Daria, Dasha, Dashutka, Dashenka - what kind of diminutive caresses can not be found in this ancient, sweet woman's name! Since time immemorial it has entered our everyday life, and hardly anyone will remember now that a word comes from the Old Persian language. Two roots took part in its formation, the common meaning of which is "possessing a good gift." Like most women's names, it happened from the male. Who knows the history well, and remembers the legendary Darius - I, II and III, the kings of the Persians. In Russia, Daria mostly called girls from the common people, noblewomen rarely wore it. At the beginning of the Soviet era, the name lost its popularity and re-acquired it by the end of the 1970s. A real surge of enthusiasm for them was noted in 2009-2010. And now Dashutok is quite a lot in urban and especially rural areas.
Holy patrons
Calling this a child, parents, of course, are interested: when is the day of his Angel? When marks the name of Darya name-day, with whom is it specifically related? To which holy Dasha should apply in prayers and whose icon to give the girl at baptism? Let's try to understand.
Traditions of deep antiquity
Many names have not only secular, so to speak, worldly history, but also spiritual. It also concerns ours. Darya's names are celebrated both in Orthodox and Catholic faiths. They are connected with several real women who have suffered great and unjust torments for Christ. The first of these is Darius of Rome, who lived in the 3rd century. She possessed amazing beauty and charm, a lively mind and sincere conviction in the correctness of paganism. However, after marrying a Christian, she believed in a new religion. Darya's names, first, are related to her conversion and baptism. Together with her husband, Chrysanthus, she preached new norms of human coexistence and the commandments of God. The authorities led by Claudius cruelly persecuted the family, but themselves witnessed considerable miracles and soon shared the convictions of their prisoners. Kara from the emperor did not keep you waiting. Companions of Darius and Chrysaphan were cruelly executed. And the unfortunate Christian woman and her husband were given to scold and desecrate: he was thrown into a pit with impurities, she was sent to a brothel. However, as ancient sources bring to us, in the early years of the spread of Christianity, miracles of the divine often occurred with martyrs. Here and there, Darya's name days, secondly, her missionary activity is marked among harlots, corrupt women and those who used their services. When someone tried to encroach on the body of a beautiful saint, a huge lion appeared out of nowhere from her and defended the girl, while not depriving the life of the cheek. And Daria preached. And all who faced this miracle, accepted baptism and believed. With her husband, too, there were amazing events: instead of stench and abominations, his pit turned out to be full of fragrance. Realizing that it was impossible to cope with the holy family for that reason, Emperor Numerian gave the torturers to both torturers, and then ordered them to be executed. They took a martyr's death, being buried in the land alive. Both were soon identified as saints of the Christian Church. Darya's namesake in Catholicism is celebrated on October 25. In Orthodoxy, her spiritual and moral feats were reflected in such dates as August 17-18, April 1 and 4.
From Romulus to Our Time
The saints mention not only the Roman Daria. The story remembers another, the Reverend Martyr, who was elevated to the rank 10 years ago (in 2003). This is Daria Zaitseva, nun, the head of the church Znamenskaya in the village near Moscow. According to the denunciation of the scoundrels who served the Soviet regime, the woman was arrested. She did not hide her views and convictions, and therefore in 1938 (March 14) was shot. This marks one more Orthodox name-day Daria. According to the church calendar, the day of its death is recorded as the day of the Angel. And Zaitsev was rehabilitated in 1989. A good name was returned to the woman, the reputation was restored.
This is an unusual fate for this name and its bearers.