Ukrainian Orthodox believers honor Saint Pimen the Much-Ailing and Saint Pimen the Faster on August 7 under the new church calendar. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine commemorates both saints from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on this date. In Ukrainian folk tradition, the day is known as Maryny-Pymeny, Malynnyk, or Maryny-Malyny.
Saint Pimen the Much-Ailing suffered from a severe illness from childhood and spent his entire life at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Despite his ailment, he maintained his faith and endured his suffering with humility. According to tradition, he was miraculously healed three days before his death, said goodbye to the monastic brethren, and asked to be buried in the Near Caves of the Lavra. Believers pray to Saint Pimen the Much-Ailing for healing and good health for themselves and their loved ones.
Little is recorded about Saint Pimen the Faster, except that he observed a strict fast, worked hard, and spent almost all his free time praying. His relics rest in the Far Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Under the old Julian church calendar, August 7 also marks the Dormition of Righteous Anna, the mother of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Folk traditions and raspberry harvest
By August 7, villagers complete the raspberry harvest, start sowing winter crops, and watch storks gathering to depart for warmer regions. Housewives traditionally bake raspberry pies to share with family members, neighbors, and people in need, while taking a portion of the baked goods to church.
Helping the sick and needy is a central custom of the day, with people encouraged to give alms, donate to charity, or offer food and clothing. Folk belief holds that providing such assistance brings prosperity and divine blessings to the home. Storks are honored as symbols of family happiness, motherhood, and domestic comfort, and a stork nest near a home is believed to bring happiness and abundance. Unmarried women believe that seeing a flying stork predicts an upcoming wedding, while women hoping for a child eat raspberry pie and scrambled eggs on this day.
Church teachings for the day call on believers to avoid arguments, foul language, envy, greed, and judgment of others. Refusing help to those in need is considered a sin. Because the Dormition Fast is currently active, believers abstain from meat, dairy products, and eggs. Making hasty decisions is discouraged, as folk wisdom suggests they will result in errors. Women are advised to refrain from heavy physical labor and spend the day resting with family. Offending storks by scaring, chasing, or harming them is strictly prohibited, as mistreating them is believed to bring trouble and misfortune.
Weather signs and name days
Folk signs on August 7 offer predictions for upcoming weather and seasons. Morning fog that clears quickly indicates warm and clear weather ahead. Spiders hiding without spinning webs signal approaching rain. Storks gathering in flocks or flying south indicate an early autumn and winter, while a stork circling over a house suggests a new addition to the family. Dreams on the night of August 7 are considered prophetic and may offer answers to long-standing concerns or solutions to important problems.
August 7 marks the name day for individuals named Pimen, Stefan or Stepan, and Feodora under the new church calendar. People born on this day are described as determined, strong-willed, and capable of achieving their goals. They face difficulties willingly and rarely back down from obstacles, while earning appreciation from others for their openness, friendliness, and communication skills.
