WHEN TO COME TO MACEDONIA?

Saint Triphun Holiday ( 14 February )

ST. TRIPHUN DAY IS A HOLIDAY CELEBRATED ON THE 14 OF FEBRUARY SAME AS ST. VALENTINE. THE HOLIDAY IS PART OF A LEGEND DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT BELOW BUT IS PATRON HOLIDAY OF THE WINE MAKERS, RESTAURANT OWNERS AND GRAPE GROWERS. IT IS THE LAST WINTER HOLY HOLIDAY AND THE BEGINNING OF THE SPRING. THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE HOLIDAY IS WITH THE TRADITIONAL FIRST CUTTING AND SHAPING OF THE GRAPE VINES AND CELEBRATION CAN START.

ST TRIPHUN WAS BORN IN A VILLAGE IN PHRYGIA KAMPSADA OF POOR PARENTS. IN CHILDHOOD HE WAS A KEEPER OF GEESE. SINCE CHILDHOOD, ST. TRIPHUN WAS AT GREAT GRACE AND RECOGNIZED WITH THE ABILITY TO CURE DISEASES IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS AND TO CAST OUT DEMONS. AT THE TIME OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE RULED BY THE EMPEROR GORDIAN, HIS DAUGHTER GORDIAJNA LOST HER MIND WITH UNCURED SICKNESS AND THREW THE KING IN GREAT DESPAIR & SORROW. NO DOCTOR COULD HELP THE CRAZY GORDIJANA. THEN THE DEMON SPOKE THROUGH THE GIRL AND SAID THE NAME - TRYPHON - BUT NO ONE TO COULD UNDERSTAND WHY. AFTER SEARCHING THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM FOR MANY PEOPLE BARING THE NAME, BY GOD'S PROVIDENCE, IT BROUGHT THE EMPEROR IN FRONT OF THE PEASANTS FAMILY AND THE BOY WHO WAS CALLED TRYPHON. HE BROUGH HIM BACK TO ROME TO HEAL THE KING'S DAUGHTER. AFTER HEALING THE DAUGHTER, THE KING GAVE MANY TRYPHUN MANY GIFTS, BUT HE OFFERED THEM TO POOR AND RETURNED TO HIS HOME TO CONTINUE KEEPING GEESE AND TO PRAY TO GOD.

WHEN THE NEW ROMAN KING DAKIJ HEARD ABOUT HIS POWERS, AS A GREAT OPPONENT OF CHRISTIANITY, HE ORDERS TO CLOSE THE BOY IN A CELL AND TO EXPOSE HIM TO GREAT TORTURE. BUT TRYPHON SHALL BEAR ALL TORTURES UNTIL HE WAS STABBED WITH A SWORD. HE WAS ONLY 18 YEARS OLD. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER VERSION, ST. TRYPHON WAS TIED TO A HORSE AND DRAGGED ON ROCKS AND THORNS UNTIL HE DIED BEFORE THE ACT OF EXECUTION.

ST. TRYPHON IS BEING CELEBRATED IN THE ORTHODOX WORLD FOR CENTURIES. HE IS BEING HONORED BY MANY GUILDS, PRIMARILY BARTENDERS AND WINEMAKERS AND GROWERS BECAUSE HE IS A PROTECTOR OF WINE AND VINE. IT IS SAID THAT ON THIS DAY, GOOD INNKEEPERS GIVE FREE WINE TO GUESTS.