February 23, 2025: Polycarp's Day - activities to avoid today.

What happened on February 23:

Today, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the holy martyr Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna. He once distributed his possessions to the poor and became a disciple of Bishop Ucola. Ucola ordained the young man as a deacon. After Ucola's death, Polycarp became the Bishop of Smyrna. One day, he was captured by pagans, tied to a stake, and set on fire with kindling below. However, the flames did not consume his body. The pagans were so frightened that they beheaded him with a sword.

What not to do on February 23:

• get angry or resolve conflicts
• eat fatty foods
• consume alcohol

Folk signs and beliefs:

• a clear moon in the sky indicates heavy rain
• frost suggests a warm spring

Angel day is celebrated by:

Alexander, Alexei, Antioch, Antonin, Damian, Zevin, Ivan, Michael, Moses, Nikolai, Polycarp, Polychronius, Sergey

Born on February 23:

1879 — Kazimir Malevich, abstract artist and creator of the "Black Square";

1954 — Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine from 2005 to 2010.

Also on this day:

1863 — British explorers announce the discovery of the sources of the Nile River;

1893 — German engineer Rudolf Diesel patents the engine he created;

1941 — plutonium is first obtained.