The holiday of Flora and Laurus, in Russia revered as patrons of cattle, especially horses, and domestic animals, falls on August 31 (August 18, old style)

August 31 – the memory of Flora and Lavra, who have long been revered in Russia as patrons of domestic animals, especially horses. On this day, the horse festival was celebrated, the horses were not used for work, they were bathed and fed “to the fullest.” They performed prayers from deaths and for offspring of cattle.

The twins Florus and Laurus were stonecutters in Byzantium in the II-III centuries of our era. Once the pagan ruler of Illyria (now Yugoslavia) ordered them to build a temple. The temple they built, but Christian. In addition, they turned many people into their faith. Continue reading →