On August 19 new or August 6 old style, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the Transfiguration of the Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, or Apple Savior, as this church holiday is called among the people. On this day, it is customary, by reading special prayers, to consecrate ripening fruits.
From the history of the holiday
The Gospels tell the story of how Jesus Christ, together with his three disciples, climbed a high mountain. There he began to pray, and his disciples were overwhelmed by sleep. And they dreamed that during prayer the face of Jesus Christ suddenly shone like the sun, and his clothes began to look like snow-white light. Talking quietly, Moses and Elijah stood next to him. At that very moment, a voice sounded from heaven, commanding the disciples to obey in everything Jesus, the beloved son of God.
Fear seized the disciples and fell to the ground. Jesus immediately approached them and, touching with his hand, told them not to be afraid of anything. Opening their eyes, the disciples saw no one but Jesus.
Modern theologians interpret this evangelical event as an indication of Jesus as the Lord of the prophets. After all, God did not point to Moses or Elijah, but to Christ and commanded to obey him.
In Russia, the church holiday of the Transfiguration was established only in the 16th century, combined with another holiday - the Second or Apple Savior, the tradition of celebrating which has existed for several centuries.
The Savior is associated with another ancient tradition. The ruler of the Mesopotamian city of Edes, King Abgar, was sick with leprosy, and none of the doctors could help him. Then he decided to appeal for healing to Jesus Christ, the fame of whose miraculous abilities had already resounded everywhere, and sent messengers to him. The Son of God at that moment could not visit Edes, but promised to help.
During a conversation with messengers, Jesus Christ wiped his face with a towel, and his face was immediately imprinted on the fabric. This miraculous towel was delivered to Avgar, and he soon felt relieved.
Later, many icons were painted from this image of the face of the Savior. The most famous of them is the Novgorod icon of the 11th century "The Savior Not Made by Hands", or "The Savior on the Canvas."
And after the execution and ascension of Jesus Christ, at his command, the Apostle Fadeus came to King Abgar and healed the king of leprosy completely. This is how Jesus Christ kept his promise.
The healed king Abgar believed in Jesus Christ and converted to Christianity, and a miraculous towel with the face of the Savior was attached over the main gate of Edes.
Traditions of celebrating the Savior of Apple
In the peasant folk calendar, the holiday of the Transfiguration is better known as the Second, Apple Savior. It was celebrated on August 6, old style, today on August 19. Many folk signs and sayings are associated with this day.
The first Savior is called honey and is celebrated on August 14th. And at the very end of summer, on the 29th, the Third Savior is celebrated, which is called the Nut Savior.
The people believed that the weather had also changed since the Savior of the Transfiguration. The second half of August in Russia was called a young Indian summer. It was customary to end the Day of the Transfiguration with the ceremonial wires of the sunset. The girls sang farewell songs, seeing off the sun at sunset. So in Russia they parted with the summer.
Until that day, peasant families did not eat any fruits other than vegetables, the ban especially concerned apples. Breaking this taboo was considered a great sin. Apples certainly had to be consecrated on the day of the Transfiguration during the morning church service, and only after that they could be eaten.
