2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21
Apple Savior is a holiday with centuries-old history and traditions. Being still pre-Christian, it symbolized the transition of summer to autumn and was marked by the harvest. On this day, pies were baked and special rituals were performed to appease the gods for the blessing and kinship of the earth.
With the advent of Orthodoxy, after some ups and downs, the holiday received a second name - the Transfiguration of the Lord. This meaning is associated with the last days of the life of Jesus Christ. Apple Savior or the Transfiguration of the Lord Orthodox Christians celebrate on August 19.
History
The events described in the Gospel tell that shortly before the crucifixion, the Lord Jesus, together with His disciples, came to Galilee. And taking with him Peter, James and John, he went up with them to the high Mount Tabor. Saint Theophylact explains this decision of Christ by the fact that the disciples were taken to testify to the glory of the Lord. Thus was the Scripture fulfilled, according to which every word will be true only with two or three witnesses.
How long they stayed on this mountain, history is silent. But at some point, Jesus was transformed in front of the disciples into white sparklingclothes, and His face changed and began to shine. After this appearance, the Old Testament prophets came to the Savior and began to talk about His imminent death.
The essence of the holiday
The transformation on the mountain had a symbolic meaning. It shows what awaits godly people in eternal life. The holiday is intended to remind those living today of the need for the transformation and purification of the soul, as the will of the Lord for each person.
Mount Tabor, according to theologians, symbolizes a secluded place for prayer, during which amazing changes take place in a person's soul. She is cleansed of sins and experiences identification with the heavenly. It is believed that Christ on this day displayed His divine essence in a mortal body.
Thus, all the traditions and symbols (apples and treats) are just the outer side of the holiday, but its depth is truly amazing.
Celebration of the Transfiguration of the Lord
The holiday, according to legend, should be held in a state of quiet peace, reverence for the Lord for His mercy. The Dormition fast, which begins on August 14, is the forerunner of the holiday and includes a special diet - you can not eat meat, fish, dairy products. But fasting restrictions have indulgences for Apple Spas.
What they do on this day:
- must visit the temple;
- preparing pies, pastries, a variety of apple dishes;
- show mercy and kindness;
- in the evening they set the table and invite relatives andfriends.
What can not be done on Apple Spas?
As a rule, the very understanding of the holiday for many people is associated with an abundance of food, entertainment and idleness. But gluttony and sinful amusements - this is something that should not be done in any case at Apple Spas. Since we are talking about both changes in nature and spiritual transformations of the human soul.
Negative emotions are also unacceptable on this sacred day. It is believed that evil spoken, done or thought can return a hundredfold.
Greedy is something that cannot be done on Apple Spas. One of the deadly sins is condemned by Orthodoxy, and, moreover, it will be inappropriate on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
To work or not to work?
This is the most burning topic of conversation on the eve of the holiday. The question worries many, since situations can be different. Having at least a modicum of piety, one would not want to sin on such days. But the shift at work, urgent calls and force majeure has not been canceled. And suddenly, for example, there was a need to help an elderly neighbor chop wood. What to do, is it possible to work for Apple Spas?
Unfortunately, in their religious zeal, people tend to go to extremes. Therefore, priests have to prescribe many points to the comma.
For most of our compatriots, holidays are the only days off when there is an opportunity to put things in order at home, clean, wash, shake carpets. And those,who are quicker, even manage to do repairs. Is it possible to do your homework in Apple Spas? This Christian holiday, like all similar ones, categorically excludes cases of this kind.
It is impossible to work on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord. But if you have a responsible job that cannot be postponed and transferred, or on which other people will depend, then it will not be considered a sin on this day. Helping the elderly, widows and sick people is also not a sin.
One more thing to consider. Some believers, paying tribute to the holiday in the morning, believe that after dinner you can work. "Whether Apple Savior or some other," they say, "but who will do my work?" Such a position carries with it a sin, because worldly fuss cannot be more important than spiritual values. This day is to be fully sanctified and set aside for the Lord.
It's sad if the holiday will be reduced only to a set of rules "you can't-you can". Whether to work for Apple Spas or not is a personal matter of faith, God-fearing and consciousness of each person.
A separate point should be emphasized that only work related to the harvest is allowed on this day. In other words, if you are very itchy and there is a desire to work hard, then in the dachas, in the gardens, you can work for Apple Spas. It will not be considered a sin. For other specific issues, it is better to consult with the priest.
Consecration of fruits on the day of the Transfiguration
According to tradition, fresh fruits, usually grapes, were brought to church from early morningand apples. At the end of the liturgy, when the priest utters a special prayer, the fruits are consecrated, after which one part of the gifts of the earth brought by the parishioners is left in the temple for employees, the other is distributed to the suffering and the poor, and from the rest the hostesses prepare festive dishes for a treat. It was believed that this action drives away any need and illness from the family.
You can also bring other fruits and vegetables for consecration, something that has disfigured your garden, but only so that they are of a new crop. But it is undesirable to consecrate purchased fruits.
Folk omens for Apple Spas
Religious traditions of the feast of the Lord's Transfiguration are closely intertwined with folk beliefs and customs in Russia, which have always been revered and passed down from generation to generation. Carrying apples on the graves of deceased relatives, generous meals for the poor, distribution of the harvest among poor neighbors - this is what they did on the Apple Spas.
Christians believe in the signs associated with the holiday for centuries:
- If the weather is rainy on this day, then autumn is expected to be warm and dry, and winter is generous with snow.
- If the holiday was hot, then there will be little snow in winter.
- If the apple trees gave a good harvest, then next year you should expect an abundance of bread.
- The weather of this day will show what the weather will be like on Pokrov.
And since ancient times in Russia there is a belief: as a person passes the Apple Savior, so will his next year. Therefore, the people on this day in a special way tried to be kind, generous andmerciful, forgiving their offenders and debtors.
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