Lawrence's Day. What Orthodox Christians in Latvia can and cannot do on August 23, 2026?

**What is remembered in the Church on August 23, 2026** Lawrence of Rome. The holy martyr archdeacon Lawrence suffered alongside Pope Sixtus II, deacons Felicissimus and Agapitus, and the soldier Roman in Rome in 258 AD. This occurred under Emperor Valerian. It was a time when popes faced significant problems — internal strife within the church led to the murder of one elected head of the Roman church after another. Pope Sixtus was taken into custody along with his deacons, but before that, he managed to instruct his close associate Lawrence to distribute Sixtus's possessions. After this, Lawrence voluntarily went to prison. The pope's enemies spread rumors that he had hidden immense wealth. And the soldiers tried to discover his secret. But even in prison, the pope preached, baptized the inmates, and healed the sick. When he was once again asked about the treasures, he gathered all the destitute whom he had helped and said that they were the vessels containing the treasures that would abundantly manifest in the kingdom of heaven. This provoked the jailers' terrible wrath, and the pope along with his disciples was subjected to horrific torture, demanding that they worship pagan idols. Eventually, after prayer, he passed away. Lawrence of Kaluga. He lived in the 15th-16th centuries. Little is known about his life. He may have come from the famous noble family of Khitrovs. He was a fool for Christ, walking barefoot in winter and summer in a fur coat given to him by someone, eating only what was offered to him. Thus, having renounced all comforts, he lived by a forest temple dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. For his spiritual feats, he was granted the gifts of miracle-working and foresight by the Lord. According to tradition, this gift helped protect Kaluga when Tatar forces attempted to capture it in 1512. At that time, Lawrence lived at the court of the Kaluga prince Semyon Ivanovich. When the Tatars began to advance on the city, he was sailing on a ship far from his homeland. Lawrence, seizing an axe, miraculously appeared next to the prince and then returned to the warriors defending the city. This helped them gather their strength and repel the enemy's attack. He then moved to a hut in the forest church but every night made his way through an underground passage to the temple in Kaluga to pray for the city. After Lawrence's death, Prince Semyon ordered the construction of the Kaluga St. Lawrence Monastery. The saint performed posthumous miracles of healing the sick. **The meaning of the holiday** The saints show an example of how to sacrifice one's good for the common good. **Folk weather signs** Heat on this day promises a prolonged autumn. Calm water in the river indicates warm autumn and winter. A warm day promises successful fishing until the end of summer. **What can be done on August 23, 2026** It is customary to bake pies and bread. It would be good to wash your face in the morning with spring water. One should gather a bouquet of chamomiles in the field and decorate the house with it. It is a good day to collect lingonberries and prepare them. A wonderful day to start a journey, for pilgrimages. A great day to promise something important to oneself. **What cannot be done on August 23, 2026** It is very bad to conflict and quarrel. Do not start any disputes. It is bad to swim for a long time in the river or lake.