What holiday is celebrated on February 17: events of this day

On February 17, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Great Martyr Fedor Tyrone and St. Fedor, the Silent One of Kyiv-Pechersk, in the Far Caves. Today is the name day of Mykola, Andriy, Kyrylo, Heorhiy, Oleksandr, Yuriy, Mykhaylo, Oleksiy, Anna and Fedir.

The world celebrates Islander's Day, Global Tourism Sustainability Day, World Human Spirit Day, My Way Day, Cat Day in Europe, and the Day of Spontaneous Acts of Kindness. OBOZ.UA tells about the holidays and significant events of this day.

What holidays are celebrated on February 17

According to the new calendar, on February 17, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the Great Martyr Fedor Tyrone and St. Fedor, the Silent One of Kyiv-Pechersk, in the Far Caves. Theodore Tyrone was a soldier in the time of Emperor Maximian. He suffered for his faith in Christ, refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods. His name is associated with numerous healings and miracles. Fedor Tiron is revered as a defender of Christians.

Believers also remember St. Fedor the Silent, who rests in the Far Caves of the Kyiv Cave Monastery. St. Fedor was one of the many ascetics of the monastery. He voluntarily took the vow of silence for the sake of spiritual growth. In Christianity, St. Fedor is an example of humility, repentance, and devotion to God.

Global Tourism Resilience Day is celebrated annually on February 17. This day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2023 to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable and resilient tourism development, especially in the face of global challenges and crises.

The World Human Spirit Day is a call for unity, support and inspiration, emphasizing the importance of the human spirit, its strength and ability to overcome difficulties. The holiday was founded in 2003 by Michael Levy, a philosopher, writer and spiritual leader. He sought to create a day when people could focus on the positive aspects of life, the power of their inner self, and the importance of spiritual development.

European Cat Day is a wonderful holiday that is celebrated every year on February 17. It was founded by journalist Claudia Angeletti in 1992. Over time, the initiative has spread throughout Europe and beyond. On this day, various events dedicated to cats are held: exhibitions, charity events, contests, etc.

The Day of Spontaneous Acts of Kindness was founded in 1995 by the writer Anne Herbert. She is known for her activities aimed at popularizing good deeds and volunteering. It is an opportunity to do something good for other people without expecting anything in return.

Notable historical events on February 17

• 1815 - the Anglo-American War ("Second War of Independence") ended with the restoration of pre-war conditions.
• 1863 - The International Committee for the Relief of the Wounded, which later became the International Committee of the Red Cross, was founded in Geneva.
• 1876 - Julius Wolf of Eastport (Maine, USA) produced the first canned sardines.
• 1919 - The Directory of the Ukrainian People's Republic turned to the Entente and the United States for help in the fight against the Bolsheviks.
• 1938 - during the Great Terror in the USSR, a mass execution of Solovetsky prisoners was carried out on the Solovetsky Islands (almost 200 people were executed in one day).
• 1947 - The Voice of America, founded in 1942 to explain American policy and raise the morale of its allies in Europe, Asia, and Africa, makes its first radio broadcast in Russian to the Soviet Union.
• 1962 - A catastrophic storm floods the Lower Elbe River basin and the entire northern German coastline. In Hamburg alone, 314 people died.
• 1999 - The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine authorized the prosecution and arrest of Pavlo Lazarenko.
• 2008 - Kosovo declares independence from Serbia.
• 2015 - fierce street fighting took place in the besieged Debaltseve. Part of the city is captured by Russian-terrorist forces.
• 2015 - For the first time since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the European Union officially recognized the participation of Russian troops in the conflict.
• 2024 - Russian occupiers occupied the ruins of Avdiivka in Donetsk region, after fighting for it for two years.

Who was born on February 17

• 1723 - Tobias Johann Mayer, German astronomer and cartographer.
• 1820 - Henri Vietan, Belgian violinist, composer and teacher.
• 1859 - Mykola Gamaleya, Ukrainian microbiologist and epidemiologist.
• 1867 - Petro Schmidt, Ukrainian sailor, one of the leaders of the 1905 Sevastopol Armed Uprising, known as Lieutenant Schmidt.
• 1908 - Oleksa Vlyzko, Ukrainian poet and prose writer, shot dead in December 1934.
• 1943 - Raisa Nedashkivska, Ukrainian theater and film actress.
• 1954 - Renee Russo, American film actress (The Thomas Crown Affair, Money for Two, Lethal Weapon).
• 1963 - Michael Jordan, American basketball player, two-time Olympic champion.
• 1971 - Denise Richards, American film actress (The World Is Not Enough, Starship Troopers).
• 1981 - Paris Hilton, American actress and fashion model, former heiress of the Hilton Place empire.

Died on this day:

• 1600 - Giordano Bruno, Italian Renaissance philosopher, poet, representative of pantheism.
• 1664 - Ivan Bohun, Ukrainian military and statesman.
• 1673 - Moliere, French writer, died in Paris on stage during a performance.
• 1856 - Heinrich Heine, German poet, publicist and critic.
• 1891 - Theophilus van Hansen, Austrian architect of Danish descent, known for his neoclassical projects in Vienna and Athens.
• 1938 - Hryhorii Kholodnyi, Ukrainian scientist, victim of Bolshevik terror, shot dead on Solovki.
• 1970 - Andriy Malyshko, Ukrainian poet, translator, and literary critic.
• 1996 - Hervé Bazin, French writer.
• 1997 - Ama Selassie I, the last ruling monarch of Ethiopia.

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