In Russia, Sobriety Day is celebrated annually on September 11, the day of commemoration of the Beheading of John the Baptist. The tradition of celebrating Sobriety Day was restored on July 25, 2014 by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (Journal No. 80). On this day, bishops and clergy are advised to perform prayer singing for those suffering from the ailment of drinking wine or drug addiction. This rite and the Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church for the establishment of sobriety and the prevention of alcoholism were approved by the same decision of the Holy Synod. In 2016, at the suggestion of the Moscow Diocese, petitions for those suffering from the ailment of drunkenness and drug addiction were included in the liturgical sequences on Sobriety Day.
At the meeting of the Holy Synod, which took place on July 15, 2016, under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the following petitions were approved for those suffering from the ailments of drunkenness and drug addiction on the day of Commemoration of the Beheading of John the Baptist for inclusion in the liturgical sequences (journal No. 69):
• That You may mercifully look upon Your servants, who suffer from the ailments of drunkenness and drug addiction, body and soul, and free them from the bonds of deadly passions, let us pray to the Lord.
• That Our suffering slaves may be delivered from the pernicious passions of drunkenness and drug addiction and observe them in saving passion and purity, abstinence and truth, let us pray to the Lord.
• That they may turn to God in repentance and overcome their pernicious passions, so that they may share in eternal blessings, let us pray to the Lord.
• For their sorrowing relatives, and for whom their prayers and sighs are pleasing, let us pray to the Lord.
• For the deliverance of them and us from all tribulation, anger, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
In modern Russia, Sobriety Day has been celebrated annually since 2014. The holiday was first established by the Holy Governing Synod in 1913, and in 1914 it was decided to hold it annually. In Russia, wine shops were closed on this day and the sale of alcoholic beverages was stopped. In Soviet times, the tradition of celebrating Sobriety Day was interrupted until 2014. Since 2015, Sobriety Day has been held with the support of the Russian Ministry of Health.
The date of September 11 was not chosen by chance: on this day, Orthodox Christians remember the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. The prophet was beheaded by King Herod during a drunken feast. Strict fasting is observed on this day.
It is known that many saints adhered to the tradition of completely abstaining from alcohol consumption. Among them are St. Basil the Great, St. John Chrysostom, St. Sergius of Radonezh, St. Alexander Svirsky.
Currently, there are more than 600 church organizations and projects in Russia to help addicts and their relatives. These are sobriety societies and fraternities, outpatient and counseling programs, and rehabilitation centers where priests, psychologists, and addiction specialists deal with addicts. People who are addicted to alcohol, drugs, and gambling can receive help in such centers.
On the website protrezvenie.ru Information about rehabilitation centers, societies, and sobriety groups in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan is available free of charge at the hotline number of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service +7(800) 70-70-222.