St. Patrick's Day
Description:
There are several legends about this saint. St. Patrick was born on March 17, 415 AD in Wales in the family of a deacon of a local church. At the age of 16, he was captured by pirates, brought to Ireland, where he was in the service of Chief Milch. The boy was a shepherd. He later wrote, I prayed many times a day. The love of the Lord and the fear of God came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. According to legend, six years later, he heard the voice of God: “You will return home soon.” "Look, your ship is waiting." Patrick escaped from captivity and through prayers was able to persuade the captain to take him to the ship.
Later he met the French bishop Hermanus (Saint-Germain), who helped him strengthen his spiritual development. Years later, St. Patrick returned to Ireland as a missionary for Pope Celestine I. He was named after Mount Croagh Patrick, where he fasted for forty days and nights. It was on this mountain that St. Patrick performed one of his miracles: he ordered snakes from all over the Irish land to gather at his feet, and then drove them out.
To this day, St. Patrick’s autobiography, Confession, one letter and the prayer “Shield of St. Patrick” (“The Deer’s Prayer”) have been preserved. It is believed that this prayer protects from all evil. According to legend, with this prayer he walked with his disciples past the ambush of opponents of Christianity. Instead of travelers, the soldiers in the ambush saw only deer passing by.
Traditionally, on St. Patrick’s Day, costume parades with brass bands are organized. Many believe that this tradition was brought to the holiday by the Americans. On this day, everything turns green - green beer, souvenirs, clothes. These days, St. John's Day. Patrick’s Day is a holiday of spring and joy celebrated not only in Ireland, the UK, but also abroad.