On this day, Orthodox Christians remember the Venerable Savvaty of Solovki, who founded the monastery on the Solovetsky Islands.
Information about his origins and parents has not reached us, however, it is known that Savvaty was a monk in the Belozersky Monastery in the Novgorod region. For his virtue and hard work, he was loved by the brethren, but Savvaty himself wanted to live in solitude and engage in silent prayer.
Soon he asked the abbot to allow him to go to the Valaam Monastery, where the monks lead a stricter life, but even in this monastery, he soon began to feel burdened by the veneration of the brethren for his asceticism and virtues.
Savvaty asked the abbot of the Valaam Monastery to let him go to Solovetsky Island, located a two-day boat ride from the mainland in the White Sea. The brethren asked the elder not to leave them, so Savvaty stayed with them for some time, but then secretly left the monastery in the middle of the night.
On his way, he met the monk Herman — both ascetics decided to go to Solovetsky Island. Taking a boat and praying, they reached the island after 3 days, where they built themselves a cell. This happened in 1429. A few years later, Herman left the monastery, and two years later, Savvaty also went to Vyg, where he received communion and died in 1435. After his death, other hermits began to settle on the island, and thus the monastery, which became known as the Solovetsky Monastery, was established.
On October 10, the beekeepers began to prepare the hives with bees for the upcoming winter: "The bee queen takes the keys to summer to distant warm lands." Beekeepers considered Savvaty their patron. On this day, they tried not to do any work, as it was believed that anything done "on Savvaty" would not bring benefit.
Weather Signs
The first snow on this day — winter will come in 40 days. A northern wind promises a cold winter, a southern wind — a warm one. If the bees begin to tightly seal the entrance — a frosty winter is coming. A thunderstorm on this day — winter will be snowless, warm, and short. Dry weather on this day — winter will not come soon. Many cones remain on the firs and pines — winter will be cold. Clouds are drifting from south to north — to bad weather, and from north to south — to good weather.
