Date in Old Style: June 26. On this day, the Orthodox Church honors St. David of Thessaloniki. Initially, he was a monk in the monastery of the Holy Martyrs Theodore and Mercurius, but later he left the monastery and settled near Thessaloniki, where he built a hut under an almond tree. He lived there for 70 years, spending his time in prayer and observing strict fasting. According to tradition, St. David received the gift of miracle-working as a reward for his asceticism. He healed many from illnesses and gave soul-saving advice to all who came to him. In Russia, St. David was called "Zemlyanichnik" (Strawberry Man) because the first strawberries ripen in the forest on his name day. Russians have always loved strawberries, especially children – for them, it was one of the main treats. Many proverbs have been created about this berry – for example, "The first berry goes in the mouth, the second one goes home." The meaning of this proverb is clear: it is hard to resist the temptation to taste the first ripe strawberry, and after satisfying your hunger, you can start harvesting the berries. Picking strawberries is a slow activity, but the forests were generous with their gifts, so by working all day, you could return home with a good "catch." "Pick berry by berry – you'll fill a basket," parents taught their children. Strawberries were loved not only for their sweet taste and wonderful aroma but also for their healing properties. These berries are good for anemia and beneficial for the liver and bladder. Strawberry leaves were brewed and drunk as tea in winter – this gave strength during long evenings. They were also attributed with magical properties. It was believed, for example, that if you put strawberry leaves in your left pocket on this day, anyone would agree to lend you money. Name days on this day: George, David, Denis, Ivan, Paul, Tikhon.