became the Bishop of Kizykos, a spiritual leader of the Christian community in Asia Minor. He was praised for his piety, mercy, and deep fidelity to Christ.

Emilian lived during the reign of Emperor Leo the Armenian, who actively opposed the veneration of icons, leading a campaign known as iconoclasm. This resulted in the persecution of those who honored icons.

The emperor summoned bishops to his palace and demanded that they renounce the veneration of icons. Emilianos was the first to openly declare that this issue should be resolved by the Church's pastors and the fathers of the Church, not secular authority. He argued that the king had no right to determine church dogmas, and this firm stance became fateful for him.

For his brave position, Saint Emilianos was condemned to exile and imprisonment. He underwent severe trials, not renouncing his faith, and died in exile around the year 820, receiving a heavenly reward as a confessor — a saint who suffered for his faith but was not tortured.

The Church holiday on January 8 - commemorating the blessed virgin Dominica

Blessed Dominica is a holy Orthodox ascetic, nun, and Christ's elder known for her ascetic feats, miracles, and high spirituality.

The saint was born in Carthage (modern-day North Africa) around the 4th-5th century. In adulthood, she decided to dedicate herself to God and traveled to Constantinople, which was the center of Christian life at that time.

In Constantinople, during the reign of Saint Emperor Theodosius the Great, she received baptism from the Patriarch (according to some sources - Nektarios) and entered a women's monastery, where she devoted herself to strict spiritual practices.

The saint adhered to a severe ascetic lifestyle, renouncing worldly pleasures, which made her spiritual perfection evident. Believers described her as an elder nun who filled Constantinople with spiritual light. The saint died at an old age around 474, leaving this world in purity and perfection of spirit.

Signs of January 8

• If it's warm and sunny on January 8 - spring will be early and warm.

• If birds fly high - soon there will be a thaw; if low - there will be a frosty summer.

• Hoarfrost on trees - a good harvest of vegetables and fruits.

What not to do tomorrow

According to folk beliefs, the first half of the day is better not spent on work, as any affairs may not go as planned. After noon, one can safely start working. It is also believed that today one should not cook or drink kissel, as this is a bad omen that can bring troubles.

What to do tomorrow

On this Orthodox day, people turn to the saints in prayer for healing from illness, for wisdom and guidance for their family members who have strayed from the righteous path, as well as for support in strengthening the family and raising children in love and faith.

The feast day of Saint Emilianos and Saint Dominica is an important moment for believers who turn to the saints for inspiration and support in their affairs. These feasts remind about the power of faith and the importance of spirituality in every person's life. By focusing on prayers and spiritual practices, believers strengthen their bonds with God and support each other in difficult life situations.