Today was, in the Orthodox church, the feast of St. Isaac the Syrian. St. Isaac is often best remembered for his description of the Merciful Heart:
What is a merciful heart? It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation, for humanity, for the birds, for the animals, for demons, and for all that exists... For this reason, such a person offers up tearful prayer continually even for irrational beasts, for the enemies of the truth, and for those who harm her or him, that they be protected and receive mercy. And in like manner such a person prays for the family of reptiles because of the great compassion that burns with without measure in a heart that is in the likeness of God.Emphasis mine. Yes, gentle readers, you are today exhorted to entertain tender thoughts even for the reptiles. In the German fashion, Schlangestag seems a good appelation for such a holiday. Do something generous for a reptile you know! Reptile may here be understood to include amphibians, cephalopods, echinoderms, crustaceans, xenarthrans and underappreciated taxa generally. If you're very charitable and qualified, you might even adopt a reptile.
