СВ. ТЕОДОР, ТОДОРОВА САБОТА – ПРАЗНИК НА ЉУБОВТА
ST. THEODORE, TODOR’S SATURDAY – A CELEBRATION OF LOVE

Summary/Abstract: In the eastern part of R. N. Macedonia, under the slopes of the mountain Plachkovica is the city of Vinica. With exceptional natural wealth and predispositions, it has always been a place where many civilizations, traditions and cultures intertwined and complemented each other. The celebrating and respecting of the religious holidays, among which the holiday dedicated to St. Theodore is especially important, are part of the rich Vinica tradition. Theodore’s Saturday or Todorica is a holiday dedicated to the Holy Great Martyr Theodore. This Orthodox Christian holiday does not have a permanent date but is celebrated on the first Saturday of Easter 306 fasting, i.e. on the first Saturday after Procka (the Holiday of forgiveness). Although Theodore’s Saturday is a church holiday and this is indicated by many customs that are performed in the church, on this day there are also many customs performed that originate from much older times. In our region, in Vinica, this holiday is marked by two significant events. One of the events is connected with the church where on this day all newlywed brides (wedded from March of the previous year to this year’s) gather together with their mothers-in-law, the young daughters-in-law bow to their mothers-in-law and kiss their hands and their mothers-in-law give them presents. This custom has been practiced for years. The second event is related to the event “Theodore’s races” where people take part in sports games with a competitive and fun spirit, which were practiced by our ancestors hundreds of years ago. People from 7 to 77 years old take part in these races. This is also the most massive event held in Vinica. Proof that this saint was revered a long time ago in these parts of the country, is the “Terracotta icons” St. Theodore from the 5th – 6th century found at the archeological site Vinichko Kale.

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