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Who Patronizes Lovers
by Natasha Kamenskaya
On February, 14, people in Ukraine and all over the word celebrate St. Valentine's Day. But was St. Valentine the only one whose love worked wonders? As most of Ukrainians belong to Orthodox Church, they honor St. Peter and Maid Phevronia, whose love passed all the tests and still retains in our memory, as patrons of lovers.
In the beginning of the 13th century Peter, Grand Duke of Murom, suffered from leprosy and nobody could help him. Once he had a dream that he would be cured by a young country girl whose name was Phevronia. She was famous for healing with medicinal herbs and her abilities to communicate with wild animals. Grand Duke promised to marry Phevronia but did not keep the promise and his disease restarted. So Peter had nothing to do but to marry Phevronia, but soon he realized that she was his only love. Murom's noblemen could not let a peasant girl rule their land and they demaded from Peter to separate from his wife of to give up the princedom. Peter left Murom with his beloved wife unhesitatingly. Soon after their leaving disturbances began in Murom and townspeople begged Peter to return. Being a wise devout person Phevronia managed to deserve people's love and respect.
In their old age Peter and Phevronia took the vows. They prayed for death at the same day, willed to be buried in the same grave and even prepared a coffin out of an unbroken stone. Peter and Phevronia died the same time on July 8. In spite of their will the lovers were buried in different temple but the next morning people found them in the same grave.Since then young people pray to Peter and Phevronia for great love and older people ask them for harmony in families.
In the 16th century Peter and Phevronia were canonized by Orthodox Church.Many years have passed since those events but people still believe if you declare your love on July 8 your feelings will be reciprocated.
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