Life
The Holy Martyr Tryphon was born around 232 in the place of Campsada near Apamea in Phrygia (a region in present-day Turkey). He came from a Christian family and from early childhood lived a pure and God-fearing life. He worked as a goose-herd, but was known for the gift of healing and the casting out of evil spirits, which had been granted him by God.
The most famous tradition about him is connected with an event at the imperial court. The daughter of Emperor Gordian was possessed by a demon that caused suffering and sorrow to her and her family. Neither physicians nor various sorcerers and soothsayers could help her. Then the demon, summoned to reveal who could expel him, himself declared that only the young Tryphon had power over him. Tryphon was called to the imperial court and, after three days of fasting and prayer, drove the demon out of the emperor’s daughter. The emperor rewarded him richly, but Tryphon gave the money to the poor.
When Emperor Decius (249–251) came to the throne, fierce persecutions of Christians began. Tryphon was only seventeen years old when he was seized and brought before the military commander Aquilinus because he was a Christian. Aquilinus begged him to renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to the idols, but Tryphon steadfastly refused. Then the tortures began: he was beaten with clubs, his feet were pierced with iron spikes, and he was forced to walk barefoot over snow and ice. Tryphon endured everything patiently and without anger, praying to God and encouraging his fellow-suffering Christians.
In the end his sentence was death. When the executioner raised his sword, Tryphon yielded his soul to God before the blade could touch him — he died in prayer. The Church celebrates his memory on February 1 by the Old Calendar (February 14 by the New).
In Serbian and Balkan folk tradition Saint Tryphon is especially venerated as the protector of vineyards, vines, and all who cultivate the grape. The reason lies in the fact that February 1 by the Julian calendar (that is, February 14 by the Gregorian) falls at the time when on the Balkans the pruning of vineyards begins and the vines are prepared for the new year. Vine-growers (vinogradari) go out that day to their vineyards, perform the symbolic “Tryphon pruning” of the first vine, and amid prayers and wine celebrate the beginning of a new vineyard cycle.
Tropar (Tone 4)
O Martyr Tryphon, at the first appearance of spring granting graces to the bees, protect us faithful who celebrate thy memory.
Kontakion (Tone 8)
Adorned with a threefold care — of bodily purity, of love, and of martyrdom — O Martyr Tryphon, thou dost free those beset by unclean spirits, and dost grant healings of diverse ills, praying to Christ God for all of us.
About the Feast
Trifundan is celebrated on February 14 by the New (Gregorian) calendar, the same day the Western world knows as Valentine’s Day. In Serbia and among Serbs in the diaspora this date carries a completely different — and deeper — patron feast significance: it is the day of the Holy Martyr Tryphon, protector of vineyards and vine-growers.
The most distinctive custom of Trifundan is the “Tryphon pruning of the vines” — vine-growers and vintners go out early in the morning to the vineyard, symbolically cut the first shoots, and with a brief prayer invoke the blessing of Saint Tryphon for the new vineyard year. Where there is a church near a vineyard, the priest comes to bless the vineyard and sprinkle it with wine. This ritual marks the beginning of the spring vineyard work.
The feast table is by rule not fasting — Trifundan is a non-fasting day. Wine is especially present: not only as a drink with the meal, but as a symbol of blessing. Hosts who celebrate Tryphon pour wine generously for their guests, noting that the saint “likes to be toasted.” The slava bread is cut according to the usual rite, and the wheat is prepared as for every patron feast.
In the vineyard regions of Serbia — the Negotin Country, the Župa, Šumadija, and Fruška Gora — Trifundan is a true village festival celebrated collectively: neighbors and friends go from vineyard to vineyard, count the vines, sing, and make merry. People say that whoever does not raise a toast to Saint Tryphon risks having his vineyard bear no fruit.