Saint lived during the reign of Emperor Valentinian in 365-435 years. St. Kassian was of Daco -Roman origin, he was born in Thrace, Pontus (today Dobrogei). Therefore, he was also called the Holy Roman Kassian of Dobrogei. In his family, he received a good Christian education. He studied in the best schools of the time, and later made a pilgrimage to the holy places in Palestine, Egypt etc, and in order to settle down in Marseille, where he was elected as warden of the monastery. Works of Kassian are widely known, they are referred to, they quoted: "About regulations of coenobites of Palestinian and Egyptian" - 12 books, "Interviews" - 24 books with the famous Egyptian Abba on moral concepts of Christian doctrine "On the Incarnation of Christ."
For the first time these two works represent the rules of monastic life in the East, demonstrating plexus between the Christian West and the East. Work "On the Incarnation of Christ," is aimed against Pelagianism and Nestorianism, the two most powerful theological currents, due to recognised them as heresies. So John Kassian is considered the founder of monasticism in Western Europe, where he first preached the mystical and patristic way of thinking. He also shared spiritual experience of the great Fathers of Egypt, Palestine and Sinai. John Kassian also is considered a man of endless knowledge on orthodox dogma and he is the great apologist of the Apostolic Faith.
Holy Kassian died on the 29th February in 435 years before the age of 70 years.
There is a legend about an episode that happened with St. Nicholas and Kasyanov. On the outskirts of a village, they noticed a peasant trying to bring the cart out of the swamp, he asked for help. Kassian stood on the side of the road not to dirty clothes. And Nicholas went into the mud up to his knees to help get the wagon out. God decided to punish Kassian and ordered for it to celebrate his holiday every four years on the 29th February, and Nicholas - twice a year.
Since leap years have in February 29 days, they are popularly considered to be bad, and the image of St. Kassian is drawn in negative colours. It is popularly called in different ways: Kassian the Mercenary, Unmerciful, Ill- wisher, Un- gracious, envious. They say that leap years are heavy in all senses and ways. Allegedly during these years many people die, it may happen an animal’s epidemic etc.
In folk beliefs exist such ideas, that St. Kassian was the greatest ascetic, well known apologist for the Church of Christ, theologian, writer, and teacher.
It should be noted that the church does not make the difference between normal and leap year. Clergy say that the Holy Kassian on the contrary helps people when they are in trouble.
