May 23 is a day of celebration of a large number of memorable events, both religious and secular. For example, on the initiative of the American Society for the Rescue of Turtles, a "tortoise" day is celebrated, workers of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources are honored in Azerbaijan, Labor Day is celebrated in Jamaica, and in Abkhazia, believers remember the Holy Apostle Simon the Canaanite.
May and World Turtle Day
The name of this holiday on May 23 in English is spelled like this - World Turtle Day. Ecologists and admirers of this species of animals on this date honor turtles as symbols of wisdom, longevity and wealth.
The holiday was born relatively recently - in 2000 at the initiative of ecologists from the American Tortoise Rescue.
This "tortoiseshell" society was formed in 1990 in the American city of Malibu (California) as part of the struggle to preserve the population of animals living in the vicinity.
On this day, ecologists from many countries where turtles live (and they are settled on almost all continents) hold demonstrations and other events designed to draw public attention to the problems associated with the increasingly difficult living conditions on the planet. Volunteers on May 23 organize events for children and schoolchildren, together with them they make specialized crossings for animals under busy roads and dangerous places in which turtles can come into close contact with human life.
Also on May 23, environmentalists urge people to stop buying items and dishes made from turtles - soups and other food, as well as common souvenirs - combs and boxes.
Day of the Holy Apostle Simon the Canaanite
This holiday is perhaps one of the most massive and popular religious events in Abkhazia, since Kananit is of great importance not only for the country's Orthodox culture, but also for the entire Christian world.
According to legend, one of the twelve Apostles close to Jesus preached on the territory of Abkhazia and it is here that his relics are currently resting. In honor of Simon the Cananite, a temple was founded in the Abkhaz city of New Athos in the 9-10th centuries, which has survived to this day.
According to the Bible, it was at Simon's wedding in Cana of Galilee that Jesus Christ performed his first miracle when he turned water into wine. After that, the future apostle decided to despise the worldly world and went after the Savior.
The Day of the Holy Apostle Simon the Canaanite is also called the Altar Feast of the New Athos Monastery, which is one of the most important for the Abkhaz Orthodox Church. On May 23, festive services are held in the temple of Simon the Canaanite, and pilgrims from all over the world come to the monastery.
Unfortunately, the ancient chronicles do not report anything about how long Simon the Cananite stayed in Abkhazia. It is only known that his activities were accompanied by a series of divine signs, after which the ancient Abkhazians and other peoples living on this land decided to follow him and change the pagan faith.
