The end of the summer season is significant for Orthodox Christians and especially for those who harvest from their gardens and farms. It is the end of summer that is characterized by many Orthodox holidays, long since beloved by all for their importance among the people.
First of all, August is marked by the Honey, Apple and Bread (aka Nut) Savior. Savior is the salvation of the soul, the cleansing of sins, the attainment of repentance and the tranquility of the soul in the face of God. All these three holidays are celebrated in August each year (with a small interval). Orthodox prepare for them in advance, because they mark the beginning of the harvest, which can be eaten. Everything collected during the summer is stored all fall and winter until the next harvest. It is important that the crop be harvested on time, not earlier than prescribed by the Orthodox calendar.
Honey Spas - put honey on the table!
The first holiday falls on August 14th. On this day, Honey Spas is celebrated . The number was not chosen by chance, because by this time honey in honeycombs is still ripe and the first crop can be harvested. Savior - this is when it is customary in the church to bless honey, after which it becomes not just healing, but has healing properties. For a person eating such honey, no disease is terrible, ailments completely disappear and spiritual and physical forces appear in the body. It is believed that such honey promotes rejuvenation by updating the cells of the whole body, because it is saturated with the holy spirit.
Helpful information
The following recipes can be used as traditional tips.
To improve metabolic processes in the body, you should eat a piece of bread spread with honey on an empty stomach every morning. It is also recommended to dissolve honey in a glass of boiled water and drink. This will add the whole complex of microelements to the body, as well as improve the condition of the hematopoietic system. That is why it is commonly believed that with Honey Savior, a holiday begins in the house, warmth and the health of the whole family.
What is the number of Apple Spas?
After honey saving, the fast begins immediately, in which poppy cakes, pancakes are baked, honey and cucumbers are eaten. In church calendars he is referred to as the Assumption, and he is associated with the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. In this post is celebrated another holiday - Apple Savior. The number 19 marks the transition to autumn, and this great holiday is important for parishioners and all who grow apples, and for ordinary laity. It is pleasant to treat the poor, sick and all who meet with a fresh harvest. The blessed Apple Spas is the beginning of the first frosts or simply lowering the temperature on the soil.
Apples are ripening just at the time this holiday is celebrated. Many varieties are sung in August, and therefore it is believed that they can be tasted only from August 19.
On this day, August 19, a great Orthodox holiday is celebrated - the Transfiguration of the Lord, when all the churches bear fruit from trees for refreshments and lighting. All apples become magical and fulfill the most cherished desires.
history of the holiday
The beginning of this holiday falls on the life of Jesus Christ. Before the crucifixion, Jesus prayed so earnestly on Mount Tabor that the disciples present at the same time noticed how the Lord was transformed, and his robes shone with a white heavenly light. This confirmed the fact that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and therefore the holiday is called the “Transfiguration of the Lord."
This holiday is associated with events that help a person find, even to God, and through repentance, be transformed spiritually. To do this, you need to remember all your bad deeds and repent, then the Lord will help you find the true path and forgive all sins.
In agriculture, the beginning of Apple Savior is associated with the planting of winter crops. In ancient times, Orthodox farmers invited priests to receive blessings, who prayed that the next harvest would be just as good, and thanked God for the fruitful year. In Russia, they saw off the day with songs, because it was believed that from this day the first autumn sun began to shine. After this, the first cold weather had already begun, which meant that it was necessary to begin preparations for the winter.
Nut Spas - the beginning of autumn!
The next event of August is the Nut Spas - a holiday when nuts and bread ripen, and therefore it is called both Nut and Bread at the same time. In Walnut Spas, it is customary to visit the temple to receive blessings for the next year and to offer thanks for the harvest this season.
August 29 marks the Nut Savior. This number, like the previous holidays, helps people to unite in order to thank the Lord God for the harvest, because it is on this day that bread in the fields ripen. In Orekhovy, also known as Bread Spas, it is customary to treat with nuts and eat them. Consecrating nuts is optional.
Walnut Spas is also called the Miraculous, which means that the image of Christ is not made by hands. This name also came from the time of Jesus Christ. The story goes that Jesus, after washing with water, wiped his face with a towel that showed his face. Then, with this towel, the image of Christ was written, which was transmitted from one generation of emperors to another, but in the 12th century it was lost and restored only in copies.
Blessed season!
With the advent of Nut Savior, the time begins for picking mushrooms and berries in the forests. All holidays are associated with the transition from one season of the year to another. So people were accustomed to follow the sequence in harvesting, they could properly eat ripened food, store them for the winter and treat various diseases.
During the Nut Savior, branches of hazel were harvested and put into normal use as a guard against evil forces and ailments. Hazel is also used for brooms in baths. With their help, many rheumatic and colds are cured.
The power of nature is given to man through the fruits!
Nuts, like honey, were especially appreciated in Russia, since they contain all the power of nature. From cedar, tinctures were made, which subsequently healed various kinds of diseases of the internal organs. In particular, tincture of pine nuts can enhance human immunity. A person uses all the gifts of nature with the mind and blessing of the Lord, therefore the holidays are often associated with Christian celebrations in order to further strengthen faith and spirituality. Many healers observe church fasts in order to use certain ingredients in their recipes that ripen in different seasons of the year.
Thus, the gifts of nature contribute to strengthening human health, strengthening the spirit of the Orthodox, and in addition, they are a symbol of the unification of the people.