As excerpted from Orthodox Wiki and Kitchen Epiphanies.

The Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord is commemorated by the Church on August 1st. It is the first of the three "Feasts of the Savior" in August. (The second is the great feast day of the Transfiguration (Aug. 6th), and the third is the Translation of the Image Not-Made-by-Hands on August 16.)

About the Feast

It became a tradition to carry the wood of the Venerable Cross through the streets of Constantinople for the sanctification of the city starting in the beginning of August. This was done because illnesses were more common in August at that time. On the eve of the feast, it was taken out of the imperial treasury, and laid upon the altar of the Great Church of Hagia Sophia. From this Feast until the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, they carried the relic of the Cross, throughout the city in procession, offering it to the people to venerate.

The Baptism of Kyivan Rus', was done on this day in 988. So in the Ukrainian Church, the Lesser Blessing of Water has became a part of the celebration of this feast.

Celebration of the feast

Currently, this minor feast day may not be liturgically celebrated at many local parishes unless it falls on a Sunday. And even then there may not be a cross set up in the centre of the church to venerate, as on the Great Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross on September 14, or the Sunday of the Holy Cross the third Sunday of Great Lent.

In Ukraine this feast day is also known as Medoviy spas - Медовій спас - Honey spas, when honey, poppies, water, other life-sustaining ingredients and bouquets of wildflowers and herbs are blessed. Many Ukrainians assemble a basket of honey, salt, horseradish, water, bread, poppy seed pastries and a makoviychyk that is taken to Church for blessing.

Some Ukrainians also call this feast day Mokriy Spas - мокрий спас - literally “Wet Spas,” in honor of Grand Prince of Kyiv Volodymyr who baptized Kyivan Rus on this day.

This feast day can also be called Makoveya - Маковея - from the word mak (мак) for poppy heads which ripen around mid-August.

Bring Honey and Poppy (seeds) to Church!

In honour of this beautiful Ukrainian tradition, we welcome everyone to bring honey, poppies etc. to have blessed on Monday evening after the Psalm readings at 6pm.

Recipe for a Special Makivnyk (non-fasting)

While not vegan, here is a recipe for makivnyk - маківник - which the author/recipe maker says is typical for the feast-day, as the tradition is to use copious amounts of honey and poppy seeds to make the super decadent recipes.

Here is the recipe.