Aug. 19: Transfiguration of the Lord (Яблучний спас)
As excerpted from Orthodox Wiki and Kitchen Epiphanies.The Transfiguration of Christ is one of the 12 Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on August 19 (old calendar). It is the second of the three "Feasts of the Savior" in August. (The first is the Procession of the Holy Cross (Aug. 14th), and the third is the Translation of the Image Not-Made-by-Hands on August 29.)
About the Feast
12th century icon of the Transfiguration from Mt. Sinai monastery in Egypt
Jesus had gone with his disciples Peter, James, and John to Mount Tabor. Christ's appearance was changed, while they watched, into a glorious radiant figure. There appeared Elijah and Moses, speaking with Jesus. The disciples were amazed and terribly afraid.
This event shows forth the divinity of Christ, so that the disciples would understand after His Ascension that He was truly the radiant splendor of the Father, and that his Passion was voluntary (Mark 9:2-9). It also shows the possibility of our own theosis.
This event was the subject of some debates between Gregory Palamas and Barlaam of Calabria. Barlaam believed that the light shining from Jesus was created light, while Gregory maintained the disciples were given grace to perceive the uncreated light of God. This supported Gregory's larger argument that although we cannot know God in His essence, we can know Him in his energies, as He reveals Himself.
Accounts of the Transfiguration are found in several places in the Bible: Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36, and II Peter 1:16-19.
Celebration of the feast
Like all feasts of the Master, the Transfiguration is a vigil-ranked feast, though in parish practice a full All-Night Vigil is usually not celebrated. Typically, Great Vespers is conducted on the eve of the feast, and on the morning of the feast, the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom celebrated, traditionally preceded by the Matins service.
Booths, Yoninah, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
It is believed that Christ's transfiguration took place at the time of the Jewish Festival of Booths [Sukkah], and that the celebration of the event in the Christian Church became the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament feast. Presently it is celebrated on the 19th of August, forty days before the feast, Elevation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 27). Just as Peter, James, and John saw the transfiguration before the crucifixion so that they might know who it is who will suffered for them, the Church connects these two feasts to help the faithful understand the mission of Christ and that His suffering was voluntary.
The feast of the Transfiguration of Christ was once celebrated in the season of Great Lent, but may have been considered too joyous for that time. Saint Gregory Palamas, a great teacher of the Transfiguration, is now celebrated on the third Sunday of Lent instead.
Traditions
In Greece and Romania the harvest season traditionally began on the Transfiguration (new calendar). Grapes, in particular, were not eaten before August 6 (new calendar). In some parishes, the first grapes would be brought to church for a blessing and distributed to parishioners.
In Ukraine this feast day is also known as Yabluchney spas - Яблучний спас - Apple spas, when ripening fruit such as apples, pears, plums, all other fruit, peas in the pod and honeycombs are blessed.
Bring Fruit to Have Blessed!
Join us this Aug. 19th for the Divine Liturgy to have your fruit blessed!