On October 21, Christians remember the Venerable Pelagia of Antioch. The woman led an unrighteous life, was a harlot, and possessed very beautiful looks, which she emphasized with immodest clothing and jewelry.
When a council of bishops was held in her hometown (Antioch), one of the participants, Bishop Nonn, saw her. He noticed the beautiful woman and fervently prayed for her soul, that she would repent and come to God.
The Lord heard the prayers of the righteous, and by Sunday, Pelagia came to the church. The sermon on the Last Judgment so shocked the woman that she decided to be baptized. She was baptized by Bishop Nonn.
After that, Pelagia distributed her possessions and settled in a cell on the Mount of Olives, dressing in men's clothing and spending the rest of her life in prayer. Only after her death did people realize that she was a woman.
On October 21, the church also honors the Venerable Tryphon, Archimandrite of Vyatka. He was born into a wealthy family in the Arkhangelsk region. From a young age, he was drawn to religion, so when he grew up, he took monastic vows and left his home. He lived in many monasteries, not missing a single service. In Vyatka, he founded a monastery in honor of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos and became its first abbot in the rank of archimandrite.
On this day, it was customary to prepare for the onset of winter: to repair outerwear and footwear. "Tryphon repairs the fur coat, Pelagia sews mittens," people would say.
Weather Signs
Bright stars in the sky — the weather will be good. Leaves still remaining on the birch — snow will fall late. Low clouds — it will get colder.
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